MA211
Week 3: LECTURE 2 CH 13.2
Limits and Continuity
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Limit of a function of two variables
We will be asking to take the limit of the function f ( x, y)
as x approaches a and as y approaches b.
lim f ( x, y)
( x , y ) ( a ,b )
In taking a limit of a function of two variables we are really
asking what the value of f ( x, y) is doing as we move the
point ( x, y) in closer and closer to the point (a,b) without
actually letting it be (a,b) .
In order for this limit to exist, the function must be
approaching the same value regardless of the path that we
take as we move in towards (a,b) . 2
The problem that we are immediately faced with is that
there are literally an infinite number of paths that we can
take as we move in towards (a,b) . Here are a few examples
of paths that we could take.
To show that a limit exists we would technically need to
check an infinite number of paths and verify that the function
is approaching the same value regardless of the path we are
using to approach the point. 3
x3 y
Example Determine if the limit lim exists.
( x , y ) ( 1,2) 2 x y
6 2
Solution
The limit exists since by direct substitution we have
3
x y (1) 2
3
2 1
lim
( x , y ) ( 1,2) 2 x y
6 2
2(1) 2
6 2
6 3
4
x3 y
Example Determine if the limit lim exists.
( x , y ) (0,0) 2 x y
6 2
Solution
Let Path 1 be the y-axis, that is, x = 0.
Then y
3
x y
lim
( x , y ) (0,0) 2 x 6 y 2
03 y
lim (0,0) x
(0, y ) (0,0) 2(0) 6 y 2
0
lim 2 0
y 0 y
5
Let Path 2 be the curve y = x3.
Then y
3
x y y = x3
lim
( x , y ) (0,0) 2 x 6 y 2
3 3
xx
lim
( x , x3 ) (0,0) 2 x ( x ) (0,0) x
6 3 2
x6 1 1
lim 6 lim
x 0 3 x x 0 3 3
Since Path 1 and Path 2 give different limits, the limit of
f as (x, y) approaches (0,0) does not exist.
6
x2 y 2
Exercise: Determine if the limit lim exists.
( x , y ) (0,0) x 3 y
4 4
7
Note
If we directly substitute (x0, y0) into f (x, y) and we find out that the
denominator is 0, then we CANNOT conclude that the limit of f as
(x, y) approaches (0,0) does not exist.
For example, in the last case, we cannot write
x3 y 03 0 0 Wrong
lim
( x , y ) (0,0) 2 x y
6 2
2(0) (0)
6 2
0 method
and say that the limit does not exist since the numerator is 0.
Example Show that the limit sin( x 2
y 2
)
lim exists.
( x , y ) (0,0) x y
2 2
Solution
Let u x 2 y 2 . Then u 0 if ( x, y ) (0, 0). Thus
sin( x y )
2 2
sin u
lim lim 1
( x , y ) (0,0) x y
2 2 u 0 u 8
1/ x 2 y 2
e
Exercise: Show that the limit lim exists.
( x , y ) (0,0)
x y
2 2
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Continuity and Differentiability of z = f ( x, y )
The function z = f ( x, y ) is continuous at the point (x0, y0) if
lim
( x , y ) x0 , y 0
f ( x, y) f x0 , y 0
tan( x 2 y 2 )
Example Show that x2 y 2 , x, y (0, 0)
f ( x, y )
1 , x, y (0, 0)
is continuous at (0,0).
Solution:
Let r x 2 y 2 . Then lim r 0. Use L'Hopital's rule to
( x , y ) (0,0)
tan r sec2 r
get lim f ( x, y ) lim lim 1 f (0, 0).
( x , y ) (0,0) r 0 r r 0 1
Therefore, f is continuous at (0, 0). 10
In some cases, it is best to use the first-order partial derivatives
of z = f ( x, y ) to determine the continuity of z.
If f has first-order partial derivatives y
at each point of some open circular
region centered at ( x0, y0 ), and if
these partial derivatives are continuous ( x0, y0 )
at ( x0, y0 ), then f is differentiable
and therefore continuous at ( x0, y0 ).
x
Note
[1] The continuity of fx(x,y) and fy(x,y) are essential to
guarantee the differentiability, and hence, continuity of
z = f (x, y ) at ( x0, y0 ).
[2] The partial derivatives can exist at ( x0, y0 ), even if they
are not continuous at ( x0, y0 ).
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