Functions of two variables & Contour Diagrams (9/11/2008)

1. Main Points of reading
The main point of today’s reading was to get familiar with functions of two variables and their applications. These functions have one dependent variables and two independent variables. They can be represented numerically, algebraically or pictorially (often by contour diagrams). Topographical maps for example are based on contour diagrams.

2. Challenges in Material
It was somewhat challenging to follow the examples involving contour diagrams, especially the terrain examples, how does one goes about making them?

3. Interesting
I especially found the Cobb-Douglas Production function to be very interesting for its applicability to the real world and it is something which one learns about in introductory economics courses. It is interesting to me how all the sciences often intervene.