Partial Derivative

Let 𝑓:ℝ2 → ℝ be a function of two

variables 𝑥 and 𝑦. Then if we differentiate
𝑢 = 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥 and keeping
𝑦 as constant, the result is said to be
partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect
to 𝑥.
𝝏𝒇 𝒇(𝒙+𝒉,𝒚 )− 𝒇(𝒙,𝒚)
𝒇𝒙 𝒐𝒓 = lim .
𝝏𝒙 𝒉→0 𝒉
Similarly on differentiating 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) with
respect to 𝑦 and keeping 𝑥 as constant,
the result is said to be partial derivative of
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑦.

𝝏𝒇 𝒇(𝒙,𝒚+𝒌 )− 𝒇(𝒙,𝒚)
𝒇𝒚 𝒐𝒓 = lim .
𝝏𝒚 𝒌→0 𝒌

𝝏𝒇 𝝏𝒇
Example Find and where
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚

(i) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 .
(ii) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥𝑦 2 + 5𝑦.
(iii) If 𝑢 = log(𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧),
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝟑
prove that + + =
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝒙+𝒚+𝒛
Solution:
𝝏𝒇 𝝏
(i) = (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) = 𝟐𝒙, ( as 𝑦 is
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙
constant)

𝝏𝒇 𝝏
= (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) = 𝟐𝒚, ( as 𝑥 is
𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚
constant)

𝝏𝒇 𝝏
(ii) = (𝑥 3 − 3𝑥𝑦 2 + 5𝑦) = 𝟑𝑥 2 −
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙
3𝑦 2 + 0 = 3(𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 ),

𝜕𝑓 𝜕 3
= (𝑥 − 3𝑥𝑦 2 + 5𝑦)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
= 0 − 6𝑥𝑦 + 5 = 5 − 6𝑥𝑦
 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏
(iii) = . (𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 +
𝝏𝒙 𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝝏𝒙
𝟑𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒚𝒛
𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧) =
𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 +𝑧 3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧

𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏 3 3
= 3 . ( 𝑥 + 𝑦
𝝏𝒚 𝑥 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝝏𝒚
+ 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧)
𝟑𝒚𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝒛
= 3
𝑥 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧
𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏 3 3 3
= 3 . ( 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧
𝝏𝒛 𝑥 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧 𝝏𝒛
𝟑𝒛𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝒚
− 3𝑥𝑦𝑧) = 3
𝑥 + 𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 − 3𝑥𝑦𝑧
 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 3(𝑥2 +𝑦2 +𝑧2 −𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥−𝑥𝑦)
Hence + + = =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑥3 +𝑦3 +𝑧3 −3𝑥𝑦𝑧
3(𝑥2 +𝑦2 +𝑧2 −𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥−𝑥𝑦) 3
(𝑥+𝑦+𝑧)(𝑥2 +𝑦2 +𝑧2 −𝑦𝑧−𝑧𝑥−𝑥𝑦)
=(
𝑥+𝑦+𝑧)
 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
Ex.1 Find and , where
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

(i) 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 2𝑥−3𝑦

𝑥
(ii) 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 2 2
𝑥 +𝑦
(iii) 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = log(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
(iv) 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦).

Solution:
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
(i) = 2. 𝑒 2𝑥−3𝑦 and = −3𝑒 2𝑥−3𝑦 .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕 𝜕
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 𝑥 (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 ). (𝑥)−𝑥. (𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
(ii) 𝜕𝑥
= (
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
)= (𝑥 +𝑦 )2
2 2

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

and
 𝜕 ( ) 𝜕
(𝑥2 + 𝑦2 ). 𝑥 − 𝑥. (𝑥2 + 𝑦2 )
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
= ( 2 )=
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑥 + 𝑦2 (𝑥2 + 𝑦2 )2
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ). 0 − 𝑥. 2𝑦 −2𝑥𝑦
= = .
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )2

𝜕𝑓 𝜕 1 𝜕
(iii) = {log(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )} = (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥
2𝑥
(𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 1 𝜕
and = {log(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )} = (𝑥 2 +
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦
2𝑦
𝑦2) = ( .
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 )

𝜕𝑓 𝜕
(iv) = {𝑥 3 𝑦 2 (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)} = (1 − 𝑥 −
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕 𝜕
𝑦) (𝑥 3 𝑦 2 ) + (𝑥 3 𝑦 2 ) (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦) =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
3𝑥 𝑦 . (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦) + 𝑥 𝑦 . (−1) = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 −
2 2 3 2

4𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3
and
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 3 2
= {𝑥 𝑦 (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)}
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 3 2
= (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦) (𝑥 𝑦 )
𝜕𝑦
3 2
𝜕
+ (𝑥 𝑦 ) (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)
𝜕𝑦
= 2𝑥 3 𝑦. (1 − 𝑥 − 𝑦) + 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 . (−1)
= 2𝑥 3 𝑦 − 2𝑥 4 𝑦 − 3𝑥 3 𝑦 2 .
 Second Order Partial Derivative

