8.

4 Partial Derivatives of a Function

Recall that a function with two (2) variables is denoted by 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) and a three (3)
variables function is denoted by 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).
A vector-valued function in Cartesian or three dimensional (3D) space can be
presented as,
𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑓1 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐢 + 𝑓2 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐣 + 𝑓3 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐤
Note that a derivatives of this vector-valued function involves partial derivatives.
Hence, partial derivatives of a multivariable function is introduced first before the
derivatives of the given vector-valued function.
8.4 Partial Derivatives of a Function
8.4.1 First Order Partial Derivatives
• Partial derivatives of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥
𝜕𝑓
 is denoted by or 𝑓𝑥
𝜕𝑥
 by differentiating 𝑓 w.r.t. 𝑥 by treating 𝑦 constant i.e.
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 , 𝑓𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 𝑦 2

• Partial derivatives of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 with respect to 𝑦

𝜕𝑓
 is denoted by 𝜕𝑦 or 𝑓𝑦
 by differentiating 𝑓 w.r.t. 𝑦 by treating 𝑥 constant i.e.
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 2 , 𝑓𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦
8.4 Partial Derivatives of a Function
8.4.1 First Order Partial Derivatives
• Partial derivatives of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 with respect to
 𝑥: Diff. 𝑓 with respect to 𝑥 by treating 𝑦 & 𝑧 constants
 𝑦: Diff. 𝑓 with respect to 𝑦 by treating 𝑥 & 𝑧 constants
 𝑧: Diff. 𝑓 with respect to 𝑧 by treating 𝑥 & 𝑦 constants

i.e. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 𝑧 + 𝑥𝑦 2 + 2𝑦𝑧 2 ,
𝑓𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑧 + 𝑦 2 , 𝑓𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑧 2 , 𝑓𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑦𝑧
8.4 Partial Derivatives of a Function
8.4.2 Second Order Partial Derivatives
𝜕2 𝑓
or 𝑓𝑥𝑥 = (𝑓𝑥 )𝑥
𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕2 𝑓
or 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = (𝑓𝑦 )𝑦
𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕2 𝑓
or 𝑓𝑥𝑦 = (𝑓𝑥 )𝑦
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥

Example: 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 2,
𝑓𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦 2 , 𝑓𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑦
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 6𝑥𝑦, 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥, 𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑦
8.4 Partial Derivatives of a Function
8.4.2 Second Order Partial Derivatives
Example:
Find the second order partial derivatives for
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦 − 4𝑦 3
Solution:
𝑓𝑥 = 2𝑦, 𝑓𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 12𝑦 2
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 0, 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = −24𝑦, 𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 2, 𝑓𝑦𝑥 = 2
8.4 Partial Derivatives of a Function
8.4.2 Second Order Partial Derivatives
Example:
Find the second order partial derivatives 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 , 𝑓𝑧𝑧 , 𝑓𝑥𝑦 and 𝑓𝑧𝑥 for
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 7𝑥𝑦𝑧 + 3 cos 𝑥𝑧
Solution:
𝑓𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑦 − 7𝑦𝑧 − 3𝑧 sin 𝑥𝑧 , 𝑓𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥𝑧, 𝑓𝑧 = −7𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑥 sin 𝑥𝑧
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 2𝑦 − 3𝑧 2 cos 𝑥𝑧 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 0, 𝑓𝑧𝑧 = −3𝑥 2 cos 𝑥𝑧
𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 7𝑧, 𝑓𝑧𝑥 = −7𝑦 − 3 sin 𝑥𝑧 − 3𝑥𝑧 cos 𝑥𝑧
Exercise 8.6:
Find the first order partial derivatives and 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 , 𝑓𝑧𝑧 , 𝑓𝑥𝑦 , 𝑓𝑦𝑧 and 𝑓𝑥𝑧 for each of the
following functions.

1) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 3 + 6𝑧

2) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 2 + 5𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑦𝑧 2 + 4

3) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 −3 𝑦 2 − sin 𝑦𝑧

4) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 3𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 4𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧
# 𝑓𝑥𝑥 𝑓𝑦𝑦 𝑓𝑧𝑧 𝑓𝑥𝑦 𝑓𝑦𝑧 𝑓𝑥𝑧

1 0 −6𝑦 0 2 0 0

Ans: 2 2𝑦 3 𝑧 2 6𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 2 2𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 6𝑦 6𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 2 + 5 6𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 − 6𝑧 4𝑥𝑦 3 𝑧

3 12𝑥 −5 𝑦 2 2𝑥 −3 + 𝑧 2 sin 𝑦𝑧 𝑦 2 sin 𝑦𝑧 −6𝑥 −4 𝑦 − cos 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑦𝑧 sin 𝑦𝑧 0

4 24𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 −3𝑥 sin 𝑦 + 8𝑥 3 𝑧 0 3 cos 𝑦 + 24𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 8𝑥 3 𝑦 12𝑥 2 𝑦 2

8.4.3 Partial Derivatives of Vector-Valued Functions
Given a vector-valued function
𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑓1 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐢 + 𝑓2 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐣 + 𝑓3 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐤,
Partial derivative with respect to 𝑥:
𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
= 𝐅𝑥 = 𝐢+ 𝐣+ 𝐤
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
Partial derivative with respect to 𝑦:
𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
= 𝐅𝑦 = 𝐢+ 𝐣+ 𝐤
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
Partial derivative with respect to 𝑧:
𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝑓1 𝜕𝑓2 𝜕𝑓3
= 𝐅𝑧 = 𝐢+ 𝐣+ 𝐤
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
8.4.3 Partial Derivatives of Vector-Valued Functions
Given a vector-valued function
𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑓1 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐢 + 𝑓2 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐣 + 𝑓3 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝐤,
Higher Partial Derivatives

