Chapter 1: Partial Differentiation

Partial Differentiation

V = r 2 h : V depends on either the radius, r or height, h.

V will increase/decrease if:
▪ h is kept constant and r is increased/decreased, i.e., differentiate V wrt r,
V  dV 
= 2rh =    Partial Differentiation.
r  dr  h constant
▪ r is kept constant and h is increased/decreased, i.e., differentiate V wrt h,
V  dV 
= r 2 =    Partial Differentiation.
h  dh  r constant
z z
Examples: For each of the following function, find and .
x y
(a) z = 4 x 2 + 3 xy + 5 y 2 , (b) z = (3x + 2 y )(4 x − 5 y ) ,
sin (3x + 2 y )
(c) z = tan (3x + 4 y ) , (d) z = .
xy
Solutions: (a) z = 4 x 2 + 3 xy + 5 y 2
z z
= 8x + 3 y , = 3x + 10 y .
x y
(b) z = (3 x + 2 y )(4 x − 5 y ) = 12 x 2 − 7 xy − 10 y 2
z z
= 24 x − 7 y , = −7 x − 20 y .
x y
(c) z = tan (3x + 4 y )
z z
= 3 sec 2 (3x + 4 y ) , = 4 sec 2 (3x + 4 y ) .
x y
sin (3x + 2 y )
(d) z =
xy
z xy  3 cos(3x + 2 y ) − y sin (3x + 2 y )
=
x (xy)2
3x cos(3x + 2 y ) − sin (3x + 2 y )
=
x2 y
z xy  2 cos(3x + 2 y ) − x sin (3x + 2 y )
=
y (xy)2
2 y cos(3x + 2 y ) − sin (3x + 2 y )
=
xy 2
Second Partial Differential Coefficient

There are 4 second partial differential coefficients:

  z   2 z
▪  =
x  x  x 2
  z   2 z
▪  =
y  y  y 2
  z   2 z
▪  =
x  y  xy
  z   2 z
▪  =
y  x  yx

2z 2z 2z 2z

Examples: For each of the following functions, find , , , .
x 2 y 2 xy yx
(a) z = 4 x 2 + 3 xy + 5 y 2 , (b) z = 5 x 3 + 3 x 2 y + 4 y 3 ,
x+ y
(c) z = sin xy , (d) z = .
x− y
Solutions: (a) z = 4 x 2 + 3 xy + 5 y 2
z z
= 8x + 3 y , = 3x + 10 y ,
x y
2z 2z
= 8, = 10 ,
x 2 y 2
2z 2z
= 3, = 3.
xy yx
(b) z = 5 x 3 + 3 x 2 y + 4 y 3
z z
= 15x 2 + 6 xy , = 3x 2 + 12 y 2 ,
x y
2z 2z
= 30 x + 6 y , = 24 y ,
x 2 y 2
2z 2z
= 6x , = 6x .
xy yx
(c) z = sin xy
z z
= y cos xy , = x cos xy ,
x y
2z 2z
= − y 2 sin xy , = − x 2 sin xy ,
x 2
y 2

2z
= x  − y sin xy + cos xy = cos xy − xy sin xy ,
xy
2z
= y  − x sin xy + cos xy = cos xy − xy sin xy .
yx
 x+ y
(d) z =
x− y
z
=
(x − y )  1 − (x + y )  1 = − 2 y ,
x (x − y )2 (x − y )2
z
=
(x − y )  1 − (x + y )  (− 1) = 2 x ,
y (x − y )2 (x − y )2
2z 4y 2z 4x
= , = ,
x 2
(x − y )3 y 2
(x − y )3
 2 z (x − y )  2 − 2 x  2(x − y )  (1) − 2 x 2 + 2 y 2
2
= =
xy (x − y )4 (x − y )4
− 2(x + y )(x − y ) − 2(x + y )
= = ,
(x − y )4 (x − y )3
 2 z (x − y )  (− 2) − 2 y  2(x − y )  (− 1) − 2 x 2 − y 2
=
2
=
( )
yx (x − y )4 (x − y )4
− 2(x + y )(x − y ) − 2(x + y )
= = .
(x − y )4 (x − y )3
2z 2z z z
Note: = if & are continuous and z has a 2nd partial differential.
xy yx x y

z z
Example: If z = ln (e x + e y ) , show that + = 1.
x y
z ex z ey
Solution: = , = ,
x e x + e y y e x + e y
z z ex ey
+ = x + = 1.
x y e + e y e x + e y

z z
Example: If z = f (x 2 + y 2 ) , show that x −y = 0.
y x
z z
Solution:
x
( )
= f ' x 2 + y 2 (2 x ) ,
y
(
= f ' x 2 + y 2 (2 y ) ,)
z z
x −y
y x
( ) (
= xf ' x 2 + y 2 (2 y ) − yf ' x 2 + y 2 (2 x ) )
 
