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: 23

Answer

The limit does not exist.

Work Step by Step

Let us approach the origin along the $x$-axis. So, $y=z=0$. The limit becomes $\mathop {\lim }\limits_{\left( {x,y,z} \right) \to \left( {0,0,0} \right)} \frac{{x + y + z}}{{{x^2} + {y^2} + {z^2}}} = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{\left( {x,y,z} \right) \to \left( {0,0,0} \right)} \frac{x}{{{x^2}}} = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{\left( {x,y,z} \right) \to \left( {0,0,0} \right)} \frac{1}{x} = \infty $ Therefore, the limit does not exist. By symmetry we get the same results if we approach the origin along the $y$-axis or the $z$-axis.
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