𝜕 2𝐅 𝜕 𝜕𝐅
2
= 𝐅𝑥𝑥 =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

𝜕 2𝐅 𝜕 𝜕𝐅
2
= 𝐅𝑦𝑦 =
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

𝜕 2𝐅 𝜕 𝜕𝐅
2
= 𝐅𝑧𝑧 =
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
8.4.3 Partial Derivatives of Vector-Valued Functions
Example:
Given 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦 = 3𝑥 cos 𝑦 , 𝑥 2 ln 𝑦 , 2𝑥𝑒 𝑦 , find the first derivatives and second
derivatives 𝐅𝑥𝑥 , 𝐅𝑦𝑦 , 𝐅𝑥𝑦 .

Solution:
𝐅𝑥 = 3 cos 𝑦 , 2𝑥 ln 𝑦 , 2𝑒 𝑦
𝐅𝑦 = −3𝑥 sin 𝑦 , 𝑥 2 𝑦 −1 , 2𝑥𝑒 𝑦
𝐅𝑥𝑥 = 0, 2 ln 𝑦 , 0
𝐅𝑦𝑦 = −3𝑥 cos 𝑦 , −𝑥 2 𝑦 −2 , 2𝑥𝑒 𝑦
𝐅𝑥𝑦 = −3 sin 𝑦 , 2𝑥𝑦 −1 , 2𝑒 𝑦
8.4.3 Partial Derivatives of Vector-Valued Functions
Example:
Given 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑦𝑧 2 , 𝑦/𝑧 3 , sin 𝑥𝑦 , find the first derivatives and second
derivatives 𝐅𝑥𝑧 , 𝐅𝑥𝑦 , 𝐅𝑧𝑦 .

Solution:
2 1
𝐅𝑥 = 1, 0, 𝑦 cos 𝑥𝑦 , 𝐅𝑦 = 𝑧 , 𝑧 3 , 𝑥 cos 𝑥𝑦

𝐅𝑧 = 2𝑦𝑧, −3𝑦/𝑧 4 , 0
𝐅𝑥𝑧 = 0, 0,0
𝐅𝑥𝑦 = 0,0, cos 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑥𝑦
𝐅𝑧𝑦 = 2𝑧, −3/𝑧 4 , 0
8.4.3 Partial Derivatives of Vector-Valued Functions
Exercise 8.7:
𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝐅 𝜕2 𝐅 𝜕2 𝐅 𝜕2 𝐅 𝜕2 𝐅 𝜕2 𝐅
1) Compute 𝜕𝑥, 𝜕𝑦, 𝜕𝑧, 𝜕𝑥2 , 𝜕𝑦2 , 𝜕𝑧 2 , 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 and for the given vector-valued
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧
functions:
a) 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = (6𝑥 − 𝑧) 𝐢 + 5𝑥 −2 𝑧 2 𝐣 + sin(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧) 𝐤
b) 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 3𝑧𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 + ln 𝑦𝑧 𝐣 + 𝑥 + 𝑦𝑧 𝐤
c) 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = cos(𝑥 − 𝑦) 𝐢 + 𝑥𝑦𝑧 2 𝐣 + 3𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 𝑧 𝐤
𝑥𝑦 𝜕2 𝐅 𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝐅
2) Given 𝐅 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑒 𝐢 + 𝑥 − 𝑦 𝐣 + 𝑥 sin 𝑦 𝐤. Find and × ቚ .
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 (1,0,0)

[Ans of Q2: 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 1 + 𝑥𝑦 𝐢 + cos 𝑦 𝐤, 𝑥cos 𝑦 + sin 𝑦 𝐢 + 𝑥𝑒 𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑦 − 𝑦 cos 𝑦 𝐣 − 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 𝑦 + 𝑥 𝐤, 𝐢 − 𝐤]

Answer:
# 𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝐅 𝜕𝐅
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

a 6𝐢 − 10𝑥 −3 𝑧 2 𝐣 + cos 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 𝐤 2cos 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 𝐤 −𝐢 + 10𝑥 −2 𝑧 𝐣 − cos(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧) 𝐤

b 3𝑧𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 + 𝐤 1 1
3𝑧𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝑧𝐤 3𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝑦𝐤
𝑦 𝑧
c − sin 𝑥 − 𝑦 𝐢 + 𝑦𝑧 2 𝐣 + 3𝐤 sin(𝑥 − 𝑦) 𝐢 + 𝑥𝑧 2 𝐣 + 5𝐤 2𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝐣 − 𝐤

# 𝜕2𝐅 𝜕 2𝐅 𝜕2𝐅
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2

a 30𝑥 −4 𝑧 2 𝐣 − sin(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧) 𝐤 −4 sin 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧 𝐤 10𝑥 −2 𝐣 − sin(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧) 𝐤

b 3𝑧𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 1 1
3𝑧𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 − 𝐣 − 𝐣
𝑦2 𝑧2
c − cos(𝑥 − 𝑦) 𝐢 − cos(𝑥 − 𝑦) 𝐢 2𝑥𝑦 𝐣

# 𝜕2𝐅 𝜕2𝐅
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑧

a −2 sin(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧) 𝐤 2 sin(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑧) 𝐤

b 3𝑧𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 3𝑒 (𝑥+𝑦) 𝐢 + 𝐤

c cos(𝑥 − 𝑦) 𝐢 + 𝑧 2 𝐣 2𝑥𝑧 𝐣