= 2 xy f ' (x 2 + y 2 ) − f ' (x 2 + y 2 ) = 0

z z
Example: If z = xf ( xy ) , express x −y in the simplest form.
x y
z V
Solution: = xf ' (xy )( y ) + f (xy ) , = xf ' (xy )(x ) = x 2 f ' (xy ) ,
x y
z z
x −y
x y
( )
= x 2 yf ' (xy ) + xf (xy ) − yx 2 f ' x 2 + y 2 = xf (xy ) = z .
Small Increment

V
V = r 2 h ; = 2rh ………(1)
r
V
= r 2 ………(2)
h
If both r and h change simultaneously, i.e.,
r ' = r + δr ,
h ' = h + δh ,
then V ' = V + δV
V ' = r ' h '
2

V + δV =  (r + δr ) (h + δh )
2

( )
=  r 2 + 2rδr + δr 2 (h + δh )
V + δV = r 2 h + 2rhδr + hδr 2 + r 2 δh + 2rδrδh + δr 2 δh
δV = 2rhδr + hδr 2 + r 2 δh + 2rδrδh + δr 2 δh
 hδr 2 + 2rδrδh + δr 2 δh → 0 ,
 δV  2rhδr + r 2 δh ………………(3)
Putting (1) & (2) into (3),

V V
 δV = δr + δh
r h

Example: A cylinder has dimensions r = 5cm, h = 10cm. Find the approximate

increase in volume when r increases by 0.2cm and h decreases by 0.1cm.
V V
Solution: V = r 2 h ; = 2rh , = r 2 ,
r h
r = 5 cm, h = 10 cm, δr = 0.2 cm, δh = −0.1 cm.
V V
δV = δr + δh
r h
δV = 2 (5)(10 )(0.2 ) +  (5) (- 0.1)
2

= 20 − 2.5
= 54 .96 cm 3 .

If z = f ( x, y ) and δx , δy , δz are the small increments of x, y and z respectively, then

z z
δz = δx + δy
x y
z z z
If z = f ( x, y, w) , then δz = δx + δy + δw .
x y w
 E2
Example: The power dissipated in a resistor is given by P = . If E = 200 volts
R
and R = 8 ohms, find the change in P resulting from a drop of 5 volts in E
and an increase of 0.2 ohm in R.
E2 P 2 E P E2
Solution: P = , = , =− 2 ,
R E R R R
E = 200 , R = 8 , δE = −5 , δR = 0.2
P P
δP = δE + δR
E R
2(200)  2

δP = (− 5) +  − 2002 (0.2)
8  8 
= −250 − 125
= −375 W
P decreases by 375W.

Example: The two sides forming the right-angled of a right-angled triangle are
denoted by a and b. The hypotenuse is h. If there are possible errors of
 0.5% in measuring a and b, find the maximum possible error in
calculating: (i) the area of the triangle;
(ii) the length of h.
Solution: (i)

1 A 1 A 1
A= ab , = b, = a,
2 a 2 b 2
δ a =  0 .5 % a , δb =  0 . 5 % b ,
A A
δb = b( 0.5%a ) + a( 0.5%b )
1 1
δA = δa +
a b 2 2
= ab( 0.5% + ( 0.5%).) = 1% A
1
2
 δA = 1% of A.

h a h b
(ii) h = a 2 + b 2 , = , = ,
a a2 + b2 b a2 + b2
h h a2 b2
δh = δa + δb = ( 0.5%) + ( 0.5%)
a b a2 + b2 a2 + b2
a2 + b2
= (0.5%) = ( 0.5%) a 2 + b 2 = 0.5%h
a +b
2 2

 δh = 0.5% of h.
Example: Given P = w 2 hd . If errors of up to 1% (plus or minus) are possible in the
measured values of w, h and d, find the maximum possible percentage
error in the calculated value of P.
P P P
Solution: P = w 2 hd , = 2whd , = w2 d , = w2 h ,
w h d
δw = 1% w , δh = 1% h , δd =  1 % d ,
P P P
δP = δw + δh + δd
w h d
= 2whd ( 1% w) + w 2 d ( 1%h ) + w 2 h( 1%d )
=  w 2 hd (2% + 1% + 1% )
= 4% P
The maximum possible error of P is 4% .

Rates Of Change

Rate: always involves time (divided by time)

V V
V = r 2 h ; = 2rh , = r 2
r h
V V
δV = δr + δh
r h
( δt ) : δV = V  δr + V  δh
δt r δt h δt
δV dV
as t → 0 , =
δt dt
δr dr
=
δt d t
δh dh
=
δt d t
dV V dr V dh
 =  + 
dt r dt h dt
Example: The radius of a cylinder increases at the rate of 0.2 cm/sec while the height
decreases at the rate of 0.5cm/sec. Find the rate at which the volume is
changing at the instant when r = 8 cm and h = 12 cm.
V V
Solution: V = r 2 h ; = 2rh , = r 2 ,
r h
dr dh
r = 5 cm, h = 12 cm, = 0.2 cm, = −0.5 cm.
dt dt
dV V dr V dh
=  + 
dt r dt h dt
= 2rh(0.2) + r 2 (− 0.5)
 
=  0.4(8)(12 ) + (8 2 )(− 0.5)
= 20 .11 cm 3 /sec.

