Partial Differentiation

Definition:
If z = f 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 is a point in the domain of f, then the
partial derivative of f with respect to x at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 [also called the
partial derivative of z with respect to x at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ] is the
derivative at x0 of the function that results when y = y0 is held
Partial fixed and x is allowed to vary. This partial derivative is denoted
by fx 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 and is given by
Derivatives of fx 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 =
𝑑
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦0 ቚ
𝑑𝑥
Functions of 𝑥=𝑥0

Similarly, the partial derivative of f with respect to y at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0

Two Variables [also called the partial derivative of z with respect to y at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0
is the derivative at y0 of the function that results when x = x0 is
held fixed and y is allowed to vary. This partial derivative is
denoted by fy 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 and is given by
𝑑
fy 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 = 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦 ቚ
𝑑𝑦 𝑦=𝑦0
  If z = f 𝑥, 𝑦 , then the partial derivatives fx and fy are also
denoted by the symbols:

Notations for 𝜕f 𝜕f 𝜕z
fx x, y = fx = = x, y = = f1 = D1 f = Dx f
Partial 𝜕x 𝜕x 𝜕x
Derivatives 𝜕f 𝜕f 𝜕z
fy x, y = fy = = x, y = = f2 = D2 f = Dy f
𝜕y 𝜕y 𝜕y
Rule for 𝜕𝑓
1. To find , regard 𝑦 as a constant and differentiate
Finding the 𝜕𝑥
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥.
Partial 𝜕𝑓
2. To find , regard 𝑥 as a constant and differentiate
Derivatives of 𝜕𝑦
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑦.
z = f 𝑥, 𝑦
 Find the indicated partial derivative.
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
1. f x, y = x 4 sin xy 3 ; and
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
x+2y 𝜕𝑓
2. f x, y = ;
𝑥 2 −𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑓
3. f x, y = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2;
Examples 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓
4. f x, y = 3xy + 6x − y 2 ;
𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑓
5. f r, 𝜃 = r 2 cos 𝜃 − 2𝑟 tan 𝜃 ;
𝜕𝜃
𝜕𝑓
6. f x, y, z = 4xyz + ln 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 ;
𝜕𝑧
 Find the indicated partial derivative.
𝜕𝑓
1. f x, y, z = x 2 y − 3𝑥𝑦 2 + 2𝑦𝑧;
Seatwork 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑓
½ CW 2. f 𝜃, 𝜙 = sin 3𝜃 cos 2𝜙 ;
𝜕𝜙
𝜕𝑓
3. f x, y = 4y 3 + 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ;
𝜕𝑥
  If 𝑓 is a function of two variables, then its partial derivatives 𝑓𝑥
and 𝑓𝑦 are also functions of two variables, so we can consider
their partial 𝑓𝑥 𝑥 , 𝑓𝑥 𝑦 , 𝑓𝑦 𝑥 , and 𝑓𝑦 𝑦 , which are called the
second partial derivatives of 𝑓.
 If 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦), the following notation can be used:
𝜕 𝜕𝑓 𝜕2𝑓 𝜕2𝑧
𝑓𝑥 𝑥 = 𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 𝑓11 = = = 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕 𝜕𝑓 𝜕2𝑓 𝜕2𝑧
Higher 𝑓𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 𝑓12 = = =
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥
Derivatives 𝑓𝑦 𝑥 = 𝑓𝑦𝑥 = 𝑓21 =
𝜕 𝜕𝑓
=
𝜕2𝑓
=
𝜕2𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
𝜕 𝜕𝑓 𝜕2𝑓 𝜕2𝑧
𝑓𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓22 = = 2= 2
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕2𝑓
 Thus the notation 𝑓𝑥𝑦 or means that 𝑧 first differentiated
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥
with respect to 𝑥 and then with respect to 𝑦, whereas in
computing 𝑓𝑦𝑥 , the order is reversed.
 Find the indicated partial derivative.
𝑥 𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕3 𝑓
1. f 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑒 sin 𝑦 + ln 𝑥𝑦 ; 2 , , 𝑎𝑛𝑑
Examples 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕3 𝑓
2. f 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = sin 𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑧 ;
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧𝜕𝑥
  If 𝑢 is a differentiable function of 𝑥 and 𝑦, defined by 𝑢 =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦), where 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑟, 𝑠) and 𝑦 = ℎ(𝑟, 𝑠), and , , ,
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑟
𝜕𝑦
all exist, then 𝑢 is a function of 𝑟 and 𝑠 and
𝜕𝑠
The Chain 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑦
Rule: = +
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑟
Theorem
or
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑦
= +
𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑠
  Suppose that 𝑢 is a differentiable function of 𝑛 variables
𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , …, 𝑥𝑛 and each of these variables is in turn a
The Chain function of 𝑚 variables 𝑦1 , 𝑦2 , …, 𝑦𝑚 . Suppose further
𝜕𝑥
Rule: that each of the partial derivatives 𝑖 (𝑖 = 1, 2, … , 𝑛; 𝑗 =
𝜕𝑦𝑗
1, 2, … , 𝑚)exists. Then 𝑢 is a function of 𝑦1 , 𝑦2 , …, 𝑦𝑚 and
Theorem -
General 𝜕𝑢
=
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑥1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑥2
+ +⋯+
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑥𝑛
𝜕𝑦𝑗 𝜕𝑥1 𝜕𝑦𝑗 𝜕𝑥2 𝜕𝑦𝑗 𝜕𝑥𝑛 𝜕𝑡𝑚
Version
for each 𝑖 = 1, 2, … , 𝑚.
 1. Given u = ln 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 x = res y = re−s
Example find
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
and .
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑠