Question:medium

Consider the function \( F: \mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2 \) given by \[ F(x, y) = (x^3 - 3xy^2 - 3x, 3x^2y - y^3 - 3y). \] Then, for the function \( F \), the inverse function theorem is:

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The inverse function theorem fails where the Jacobian matrix has a zero determinant. Find where the determinant vanishes to determine the points where the theorem does not apply.
Updated On: Feb 2, 2026
  • applicable at all points of \( \mathbb{R}^2 \)
  • not applicable at exactly one point of \( \mathbb{R}^2 \)
  • not applicable at exactly two points of \( \mathbb{R}^2 \)
  • not applicable at exactly three points of \( \mathbb{R}^2 \)
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

To determine where the inverse function theorem is applicable, we need to analyze the Jacobian matrix of the function \( F: \mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2 \). The inverse function theorem can be applied at a point if the determinant of the Jacobian at that point is nonzero.

The function given is:

\( F(x, y) = (x^3 - 3xy^2 - 3x, 3x^2y - y^3 - 3y) \).

We will compute the Jacobian matrix \( J \) of \( F \), which is the matrix of first-order partial derivatives:

\[ J = \begin{bmatrix} \frac{\partial F_1}{\partial x} & \frac{\partial F_1}{\partial y} \\ \frac{\partial F_2}{\partial x} & \frac{\partial F_2}{\partial y} \end{bmatrix} \]

where \( F_1(x, y) = x^3 - 3xy^2 - 3x \) and \( F_2(x, y) = 3x^2y - y^3 - 3y \).

Calculating the partial derivatives, we have:

  • \(\frac{\partial F_1}{\partial x} = 3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3\)
  • \(\frac{\partial F_1}{\partial y} = -6xy\)
  • \(\frac{\partial F_2}{\partial x} = 6xy\)
  • \(\frac{\partial F_2}{\partial y} = 3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3\)

Thus, the Jacobian matrix is:

\[ J = \begin{bmatrix} 3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3 & -6xy \\ 6xy & 3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3 \end{bmatrix} \]

The determinant of the Jacobian matrix can be calculated as:

\[ \text{det}(J) = (3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3)(3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3) - (-6xy)(6xy) \] \[ = (3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3)^2 - (-6xy)^2 \] \[ = (3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3)^2 - 36x^2y^2 \]

Setting \(\text{det}(J) = 0\) will give us the points where the inverse function theorem is not applicable:

\[ (3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3)^2 = 36x^2y^2 \]

This implies:

\[ 3x^2 - 3y^2 - 3 = \pm 6xy \]

Solving for these conditions involves finding points \((x, y)\) on \(\mathbb{R}^2\) where these equalities hold.

Analyzing these equations, you get two different solutions, leading to two specific points where \(\text{det}(J) = 0\), making the inverse function theorem not applicable. Hence the correct choice is:

not applicable at exactly two points of \( \mathbb{R}^2 \)
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