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It often happens that by considering polar coordinates we can transform a limit of the form

$$\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} f(x,y) \quad \quad \quad (1)$$

into one of the form

$$\lim_{(r,\theta),\, r \to 0} F(r)G(\theta). \quad \quad (2)$$

I am assuming that $f(x,y)$ is continuous in a punctured ball centered at the origin of $\mathbb{R}^{2}$.

I have two questions regarding this process:

a) Given that $x^{2}+y^{2} = r^{2}$ and $(x,y) \to (0,0)$ iff $r \to 0$, is it OK to omit the $\theta$ in $(2)$?

b) In case $F(r)\to 0$ as $r \to 0$ and $G$ is a bounded function, it does follow that $\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} f(x,y)=0$, right?

Can you recommend a calculus text wherein an "observation" similar to the one in b is stated and proved in detail?

Thanks in advance for you replies...

Jamai-Con
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    Generally, no, you shouldn't ignore the presence of $\theta$. You may end up with a limand that depends only on $\theta$, in which case the value of the limit may be different for different values of $\theta\in[0,2\pi)$. For instance, $\frac yx$ transforms to $\tan\theta$, so the limit at the origin does not exist. – user170231 Jun 03 '21 at 20:33
  • Thanks... If I understand correctly, this implies that the answer to the first question is "no".... What about the second question? – Jamai-Con Jun 04 '21 at 11:14
  • @user170231 "I am assuming that f(x,y) is continuous in a punctured ball centered at the origin of R2." $\frac{y}{x}$ does not exist for $x=0$, hence it's not conti in a ball, and thus the example does not match the hypo. – Lab Jun 08 '21 at 04:12
  • @Jamai-Con Does my answer solves your problem? – Lab Jun 11 '21 at 04:32
  • Acc-lab: It does... – Jamai-Con Jun 12 '21 at 21:07

2 Answers2

2

Recall

We write a function $f(x,y) = F(r)G(\theta)$ with $r=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ and $\theta = \bar{\text{atan}}(x,y)$, where $$\bar{\text{atan}}(x,y) = \begin{cases} \arctan(\frac{y}{x})&\text{if } x\neq0\\ \frac{\pi}{2}&\text{if }x=0 \land y>0\\ \frac{3\pi}{2}&\text{if }x=0 \land y<0\\ \text{undefined}&\text{if }x=0 \land y=0\\ \end{cases}$$ (You can change the definition above as long as the $\theta$ is discussable.)

Then we can easily prove (by the $\epsilon-\delta$ definition) that $$ \lim_{(x,y)\to(0,0)} f(x,y) = L$$ implies $$ \lim_{r\to0} F(r)G(\theta) = L, \; \forall \theta$$ For $f(x,y)$ whose limit does not exist, the polor coordinates expression of the limit might not exists itself or depends on the value $\theta$. Nothing further is guaranteed.

Noted that the converse statement normally does not hold. The polar coordinate one limit exists and equals to $L$ for all $\theta$ does not imply the original limit exist. See b. for further discussion.

The Questions

a. Given that $r^2={x^2+y^2}$ and $(x,y)→(0,0)$ iff $r→0$, is it OK to omit the $θ$ in (2)?

By "omit", you might think $\theta$ does not affect the limit. Since nothing further is guaranteed in your statement(e.g. the original limit exists), I'd say No-the second limit might depends on $\theta$.

For instance $$ f(x,y) = \bar{\text{atan}}(x,y)$$ with $$ F(r)=1, G(\theta)=\theta$$ Beside that, how will you replace $G(\theta)$ if you omit the $\theta$ generally? You may still find ways to omit $\theta$ with more restrictions(for example, the restriction in b.), but generally it is a No.

b. In case $F(r)→0$ as $r→0$ and $G$ is a bounded function, it does follow that $\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}{f(x,y)=0}$, right?

The answer is Yes. Here's a proof.

We know that since $G$ is bounded, we may let $G(\theta) < M$, and $F(r) \to 0$ as $r \to 0$. Then given $\epsilon$ there exists $\delta$ such that for all $r<\delta$ and $\theta$ $$ |F(r)G(\theta)| < M|F(r)| < \epsilon \;$$

Noted that $\delta$ is only revelant to $\epsilon$, and is irrevelant to $\theta$.

Now for $(x,y)$, we may write $\lim\limits_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}{f(x,y)}$ $$=\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}{F(\sqrt{x^2+y^2})G(\bar{\text{atan}}(x,y))}$$ Let $r=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ and take $\delta$ in the above statement. Then for all $|(x,y)|<\delta \to r<\delta$ $$|F(\sqrt{x^2+y^2})G(\bar{\text{atan}}(x,y))|<\epsilon$$ The choice of $\delta$ does not rely $\theta$, which, is $\bar{\text{atan}}(x,y)$ in this case. And hence proved.

Note

Noted that even if this statement is correct, you should still carefully use polar coordinate to prove an existence of multi-variable limits. Here is an example of mis-using polar coordinates to examine the limit. Similar proof for that example does not work because $\delta$ is revelant to $\theta$, unlike question b. Which cause there does not exist a common $\delta$ for different angle. That is why $G(\theta)$ being bounded is neccessary here.

tl;dr

Without further restrictions, you should not omit $\theta$ in the second limit. The hypo in b. does imply the original limit exist, but carefully use this theorem- especially be sure that $G(\theta)$ is bounded.

Lab
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Well since r is defined as $\sqrt(x^2+y^2)$

As x --> 0 and y -->0, it becomes apparent that r --> 0.

Which is why we can use this. However this doesn't mean we can omit the $\theta$. As it is an independent variable.