Calculus (3rd Edition)

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1464125260
ISBN 13: 978-1-46412-526-3

Chapter 15 - Differentiation in Several Variables - 15.2 Limits and Continuity in Several Variables - Exercises - Page 772: 14

Answer

See the proof below.

Work Step by Step

Along the $ x $-axis $ y=0$, the function $\frac{xy}{x^2+y^2}=\frac{0}{x^2+0}=0$ and along the $ y $-axis $ x=0$, the function $\frac{xy}{x^2+y^2}=\frac{0}{0+y^2}=0$. Now, along the line $y=x $, we have $$ \lim\limits_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{xy}{x^2+y^2}= \lim\limits_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{xy}{x^2+y^2}\\ =\lim\limits_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{x^2}{x^2+x^2}\\ =\lim\limits_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{1}{2}\\ =\dfrac{1}{2}$$ Thus the limits are not the same and hence the overall limit does not exist.
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