Is f(x,y) = a + bx + cy + dxy a Quadratic Polynomial?

[n0ya]

Hello, I just want to clear up a confusion.

Is f(x,y) = a + bx + cy + dxy
a quadratic polynomial?

where x and y are variables and a,b,c,d are constants.

 

[Mark44]

Hello, I just want to clear up a confusion.

Is f(x,y) = a + bx + cy + dxy
a quadratic polynomial?

where x and y are variables and a,b,c,d are constants.

No. A quadratic polynomial in two variables looks like this:
f(x, y) = ax² + bxy + cy² + dx + ey + f. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadratic_polynomial (two variables case).

 

[HallsofIvy]

Mark44, I don't understand your response. You say "no" but then you give the general form for a quadratic in two variables which fits the one given by n0ya.
a+ bx+ cy+ dxy
is the same as ax^2+ bxy+ cy^2+ dx+ ey+ f.

Those are the same with your a= 0, b equal to nOya's d, c= 0, d equal to n0ya's b, e equal to n0ya's c, and your f equal to n0ya's a.

 

[mathman]

Hello, I just want to clear up a confusion.

Is f(x,y) = a + bx + cy + dxy
a quadratic polynomial?

where x and y are variables and a,b,c,d are constants.

The usual terminology would call this bilinear.

 

[Mark44]

I was under the impression that a and c could not both be zero, but that b could be zero. Clearly, we can't have a = b = c = 0, or the function wouldn't be quadratic, so there need to be some restrictions on a, b, and c (but not on d, e, and f). Perhaps the restriction is that not all of a, b, c can be zero.

 

[SteveL27]

Hello, I just want to clear up a confusion.

Is f(x,y) = a + bx + cy + dxy
a quadratic polynomial?

where x and y are variables and a,b,c,d are constants.

To reduce this problem to its essence, take f(x,y) = xy. On the one hand there is no x² or y² term; but there is an xy term. So is this a quadratic or not?

 

[chiro]

Hey n0ya and welcome to the forums.

As a guiding rule for further questions like this, look at the highest term (in terms of the order) and use that as a basis to figure out what kind of equation/polynomial/blah something is on top of other things that need to be considered (for example polynomials only have integer powers so a x^(1/2) in the expression would make it a non-polynomial instantly).

 

[n0ya]

My problem is really whether f(x,y) = xy is a quadratic polynomial, as SteveL27 points out.

I know that this polynomial is of degree 2, and according to Wikipedia, "a quadratic polynomial or quadratic is a polynomial of degree two", it is a quadratic polynomial. However, some argue that a x^2 or a y^2 term is needed in order to call it 'quadratic', so I just wanted to clear up this confusion.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Yes, it is a quadratic polynomial. If you were to rotate the coordinate system through 45 degrees, calling the new coordinates x' and y', f(x,y)= xy would become x'^2- y'^2= 1. Another way of looking at it is that the graph is a conic section, a hyperbola.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Hello, I just want to clear up a confusion.

Is f(x,y) = a + bx + cy + dxy
a quadratic polynomial?

where x and y are variables and a,b,c,d are constants.

The usual terminology would call this bilinear.

No, it would not. "xy" is not linear.

 

[SteveL27]

No, it would not. "xy" is not linear.

It's bilinear, meaning that

x(y1 + y2) = xy1 + xy2

and x(ay) = a(xy) for a constant a;

and likewise in y. It's linear in each variable.

 

[mathman]

In my experience there is a distinction between polynomials in one variable and polynomials in two variables. Highest order term x²y² is called biquadratic and x³y³ is called bicubic.

 

[n0ya]

Thanks for the replies.

Then, as far as I understand it, if you for example have: x = t; y = t, then f(x,y)=xy will be a parabola (t^2).

Anyway, I think both quadratic and bilinear are both correct terms here. However, it might be more intuative to call it a bilinear mapping, instead of a quadratic polynomial, since we have no x^2 or y^2 terms.

 

[coolul007]

Thanks for the replies.

Then, as far as I understand it, if you for example have: x = t; y = t, then f(x,y)=xy will be a parabola (t^2).

Anyway, I think both quadratic and bilinear are both correct terms here. However, it might be more intuative to call it a bilinear mapping, instead of a quadratic polynomial, since we have no x^2 or y^2 terms.

most of the time when you have an xy term the curve is a hyperbola

 

[Mark44]

Then, as far as I understand it, if you for example have: x = t; y = t, then f(x,y)=xy will be a parabola (t^2).

most of the time when you have an xy term the curve is a hyperbola

f(x, y) = xy represents a surface in three dimensions, not a curve in the plane, as are parabolas and hyperbolas. According to wolframalpha, the surface is a hyperbolic paraboloid.

 

[coolul007]

f(x, y) = xy represents a surface in three dimensions, not a curve in the plane, as are parabolas and hyperbolas. According to wolframalpha, the surface is a hyperbolic paraboloid.

I think you found a bug, if you plot the old fashioned way n=xy, you get all of the real factors of n and it's a hyperbola. BTW, where's the third dimension variable?

 

[Mentallic]

BTW, where's the third dimension variable?

f(x,y) IS the 3rd dimension variable. It's basically equivalent to z=xy. For any fixed value z, then yes, you're dealing with a hyperbola, but if you consider the graph intersected by the plane y=mx, then you're dealing with a parabola z=mx², hence why it's called a hyperbolic paraboloid.

 

[coolul007]

f(x,y) IS the 3rd dimension variable. It's basically equivalent to z=xy. For any fixed value z, then yes, you're dealing with a hyperbola, but if you consider the graph intersected by the plane y=mx, then you're dealing with a parabola z=mx², hence why it's called a hyperbolic paraboloid.

It must be too early, I was thinking f(x) not f(x,y)...so what is the answer to the original question? did we settle on bi-linear?

 

[Mentallic]

I don't know. There seems to be quite a few different proposals and arguments for each term. I don't think we should settle on anything yet

 

[Infinitum]

...so what is the answer to the original question? did we settle on bi-linear?

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/BilinearFunction.html