Calculus 10th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1-28505-709-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-28505-709-5

Chapter 13 - Functions of Several Variables - 13.2 Exercises - Page 887: 14

Answer

The limit is $$\lim_{(x,y)\to(-1,2)}\frac{x+y}{x-y}=-\frac{1}{3}.$$ The function has a discontinuity on the plane $x=y$.

Work Step by Step

The limit can be calculated by simple substitution $$\lim_{(x,y)\to(-1,2)}\frac{x+y}{x-y}=\frac{-1+2}{-1-2}=-\frac{1}{3}.$$ The function is not continuous on the set of ordered pairs $(x_0,y_0)$ such that $x=y$ because then we would have zero in the denominator and we would have $$\lim_{(x,y)\to(x_0,y_0)}\frac{x+y}{x-y}\neq\frac{x_0+y_0}{x_0-y_0},$$ because we cannot divide by zero. In all other points $(x_0,y_0)$, $x_0\neq y_0$ the function is continuous because $$\lim_{(x,y)\to(x_0,y_0)}\frac{x+y}{x-y}=\frac{x_0+y_0}{x_0-y_0}.$$
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