𝝏𝟐 𝒇 𝝏 𝝏𝒇
𝒇𝒙𝒙 𝒐𝒓 𝟐
= ( )
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙
𝒇𝒙 (𝒙 + 𝒉, 𝒚 ) − 𝒇𝒙 (𝒙, 𝒚)
= lim
𝒉→0 𝒉

𝝏𝟐 𝒇 𝝏 𝝏𝒇
𝒇𝒚𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝟐
= ( )
𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚
 𝒇𝒚 (𝒙, 𝒚 + 𝒌 ) − 𝒇𝒚 (𝒙, 𝒚)
= lim
𝒌→0 𝒌

𝝏𝟐 𝒇 𝝏 𝝏𝒇
𝒇𝒚𝒙 𝒐𝒓 = ( )
𝝏𝒚𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙
𝒇𝒙 (𝒙, 𝒚 + 𝒌) − 𝒇𝒙 (𝒙, 𝒚)
= lim
𝒌→0 𝒌

𝝏𝟐 𝒇 𝝏 𝝏𝒇
𝒇𝒙𝒚 𝒐𝒓 = ( )
𝝏𝒙𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝒇𝒚 (𝒙 + 𝒉, 𝒚 ) − 𝒇𝒚 (𝒙, 𝒚)
= lim
𝒉→0 𝒉
Example.
If 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑦 + 5𝑦 2 , find 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑥𝑦 ,
𝑓𝑦𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 .

Solution:

𝑓𝑥 = 4𝑥 + 4𝑦, 𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 4.
𝜕 𝜕𝑓 𝜕
𝑓𝑦𝑥 = ( )= (4𝑥 + 4𝑦) = 4
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝑓𝑦 = 0 + 4𝑥 + 10𝑦 = 4𝑥 + 10𝑦, 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 10

𝜕 𝜕𝑓 𝜕
𝑓𝑥𝑦 = ( )= (4𝑥 + 10𝑦) = 4
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
Example.
If 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = −𝑦 3 + 2𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 25,
find 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑥𝑦 , 𝑓𝑦𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 .

Answer:
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 6𝑦, 𝑓𝑦𝑥 = 4𝑦 + 6𝑥,
𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 4𝑦 + 6𝑥, 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = −6𝑦 + 4𝑥.
Example
If 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦,
find 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑥𝑦 , 𝑓𝑦𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 .

Answer: 𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 6, 𝑓𝑦𝑥 =1,

𝑓𝑥𝑦 =1, 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 0.
 𝜕2𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
Ex.( 2) Verify and are identical
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

where
(i) 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚𝟑
𝒙
(ii) 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝟐 𝟐
(𝒙 +𝒚 )

Solution:
∂𝑓
(i) = 3𝒙2 + 2𝒚2
∂𝑥
𝜕2 𝑓 ∂ ∂𝑓 ∂
⇒ = ( )= (3𝒙2 + 2𝒚2 ) = 4𝑦
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 ∂𝑦 ∂𝑥 ∂𝑦

Again,
𝜕𝑓
= 4𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦 2
𝜕𝑦
𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕 ∂𝑓 𝜕
⇒ = ( )= (4𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦2 )
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ∂𝑦 𝜕𝑥
= 4𝑦 + 0 = 4𝑦
 𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
Hence 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 and 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 are identical.

𝝏𝒇 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 ).𝟏−𝒙.𝟐𝒙 𝒚𝟐 −𝒙𝟐

(ii) = (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 )𝟐
= (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 )𝟐
𝝏𝒙
𝜕2𝑓 ∂ ∂𝑓 ∂ 𝒚 −𝒙 𝟐 𝟐
⇒ = ( )= ( 𝟐 )
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 ∂𝑦 ∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 (𝒙 + 𝒚𝟐 )𝟐
𝟐 ∂ ∂ 𝟐
(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 ) . (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 ) − (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 ). {(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 ) }
∂𝑦 ∂𝑦
=
(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 )𝟒
𝟐
(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 ) . 𝟐𝒚 − (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 ). 2(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 ). 𝟐𝒚
=
(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 )𝟒
2(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 )[𝒚. (𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 ) − 𝟐𝒚. (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 )]
=
(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 )𝟒
2(3𝒙𝟐 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟑 )
=
(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 )𝟑
Again,

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

𝜕2𝑓 𝜕 ∂𝑓
⇒ = ( )
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ∂𝑦
∂ −2𝑥𝑦
= ( 2 )
∂𝑥 (𝑥 + 𝑦 2 )2
∂ ∂
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )2 (2𝑥𝑦) − 2𝑥𝑦. {(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )2 }
= −[ ∂𝑥 ∂𝑥 ]
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )4

(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )2 . 2𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦. 2(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ). 2𝑥
= −[ ]
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )4

2(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )[𝑦. (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) − 4𝑥 2 𝑦]
=−
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )4
−2(𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦 3 − 4𝑥 2 𝑦) 2(3𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦 3 )
= =
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )3 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )3

𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
Hence 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 and 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 are identical.
 2 2) 𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
Ex.3 IF 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = log(𝑥 + 𝑦 ,show that 𝜕𝑥 2 + 𝜕𝑦2 = 0.

