Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr.

Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

Functions of Several Variables

Suppose 𝑫 is a set of n-tuples of real numbers (𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 ). A real-valued function 𝑓 on 𝑫 is
a rule that assigns a unique (single) real number:
𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 )
to each element in 𝑫.
o The set 𝑫 is the function’s domain.
o The set of 𝑤-values taken on by 𝑓 is the function’s range.
o The symbol 𝑤 is the dependent variable of 𝑓, and 𝑓 is said to be a function of the 𝑛
independent variables to 𝑥1 to 𝑥𝑛 .
o We call the 𝑥𝑗 ’s the function’s input variables and call 𝑤 the function’s output variable.

Example 2.1: The value of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 at point (3,0,4) is 𝑓(3,0,4) =

√32 + 02 + 42 = 5
Example 2.2: What are the domain and range for the following functions of two variables?
Solution:
Function Domain Range
𝑤 should be real
𝑤 = √𝑦 − 𝑥 2 → 𝑦 ≥ 𝑥2 The result of 𝑤 [0, ∞)
value not complex
1 𝑤 should be real
𝑤= → 𝑥𝑦 ≠ 0 The result of 𝑤 (−∞, 0) ⋃(0, ∞)
𝑥𝑦 value not infinite
→ 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
𝑤 should be real
𝑤 = sin 𝑥𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 The result of 𝑤 [−1,1]
value
(𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒)

Example 2.3: What are the domain and range for the following functions of three variables?
Solution:
Function Domain Range
→ 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
𝑤 should be real 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 The result
𝑤 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 [0, ∞)
value 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 of 𝑤
(𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒)
1 𝑤 should be real The result
𝑤= → (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) ≠ (0,0,0) (0, ∞)
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 value not infinite of 𝑤
→ 𝑧 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒
𝑤 should be real The result
𝑤 = 𝑥𝑦 ln 𝑧 𝑖. 𝑒, ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑧 > 0 (−∞, ∞)
value not infinite of 𝑤

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

Limit of a function:
1) We say that a function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) approaches the limit 𝐿 as (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) and
write:
lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝐿
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 )

2) If, for every number 𝜖 there exists a corresponding number 𝛿 such that for all (𝑥, 𝑦) in
the domain of 𝑓,

|𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) − 𝐿| < 𝜖 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 0 < √(𝑥 − 𝑥0 )2 + (𝑦 − 𝑦0 )2 < 𝛿

Example 2.4: Calculate the limit

𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 + 3
lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,1) 𝑥 2 𝑦+ 5𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 3
Solution: Use the Quotient rule (rule 5 above)
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 + 3 0 − (0)(1) + 3 3
lim = = = −3
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,1) 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 5𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 3 02 (1) + 5(0)(1) − 13 −1

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

Example 2.5: Calculate the limit

cos 𝑦 + 1
lim𝜋
(𝑥,𝑦)→( ,0) 𝑦 − sin 𝑥
2

Solution: Use the Quotient rule

cos 𝑦 + 1 cos 0 + 1 1 + 1
lim𝜋 = 𝜋 = −1 = −2
(𝑥,𝑦)→( ,0) 𝑦 − sin 𝑥 0 − sin 2
2

Example 2.6: Calculate the limit

𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦
lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) √𝑥 − √𝑦

Solution: Use the Quotient rule

𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 02 − (0)(0) 0
lim = = → 𝑈𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) √𝑥 − √𝑦 √0 − √0 0

Since the Quotient rule does not apply, try to manipulate, and cancel the denominator. If
multiply by (√𝑥 + √𝑦), then:

𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 𝑥(𝑥 − 𝑦) √𝑥 + √𝑦 𝑥(𝑥 − 𝑦)(√𝑥 + √𝑦)

lim = lim × = lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) √𝑥 − √𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) √𝑥
√𝑥 + √𝑦 − √𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥−𝑦
= lim 𝑥(√𝑥 + √𝑦) = (0)(√0 + √0) = 0
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)

Continuity:
A function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is continuous at the point (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) if:
1) 𝑓 is defined at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ).
2) lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) exists
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 )
3) lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 )

A function is continuous if it is continuous at every point of its domain.

