Total derivative of function with not continuous derivatives

multivariable-calculuspartial derivativereal-analysis

I was wondering if the following function is totally differentiable in $(0, 0)$:
$$f(x, y) = \frac{x^2y}{x^2+y^2}$$ and $f(0,0) = 0$. I know that the partial derivatives are
$$f_x(x, y)= \frac{2xy^3}{(x^2+y^2)y^2}, \quad f_y(x, y) = \frac{x^4-x^2y^2}{(x^2+y^2)^2}.$$
Is it correct that both of these partial derivatives are not continuous in $(0,0)$? For $f_x(x,y)$, one can consider the limits $\lim_{h\to 0}f_x(h, h)=1/2$ and $\lim_{h\to 0}f_x(h, 0) = 0$, so this derivative can't be continuous, similarly for $f_y(x,y)$, which also can't be continuous, and in summary, $f$ can't be totally differentiable in $(0,0)$.

All I'm wondering is if my thoughts are correct here.
Thanks!

Best Answer

We should find the value of partial derivatives at the point by the definition (via limits).

We have $f(x,0) = 0$ and $f(0,0) = 0$. Then, $$f'_x(0,0) = \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{f(x,0) - f(0,0)}{x-0} = 0$$ Similarly, we get $$f'_y(0,0) = \lim_{y\to 0}\frac{f(0,y) - f(0,0)}{y-0} = 0$$ Hence we need to check if the following equality is true: $$\lim_{x\to0 \\ y\to0} \frac{f(x,y) - f(0,0) - 0 - 0}{\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}} \overset ? = 0$$ which is equivalent to $$\lim_{x\to0 \\ y\to0} \frac{\frac{x^2y}{x^2+y^2}}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}= \lim_{x\to0 \\ y\to0} \frac{x^2y}{(x^2+y^2)^{3/2}} \overset ?= 0$$ Can you take it from here?