Engineering Mathematics: MAT2691 2021 Tutorial Lessons

LESSON (13): Partial Differentiation

BACKGROUND THEORY

So far we have only differentiated functions of one variable f ( x), which means f is a function of x only. However, many
engineering problems involve functions of several variables, f ( x, y ) a function of two variables, x and y, or
f ( x, y, w), a function of three variables, x, y and w.

nRT
For example, in Thermodynamics: P
V
The pressure, P , of a gas in a cylinder will change with respect to temperature, T , volume, V , and the number of moles
of gas present, n  R is a constant  . Therefore, P  f  n, T ,V  . Meaning, P is a function of n, T and V .

BL
In Electronics: K
V
The angular deflection,  , of a beam of electronics depends on magnetic field, B , length, L , and accelerating voltage,
V  K is a constant  . Therefore,   f ( B, L,V ). Meaning,  is a function of B, L and V .

2
r
In Materials:   K  
L
The axial stress,  , varies with radius of gyration, r , and length, L  K is a constant  . Therefore,   f ( r , L).
Meaning,  is a function of r and L.

PARTIAL DERIVATIVES: NOTATION:

Suppose, z is a function of two variables, x and y. Meaning, z  f ( x, y ). Therefore, the first order and second order
partial derivatives are defined as follows:

FIRST ORDER PARTIAL D ERIVATIVES

Notation Derivative
z Differentiate z with respect to x while keeping y as a constant.
x
z Differentiate z with respect to y while keeping x as a constant.
y

SECOND ORDER PARTIAL D ERIVATIVES

Notation Derivative
 2 z   z  z
   Differentiate z first with respect to x and then differentiate with respect to x.
x 2 x  x  x
 2 z   z  z
   Differentiate z first with respect to y and then differentiate with respect to y.
y 2 y  y  y
2 z   z  z
   Differentiate z first with respect to y and then differentiate with respect to x.
xy x  y  y
2 z   z  z
   Differentiate z first with respect to x and then differentiate with respect to y.
yx y  x  x

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 Engineering Mathematics: MAT2691 2021 Tutorial Lessons

EXERCISES

z z
For z  x  2 xy  y , find
2 2 2
1. and .
x y
bd 3 I I
2. The second moment of area, I , of a rectangle with dimensions b and d is given by I  . Determine and .
12 b d
3. From the ideal gas equation, PV  RT , show that:
 P   T   V 
     1
 T   V   P 
 2 z 2 z 2 z 2 z
4. For z  x  y cos x, find 2 ,
3 2
, and .
x y 2 xy yx
u v
5. The continuity equation for two dimensional flow in fluid mechanics is defined as   0, where u and v are
x y
 y
velocities of the fluid in the x and y directions, respectively. Show that u  arctan   and v  ln x2  y 2 satisfy
x
the continuity equation.
x z z
6. If z   x  y  ln   , prove that x  y z
 y x y

SOLUTIONS

Question 1
z  x 2  2 xy 2  y 2
z
 2x  2 y2  0  y is treated as a constant
x
 2x  2 y2

z
 0  4 xy  2 y x is treated as a constant
y
 4 xy  2 y

Question 2

bd 3
I
12
I d 3

b 12
I 3bd 2 bd 2
 
d 12 4

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 Engineering Mathematics: MAT2691 2021 Tutorial Lessons

Question 3
RT
PV  RT  P
V
P R
  R and V are treated as constants
T V
PV
PV  RT  T
R
T P
  P and R are treated as constants
V R

RT
PV  RT  V  RTP 1
P
V RT
   RTP 2   2
P P

Therefore,

 P  T  V 
   
 T  V  P 
 R  P  RT 
     2 
 V  R  P 
 P  RT 
    2 
 V  P 
RT

VP
RT  RT 
  Remember: P  
 RT   V 
V 
 V 
RT

RT
 1

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 Engineering Mathematics: MAT2691 2021 Tutorial Lessons

Question 4

z  x3  y 2 cos x
 2 z   z 
  
x 2 x  x 

= 3 x 2  y 2   sin x  
x

 3 x 2  y 2 sin x 
x
 z
2
 2  6 x  y 2 cos x
x
 z   z 
2
  
y 2 y  y 

  0  2 y cos x 
y

  2 y cos x 
y
2 z
  2 cos x
y 2

2 z   z 
  
xy x  y 

  2 y cos x 
x
 z2
  2 y sin x
xy

2 z   z 
  
yx y  x 


y

3 x 2  y 2 sin x 
 0  2 y sin x
2 z
  2 y sin x
yx

2 z 2 z
In this particular problem,  . NOTE: Be very careful, this is not true in general.
xy yx

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 Engineering Mathematics: MAT2691 2021 Tutorial Lessons

Question 5

TIP: Here we are required to show that the left hand side (LHS) is equal to the right hand side. We start with the LHS:

 y
u  arctan  
x
u 1   y
    Refer to formula sheet for the derivative of arctan f ( x)
x  y  x  x 
2

1  
x
1  y 
  2 
y  x 
2
1 2
x
x2  y 
 2  2 
x y  x 
2

u y
  2
x x  y2

Also,

v  ln x 2  y 2
v
y

x y
2
1
2


y
 x2  y 2 
 
1 1
  12 x 2  y 2 2
 2 y
x2  y 2
1 1
  y
x y
2 2
x  y2
2

v
  2
y
y x  y 2
Remember: a a a 
Now, we have:

u v

x y
y y
 2  2
x y 2
x  y2
0

Hence,

LHS = RHS = 0

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 Engineering Mathematics: MAT2691 2021 Tutorial Lessons

Question 6

TIP: Simplify the LHS, term by term, separately:

x
z   x  y  ln  
 y
Product Rule:
z    x  x 
  x  y   ln     ln     x  y 
x x   y    y  x
 
Given:  x x
  x  y       ln   1
1
x x  y    y
 y 
y 1 x
  x  y      ln  
x y  y
z 1 x
   x  y     ln  
x x  y
Therefore,
z  1  x 
x  x  x  y     ln   
x  x  y 
 1   a 
 x  x  y     ln x  ln y  Remember: ln    ln a  ln b 
 x   b 
z
 x  x  y  x ln x  x ln y
x

Similarly,
x
z   x  y  ln  
 y
 
z 1  x  x
  x  y     2   ln   1
y x  y    y
 y 
y x x
  x  y     2   ln  
x y   y
z 1 x
    x  y     ln  
y  y  y

Therefore,

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Engineering Mathematics: MAT2691 2021 Tutorial Lessons

z  1  x 
y  y    x  y     ln   
y   y  y 
 1 
 y    x  y     ln x  ln y 
  y 
z
 y   x  y  y ln x  y ln y
y

Therefore,

z z
x y
x y
 x  y  x ln x  x ln y    x  y  y ln x  y ln y 
 x  y  x ln x  x ln y  x  y  y ln x  y ln y
 x ln x  y ln x  x ln y  y ln y
 ln x  x  y   ln y  x  y 
  x  y  ln x  ln y 
x  a 
  x  y  ln    Remember: ln    ln a  ln b 
 y  b 
z

Proof done!

REMARK: These are typical exam questions.

Good Luck!

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