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Exercise 868Calculus › Multivariable calculus › ContinuityL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Continuity via polar coordinates

#polar#continuity#bound

Statement

Show that f(x,y)=x3+y3x2+y2f(x,y)=\dfrac{x^3+y^3}{x^2+y^2} (with f(0,0)=0f(0,0)=0) is continuous at (0,0)(0,0).

Hint

Use Polar coordinates.

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Solution

Polar coordinates. For (x,y)=(rcos⁡θ,rsin⁡θ)(x,y) = (r\cos \theta, r \sin \theta),
∣f(x,y)∣=r∣cos⁡3θ+sin⁡3θ∣≤2r=2x2+y2→0|f(x,y)| =r|\cos^3\theta+\sin^3\theta| \leq 2r = 2 \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} \rightarrow 0
as (x,y)→(0,0)(x,y) \rightarrow (0,0).

Conclusion. lim⁡(x,y)→(0,0)f=0=f(0,0)\lim_{(x,y)\to(0,0)}f=0=f(0,0): ff is continuous at the origin.