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A graph of the various level curves of a function is called a contour map. Example: Making a Contour Map Given the function [latex]f\,(x,\ y)=\sqrt{8+8x-4y-4x^{2}-y^{2}}[/latex], find the level curve corresponding to [latex]c=0[/latex].
The spacing between level curves is a good way to estimate gradients: level curves that are close together represent areas of steeper descent/ascent. If the function is a bivariate probability distribution, level curves can give you an estimate of variance.
A level curve is just a 2D plot of the curve f (x, y) = k, for some constant value k. Thus by plotting a series of these we can get a 2D picture of what the three-dimensional surface looks like. In the following, we demonstrate this.
Example 1. Let $f(x,y) = x^2-y^2$. We will study the level curves $c=x^2-y^2$. First, look at the case $c=0$. The level curve equation $x^2-y^2=0$ factors to $(x-y)(x+y)=0$. This equation is satisfied if either $y=x$ or $y=-x$. Both these are equations for lines, so the level curve for $c=0$ is two lines.
Oct 3, 2022 · A graph of the various level curves of a function is called a contour map. Example \(\PageIndex{4}\): Making a Contour Map Given the function \(f(x,y)=\sqrt{8+8x−4y−4x^2−y^2}\), find the level curve corresponding to \(c=0\).
Sep 29, 2023 · Topographical maps can be used to create a three-dimensional surface from the two-dimensional contours or level curves. For example, level curves of the distance function defined by \(f(x,y) = \frac{x^2 \sin(2y)}{32}\) plotted in the \(xy\)-plane are shown at left in Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\).
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When working with functions , the level sets are known as level curves. When we are looking at level curves, we can think about choosing a -value, say , in the range of the function and ask “at which points can we evaluate the function to get ?” Those points form our level curve.
