Partial Differentiation

Let us suppose that we have the equation for a paraboloid with an elliptical cross-section,
such as z = x2 + 4y2 . In this case we have the function of two independent variables and its graph is a
3-dimensional surface. We need to be able to differentiate z with respect to either x or y.
If we treat one of the variables, say the y , as a constant, then we can treat z as the function of just
one variable , x. We can then calculate the derivative of z with respect to x.
z
This derivative is called the partial derivative of z with respect to x and is denoted by .
x
z
If we treat x as a constant then we can treat z as a function of y and we can then calculate the
y
partial derivative of z with respect to y.

Example 1. If z = x2 + 4y2
z
then = 2x (since y is treated as a constant and the derivative of a
x
constant is zero, the derivative of 4y2 is zero)
z
and = 8y (since x is treated as a constant and the derivative of a
y
constant is zero, the derivative of x2 is zero)

Example 2. If f(x,y) = xy + 2y2

f
then =y (just as the derivative of 2x is 2 , the derivative of yx
x
is y. Since 2y2 is a constant its derivative is zero)
f
and = x + 4y
y

Example 3. If f(x,y) = x2 y +y2 sin x

f
then = 2xy + y2 cos x (y is treated as a constant)
x
f
and = x2 + 2y sin x (x is treated as a constant)
y

Example 4. If f(x,y) = xy2 sin(xy)

f
then = y2 sin(xy) + xy2  y cos(xy) (applying the product rule)
x
= y sin(xy) + xy3 cos(xy)

f
and = 2xy sin(xy) + xy2  x cos(xy) (applying the product rule)
y
= 2xy sin(xy) + x2 y2 cos(xy)

D13 Partial Differentiation Page 1 of 3 May 2018

 f f
An alternative notation for partial derivatives is fx for and fy for .
x y
Often partial derivatives are evaluated at particular points.
For instance fx (2,1) refers to the value of the partial derivative of f with respect to x at the point
where x = 2 and y = 1 .

Example : If f(x,y) = 2x3 y + 3y2 , find fy(1,3)

fy = 2x3 + 6y
So fy(1,3) = 2 + 18
= 20

See Exercise 1

Higher order partial derivatives

f f
As we have seen, a function z = f(x,y) has two partial derivatives. They are and
x y
A function such as this will have four second order partial derivatives.
2f
The function can be differentiated with respect to x and then with respect to x again, (or fxx ) .
x 2
2f
It can be differentiated with respect to x and then with respect to y, (or fxy )
xy
2f
It can be differentiated with respect to y and then with respect to y again, (or fyy )
y 2
2f
It can be differentiated with respect to y and then with respect to x, (or fyx )
yx

Example 1. Find all second order partial derivatives of f(x,y) = x2 y3 + 2x cos y

fx = 2xy3 + 2 cos y

 fxx = 2y3 and fxy = 6xy2 - 2 sin y

fy = 3x2 y2 - 2x sin y

 fyy = 6x2 y - 2x cos y and fyx = 6xy2 - 2 sin y

(Note that fxy = fyx , this will always be the case)

See Exercise 2

D13 Partial Differentiation Page 2 of 3 May 2018

Exercise 1
z z
1. Find the partial derivatives and for each of the following.
x y
(a) z = 3x4 + 2y3 (b) z = x2 y

(c) z = 3xe2y (d) z = ln (x3 y5 - 2)

2. Find the given partial derivative at the given point.

(a) f(x,y) = x4 - 4y2 ; fx(2,3)

(b) f(x,y) = ln (x2 + y3 ) ; fy(-1,1)

Exercise 2

1. Find the first and second order partial derivatives of the following.

(a) f(x,y) = x ln(y) (b) f(x,y) = x3 + x2 y - 3xy2 + y3

(c) f(x,y) = sin(xy) (d) f(x,y) = x cos y + y ex

Answers
Exercise 1

z z z z z z
1. (a) = 12x3 = 6y2 (b) = 2xy = x2 (c) = 3e2y = 6xe2y
x y x y x y

z 3x 2 y 5 z 5x3 y 4
(d) = = 3 5
x x3 y5  2 y x y 2
2. (a) 32 (b) 1.5

Exercise 2

x x 1
1. (a) fx = ln y fy = fxx = 0 fyy = fxy = fyx =
y y2 y
(b) fx = 3x2 + 2xy - 3y2 fy = x2 - 6xy + 3y2 fxx = 6x + 2y fyy = - 6x + 6y fxy = fyx = 2x - 6y

(c) fx = y cos (xy) fy = x cos(xy) fxx = - y2 sin(xy) fyy = - x2 sin(xy) fxy = fyx = - xy sin(xy)

(d) fx = cos y + yex fy = - x sin y + ex fxx = yex fyy = - x cos y fxy = fyx = ex - sin y

D13 Partial Differentiation Page 3 of 3 May 2018