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Partial Derivatives
Partial Derivatives
GRADUATE COLLEGE
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
Differentiation of real-valued functions of n variables is reduced to the one-
dimensional case by treating a function of n variables as a function of one variable at a time
and holding the others fixed. This leads to the concept of a partial derivative. We begin with
functions with two variables.
if this limit exists. Similarly, the partial derivative of f with respect to y is that function
denoted by D2f, such that its function value at any point (x,y) in the domain of f is given by
f ( x, y + ∆y ) − f ( x, y )
D2f(x,y) = ∆lim
y →0 ∆y
if this limit exists.
D1f is read as “D sub 1 of f,”. and this denotes the function that is the partial
derivative of f with respect to the first variable. D1f(x,y) is read as “D sub 1 of f of x and y,”
and this denotes the function value of D1f at the point (x,y). Other notations for D1f are f1, fx,
∂ f ∂f ( x, y )
and . Other notations for D1f(x,y) are f1(x,y), fx(x,y) and . Similarly, other
∂ x ∂x
∂f
notations for D2f are f2, fy, and ; other notations for D2f(x,y) are f2(x,y), fy(x,y) and
∂y
∂f ( x, y ) ∂z
. If z = f(x,y), we can write for D1f(x,y). A partial derivative cannot be thought
∂y ∂x
of as a ratio of ∂z and ∂x because neither of these symbols has a separate meaning. You
dy
learned that the notation can be regarded as the quotient of two differentials when y is
dx
∂z
a function of the single variable x, but there is no similar interpretation for .
∂x
Solution
f ( x + ∆x, y ) − f ( x, y )
D1f(x,y) = lim
∆x →0 ∆x
3( x + ∆x) − 2( x + ∆x) y + y 2 − (3 x 2 − 2 xy + y 2 )
2
= lim
∆x →0 ∆x
3 x 2 + 6 x∆x + 3(∆x) 2 − 2 xy − 2 y∆x + y 2 − 3 x 2 + 2 xy − y 2 )
= lim
∆x →0 ∆x
f ( x, y + ∆y ) − f ( x, y )
D2f(x,y) = ∆lim
x →0 ∆y
3 x 2 − 2 x( y + ∆y ) + ( y + ∆y ) 2 − (3 x 2 − 2 xy + y 2 )
= lim
∆x →0 ∆y
3 x 2 − 2 xy − 2 x∆y + y 2 + 2 y∆y + (∆y ) 2 − 3 x 2 + 2 xy − y 2
= lim
∆x →0 ∆y
− 2 x∆y + 2 y∆y − ( ∆x 2 )
= lim
∆x →0 ∆x
= ∆lim ( −2 x + 2 y + ∆y )
x →0
= -2x + 2y
• Illustration 1. We apply formula (1) to find D1f(3,-2) for the function f of example 1.
f (3 + ∆x,−2) − f (3,−2)
D1f(3,-2) = lim
∆x →0 ∆x
27 + 18 ∆x + 3(∆x) 2 + 12 + 4∆x + 4 − 43
= lim
∆x →0 ∆x
(18 + 3∆x + 4)
= lim
∆x →0 ∆x
= 22
Alternate formulas to (1) and (2) for D1f(x0,y0) and D2f(x0,y0) are given by
f ( x, y 0 ) − f ( x 0 , y 0 )
D1f(x0,y0) = xlim (3)
→x 0 x − x0
if the limit exists and
f ( x0 , y ) − f ( x0 , y 0 )
D2f(x0,y0) = ylim (4)
→y 0 y − y0
if this limit exists.
• Illustration 2. We apply formula 3 to find D1f(3, -2) for the function f of Example 1
f ( x,−2) − f (3,−2)
D1f(3, -2) = lim
x →3 x −3
D1f(3, -2) = 18 + 4 = 22
Example 2. Find fx(x,y) and fy(x,y) if f(x,y) = 3x3 – 4x2y + 3xy2 + sin xy2.
Solution:
Then D1f(x0,y0) is the slope of the tangent line to the curve given by (5) at the point
P0(x0,y0, f(x0,y0)) in the plane y = y0. In an analogous fashion, D2f(x0,y0) represents the slope
of the tangent line to the curve having equations
x = x0 and z = f(x,y)
Example 3. Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve of intersection of the
surface
1
z= 24 − x 2 − 2 y 2 with the plane y = 2 at the point (2,2, 3 ) .
2
so at (2,2, 3 ) ,
∂z −2 −1
= =
∂x 2 12 2 3
Example 4. Given
xy ( x 2 − y 2 )
if (x,y) ≠ (0,0)
x2 + y2
f ( x, y ) =
0 if (x,y) = (0,0)
Solution.
We compute f1(0,0) from (3) with y0 = 0 and f2(0,0) from (4) with x0 = 0.
