Partial derivative: If 𝑈 is a function of 𝑥 and 𝑦 i.e.

(𝑥, 𝑦) then the

partial derivative of 𝑈 with respect to 𝑥 denoted by 𝑈𝑥 and defined by 𝑈𝑥
𝜕𝑈
or .
𝜕𝑥

Similarly partial derivative w.r. to 𝑦 is denoted by 𝑈𝑦 and defined by 𝑈𝑦

𝜕𝑈
or .
𝜕𝑦

Remark:
𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
 or are called the first partial derivative of 𝑈 w.r. to 𝑥 and 𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
respectively.
𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈
 or are called the second partial derivative of 𝑈 w.r. to 𝑥 and
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2
𝑦 respectively.
Partial derivatives of higher order:
𝜕 𝜕𝑈 𝜕 𝜕𝑈 𝜕 𝜕𝑈 𝜕 𝜕𝑈
( ); ( 𝜕𝑦 ); 𝜕𝑥( 𝜕𝑦 ); 𝜕𝑦( 𝜕𝑥 ) are called second order partial derivatives.
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Else write as 𝑈𝑥𝑥 , 𝑈𝑦𝑦 , 𝑈𝑥𝑦 , 𝑈𝑦𝑥 respectively.

 𝑦 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈
Example 1: If 𝑈=tan-1 prove that 2
+ =0.
𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2

𝑦
Solution: We have, 𝑈=tan-1
𝑥

Differentiating partially w.r. to 𝑥 we have

𝜕𝑈 1 −𝑦 𝑥2 −𝑦 −𝑦
= 𝑦 . ( 2) = . ( 2) = .
𝜕𝑥 1+( )2 𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑥

Again differentiating partially w.r. to 𝑥 treating 𝑦 as constant,

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕 𝜕𝑈 𝜕 −𝑦 −{(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 ).0−𝑦.2𝑥} 2𝑥𝑦
= ( )= ( )= = ______________(1)
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )2

Differentiating partially w.r. to 𝑦 we have

𝜕 1 1 𝑥
= 𝑦 . = .
𝜕𝑦 1+( )2 𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑥

Again differentiating partially w.r. to 𝑥 treating 𝑦 as constant

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕 𝜕𝑈 𝜕 𝑥 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 ).0−𝑥(0+2𝑦) −2𝑥𝑦
= ( )= ( )= = ______________(2)
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )2

From (1)+(2) we have,

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈
∴ 2
+ =0. ( )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2
Example 2: If 𝑈 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧), show that
𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 3
1. + + = .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑥+𝑦+𝑧

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 −3
2. + 𝜕𝑦 2 + 𝜕𝑧 2 = .
𝜕𝑥 2 (𝑥+𝑦+𝑧)2

Solution (1): Given that, 𝑈 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧)

𝜕𝑈 3𝑥 2 −3𝑦𝑧 3(𝑥 2 −𝑦𝑧)
∴ = = .
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧

Similarly,
𝜕𝑈 3(𝑦 2 −𝑥𝑧) 𝜕𝑈 3(𝑧 2 −𝑥𝑦)
= ; = .
𝜕𝑦 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧

Now,
𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 3(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 −𝑥𝑦−𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥) 3(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 −𝑥𝑦−𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥) 3
+ + = = = .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧 (𝑥+𝑦+𝑧)(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 −𝑥𝑦−𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥) 𝑥+𝑦+𝑧

( ).

Solution (2): Given that, U=log(x3+y3+z3-3xyz)

𝜕𝑈 3𝑥 2 −3𝑦𝑧 3(𝑥 2 −𝑦𝑧)
∴ = = .
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧

𝜕2 𝑈 6𝑥(𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 )−(3𝑥 2 −3𝑦𝑧)(3𝑥 2 −3𝑦𝑧)

=
𝜕𝑥 2 (𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧)2

6𝑥 4 +6𝑥𝑦 3 +6𝑥𝑧 3 −18𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧−9𝑥 2 +18𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧−9𝑦 2 𝑧 2

= (𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧)2

−3(𝑥 4 −2𝑥𝑦 3 −2𝑥𝑧 3 +3𝑦 2 𝑧 2 )

= .
(𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧)2

Similarly,
𝜕2 𝑈 −3(𝑦 4 −2𝑦𝑧 3 −2𝑦𝑥 3 +3𝑧 2 𝑥 2 ) 𝜕2 𝑈 −3(𝑧 4 −2𝑧𝑥 3 −2𝑧𝑦 3 +3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 )
= ; = .
𝜕𝑦 2 (𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧)2 𝜕𝑧 2 (𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧)2

Now,
𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 −3(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 −𝑥𝑦−𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥)2 −3(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 −𝑥𝑦−𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥)2
. ( )
−3
+ + =
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2 (𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧)2
= (𝑥+𝑦+𝑧)2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 −𝑥𝑦−𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥)2
= (𝑥+𝑦+𝑧)2
Example 3: If 𝑉=𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 show that 𝑥𝑉𝑥 + 𝑦𝑉𝑦 + 𝑧𝑉𝑧 = 2 𝑉.