Solution:
𝜕𝑓 2𝑥 𝜕2 𝑓 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 ).𝟐−𝟐𝒙.𝟐𝒙 𝟐𝒚𝟐 −𝟐𝒙𝟐
=( ⇒ = =
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 ) 𝜕𝑥 2 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 )𝟐 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 )𝟐

𝜕𝑓 𝟐𝒚 𝜕2 𝑓 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 ).𝟐−𝟐𝒚.𝟐𝒚 𝟐𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝒚𝟐

and = ⇒ = =
𝜕𝑦 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 ) 𝜕𝑦 2 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 )𝟐 (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 )𝟐

𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓 𝟐𝒚𝟐 −𝟐𝒙𝟐 +𝟐𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝒚𝟐

Therefore 𝜕𝑥 2 + 𝜕𝑦 2 = (𝒙𝟐 +𝒚𝟐 )𝟐
= 0.
 2 3 𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
Ex. (4) IF 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 3𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑦 , show that + = 0.
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

Solution:
𝜕𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
= 6𝑥𝑦 ⇒ = 6𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2

𝝏𝒇 2 2 𝜕2 𝑓
and = 3𝑥 − 3𝑦 ⇒ = −6𝑦
𝝏𝒚 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
Therefore 𝜕𝑥 2 + 𝜕𝑦 2 = 6𝑦 − 6𝑦 = 0.
Ex.(5) If 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 , show that
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧 = 2𝑢
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Solution:
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
= 2𝑥 ⇒𝑥 = 2𝑥2 ,
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑢 𝜕2 𝑢
= 2𝑦 ⇒ = 2𝑦2 ,
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕𝑢 𝜕2 𝑢
and = 2𝑧 ⇒ = 2𝑧2
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 2

Therefore
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧 = 2. (𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 ) = 2𝑢.
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
 𝝏𝟐 𝒇 𝝏𝟐 𝒇 𝝏𝟐 𝒇 𝝏𝟐 𝒇
Prob. Find , , and where
𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒚𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚𝟐

(i) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦 3 ,
(ii) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 3𝑥𝑦 3 ,
(iii)𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑚𝑥−𝑛𝑦 ,
(iv) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑦,
(v) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 𝑦 ,
( ) 3 𝑥𝑦 2
(vi) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑒 .
Homogeneous Function:
A function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) of two variables
𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 is said to be homogeneous of
degree 𝑛, if it can be expressed in the form
𝑛
𝑦
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 𝛷 ( )
𝑥
or,
𝑛 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦 𝛷 ( ),
𝑦

or,
𝑓(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = 𝑡 𝑛 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦), where 𝑡 is any
positive number independent of 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦.
Euler’s Theorem:
If 𝑢 = 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) be a homogeneous function
of two variables 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 of degree 𝑛
having partial derivative with respect to 𝑥
and 𝑦, then
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖
𝒙 +𝒚 = 𝒏𝒖.
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
Prob. Verify Euler’s Theorem for the
functions:
(i) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 +𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 ,
(ii) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 4 +𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 4 ,
𝑥 5 −𝑦 5
(iii) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = ,
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑥+𝑦
(iv) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = ,
𝑥−𝑦
𝑥+𝑦
(v) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = .
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
Solution (iv).

Euler’s Theorem:
If 𝑢 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) be a homogeneous function of two variables
𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 of degree 𝑛 having partial derivative with respect
to 𝑥 and 𝑦, then
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖
𝒙 𝝏𝒙+𝒚 𝝏𝒚 = 𝒏𝒖.

𝑥+𝑦
Given 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥−𝑦

𝑡𝑥 + 𝑡𝑦 𝑥+𝑦
⇒ 𝑓(𝑡𝑥, 𝑡𝑦) = = 𝑡0 ( ) = 𝑡 0 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦)
𝑡𝑥 − 𝑡𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
This shows that 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is homogeneous of degree 𝑛 = 0.
Thus, according to Euler’s Theorem we have to verify
𝝏𝒇 𝝏𝒇
𝒙 𝝏𝒙+𝒚 𝝏𝒚 = 𝟎.
𝑥+𝑦
Since 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) =
𝑥−𝑦

𝝏𝒇 (𝒙−𝒚).𝟏−(𝒙+𝒚).𝟏 −𝟐𝒚
Hence = (𝒙−𝒚)𝟐
= (𝒙−𝒚)𝟐
𝝏𝒙

𝝏𝒇 −𝟐𝒙𝒚
⇒ 𝒙 𝝏𝒙 = (𝒙−𝒚)𝟐 ………..(i)
𝝏𝒇 (𝒙 − 𝒚). 𝟏 − (𝒙 + 𝒚). (−𝟏) 𝟐𝒙
= =
𝝏𝒚 (𝒙 − 𝒚)𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝒚)𝟐
𝝏𝒇 𝟐𝒙𝒚
⇒ 𝒚 𝝏𝒚 = (𝒙−𝒚)𝟐 ………..(ii)

From (i) & (ii), we have

𝝏𝒇 𝝏𝒇
𝒙 𝝏𝒙+𝒚 𝝏𝒚 = 𝟎.

Hence Euler’s theorem is verified

Total Differential
If 𝑢 = 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) be a function of two
variables, then total differential of 𝑢 is

𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖
𝑑𝑢 = 𝒅𝒙 + 𝒅𝒚.
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚

Let 𝑥 = ɸ(𝑡) and 𝑦 = 𝛹(𝑡), where 𝑥 and

𝑦 are themselves functions of a third
variable 𝑡.
Then total derivative of 𝑢 is
𝑑𝑢 𝝏𝒖 𝒅𝒙 𝝏𝒖 𝒅𝒚
= + .
𝑑𝑡 𝝏𝒙 𝒅𝒕 𝝏𝒚 𝒅𝒕
Prob. Find the total derivative of
𝑢 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 , 𝑥 = 𝑡, 𝑦 = 2𝑡. Also find the
total differential 𝑑𝑢.

Solution:
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
Here = 2𝑥 and = 2𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚
Since 𝑥 = 𝑡 ⇒ = 1. Here, 𝑦 = 2𝑡 ⇒ =2
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝑑𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝑑𝑦
Total derivative = + = 2𝑥. 1 +
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑡
2𝑦. 2 = 2𝑥 + 4𝑦.
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
Total differential 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
2𝑥𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑑𝑦.
 𝑑𝑢
Prob. Find the total derivative when
𝑑𝑡

𝑢 = 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦, 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑡 2 , 𝑦 = 2𝑎𝑡.
Verify by direct substitution.
Solution:
𝜕𝑢 2 𝜕𝑢
Here = 𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 and = 2𝑦𝑥 + 𝑥 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝒅𝒙
Since 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑡 2 ⇒ = 2𝑎𝑡. Here, 𝑦 = 2𝑎𝑡 ⇒
𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒚
= 2𝑎
𝒅𝒕
𝑑𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝑑𝑦
Total derivative = + =
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑡
(𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦). 2𝑎𝑡 + (2𝑦𝑥 + 𝑥 2 ). 2𝑎 =
(4𝑎2 𝑡 2 + 4𝑎2 𝑡 3 ). 2𝑎𝑡 + (4𝑎2 𝑡 3 + 𝑎2 𝑡 4 ). 2𝑎 =
𝑎3 (16𝑡 3 + 10𝑡 4 )
Again 𝑢 = 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 = 2𝑎3 𝑡 5 + 4𝑎3 𝑡 4 .
𝑑𝑢
⇒ = 𝑎3 (16𝑡 3 + 10𝑡 4 )
𝑑𝑡
Hence the verification.
Differentiation of Implicit Function by
Total Differential:

Let 𝑦 be a function of 𝑥 and the relation

between 𝑥 and 𝑦 given by the implicit
function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡.
𝒅𝒇 = 𝟎,
i.e.,
𝝏𝒇 𝝏𝒇
𝒅𝒙 + 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟎,
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝒇
𝒅𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝒇𝒙
or, =− 𝝏𝒇 = − , provided 𝒇𝒚 ≠ 𝟎.
𝒅𝒙 𝒇𝒚
𝝏𝒚
 2 2 𝒅𝒚
Prob. If 𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑦, find .
𝒅𝒙

Solution:

𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 = 𝑥 + 𝑦
⇒ 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 0.
Let, 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑥 − 𝑦
Hence
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 2
𝑓𝑥 = = (𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑥 − 𝑦) = 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 2 − 1
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
and
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 2
𝑓𝑦 = = (𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑥 − 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 − 1
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
Hence
𝜕𝑓
𝑑𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝑓𝑥 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 2 − 1 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 2 − 1
=− =− =− 2 =
𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑓 𝑓𝑦 𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦 − 1 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥 2 − 1
𝜕𝑦
 𝑑𝑦
Prob. Find by the help of partial derivative
𝑑𝑥
from the following:
(i) 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 5𝑦 4 = 0
𝑥2 𝑦2
(ii) + =1
𝑎2 𝑏2