Learning Outcomes:: CIVE 2560 Engineering Maths and Modelling 2 Partial Derivatives Problem Sheet

Module Code and Title: CIVE 2560 Engineering Maths and Modelling 2
Assignment title: Problem Activity 2 - Partial Derivatives problem sheet

Assignment type: Minor Coursework Item
Set Date: Week 3, semester 1
Submission Date: Tuesday 9th November 2021 (before 4pm)
Submission Place: Online via Minerva (Gradescope submission)
Feedback Date: Within 3 weeks of submission

Type of Feedback: Numerical mark and worked solutions
Failure to submit according to the request above will be taken as no or late submission. Please refer to the e-handbook for
details of the penalties associated with late submission.
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this problem sheet students should be able to:
1. find partial derivatives for a range of two (or more) dimensional functions
2. apply the chain rule to differentiate and simplify functions of more than one variable (e.g.
where variables are functions of other unknown variables)
3. find and classify stationary points for functions of two dimensions (e.g. maxima, saddle
point etc)
4. apply and use partial derivatives in the context of engineering problems
Context on Learning Outcomes

To be able to usefully work with partial derivatives, we often need to work with functions, f(x,y), that are
general (i.e. we don’t know the specific function that we are working with, e.g. the function might be the
output of some other process or we are developing a model that is able to work with a wide variety of
input functions). It is very common when we are performing mathematical modelling (used by most Civil
Engineers in some way today) for us (or the model) to need to find and use the partial derivatives of lots
of different functions. For example, in a finite element model that is calculating stresses on bridge
truss, the heat transfer through a wall or in a CFD model predicting the path of a forest fire or airflow
around a building.
We need to be able to develop equations for these partial derivatives in terms of our unknown function,
f(x,y), for a computer to usefully carry out the modelling processes (otherwise we would have to work
out each one and feed it into the computer– can be billions of these calculations in even a small CFD
model – so general case is essential). As a Civil Engineer who is to use these models, it is important to
have an understanding of working with the partial derivates of these unknown functions f(x,y).
Question (1) on this problem sheet requires you to find second order partial derivatives when known
functions are used, where as questions (2) on this sheet aims to improve your ability to find and work
with partial derivatives when a general function f(x,y) is used (when values of x and y are functions of
other variables.) Questions (3) & (4) involve solving problems that involve partial derivatives that occur
in engineering problems and engineering models.
Note- In a lot of commercial modelling software you don’t have to enter all the partial derivate formulas
yourself as people have been paid lots of money to do this already. However, when we need to make
changes to these models (or if you are developing your own model), to perhaps make them more
suitable for our own applications, having an understanding of these ideas is very important.
Answer all questions below, showing your working.
∂ 2 ∂2 ∂2 ∂2
1) Find the second partial derivatives: , , , for
∂ x2 ∂ y2 ∂ x ∂ y ∂ y ∂ x
i) f ( x , y , ) = y 2 x 3 + ⁡e x y ii) f ( x , y , ) =(2 ysin(x)+ x 2 )5 [8 marks]
2) If f ( x , y , ) is a function of two variables x and y which are themselves functions of two other
1
variables p and q, where x= pq2, y= p+
q
i) Show that
∂f ∂f ∂ f ∂f ∂f 1 ∂f
=q2 + and =2 pq − [3 marks]
∂p ∂x ∂ y ∂ q ∂ x q2 ∂ y
ii) Then find
∂2 f ∂2 f
and [10
∂ p∂q ∂q∂ p
marks]
3) On part of the route identified for HS2 a survey has indicated that land is contaminated
with the heavy metal pollutant cadmium. Based on sampling data the concentration of
cadmium (in mg/kg) on a plane below a 10 metre long sampling line can be modelled as:
−1 3
x + x−¿¿
3
C (x , y )=e
(where x is the distance along the sampling line and y is the depth below the ground).
(i) Find the values of x and y in this sampling region for which any stationary points
exist in the cadmium concentration.
Determine if these are maximum, minimum or saddle points? [7 marks]
(ii) What will the gradient vector ( gra d ❑ C ) be at the point x=1 , y=2? [1 mark]
4) An inlet channel for a new waste water treatment plant is to be made from a 6m wide section of
steel sheet folded at two points to create the channel. The cross sectional area, A, can be found to
be given by the following equation:
A=6 x cosθ−2 x 2 cosθ + x 2 sinθcosθ
Where θ is the angle between the vertical and angled sides and x is length of the sides. A schematic is
shown in figure 1.
Figure 1
(i) Find the partial derivatives of A with respect toθ and x
(ii) Use the partial derivatives found in (i) to find the single stationary point in the range 0< x <6, then
find the corresponding value of θ .
(iii) Find the 2nd order partial derivatives of A. Use these to identify and classify the stationary Q8mpoint
and identify what maximum cross-sectional area will be.
[11 marks]
5) The height y (x ,t ) of a river above its normal position can be shown to satisfy the equation:
∂2 y 2
2∂ y
=β
∂ t2 ∂ x2
where x is the distance along the length of the river, t is time and β is a constant that depends on the
properties of the river.
(i) By changing the variables such that u=x+tβ and v=x−tβ , show that
∂y ∂y ∂y ∂2 y
∂t
=β (
−
∂u ∂v )
and then find
∂ t2
. [5 marks]
∂2 y 2
2∂ y
(ii) Use the change of variable to simplify =β
∂ t2 ∂ x2
[Hint: simplify so that it only becomes a function of y ,u , v ]. [5 marks]

Note: If you are wondering why we might want to do the above transformation it is worth knowing that
ODE’s tend to be easier to solve that PDE’s so this process can help us get to a solution.
Sheet is out of 50
Marks

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Module Code and Title: CIVE 2560 Engineering Maths and Modelling 2

Assignment title: Problem Activity 2 - Partial Derivatives problem sheet

Feedback Date: Within 3 weeks of submission

Context on Learning Outcomes

Answer all questions below, showing your working.

i) f ( x , y , ) = y 2 x 3 + ⁡e x y ii) f ( x , y , ) =(2 ysin(x)+ x 2 )5 [8 marks]

ii) Then find

(i) Find the partial derivatives of A with respect toθ and x

[Hint: simplify so that it only becomes a function of y ,u , v ]. [5 marks]

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