Solution
f ( x, y ) − f (0, y ) f ( x, y ) − f ( x,0)
f1(0,y) = lim f2(x,0) = lim
x →0 x −0 y →0 y −0
xy ( x − y 2 )
2
xy ( x 2 − y 2 )
−0 −0
= x2 + y2 = x2 + y2
lim lim
x →0 x y →0 y
y( x 2 − y 2 ) x( x − y 2 )
2
= lim = lim
x →0 x2 + y2 y →0 x2 + y2
− y3 x3
= =
y2 x2
= -y =x
(a)because f1(0,y) = -y if y ≠ 0 and, from Example (4), f1(0,0) = 0, we can conclude that
f1(0,y) = -y for all y.
(b)because f2(x,0) = x if x ≠ 0 and, from Example 4, f2(0,0), then f2(x,0) = x for all x.
Solution:
If f is a constant function of two variables, then in general D1f and D2f are also
functions of two variables. And if the partial derivatives of these functions exist, they are
also called second partial derivatives of f. In contrast, D1f and D2f are called first partial
derivatives of f. There are four second partial derivatives of a function of two variables. If f
is a function of the two variables x and y, the notations
∂2 f
D2(D1f) D1 2f f1 2 fxy ∂y∂ x
all denote the second partial derivative of f that is obtained by first partial differentiating f
with respect to x and then partial-differentiating the result with respect to y. This second
partial derivative is defined by
f1 ( x, y + ∆y ) − f1 ( x, y )
f1 2(x,y) = ∆lim (7)
y →0 ∆y
if this limit exists. The notations
∂2 f
D1(D1f) D1 1f f1 1 fxx ∂x 2
all denote the second partial derivative of f that is obtained by partial differentiating twice
with respect to x.
We have the definition
f1 ( x + ∆x, y ) − f1 ( x, y )
f1 1(x,y) = lim (8)
∆x →0 ∆x
if this limit exists. The other two second partial derivatives are defined in an analogous way.
f 2 ( x + ∆x, y ) − f 2 ( x, y )
f2 1(x,y) = lim (9)
∆x →0 ∆x
Example 9. Given f(x,y) = x3y – y cosh xy. Find (a) fx y(x,y); (b) fy x(x,y)
Observed in Example 9 the “mixed” partial derivatives fx y(x,y) and fy x(x,y) are equal.
So for this particular function, when finding the second partial derivative with respect to x
and y, the order of differentiation is immaterial. This condition holds for many functions.
However, the following example shows that it is not always true.
Solution:
From (7),
f 1 (0,0 + ∆y ) − f 1 (0,0)
f1 2(0,0) = ∆lim
y →0 ∆y
= -1
From (9),
f 2 (0 + ∆x,0) − f 2 (0,0)
f2 1(0,0) = lim
∆x →0 ∆x
From (12), f2(Δx,0) = Δx and f2(0,0) = 0. Therefore
∆x − 0
f2 1(0,0) = lim
∆x →0 ∆x
lim 1
= ∆x →0
=1
For the function in Example 10 the mixed partial derivatives f1 2(x,y) and f2 1(x,y) are
not equal at (0,0). A set of conditions for which f1 2(x0,y0) and f2 1(x0,y0) are equal is given by
Theorem 12.3.3, which follows. The function of example 10 does not satisfy the hypothesis
of this theorem because both f1 2 and f2 1 are discontinuous at (0,0).
12.3.3 Theorem
Suppose that f is a function of two variables x and y defined on an open disk
B((x0,y0);r) and fx, fy,fxy and fyx also are defined on B. Furthermore, suppose that fxy and fyx
are continuous on B. Then
fxy(x0,y0) = fyx(x0,y0).
As a result of this therefore, if the function f of two variables has continuous partial
derivatives on some open disk, then the order of partial differentiation can be changed
without affecting the result; that is,
D1 1 2f = D1 2 1f = D2 1 1f
D1 1 2 2f = D1 2 1 2f = D1 2 2 1f = D2 1 1 2f = D2 1 2 1f = D2 2 1 1f
and so forth. In particular, assuming that all of the partial derivatives are continuous on
some open disk, we can prove that D2 1 1f = D1 1 2f by applying Theorem 12.3.3 repeatedly.
Doing this we have
∆y
f ′(x) = lim
∆x →0 ∆x
where Δx and Δy are increment of x and y and
Δy = f(x + Δx) – f(x)
When │Δx│is small and Δx ≠ 0, Δy/Δx differs from f ′(x) by a small number that depends on
Δx, which we shall denote by є. Thus
∆y
є= − f ' ( x) if Δx ≠ 0
∆x
where є is a function of Δx. From this equation we obtain
Δy = f ′(x) Δx + є Δx
where є is a function of Δx and є→0 as Δx→0
From the above it follows that if the function f is differentiable at x0, the increment of
f at x0, denoted by Δf(x0), is given by
lim є = 0
Δf(x0) = f ′(x0) Δx + є Δx where ∆x →0
For the functions of two or more variables an equation corresponding to this one is
used to define differentiability. And from the definition we determine criteria for a function
to be differentiable at a point. We give the details for a function of two variables and begin
by defining the increment of such a function.
where є1 and є2 are functions of Δx and Δy such that є1 →0 and є2 →0 as (Δx, Δy)→(0,0), then
f is differentiable at (x0,y0).
