4.

0 MULTIVARIABLE FUNCTIONS
4.1 Functions of two variables

Introduction of Several Variables

In nature, functions always depend on more than one variable. For example, the volume,V
of a cylinder depends on the radius , r and height, h.

Volume  r 2h

4.2 Partial Derivatives

In mathematics, a partial derivative of a function of several variables is its derivative with

respect to one of those variables, with the others held constant

4.2.1 First Order Partial Derivatives

Partial derivatives with respect to one variable x or y is variously denoted for examples:

f The partial derivative of f with respect to x is the derivative of f with

 fx
x respect to x, when all other variables are treated as constant
.
f The partial derivative of f with respect to y is the derivative of f with
 fy
y respect to y, when all other variables are treated as constant.

;
Example 1 : If f ( x, y )  x 3 y  2x 2 y 2  3 . Determine

(a) fx x, y  (b) fy x, y  (c) fx 2,3 

Solution (a): fx x, y   3 x 2 y  22x y 2  0

“Differentiate w.r.t x
 3 x 2 y  4 xy 2
Assume y as constant”

Solution (b) fy x, y   x 3 1  2x 2 2y   0 “Differentiate w.r.t x

Assume y as constant”
 x 3  4x 2 y

Solution (c) fx x, y   3 x 2 y  4 x

fx 2,3   32 2  42

2

 32

Example 2 : If f ( x, y )  2x 3 y 4  2y 2  3 x  2 . Determine
(a) f 2,5  (b) fx x, y 

(c) fy x, y  (d) fy  1,3

Example 3 : If f ( x , y )  7  10 x  5 e2 y  2 xy 4 . Determine
(a) fx x, y  (b) f x 3 ,0 

(c) fy x, y  (d) fy 1,0 

Example 4 : If f ( x , y )  7 x 4  5 xy  2 ye10 x . Determine

(a) f x x , y  (b) f x 0 ,4 

(c) fy x, y  (d) fy 1,2 

4.2.2 Second Order Partial Derivative
Notation:
 second partial derivative – taking two consecutive partial derivatives with respect to the

 2f  2f
same variable  2  fxx  2  fyy
x y
 mixed partial derivative - taking partial derivatives with respect to one variable, and then take

 2f  2f
another partial derivative with respect to a different variable   fyx   fxy
 x y  y x

Example 5 : Given f x, y   x 2 y 3  x 4 y  3 x . Determine fyy and fxx

Solution fyy
f x, y   x 2 y 3  x 4 y  3 x

fy x, y   x 2 3 y 2   x 4 (1)  0  First derivative w.r.t “y” , keep x as constant.

 3x 2 y 2  x 4

fyy x, y   3 x 2 2y   0  6 x 2 y  Second derivative w.r.t “y” , keep x as constant.

Solution fxx
f x, y   x 2 y 3  x 4 y  3 x

fx x, y   2x y 3  ( 4 x 3 )y  31  First derivative w.r.t “x” , keep y as constant.

 2xy 3  4 x 3 y  3

fxx x, y   21y 3  43 x 2 y  0  Second derivative w.r.t “x” , keep y as constant.

 2y 3  12 x 2 y
Example 6: Given f x, y   x 3 y 5  2x 2 y  x . Determine fxy

Solution:

f x, y   x 3 y 5  2x 2 y  x

fx x, y   3 x 2 y 5  22x y  (1 )  First derivative w.r.t “x” , keep y as constant.

 3 x 2 y 5  4 xy  1

fxy x, y   3 x 2 5 y 4   4 x 1  0

 15 x 2 y 4  4 x  Second derivative w.r.t “y” , keep x as constant.

Example 7: Given f x , y   4 x 3  3 y 2  7 x 3 y 3  y 2 e2 x . Determine fyx

Solution:

Example 8 : Given f x, y   4 x 3 y  3 xy 2  7 y 3  10 . Determine fxy

Solution:
Example 9: Given f x , y   4 x 2 y 3  2 x 3  4 y 5 . Determine fxy

a) Determine all four second-order derivative.

b) Verify fxy  2 y 2 fxx  16 y 5

Example 10 : Given f x , y   6 xy  4 y 2 e3 x .

b) Determine all four second-order derivative.

3 2
b) Verify fx  y fyy  6 y
2
Example : Given f x , y   3 y  4 x 2 e3 y .

a) Determine all four second-order derivative.

b) Calculate fxy 4 ,0 

c) Verify fy  xfxy  fyy  3

TUTORIAL 2: PARTIAL DIFFERENTIATION
1. Determine f x and fy for the following functions:

a. f (x, y)  2x3 y2  2xy4  xy

b. f (x, y)  x3 y2  e5y  e2x

c. f (x, y)  x2y  5y3

d. f ( x, y )  5 x 2  y 3  2 xy  e3 x
e. f ( x, y )  xe4 y  5 y

f. f ( x , y )  ye2 x  3 xy  x

g. f ( x, y )  4 ye2 x  3 xy 3
2. Determine the second – order partial derivatives fxx and fyy :
2 3 4
a. f ( x, y )  x y  x y.

4 5
b. f ( x , y )  4 x  8 xy  7 y

c. f ( x, y )  3x 2  2y 5  xe2y
3. Determine the second – order partial derivatives fxy and fxy 1, 0
2 3
a) f ( x, y )  x y  3y  4 x4

2
b) f ( x, y )  4 x  8 xy 4  3 xe4 y

2
c) f ( x, y )  3 x y  2 y 5  xe2 y