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Delata-Epsilon Def. 2 Ariables

This document defines the formal δ-ε definition of the limit for multivariable functions. It extends the definition of limit for single-variable functions to functions of two or more variables. Specifically, it defines an open δ-neighborhood about a point (a,b) as all points within a distance δ of (a,b). Then, it states that the limit of f(x,y) as (x,y) approaches (a,b) is L, if for any ε>0 there exists a δ>0 such that if the distance between (x,y) and (a,b) is less than δ, then the distance between f(x,y) and L is less than
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
32 views2 pages

Delata-Epsilon Def. 2 Ariables

This document defines the formal δ-ε definition of the limit for multivariable functions. It extends the definition of limit for single-variable functions to functions of two or more variables. Specifically, it defines an open δ-neighborhood about a point (a,b) as all points within a distance δ of (a,b). Then, it states that the limit of f(x,y) as (x,y) approaches (a,b) is L, if for any ε>0 there exists a δ>0 such that if the distance between (x,y) and (a,b) is less than δ, then the distance between f(x,y) and L is less than
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Calculus of multivariable functions

Limits, part 3: the delta-epsilon definition


We have the informal denition of a limit:
We say that the limit of f (x, y) as (x, y) approaches (a, b) is L and write
lim

(x,y)(a,b)

f (x, y) = L

if the values of f (x, y) can be made arbitrarily close to L by choosing points (x, y) suciently close to (a, b).
In this section, we are going to look at the formal denition of a limit, and dene exactly what we
mean by suciently close to.
We start by dening a -neighborhood about a point (a, b) in the xy plane: a -neighborhood
about (a, b) is a disk centered at (a, b) with radius > 0. We can can have open or closed neighborhoods, depending on whether we include the boundary of the disk.


Open disk: {(x, y) | (x a)2 + (y b)2 < }




Closed disk: {(x, y) | (x a)2 + (y b)2 }


Recall the denition of the limit for a single variable function:
Let f be a function dened on an open interval containing a (except possibly at a), and
let L be a real number. The statement
lim f (x) = L

xa

means that given any  > 0, there exists a > 0 such that if
0 < |x a| < ,

then

|f (x) L| < 

We can extend this to the formal - defintion of the limit for a function of two variables:
Let f be a function of two variables dened on an open disk centered at (a, b) (except,
possibly, at (a, b) itself), and let L be a real number. We say that the limit of f (x, y) as
(x, y) approaches (a, b) is L and write
lim

(x,y)(a,b)

f (x, y) = L

if, given any  > 0, there exists > 0 such that if


0<

(x a)2 + (y b)2 <

then
|f (x, y) L| < 
Examples are posted as separate .pdfs.

General notation: Weve been looking at these concepts in terms of two variable functions, with
the note that they can be extended to functions of three or more variables by analogy. Since were
being formal here, Id like to provide the general denition of the limit for a function of n variables
using proper notation. The easiest way to do this is to make use of vectors (or ordered n-tuples).
Let x and a be vectors in Rn :
x =< x1 , x2 , ..., xn >
a =< a1 , a2 , ..., an >
We dene an open -neighborhood about a by
{x | ||x a|| < }
And the limit
Let f (x) = f (< x1 , x2 , ..., xn >) be a function of n variables dened on an open interval
containing a =< a1 , a2 , ..., an > (except possibly at a), and let L be a real number. The
statement
lim f (x) = L
xa

means that given any  > 0, there exists a > 0 such that if
0 < ||x a|| < ,

then

|f (x) L| < 

Finally, recall discussing continuity on an open region. Now that weve dened open negihborhood,
we can formally dene open region.
A point (a, b) in a region R is an interior point if there exists a -neighborhood about (a, b) that
lies entirely within R. A point (a, b) in a region R is a boundary point if every -neighborhood
about (a, b) contains points both inside and outside R.
If every point in R is an interior point, its an open region (it doesnt contain its own boundary).
If R contains all its boundary points, its a closed region.

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