Solution: Given that, 𝑉=𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2

Differentiating w.r. to 𝑥,
𝑉𝑥 =2x
∴ 𝑥𝑉𝑥 =2𝑥 2 .
Similarly,
𝑉𝑦 =2y ∴ 𝑦𝑉𝑦 =2𝑦 2 .

𝑉𝑧 =2z ∴ 𝑧𝑉𝑧 =2𝑧 2 .

∴ 𝑥𝑉𝑥 + 𝑦𝑉𝑦 + 𝑧𝑉𝑧 = 2𝑥 2 +2𝑦 2 +2𝑧 2 = 2(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ) = 2 𝑉 . ( )

𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
Example 4: If 𝑈= + + prove that 𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧 =0 .
𝑦 𝑧 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Solution:
Given that,
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝑈= + +
𝑦 𝑧 𝑥

𝜕𝑈 1 𝑧
= −
𝜕𝑥 𝑦 𝑥2

𝜕𝑈 𝑥 𝑧
∴𝑥 = − .
𝜕𝑥 𝑦 𝑥

Similarly,
𝜕𝑈 −𝑥 1
= +
𝜕𝑦 𝑦2 𝑧

𝜕𝑈 −𝑥 𝑦
∴𝑦 = + .
𝜕𝑦 𝑦 𝑧

𝜕𝑈 −𝑦 1
= +
𝜕𝑧 𝑧2 𝑥
𝜕𝑈 −𝑦 𝑧
∴𝑧 = + .
𝜕𝑧 𝑧 𝑥
𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝑥 𝑧 𝑥 𝑦 𝑦 𝑧
∴ 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = − − + − + =0 . ( )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝑧 𝑥
 𝜕3 𝑈
Example 5: If 𝑈 = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 prove that = (1 + 3𝑥𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 )𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 .
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧

Solution: Given that,

𝑈=𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧
𝜕𝑈
∴ =𝑥𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧
𝜕𝑧

𝛿 𝜕𝑈 𝛿
∴ 𝛿𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑧 ) = 𝛿𝑦 (𝑥𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 )

=𝑥𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 . 𝑧𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 . 𝑥

=𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥)
𝛿 𝛿 𝜕𝑈 𝛿
∴ 𝛿𝑥 {𝛿𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑧 )} = {𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥)}
𝛿𝑥

=𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 (2𝑥𝑦𝑧 + 1) + (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥)𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 . 𝑦𝑧

=𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 (2𝑥𝑦𝑧 + 1 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑦𝑧)
=𝑒 𝑥𝑦𝑧 (1 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 + 3𝑥𝑦𝑧) . ( )
1 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈
Example 6: If = √(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 ) ; 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ≠ 0 show that + 𝜕𝑦 2 + 𝜕𝑧 2 =0
𝜕𝑥 2

Solution:
Given that,
1
𝑈=√(𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧 2 )

𝛿𝑈
∴ =−𝑥(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−3/2
𝛿𝑥
−𝑥
=(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )3/2
3
𝜕2 𝑈 −(𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧 2 )2 +3𝑥2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦2 +𝑧 2 )1/2
∴ =
𝜕𝑥 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )3
1
(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )2 (2𝑥 2 −𝑦2 −𝑧 2 )
= .
(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )3

Similarly,
1 1
𝜕2 𝑈 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )2 (2𝑦 2 −𝑧 2 −𝑥 2 ) 𝜕2 𝑈 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )2 (2𝑧 2 −𝑥 2 −𝑦2 )
∴ = ; ∴ = .
𝜕𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )3 𝜕𝑧 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2 )3

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈
Now, + 𝜕𝑦 2 + 𝜕𝑧 2 = 0 . ( )
𝜕𝑥 2
 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 1
Example 7: If = 𝑓(𝑟) ; 𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 show that 2
+ = 𝑓 ′′ (𝑟) + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟).
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 𝑟

Solution:
Given that,
𝑈= 𝑓(𝑟)

= 𝑓(√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
Differentiating partially w.r. to 𝑥 we get
𝛿𝑈 2𝑥
= 𝑓 ′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) .
𝛿𝑥 2√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑥
=𝑓 ′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) . .
√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

Again differentiating partially w.r. to 𝑥 we get

𝜕2 𝑈 𝛿𝑈 𝑥 𝑥 𝛿𝑈
= 𝑓 ′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) ( )+ . 𝑓 ′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
𝜕𝑥 2 𝛿𝑥 √𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 √𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝛿𝑥
2𝑥
√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 . 1−𝑥
2√𝑥2 +𝑦2 𝑥 2𝑥
=𝑓 ′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) . + . 𝑓 ′′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) .
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 √𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 2√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

𝑥2 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 −𝑥 2
=𝑓 ′′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) . + 𝑓 ′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) .
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