Example: The total surface area, S of a cone of base radius, r and perpendicular
height, h is given by S = r 2 + r r 2 + h 2 . If r and h are each increasing
at the rate of 0.25cm/sec, find the rate at which S is increasing at the
instant when r = 3 cm and h = 4 cm.
Solution: S = r 2 + r r 2 + h 2 ,
S r 2
= 2r +  r 2 + h 2 + ,
r r 2 + h2
S rh
= ,
h r 2 + h2
S 64 S 12
when r = 3 cm and h = 4 cm, =  and = 
r 5 h 5
dr dh
= = 0.25
dt dt
dS S dr S dh
 =  + 
dt r dt h dt
=  (0.25) +  (0.25)
64 12
5 5
= 11 .938 cm /sec.
2

z z
In general, if z = f ( x, y ) , δz = δx + δy
x y
δz z δx z δy
( δt ) : =  + 
δt x δt y δt
dz z dx z dy
as t → 0 , =  + 
dt x dt y dt

dz z dx z dy z dw
If z = f ( x, y, w) , then =  +  +  .
dt x dt y dt w dt
Chain Rule
Implicit Functions
dy
- Differential coefficient of implicit functions (finding from z)
dx
z z
If z = f ( x, y ) , δz = δx + δy
x y
( δx ) : δz = z  δx + z  δy
δx x δx y δx
dz z z dy
as x → 0 , = + 
dx x y dx
dz z
−
dy dx x
 =
dx z
y
dz
But, we can’t find as we don’t know the value of z.
dx
In general, z is usually given, for example, f ( x, y ) = 0 , then z = 0 .

If z = f ( x, y ) = 0 , then
dz z
=0 −
dx
= x
dy

dx z
y

dy
Example: If e xy + x + y = 1 , evaluate at (0, 0).
dx
Solution: e xy + x + y − 1 = 0 . Let z = e xy + x + y − 1 , then z = 0 .
z z dz
= ye xy + 1 , = xe xy + 1 , =0
x y dx
z
−
ye xy + 1
= x = − xy
dy
dx z xe + 1
y
dy ye xy + 1
At (0, 0), = − xy = −1
dx xe + 1
dy
Example: Find an expression for when x tan y = y sin x .
dx
Solution: x tan y − y sin x = 0 , z = x tan y − y sin x  z = 0
z z dz
= tan y − y cos x , = x sec 2 y − sin x , =0
x y dx
z
−
tan y − y cos x
= x = −
dy
dx z x sec 2 y − sin x
y
 dy
Example: If e x + y = x 2 y 2 , find an expression for .
dx
Solution: z = e x+ y − x 2 y 2 = 0 ,
z z dz
= e x + y − 2xy 2 , = e x+ y − 2 x 2 y , =0
x y dx
z
−
dy  x e x + y − 2 xy 2
= = − x+ y
dx z e − 2x 2 y
y

Change Of Variables
If z = f ( x, y ) ,
z z
then δz = δx + δy ……………(4)
x y
If x and y are functions of 2 other variables u and v, then z can be expressed as a
z z
function of u and v. Therefore we need to find and .
u v
δz z δx z δy
Divide (4) with δu , =  +  .
δu x δu y δu
δz z
As u → 0 and v is kept constant, then =
δu u
δx x
=
δu u
δy y
=
δu u
z z x z y
=  + 
u x u y u
When the same manipulation is done for variable v, then
z z x z y
=  + 
v x v y v

z z
Example: Given z = x 2 + y 2 , x = r cos  and y = r sin 2 . Find and .
r 
z z
Solution: = 2 x = 2r cos , = 2 y = 2r sin 2 ,
x y
x y
= −r sin  , = 2r cos 2 ,
 
x y
= cos , = sin 2 ,
r r
z
= 2r cos (cos ) + 2r sin 2 (sin 2 ) = 2r cos 2  + 2r sin 2 2
r
z
= 2r cos (− r sin  ) + 2r sin 2 (2r cos 2 ) = r 2 (2 sin 4 − sin 2 )

 z z
Example: Given z = e xy , x = ln (u + v ) and y = sin (u − v ) , find and .
u v
z z
Solution: = ye xy , = xe xy ,
x y
x 1 x 1
= , = ,
u u + v v u + v
y y
= cos(u − v ) , = − cos(u − v ) ,
v v
z  1 
= ye xy   + xe cos(u − v )
xy

u  u + v 
 y 
= e xy  + x cos(u − v )
u + v 
z  1 
= ye xy   − xe cos(u − v )
xy

v  u + v 
 y 
= e xy  − x cos(u − v )
u + v 
Extreme VaLues and SaddLe Points
Exercises