Two varibale function. Continuity, derivability and differentiability

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the continuity, derivability, and differentiability of the function f(x,y) = x³/(x²+y²) for (x,y)≠(0,0) and f(0,0)=0. It is established that while the function is continuous, it is not differentiable at the origin (0,0) due to the directional derivatives not depending linearly on the direction vector (α,β). The partial derivatives exist and are continuous in the neighborhood of (0,0), but the overall differentiability fails as shown by the limit analysis of the directional derivatives.

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Homework Statement


Discuss the continuity, derivability and differentiability of the function

f(x,y) = \frac{x^3}{x^2+y^2} if (x,y)≠(0,0) and 0 otherwise

Homework Equations


if f is differentiable then ∇f.v=\frac{∂f}{∂v}
if f has both continuous partial derivative in a neighbourhood of x_0 then it's differentiable in x_0

The Attempt at a Solution


I have no problem with continuity.
For derivability i consider the definition of directional derivative in an arbitray direction (α,β)
\frac{f(αt,βt)-f(0,0)}{t}=\frac{α^3t^3-0}{t^3}=α^3
all the directional derivatives exist.
this equation ∇f.v=\frac{∂f}{∂v} tells me that the directional derivative should depend linearly on α and β which is not the case, f is not differentialble in x_0

on the other hand it's easy to calculate the partial derivatives in a neighborood of (0,0) and see that they are continous.
f(x,0)=x \ \ \ f(0,y)=0
\frac{∂}{∂x}f(x,0)=1 \ \ \ \frac{∂}{∂y}f(0,y)=0

i get two different results with two different approaches and i can't figure out what's wrong with one of them, or both :-p

any help is appreciated
 
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The partial derivatives are not continuous. To see this, compute either of them at ##p \neq (0,0)## and take the limit as ##p \rightarrow 0##.

If I am not mistaken, what you showed is that the functions ## f_x(x,0), f_y(0,y)## of one variable (the other being fixed to zero) are continuous.
 
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Oh i see what's the problem. Thanks a lot for the help :biggrin:
 

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