Determine that this multivariable function is differentiable

continuityderivativesmultivariable-calculusreal-analysis

$$
f(x,y) = \begin{cases}
0, & x = 0 = y \\
\frac{x^3}{x^2 + y^2}, & \text{otherwise}
\end{cases}
$$

So, I did determine that this function is continuous(correct me if I'm wrong here). But, the issue is that the first order partial derivative with respect to $y$ is not continuous(I found this out by taking the partial derivative away from the origin and then switching to polar coordinates and taking the limit as $r \rightarrow 0$. So, I cannot use the differentiability theorem(existence of continuous first order partial derivatives guarantee differentiability). So, what do I do from here?

Best Answer

My answer shows it is not differentiable at origin. Kindly check whether I have done any calculation error. $${f_x} (0,0)=\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 0} {{f(x,0) - f(0,0)} \over x} = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 0} {{x-0} \over x} = 1$$ $${f_y} (0,0)=\mathop {\lim }\limits_{y \to 0} {{f(0,y) - f(0,0)} \over y} = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{y \to 0} {{0 - 0} \over y}=0.$$ Therefore

$$I=\lim_{(x,y)\rightarrow (0,0) } {{f(x,y) - f_x(0,0)x-f_y(0,0)y-f(0,0)} \over{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}} = \lim_{(x,y)\rightarrow (0,0) } {{{x^3/(x^2+y^2)}-x-0-0}\over {\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}}$$ $$=\lim_{(x,y)\rightarrow (0,0) } {-xy^2\over{(x^2+y^2)\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}}. $$ Calculate the limit value of the second using polar co-ordinates, by taking $x=r\cos\theta$ and $y=r\sin\theta$ and $r\rightarrow 0.$ Then $I=\lim_{r\rightarrow 0}\cos \theta\sin^2\theta =f(\theta).$ Limit value depends on the path. So limit does not exist and the function is not differentiable at the origin.

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