17Calculus - Partial Derivatives

Partial derivatives follow directly from derivatives you have seen in single variable calculus. Calculation is pretty straightforward but, as is common in multi-variable calculus, you need to watch your notation carefully.

To calculate partial derivatives, you are given a function, usually of more than one variable, and you are asked to take the derivative with respect to one of the variables. To do so, you consider the other variable as a constant. Before we go any further, let's discuss notation.

Remember from single variable calculus you are given a function, say $$f(x)$$, and you are asked to take the derivative (with respect to x, of course, since x is the only variable ). For partial derivatives, you have more than one variable, say $$g(x,y)$$. Here is a comparison of how you write the derivative of g with respect to x in both cases.

The $$d$$ to indicate derivative for a single variable function is replaced by $$\partial$$ for a partial derivative. This can also be written with a subscript to indicate the variable that we are taking the derivative with respect to. Notice that with partial derivatives, there is no 'prime' notation, since there is no way to determine the derivative variable. We need to show the variable somewhere to make any sense out of a partial derivative.

Example - - Okay, we are ready for an example. Let's find both partial derivatives of $$g(x,y) = x^2y$$, meaning $$\partial g/\partial x$$ and $$\partial g/\partial y$$.

partial derivative of $$g$$ with respect to $$x$$    $$\left[ \partial g/\partial x \right]$$

y is a constant

$$\displaystyle{ \frac{\partial g}{\partial x} = }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{\partial}{\partial x}[x^2y] = }$$ $$\displaystyle{ y \frac{\partial}{\partial x}[x^2] = }$$ $$\displaystyle{ y(2x) = 2xy }$$

$$\displaystyle{\frac{\partial}{\partial x}[x^2y] = 2xy}$$

partial derivative of $$g$$ with respect to $$y$$    $$\left[ \partial g/\partial y \right]$$

x is a constant

$$\displaystyle{ \frac{\partial g}{\partial y} = }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{\partial}{\partial y}[x^2y] = }$$ $$\displaystyle{ x^2 \frac{\partial}{\partial y}[y] = }$$ $$\displaystyle{ x^2 (1) = x^2 }$$

$$\displaystyle{ \frac{\partial}{\partial y}[x^2y] = x^2 }$$

Notice that in each case, we could pull out the other variable, since it is considered a constant, and then we take the derivative just as we would in a single variable equation.

For partial derivatives, there are similar rules for products and quotients of functions. Here is a quick video showing those equations.

Dr Chris Tisdell - Product + Quotient rule formulas: Partial derivatives [51secs]

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Before we go on, let's work some practice problems.

Calculate $$\partial f/ \partial x$$ and $$\partial f/ \partial y$$ for $$f(x,y) = x^2y + y^3$$

Problem Statement

Calculate $$\partial f/ \partial x$$ and $$\partial f/ \partial y$$ for $$f(x,y) = x^2y + y^3$$

Solution

788 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Calculate $$\partial f/ \partial x$$, $$\partial f/ \partial y$$, $$f_x(0,\pi)$$ and $$\partial f(\pi,0)/ \partial y$$ for $$f(x,y) = \sin(x)+xy^2$$

Problem Statement

Calculate $$\partial f/ \partial x$$, $$\partial f/ \partial y$$, $$f_x(0,\pi)$$ and $$\partial f(\pi,0)/ \partial y$$ for $$f(x,y) = \sin(x)+xy^2$$

Solution

789 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

For $$f(x,y) = (x^2y-y^3)^5$$, find $$\partial f / \partial x$$ and $$\partial f / \partial y$$.

Problem Statement

For $$f(x,y) = (x^2y-y^3)^5$$, find $$\partial f / \partial x$$ and $$\partial f / \partial y$$.

Solution

795 video

video by Krista King Math

Calculate $$\partial z/ \partial x$$ and $$\partial z/ \partial y$$ for $$z = e^{x^2y}$$

Problem Statement

Calculate $$\partial z/ \partial x$$ and $$\partial z/ \partial y$$ for $$z = e^{x^2y}$$

Solution

1853 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Chain Rule for Partial Derivatives

These next two videos are very good since they explain the chain rule graphically using some examples. This means you will not have to memorize formulas.

