Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

Introduction: In this section we concentrate on the mathematical term partial differentiation,

so to understand this term we should have a knowledge about function of several variables. Now
I am trying to clear the term function of several variables by choosing the term volume of a
cylinder.

Volume of a Cylinder is V   r 2 h where r is the radius of the Cylinder and h is the height of the
Cylinder. We observe that if r changes then no change of h in the above figure besides of this if h
changes then no change of r in the above figure. That means r and h are independent variables in
V   r 2 h . So we call V   r 2h  f  r, h  is a function of two independent variables r and h it
means V is a function of several variables.
Function of Several variables: A function that contains more than one independent variables is
called several variables function. For example u  f (x, y, z)  x 2  y 2  z 2 is a function of three
variables x, y and z.

Partial Differentiation: The differentiation of a function u  f  x, y  , with respect to x ,

treating y as constant, is called the partial derivative of u with respect to x, and it is denoted as,
u f
, ux , , fx.
x x

u f  x  x, y   f  x, y 
Analytically,  lim
x x  0 x
when this limit exists.

1
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

Similarly, the differentiation of a function u  f  x, y  , with respect to y , treating x as constant, is

u f
called the partial derivative of u with respect to y, and it is denoted as, , uy , , fy.
y y

u f  x, y  y   f  x, y 
Analytically,  lim
y y 0 y

provided this limit exists.

Successive Partial Derivatives: Consider a function u  f  x, y  , which has the partial

u u
derivatives and with respect to the independent variables x and y respectively. Also each
x y
of them may possess partial derivatives with respect to these two independent variables, and these
are called the second order partial derivatives of u, and these are denoted as,

 2u  2u  2u  2u
, , and .
x 2 y 2 xy yx

Similarly, the third order partial derivatives of u are denoted as,

 3u  3u  3u  3u  3u  3u
, , , , and 2 .
x 3 y 3 x 2 y xy 2 yx 2 y x

And so on for higher order derivatives.

Geometrical Meaning:

2
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

Suppose the graph of z =f(x, y) is the surface shown in the above mentioned figure. Consider the
partial derivative of z =f(x, y) with respect to x at a point(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ).Holding y as constant and varying
x we trace out a curve that intersection of the surface with vertical plane y  y0 .

The partial derivative f x ( x0 , y0 ) measures the change in z per unit increase in x along this curve.
That is, f x ( x0 , y0 ) is just the slope of the curve at ( x0 , y0 ) .The geometrical interpretation f y ( x0 , y0 )
z
is analogous? That is means slope of tangent with x-axis of the function z=f(x, y) at the point
x
z
(x, y, z) and means slope of tangent with y-axis of the function z=f(x, y) at the point (x, y, z).
y
Symmetric Function: A function u  f  x, y  is called a symmetric function if it satisfies the
condition f  x, y   f  y, x  .

Example: u  x 2  y 2 is a symmetric function.

 2u  2u  2u  2u
Problem-01: If u  x3  3x 2 y  3xy 2  y 3 then find , , and .
x 2 y 2 xy yx

Sol : Giventhat , u  x 3  3x 2 y  3xy 2  y 3 (1)

Differentiating (1) partially with respect to x we get,

u  3
  x  3x 2 y  3xy 2  y 3 
x x

 3x 2  6 xy  3 y 2  0

u
  3x 2  6 xy  3 y 2 (2)
x
Now differentiating (2) partially with respect to x we get,

 2u 
  3x 2  6 xy  3 y 2 
x 2
x
 6x  6 y  0

 6 x  6 y (Ans.)

Again Differentiating (1) partially with respect to y we get,

u  3
  x  3x 2 y  3xy 2  y 3 
y y

 0  3x 2  6 xy  3 y 2

3
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

u
  3x 2  6 xy  3 y 2 (3)
y
Now differentiating (3) partially with respect to y we get,

 2u 
  3 x 2  6 xy  3 y 2 
y 2
y

 0  6x  6 y

 6 x  6 y (Ans.)

Again Differentiating (3) partially with respect to x we get,

 2u 
  3 x 2  6 xy  3 y 2 
xy x

 6x  6 y  0

 6 x  6 y (Ans.)

Again Differentiating (2) partially with respect to y we get,

 2u 
  3 x 2  6 xy  3 y 2 
yx y

 0  6x  6 y

 6 x  6 y (Ans.)

 2u  2u
Problem-02: If u  x 2  y 2 ln x  2e  x y then find and .
x 2 y 2

Sol : Giventhat , u  x 2  y 2 ln x  2e  x y (1)

Differentiating (1) partially with respect to x we get,

u  2
  x  y 2 ln x  2e x y 
x x

y2
 2x   2e x y (2)
x
Now differentiating (2) partially with respect to x we get,

 2u   y2 
  2 x   2e x y 
x 2
x  x 

4
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

y2
 2 2
 2e  x y (Ans.)
x
Again Differentiating (1) partially with respect to y we get,

u  2
  x  y 2 ln x  2e x y 
y y

 0  2 y ln x  2e  x

 2 y ln x  2e  x (3)

Now differentiating (3) partially with respect to y we get,

 2u 
  2 y ln x  2e  x 
y 2 y

 2ln x  0

 2ln x (Ans.)