𝑥2 𝑦2
=𝑓 ′′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) . + 𝑓 ′ (√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) .
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

𝑥2 𝑦2
=𝑓 ′′ (𝑟) . + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) . _______________ (1)
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

Similarly,
𝜕2 𝑈 𝑦2 𝑥2
= 𝑓 ′′ (𝑟) . + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) . ________________(2)
𝜕𝑦 2 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

From (1) + (2) we get,

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 1
+ = 𝑓(𝑟) + 𝑓 ′ (𝑟) . ( )
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝑟
 A function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is said

to be a homogeneous function of degree 𝑛 in the variable 𝑥 and 𝑦 if it

𝑦 𝑥
can be expressed in the form 𝑥 𝑛 𝜑( ) or 𝑦 𝑛 𝜑( ) .
𝑥 𝑦

Example: 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 3𝑥𝑦 3

2𝑦 2 3𝑦 3
=𝑥 4 [1 + + ]
𝑥2 𝑥3
𝑦
∴ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)=𝑥 4 𝜑( ) .
𝑥
Example 1: If 𝑈 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is a homogeneous function of 𝑥 & 𝑦 of degree 𝑛
having continuous partial derivatives then prove that
𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)𝑈 .
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦

Solution: Since 𝑈 is a homogeneous function of 𝑥 and 𝑦 of degree 𝑛, we

have by Eular’s theorem,
𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑥 +𝑦 = 𝑛𝑈 ___________(1)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Differentiating (1) partially w.r. to x ,

𝜕𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕𝑈
+𝑥 +𝑦 =𝑛
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑥𝑛
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑥

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 = (𝑛 − 1)𝑥 ___________(2)
𝜕𝑥 2 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑥

Differentiating (1) partially w.r. to y ,

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑥 +𝑦 + =𝑛
𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2 +𝑦 = 𝑛𝑦
𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑦 2 2
+ 𝑥𝑦 = (𝑛 − 1)𝑦 __________(3)
𝜕𝑦 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑦

From (2)+(3) we get,

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 2𝑥𝑦 = (𝑛 − 1){𝑥 +𝑦 }
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦2 + 2𝑥𝑦 = (𝑛 − 1)𝑛𝑈
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦

𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2 𝑈 𝜕2
∴ 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 2𝑥𝑦 = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1)𝑈 .
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦

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 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
Example 2: If 𝑈 = sin−1 show that +𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑈 .
𝑥+𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Solution:
Given that,
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑈 = sin−1
𝑥+𝑦

𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 =
𝑥+𝑦

𝑦2
𝑥 2 (1+ 2 )
𝑥
𝑜𝑟, 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 = 𝑦
𝑥(1+ )
𝑥

𝑦
𝑜𝑟, 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 = 𝑥 𝜑 ( ) .
𝑥

Let, = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 .
∴ 𝑉 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 is a homogeneous function of degree 1 in the variable 𝑥 and
𝑦 . Therefore by Eular’s theorem we get,
𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑥 +𝑦 = 1 .𝑉
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 𝜕 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 +𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑈 + 𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑈 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 +𝑦 = 𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 +𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑈 .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑈 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

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 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
Example 3: If 𝑈 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 show that 𝑥 +𝑦 = sin 2𝑈 .
𝑥−𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Solution:
Given that,
𝑥 3 +𝑦 3
𝑈 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝑥−𝑦

𝑦 3
𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 𝑥 3 {1+( ) } 𝑦
∴ tan 𝑈 = = 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝜑( ) .
𝑥−𝑦 𝑥(1− ) 𝑥
𝑥

∴ tan 𝑈 is a homogeneous function of degree 2

Let, 𝑉 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑈
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
∴ = . = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑈
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
∴ = . = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑈
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

By Eular’s theorem,
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑥 +𝑦 = 2𝑉
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑈 + 𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑈 = 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑈
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 +𝑦 =2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑈

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈
=2 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑈
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑈

=2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑈 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑈
=sin 2𝑈 .
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 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
Example 4: If 𝑈 = cos −1 prove that , 𝑥 +𝑦 = −2cot 𝑈 .
𝑥+𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝑥 3 +𝑦 3
Solution: Given that, 𝑈 = cos −1
𝑥+𝑦

𝑦3
𝑥 +𝑦 3
3)
3 𝑥 3 (1 +
𝑦
∴ cos 𝑈 = = 𝑥 = 𝑥 2
𝜑( )
𝑥+𝑦 𝑦 𝑥
𝑥(1 + )
𝑥
∴ cos 𝑈 is a homogeneous function of degree 2
Let, 𝑉 = cos 𝑈
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
∴ = . = − sin 𝑈
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
∴ = . = − sin 𝑈
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

By Eular’s theorem,
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑥 +𝑦 = 2𝑉
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
𝑜𝑟, −𝑥 sin 𝑈 − 𝑦 sin 𝑈 = 2 cos 𝑈
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 cos 𝑈
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 +𝑦 = −2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 sin 𝑈

𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈
∴ 𝑥 +𝑦 = −2 cot 𝑈 .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

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