This video looks at the example
(a) $$z=f(x,y),$$ $$x=g(t),$$ $$y=h(t)$$; find $$dz/dt$$
(b) $$z=f(x,y),$$ $$x=u-v,$$ $$y=v-u$$; find $$z_u$$ and $$z_v$$

Dr Chris Tisdell - Chain rule example: functions of two variables [6mins-34secs]

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

This video clip looks at
$$w=f(x,y),$$ $$x=g(r,s),$$ $$y=h(r,s)$$; find $$\partial w/ \partial r$$ and $$\partial w/ \partial s$$

Dr Chris Tisdell - Chain rule and Partial Differential Equations [55secs]

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Here is a very short video clip discussing a more general version of the chain rule for functions of more than two variables.

PatrickJMT - General Chain Rule [41secs]

video by PatrickJMT

This next video contains a proof for a chain rule for partial derivatives. We recommend that you watch it to get a deeper understanding of the mathematics but it is not required in order to use the chain rule.

Dr Chris Tisdell - Proof of a chain rule for partial derivatives [11mins-5secs]

If $$w= f(x)$$ and $$x = g(r,s)$$ with $$f$$ and $$g$$ differentiable then This video derives these equations.

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Okay, let's practice the chain rule on these problems.

For $$z = x^2y+xy^2$$, where $$x=2+t^4$$ and $$y = 1-t^3$$, calculate $$\partial z / \partial t$$.

Problem Statement

For $$z = x^2y+xy^2$$, where $$x=2+t^4$$ and $$y = 1-t^3$$, calculate $$\partial z / \partial t$$.

Solution

793 video

video by PatrickJMT

For $$u(x,y) = \sqrt{x^2+y^2}$$, where $$x = e^{st}$$ and $$y = 1+s^2\cos t$$, calculate $$\partial u / \partial t$$.

Problem Statement

For $$u(x,y) = \sqrt{x^2+y^2}$$, where $$x = e^{st}$$ and $$y = 1+s^2\cos t$$, calculate $$\partial u / \partial t$$.

Solution

1765 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

For $$z = x^2 + xy^3$$, where $$x = u v^2 + w^3$$ and $$y = u + ve^w$$, calculate $$\partial z/ \partial u$$, $$\partial z/ \partial v$$ and $$\partial z/ \partial w$$.

Problem Statement

For $$z = x^2 + xy^3$$, where $$x = u v^2 + w^3$$ and $$y = u + ve^w$$, calculate $$\partial z/ \partial u$$, $$\partial z/ \partial v$$ and $$\partial z/ \partial w$$.

Solution

This solution is shown in two consecutive videos.

794 video

video by PatrickJMT

794 video

video by PatrickJMT

First Derivative Test

One of the main uses of the first derivative is in the First Derivative Test, similar to what you learned in single variable calculus. Multi-variable functions can be tested with the partial derivative version of the First Derivative Test. This next video shows a proof of how it works. We recommend that you watch this video since it can give you a better feel for partial derivatives.

Although this is a proof, this video is really good to watch since it gives you a feel for how partial derivatives work and what they look like. So don't let the word 'proof' deter you from watching this video. This is one of the best instructors we've ever seen. So he explains it in a way that is very understandable.

Dr Chris Tisdell - Proof: First derivative test [9mins-6secs]

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Second Order Partial Derivatives

As you learned in single variable calculus, you can take higher order derivatives of functions. This is also true for multi-variable functions. However, for second order partial derivatives, there are actually four second order derivatives, compared to two for single variable functions. Using subscript notation, we have these four partial derivatives.

An important, but not obvious, result is that the two mixed partials, $$f_{xy}$$ and $$f_{yx}$$ are always equal, i.e. $$f_{xy} = f_{yx}$$.

Here is a great video clip explaining these second order equations in more detail using other, very common, notation.

Dr Chris Tisdell - Partial derivatives: 2nd order examples [2mins]

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Okay, now let's take the second derivative a step further and use the chain rule. How do we do that? Well, this video shows how and he has a neat way of drawing a diagram to help visualize the chain rule.