 2u  2u  2u  2u
Problem-03: If u  e  x cos y  y sin y  then find
x
and 2 . Also show that 2  2  0.
x 2 y x y

Sol : Giventhat , u  e x  x cos y  y sin y 

 xe x cos y  ye x sin y (1)

Differentiating (1) partially with respect to x we get,

u 
  xe x cos y  ye x sin y 
x x
 
 cos y
x
 xe x   y sin y  e x 
x

 cos y  xe x  e x   ye x sin y

 xe x cos y  e x cos y  ye x sin y (2)

Now differentiating (2) partially with respect to x we get,

 2u 
  xe x cos y  e x cos y  ye x sin y 
x 2 x

  xe x  e x  cos y  e x cos y  ye x sin y

 xe x cos y  2e x cos y  ye x sin y (3) (Ans.)

5
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

Again Differentiating (1) partially with respect to y we get,

u 
  xe x cos y  ye x sin y 
y y

 
 xe x  cos y   e x  y sin y 
y y

 xex   sin y   e x  y cos y  sin y 

  xe x sin y  ye x cos y  e x sin y (4)

Now differentiating (4) partially with respect to y we get,

 2u 
   xe x sin y  ye x cos y  e x sin y 
y 2
y

  xex cos y  ex   y sin y  cos y   ex cos y

  xe x cos y  e x y sin y  e x cos y  e x cos y

  xe x cos y  e x y sin y  2e x cos y (5) (Ans.)

Finally, adding (3) and (5) we get,

 2u  2u
   xe x cos y  2e x cos y  ye x sin y     xe x cos y  e x y sin y  2e x cos y 
x 2 y 2

 xe x cos y  2e x cos y  ye x sin y  xe x cos y  e x y sin y  2e x cos y

 0 (Showed).

 y 1  2u  2u  2u
Problem-04: If u  tan   then find , and .
x x 2 y 2 yx

 y
Sol : Giventhat , u  tan 1   (1)
x
Differentiating (1) partially with respect to x we get,

u   1  y  
 tan   
x x  x

1  y
 .  2 
 y  x 
2

1  
x

6
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

x2 y
 2 . 2
x y x2

y
 (2)
x  y2
2

Now differentiating (2) partially with respect to x we get,

 2u  y 
  2 
x 2
x  x  y 2 

 
 y 
   . 2 x  0 
 x  y 
2 2
 
2


2xy
 (Ans.)
x  y2 
2 2

Again Differentiating (1) partially with respect to y we get,

u   1  y  
 tan   
y y  x
1 1
 2
.
 y x
1  
 x

x2 1
 .
x y
2 2
x

x
 (3)
x  y2
2

Now differentiating (3) partially with respect to y we get,

 2u   x 
  
y 2 y  x 2  y 2 

x
 . 0  2 y 
x  y2 
2 2

2xy
 (Ans.)
 x2  y 2 
2

7
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

Again Differentiating (2) partially with respect to y we get,

 2u   y 
  2 
yx y  x  y 2 

 2   2 2 
  x  y  y  y   y y  x  y  
2

  
 x2  y 2 
2
 
 

  x2  y 2   y  0  2 y  
 
  
 x2  y 2 
2
 

y 2  x2
 (Ans.)
 x2  y 2 
2

u u u
Problem-05: If u  x 2  y 2  z 2 then show that x  y  z  2u.
x y z

Sol : Giventhat , u  x 2  y 2  z 2 (1)

Differentiating (1) partially with respect to x we get,

u  2
  x  y2  z2 
x x
 2x  0  0
 2x
u
x  2x2 (2)
x
Since the given function (1) is a symmetric function, so similarly differentiating (1) with respect to y and z
we get,

u
y  2 y2 (3)
y

u
and z  2z 2 (4)
z
Finally adding (2), (3) and (4) we get,

u u u
x y z  2 x2  2 y 2  2 z 2
x y z

8
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

 2  x2  y 2  z 2 

 2u (Showed.)
1
u u u
Problem-06: If u   x 2  y 2  z 2 

2 then show that x  y  z  u.
x y z
1
Sol : Giventhat , u   x 2  y 2  z 2 

2 (1)

Differentiating (1) partially with respect to x we get,

u   2 1

  x  y 2  z 2 

2

x x  
3
 2
 x  y2  z2
1 2
  x  y2  z2 

 2 .
2 x
3


1 2
 .  2x  0  0

 x  y2  z2 2
2
3
  x  x2  y 2  z 2 

2

u 3
  x2  x2  y 2  z 2 

x 2 (2)
x
Since the given function (1) is a symmetric function, so similarly differentiating (1) with respect to y and z
we get,

u 3
  y2  x2  y 2  z 2 

y 2 (3)
y

u 3
  z 2  x2  y 2  z 2 

and z 2 (4)
z
Finally adding (2), (3) and (4) we get,

u u u 3 3 3
  x2  x2  y 2  z 2  x  x 
  
x y z 2 y 2 2
y z 2 2 2 z 2 2
y z
2 2 2
x y z
3
 x  y  z  x 

2 2 2 2
y z2 2 2

1
   x2  y 2  z 2 

2

 u (Showed.)

