Learning Outcomes
- Recognize a function of three or more variables and identify its level surfaces.
So far, we have examined only functions of two variables. However, it is useful to take a brief look at functions of more than two variables. Two such examples are
[latex]f\,(x,\ y,\ z)=x^{2}-2xy+y^{2}+3yz-z^{2}+4x-2y+3x-6[/latex] (a polynomial in three variables)
and
[latex]g\,(x,\ y,\ t)=(x^{2}-4xy+y^{2})\sin{t}-(3x+5y)\cos{t}[/latex].
In the first function, [latex](x,\ y,\ z)[/latex] represents a point in space, and the function [latex]f[/latex] maps each point in space to a fourth quantity, such as temperature or wind speed. In the second function, [latex](x,\ y)[/latex] can represent a point in the plane, and [latex]t[/latex] can represent time. The function might map a point in the plane to a third quantity (for example, pressure) at a given time [latex]t[/latex]. The method for finding the domain of a function of more than two variables is analogous to the method for functions of one or two variables.
Example: Domains for Functions of Three Variables
Find the domain of each of the following functions:
- [latex]f\,(x,\ y,\ z)=\frac{3x-4y+2z}{\sqrt{9-x^{2}-y^{2}-z^{2}}}[/latex]
- [latex]g\,(x,\ y,\ t)=\frac{\sqrt{2t-4}}{x^{2}-y^{2}}[/latex]
Try It
Find the domain of the function [latex]h\,(x,\ y,\ t)=(3t-6)\,\sqrt{y-4x^{2}+4}[/latex].
Functions of two variables have level curves, which are shown as curves in the [latex]xy[/latex]-plane. However, when the function has three variables, the curves become surfaces, so we can define level surfaces for functions of three variables.
Definition
Given a function [latex]f\,(x,\ y,\, z)[/latex] and a number [latex]c[/latex] in the range of [latex]f[/latex] a level surface of a function of three variables is defined to be the set of points satisfying the equation [latex]f\,(x,\ y,\ z)=c[/latex].
Example: Finding a Level Surface
Find the level surface for the function [latex]f\,(x,\ y,\ z)=4x^{2}+9y^{2}-z^{2}[/latex] corresponding to [latex]c=1[/latex].
Try It
Find the equation of the level surface of the function
[latex]g\,(x,\ y,\ t)=x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}-2x+4y-6z[/latex]
corresponding to [latex]c=2[/latex], and describe the surface, if possible.
Watch the following video to see the worked solution to the above Try It
Candela Citations
- CP 4.5. Authored by: Ryan Melton. License: CC BY: Attribution
- Calculus Volume 3. Authored by: Gilbert Strang, Edwin (Jed) Herman. Provided by: OpenStax. Located at: https://openstax.org/books/calculus-volume-3/pages/1-introduction. License: CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. License Terms: Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/calculus-volume-3/pages/1-introduction