PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

Chap 1.2: Partial Derivatives

1. First Partial Derivatives and Application
2. Second / Higher Partial Derivatives and Application
3. Clairaut’s Theorem
4. Partial Derivatives for Multi Variable Function and Application
5. Chain Rule – 3 cases
6. Implicit differentiation

1
 Partial Derivatives for Multi Variable Functions

In the same way, we can define the partial derivatives for functions of three (or)
more variables.
For example, if w = f (x, y, z ) is a function of three variables x, y and z. Then, its
partial derivative with respect to x is denoted by

f w
fx = = = f1 = D1 f = D x f ,
x x

We cannot interpret f x geometrically, because the graph of f lines in

four-dimensional space.

2
 In general, if u is a function of n variables,

u = f (x1 , x2 ,......., xn )

Then its partial derivative with respect to the variable xi is denoted by

f u
f xi = = = f i = Di f ,
xi xi

Partial Derivatives for Multi Variable Functions 3

Example: Find the indicated partial derivatives.

x 3w 3w
w= ; ,
y + 2 z zyx x 2 y

Solution
w 1 w   x 
= =  
x y + 2 z y y  y + 2 z 
2w   w    1  −1  −1 −x 
=   =   =  ( y + 2 z ) = = (y + 2z) = − x 2
yx y  x  y  y + 2 z  ( y + 2 z )2 y ( y + 2 z )2 ( y + 2 z ) y
2
(y + 2z)
3w    2w    − 1 
2w   w    − x 
=  =   1
zyx z  yx  z  ( y + 2 z )2  =   =  =−

 xy x  y  x  ( y + 2 z )2  ( y + 2 z )2

=
2
 (y + 2z) 3w   2w    −1 
(y + 2z)3
t =  =  =0
x 2 y x  xy  x  ( y + 2 z )2 

2 4
=  2 =
( y + 2 z )3 ( y + 2 z )3
4
Example: Find the indicated partial derivatives.
 6u
u=x y z ;
a b c

xy 2 z 3

Solution
u
= cx a y b z c −1
z

 2u   u  
z 2
=   =
z  z  z
cx y (
a b c −1
z = c (c )
− 1)x a b c−2
y z

 3u    2 u  
z 3
=  2  =
z  z  z
 
c(c − 1)x a y b z c −2 = c(c − 1)(c − 2)x a y b z c −3

 4u    3u 
=   = bc (c − 1)(c − 2 )x a b −1 c −3
y z
yz 3 y  z 3 
 5u    4u 
=   = bc(b − 1)(c − 1)(c − 2)x a y b−2 z c −3
3 
y z
2 3
y  yz 

 6u    5u 
=  2 3  = abc(b − 1)(c − 1)(c − 2)x a −1 y b−2 z c −3
xy z
2 3
x  y z 
5
 1
Example 19: The kinetic energy of a body with mass m and velocity v is k= mv 2
2
k  2 k
Show that  =k
m v 2

Solution
1
k= mv 2
2
k 1 2
 = v
m 2
k 1
= m  2v = mv
v 2

 2k
and =m
v 2
k  2 k 1 2 1
  2 = v  m = mv 2 = k
m v 2 2

k  2 k
Thus,   =k
m v 2