Example 2.7: A Function with a Single Point of Discontinuity. Show that

2𝑥𝑦
, (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0,0)
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = {𝑥 2
+ 𝑦2
0 , (𝑥, 𝑦) = (0,0)

is continuous at every point except the origin.

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

Solution:
We follow the three conditions listed above:
1) For every point (𝑥, 𝑦) other than (0,0),
𝑓 is defined by value. For example: 𝑓(0,1) = 0
2) Since lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) exists, 𝑓 has definite value
(𝑥,𝑦)≠(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 )
3) At (0, 0), the value of 𝑓 is defined, but 𝑓,
we claim, has no limit as (𝑥, 𝑦) → (0,0).
The reason is that different paths of approach to the origin can lead to different
results, as we now see.
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 (𝑚 is an arbitrary value), the:
2𝑥𝑦 2𝑥(𝑚𝑥) 𝑥 2 (2𝑚) 2𝑚
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)|𝑦=𝑚𝑥 = 2 | = = =
𝑥 + 𝑦 2 𝑦=𝑚𝑥 𝑥 2 + (𝑚𝑥)2 𝑥 2 (1 + 𝑚2 ) 1 + 𝑚2
Therefore, 𝑓 has this number as its limit as (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches (0, 0) along the line:
2𝑥𝑦 2𝑚
lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = lim 2 2
| =
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 ) (𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 ) 𝑥 + 𝑦
𝑦=𝑚𝑥
1 + 𝑚2
𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑦=𝑚𝑥

This limit changes with 𝑚. There is therefore no single number we may call the limit of
𝑓 as (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches the origin. The limit fails to exist, and the function is not
continuous.

Example 2.8: A Function with a Single Point of Discontinuity. Show that

2𝑥 2 𝑦
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 4
𝑥 + 𝑦2
has no limit as (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches (0,0).
Solution:
Use the Quotient rule:
2𝑥 2 𝑦 2(0)2 (0) 0
lim 4 2
= 4 2
= → 𝑈𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 + 𝑦 (0) + (0) 0
We examine the values of 𝑓 along curves that end at (0, 0). Along the curve 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ≠ 0,
the function has the constant value:
2𝑥 2 𝑦 2𝑥 2 (𝑘𝑥 2 ) 𝑥 4 (2𝑘) 2𝑘
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)| 𝑦=𝑘𝑥 2 = 4 | = = =
𝑥 + 𝑦 2 𝑦=𝑘𝑥 2 𝑥 4 + (𝑘𝑥 2 )2 𝑥 4 (1 + 𝑘 2 ) 1 + 𝑘 2

Therefore:

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

2𝑘
lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)|𝑦=𝑘𝑥 2 =
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 ) (𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 ) 1 + 𝑘2
𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑥 2

This limit varies with the path of approach. If (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches (0, 0) along the parabola for
instance, and the limit is 1. If (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches (0, 0) along the x-axis, and the limit is 0. By the
two-path test, 𝑓 has no limit as (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches (0, 0).

Two-Path Test for Nonexistence of a Limit:

If a function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) has different limits along two different paths as (𝑥, 𝑦) approaches (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ),
then lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) does not exist.
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 )

Partial Derivatives of a Function of Two variables

The partial derivative gives the rate of change of a function 𝑓 with respect to one variable
at a point (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) while other variables are held fixed at some value.
𝜕𝑓 𝑑 𝑓(𝑥0 + ℎ, 𝑦0 ) − 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )
| = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦0 )| = lim , 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
𝜕𝑥 (𝑥0,𝑦0) 𝑑𝑥 𝑥=𝑥0 ℎ→0 ℎ