Illustration 2 We use Definition 12.4.2 to prove that the function of 1 is
differentiable at all points in R2. We must show that for all points (x0,y0) in R2 we can find an
є1 and an є2 such that
Δf(x0,y0) = D1f(x0,y0) Δx + D2f(x0,y0) Δy + є1 Δx + є2 Δy
The right side of the above equation can be written in the following ways:
So there are at least four possible pairs of values for є1 and є2:
є1 = –2y0Δy – (Δy)2 and є2 = –x0 Δy
є1 = –2y0 Δy and є2 = – Δx Δy –x0 Δy
є1 = – (Δy)2 and є2 = –2y0 Δx –x0 Δy
є1 = 0 and є2 = –2y0 Δx – Δx Δy – x0 Δy
Note that it is only necessary to find one pair of values for є1 and є2.
The next theorem states that for a function of two variables, differentiability
implies continuity, just as was the case for a function of single variable.
12.4.3 Theorem
If a function of two variables is differentiable at a point, it is continuous at that
point.
Example 1. Given xy
x2 + y2 if (x,y) ≠ (0,0)
f ( x, y ) =
0 if (x,y) = (0,0)
prove that D1f(0,0) and D2f(0,0) exist but that f is not differentiable at (0,0).
Solution:
f ( x,0) − f (0,0) f (0, y ) − f (0,0)
D1f(0,0) = lim D2f(0,0) = lim
x →0 x −0 y →0 y −0
0 −0 0 −0
= lim = lim
x →0 x y →0 y
= lim 0 x →0
= lim 0 y →0
=0 =0
Therefore both D1f(0,0) and D2f(0,0) exist.
12.4.4 Theorem
Let f be a function of x and y such that D1f and D2f exist on an open disk B(P0;r),
where P0 is the point (x0,y0). Then if D1f and D2f are continuous at P0, f is differentiable at P0.
Solution
The domain of f is the set of all points (x,y) in R2 for which x > 0. We compute the partial
derivatives:
y
D1f(x,y) = ey – D2f(x,y) = xey – ln x
x
Because D1f and D2f are continuous at all points in R2 for which x > 0, then from Theorem
12.4.4, f is differentiable at all points in its domain.
The expression involving the first two terms on the right side of this equation is
called the principal part of Δf(x0,y0) or the total differential of f at (x0,y0).
Δz = D1f(x0,y0) dx + D2f(x0,y0) dy + є1 dx + є2 dy
By comparing this equation and (5), observe that when dx (i.e., Δx) and dy (i.e.,
Δy) are close to zero, and because then є1 and є2 also will be close to zero, dz is an
approximation to Δz.
∂z ∂ z
Equation (4) with the notation and becomes
∂x ∂ y
Solution If V cubic inches is the volume of the right-circular cylinder of radius r inches and
height h inches, then
V = πr 2 h
The exact volume of metal in the container is the difference between the volumes
of two right-circular cylinders for which r = 2.1, h = 6.2 and r = 2, h = 6, respectively. The
increment ΔV gives the exact volume of metal, but because only an value is wanted, we
find dV instead. From (6)
∂V ∂V
dV = dr + dh
∂r ∂h
= 2rh dr + r2 dh
Thus ΔV ≈ 3.2, so that the volume of metal in the container is approximately 3.2
in3. Because the cost of the metal is 40 cents per cubic inch, the number of cents in the
approximate cost of the metal is, therefore,128 ≈ 402.
_ _ _ _ _
∆f ( P ) = f ( x1 + ∆x1 , x 2 + ∆x 2 ,..., x n + ∆x n ) − f ( P )
Letting w = f(x1, x2,…xn), defining dx1 = Δx1, dx2 = Δx2, … , dxn = Δxn, and using the
∂w
notation dx 1 instead of Di f(P), we can write the equation of Definition 12.4.8 as
∂x1
∂w ∂w ∂w
dw = dx 1 + dx 2 + . . . dx n (7)
∂x1 ∂x 2 ∂x n
Solution
(a)If V cubic centimeters is the volume of the box whose dimensions are x, y, and z
centimeters,
V = xyz
The exact value of the error is found from ΔV; however, we use dV as an
approximation to ΔV. From (7) for three independent variables,
∂V ∂V ∂V
dV = dx + dy + dz
∂x ∂y ∂z
= yz dx + xz dy + xy dz
From the given facts │Δx│≤ 0.02, │Δy│≤ 0.02, and │Δz│≤ 0.02. To find the
greatest error in the volume we take the greatest error in the measurements of the three
dimensions. So taking dx = 0.02, dy = 0.02, dz = 0.02, and x=10, y = 12, z = 15, we have
Thus ΔV ≈ 9.
Conclusion: The greatest possible error in the calculation of the volume from
the given measurements is approximately 9 cm3.
(b)The relative error is found by dividing the error by the actual value. Therefore, the
relative error in computing the volume from the given measurements is ΔV/V ≈ dV/V.
Because dV/V = 9/1800
∆V
≈ 0.005
V
Conclusion: The approximate percent error is 0.05 percent.