Dr Chris Tisdell - Chain rule: 2nd derivatives example [5mins-10secs]

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Before we go on, let's work some practice problems.

Calculate all four second order partial derivatives of $$f(x,y) = x^3y + 2$$.

Problem Statement

Calculate all four second order partial derivatives of $$f(x,y) = x^3y + 2$$.

Solution

790 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

For $$h(x,y,z,t) = x^2y \cos(z/t)$$, calculate all four first order partial derivatives.

Problem Statement

For $$h(x,y,z,t) = x^2y \cos(z/t)$$, calculate all four first order partial derivatives.

Solution

796 video

video by Krista King Math

For $$f(x,y) = x^2+e^{y^2}$$, calculate all four second order partial derivatives.

Problem Statement

For $$f(x,y) = x^2+e^{y^2}$$, calculate all four second order partial derivatives.

Solution

797 video

video by Krista King Math

For $$f(x,y) = x^3y^5 + 2x^4y$$, calculate all four second order partial derivatives.

Problem Statement

For $$f(x,y) = x^3y^5 + 2x^4y$$, calculate all four second order partial derivatives.

Solution

798 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Let $$z = \cos(x^2y)$$. Calculate $$\partial z/\partial x$$ and $$\partial^2z/\partial y \partial x$$.

Problem Statement

Let $$z = \cos(x^2y)$$. Calculate $$\partial z/\partial x$$ and $$\partial^2z/\partial y \partial x$$.

$$\partial z/\partial x = -2xy\sin(x^2y)$$; $$\partial^2z/\partial y \partial x = -2x\sin(x^2y) - 2x^3y\cos(x^2y)$$

Problem Statement

Let $$z = \cos(x^2y)$$. Calculate $$\partial z/\partial x$$ and $$\partial^2z/\partial y \partial x$$.

Solution

1947 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

$$\partial z/\partial x = -2xy\sin(x^2y)$$; $$\partial^2z/\partial y \partial x = -2x\sin(x^2y) - 2x^3y\cos(x^2y)$$

For $$f(x,y) = ln(x^2+y^2)$$, calculate $$f_{xx}$$, $$f_{yy}$$ and $$f_{xy}$$.

Problem Statement

For $$f(x,y) = ln(x^2+y^2)$$, calculate $$f_{xx}$$, $$f_{yy}$$ and $$f_{xy}$$.

Solution

791 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Applications

For $$f(x,y) = 2xy$$, calculate $$\partial^2 f / \partial x^2$$ and $$\partial^2 f / \partial y^2$$ and show that $$\partial^2 f / \partial x^2 + \partial^2 f / \partial y^2 = 0$$.

Problem Statement

For $$f(x,y) = 2xy$$, calculate $$\partial^2 f / \partial x^2$$ and $$\partial^2 f / \partial y^2$$ and show that $$\partial^2 f / \partial x^2 + \partial^2 f / \partial y^2 = 0$$.

Solution

792 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Show that the function $$u(x,y) = \ln\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$$ satisfies Laplace's equation $$f_{xx} + f_{yy} = 0$$.

Problem Statement

Show that the function $$u(x,y) = \ln\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$$ satisfies Laplace's equation $$f_{xx} + f_{yy} = 0$$.

Solution

1686 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Let $$z = f(t)$$. If $$\displaystyle{ z = \frac{x+y}{xy} }$$, show that $$x^2z_x - y^2z_y = 0$$.

Problem Statement

Let $$z = f(t)$$. If $$\displaystyle{ z = \frac{x+y}{xy} }$$, show that $$x^2z_x - y^2z_y = 0$$.

Solution

1687 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

Let a and b be constants and f is the differentiable function $$w=f(u)$$ with $$u=ax+by$$. Show that the PDE (Partial Differential Equation) $$aw_y-bw_x=0$$ holds.

Problem Statement

Let a and b be constants and f is the differentiable function $$w=f(u)$$ with $$u=ax+by$$. Show that the PDE (Partial Differential Equation) $$aw_y-bw_x=0$$ holds.

Solution

1688 video

video by Dr Chris Tisdell

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