Similarly,
𝜕𝑓 𝑑 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )
| = 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦)| = lim , 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
𝜕𝑦 (𝑥 𝑑𝑦 ℎ→0 ℎ
0 ,𝑦0 ) 𝑦=𝑦 0

Notations:
𝜕𝑓
𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑥
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓
𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑦
𝜕𝑦

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
Example 2.9: Find the partial derivatives 𝜕𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = (2𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 at a point (4,2)
𝜕𝑦

Solution:
𝜕𝑓 𝜕
= (2𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 = 2(2)(2𝑥 − 3𝑦)|(4,2) = 4{2(4) − 3(2)} = 8
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓 𝜕
= (2𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 = 2(−3)(2𝑥 − 3𝑦)|(4,2) = −6{2(4) − 3(2)} = −12
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
Example 2.10: Find the partial derivatives 𝜕𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦 sin 𝑥𝑦
𝜕𝑦

Solution:
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑦 sin 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑦 sin 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑦(𝑦) cos 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑦 2 cos 𝑥𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑦 sin 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑦 sin 𝑥𝑦 + sin 𝑥𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑥𝑦 + sin 𝑥𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑧
Example 2.11: Find the partial derivative 𝜕𝑥 of 𝑦𝑧 − ln 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑦. (Note: 𝑧 is a function of 𝑥 and
𝑦)
Solution:
𝜕𝑧
We apply 𝜕𝑥 to both sides:

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝑧 1 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 1 𝜕𝑧 1 𝜕𝑧
(𝑦𝑧 − ln 𝑧) = (𝑥 + 𝑦) → 𝑦 − =1+0→ (𝑦 − ) = 1 → = →
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝑦 − 1 𝜕𝑥
𝑧
𝑧
=
𝑦𝑧 − 1
Example 2.12: Find the partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 sin(𝑦 + 3𝑧) with respect to z. (Note:
𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 are independent)
Solution:
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑥 sin(𝑦 + 3𝑧) = 𝑥 cos(𝑦 + 3𝑧) = 𝑥 cos(𝑦 + 3𝑧) (𝑦 + 3𝑧) = 3𝑥 cos(𝑦 + 3𝑧)
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

Second-Order Partial Derivatives

𝜕 2𝑓 𝜕 𝜕𝑓
2
= ( ) 𝑑 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓 𝑑𝑥 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑥𝑥 𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏 𝑥𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕 2𝑓 𝜕 𝜕𝑓
2
= ( ) 𝑑 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓 𝑑𝑦 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑦𝑦 𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏 𝑦𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 2𝑓 𝜕 𝜕𝑓
= ( ) 𝑑 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑓𝑦𝑥 𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏 𝑦𝑥
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Differentiate first with respect to y, then with respect to x.
𝜕 2𝑓 𝜕 𝜕𝑓
= ( ) 𝑑 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑓𝑥𝑦 𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏 𝑥𝑦
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
Differentiate first with respect to x, then with respect to y.

Example 2.13: Find the second-order partial derivatives: 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 , 𝑓𝑦𝑥 , and 𝑓𝑥𝑦 of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) =
𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥
Solution:
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = { (𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 )} = { 𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 } = {cos 𝑦 𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑒 𝑥 }
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= {cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 } = cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 = 0 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑦𝑒 𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑦𝑦 = { (𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 )} = { 𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 } = {𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑒 𝑥 𝑦}
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝑥 𝜕
= {−𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 𝑒 𝑥 } = (−𝑥 sin 𝑦) + 𝑒 = −𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 0 = −𝑥 cos 𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑦𝑥 = { (𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 )} = (cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 ) = cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 = − sin 𝑦 + 𝑒 𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝑥
𝑓𝑥𝑦 = { (𝑥 cos 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥 )} = (−𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 𝑒 𝑥 ) = (−𝑥 sin 𝑦) + 𝑒 = − sin 𝑦 + 𝑒 𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

The Mixed Derivative Theorem:

If 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) and its partial derivatives 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 , 𝑓𝑥𝑦 and 𝑓𝑦𝑥 are defined throughout an open region
containing a point (𝑎, 𝑏) and are all continuous at (𝑎, 𝑏), then:
𝑓𝑥𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏) = 𝑓𝑦𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏)

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

𝑒𝑦
Example 2.14: Find 𝑤𝑥𝑦 of 𝑤 = 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2+1

Solution: 𝑤𝑥𝑦 states to differentiate first with respect to y and then with respect to x. since
the second term of w does not contain x, we can differentiate first with respect to x then with
respect to y:
𝜕 𝜕 𝑒𝑦 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝑒𝑦 𝜕
𝑤𝑥𝑦 = 𝑤𝑦𝑥 = { (𝑥𝑦 + 2 )} = { 𝑥𝑦 + } = (𝑦 + 0) = 1
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝑦 +1 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑦 2 + 1 𝜕𝑦

Chain Rule
If 𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) has continuous partial derivatives 𝑓𝑥 and 𝑓𝑦 and if 𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑡), 𝑦 = 𝑦(𝑡) are
differentiable functions of 𝑡, then the composite 𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑥(𝑡), 𝑦(𝑡)) is a differentiable function
of 𝑡 and:
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑦
= ∙ + ∙
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑡

𝜕𝑤
Example 2.15: Evaluate for: 𝑤 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 , 𝑥(𝑡) = cos 𝑡 + sin 𝑡 , 𝑦(𝑡) = cos 𝑡 − sin 𝑡 using chain
𝜕𝑡
rule.
Solution: We apply chain rule:
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑦
= ∙ + ∙
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑡
𝜕𝑤 𝜕 2 𝜕 𝜕 2 𝜕
= (𝑥 + 𝑦 2 ) ∙ (cos 𝑡 + sin 𝑡) + (𝑥 + 𝑦 2 ) ∙ (cos 𝑡 − sin 𝑡)
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑡
𝜕𝑤
= 2𝑥 ∙ (− sin 𝑡 + cos 𝑡) + 2𝑦 ∙ (− sin 𝑡 − cos 𝑡)
𝜕𝑡
= 2(cos 𝑡 + sin 𝑡) ∙ (− sin 𝑡 + cos 𝑡) + 2(cos 𝑡 − sin 𝑡) ∙ (− sin 𝑡 − cos 𝑡)
= 2(cos 𝑡 + sin 𝑡) ∙ (cos 𝑡 − sin 𝑡) − 2(cos 𝑡 − sin 𝑡) ∙ (cos 𝑡 + sin 𝑡) = 2{0} = 0

𝜕𝑤 𝑥 𝑦
Example 2.16: This is an example of three variables - Evaluate for: 𝑤 = 𝑧 + 𝑧 , 𝑥(𝑡) =
𝜕𝑡
1
cos2 𝑡 , 𝑦(𝑡) = sin2 𝑡 , 𝑧 = 𝑡 using chain rule.

Solution: We apply chain rule:

𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑧
= ∙ + ∙ + ∙
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑡

8
Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 2: Limit, Continuity Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester and Partial Derivatives

𝜕𝑤 𝜕 𝑥 𝑦 𝜕 𝜕 𝑥 𝑦 𝜕 𝜕 𝑥 𝑦 𝜕 1
= ( + ) ∙ (cos 2 𝑡) + ( + ) ∙ (sin2 𝑡) + ( + ) ∙ ( )
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝑧 𝑧 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝑧 𝑧 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑧 𝑧 𝑧 𝜕𝑡 𝑡
𝜕𝑤 1 1 −𝑥 −𝑦 −1 𝑥 + 𝑦 cos 2 𝑡 + sin2 𝑡 1
= ∙ (−2 sin 𝑡 cos 𝑡) + ( ) ∙ (2 sin 𝑡 cos 𝑡) + ( 2 + 2 ) ∙ ( 2 ) = 2 2 = =
𝜕𝑡 𝑧 𝑧 𝑧 𝑧 𝑡 𝑡 𝑧 1 1
𝑡2 2
𝑡
=1