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: 15

Answer

See the proof below.

Work Step by Step

Along the lines $ y=mx $, we have $$ f(x,y)=\frac{x^3+y^3}{x y^2}=\frac{x^3+m^3x^3}{m^2 x^3}=\frac{1+m^3}{m^2}.$$ Hence, along the paths $ y=mx $, we have $$ \lim\limits_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{x^3+y^3}{x y^2}= \lim\limits_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{xy}{x^2+y^2}=\frac{1+m^3}{m^2}$$ hence the limit depends on the slope $ m $ and so it does not exist.
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