9
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU
1
 2u  2u  2u 2
Problem-07: If u   x  y  z 2 2 2
 2 then show that    .
x 2 y 2 z 2 u
1
Sol : Giventhat , u   x 2  y 2  z 2  2 (1)

Differentiating (1) partially with respect to x we get,

u   2 1

  x  y 2  z 2  2

x x  
1
 2

1 2
  

 x  y2  z2 2 . x  y2  z2
2 x
1

 x  y2  z2
1 2
 .  2x  0  0

 2
2
1
 x  x2  y 2  z 2 

2
(2)

Again Differentiating (2) partially with respect to x we get,

 2u   1

  x  x2  y 2  z 2 

2

x 2
x  

 1 3
 1
 x.   x 2  y 2  z 2  . 2 x  0  0    x2  y 2  z 2 
 
2 2

 2 
3 1
  x2  x2  y 2  z 2    x2  y 2  z 2 
 
2 2

x2 1
 3
 1

x 2
y z
2 2
 x2 2
y z
2 2
 2

 x2  x2  y2  z 2
 3

 x2  y2  z 2  2

y2  z2
 3
(3)
x 2
y z
2 2
 2

10
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

Since the given function (1) is a symmetric function, so similarly differentiating (1) with respect to y and z
we get,

 2u x2  z 2
 (4)
y 2 3

x 2
y z
2 2
 2

 2u x2  y 2
And  (5)
z 2 3

x 2
y z
2 2
 2

Finally adding (3), (4) and (5) we get,

 2u  2u  2u y2  z2 x2  z 2 x2  y 2
    
x 2 y 2 z 2 3 3 3

 x2  y 2  z 2  2
 x2  y 2  z 2  2
 x2  y2  z 2  2

y 2  z 2  x2  z 2  x2  y 2
 3

 x2  y 2  z 2  2

2  x2  y 2  z 2 
 3

x 2
y z
2 2
 2

2
 1

x 2
 y2  z2  2

2
 (Showed.)
u

Exercise:
 2u  2u  2u  2u
Problem-01: If u  e xy sin x cos x then find , , and .
x 2 y 2 xy yx

 2u  2u  2u  2u
Problem-02: If u  x cos y  y cos x then find , , and .
x 2 y 2 xy yx

 2u  2u  2u  2u
Problem-03: If u  ln  x 2 y  xy 2  then find , , and .
x 2 y 2 xy yx

u u u
Problem-04: If u  ln  x3  y 3  z 3  3xyz  then show that
3
   .
x y z x  y  z

11
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

x y z u u u
Problem-05: If u    then show that x  y  z  0.
y z x x y z
1
 2u  2u  2u
Problem-06: If u   x 2  y 2  z 2 

2 then show that    0.
x 2 y 2 z 2

 2u  2u  2u
Problem-07: If u  z tan 1   then show that 2  2  2  0.
y
x  x y z

  2u  2u  2u 
Problem-08: If u  ln  x  y  z then show that  x  y  z   2  2  2   1.
2 2 2 2 2 2

 x y z 

Homogeneous function: A function f  x, y  is said to be homogeneous of degree n in the

 y x
variables x and y if it can be expressed in the form x n   or y n   .
x  y

Alternatively, a function f  x, y  is said to be homogeneous of degree n in the variables x and y if

f  tx , ty   t n f  x , y  for all values of t, where t is independent of x and y.

1
Example: f  x, y   x  y is a homogeneous function of degree .
2

Euler’s theorem on Homogeneous functions: If f  x, y  be a homogeneous function of

x and y of degree n, then
f f
x y  nf  x, y  .
x y

 x3  y 3  u u
Problem-01: If u  tan 1   then show that x  y  sin 2u .
 x y  x y

 x3  y 3 
Sol : Giventhat , u  tan 1  
 x y 

 x3  y 3 
 tan u   
 x y 

  y
3

x 3 1    
  x 
 tan u  
 y
x 1  
 x

12
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

 y
 tan u  x 2    say 
x
Here, tan u is a homogeneous function of degree 2.
By Euler’s Theorem we get,

 
x  tan u   y  tan u   2 tan u
x y

u u
 x sec2 u  y sec2 u  2 tan u
x y

u u 2 tan u
x y 
x y sec2 u

u u
x y  2sin u cos u
x y

u u
x y  sin 2u (Showed).
x y

 x3  y 3  u u
Problem-02: If u  ln  2 
then show that x  y  1.
x y  x y
2

 x3  y 3 
Sol : Giventhat , u  ln  2 2 
x y 

x3  y 3
 eu 
x2  y2

  y 3 
x 1    
3

  x  
e  
u

  y 2 
x 2 1    
  x  

 y
 eu  x    say 
x

Here, e u is a homogeneous function of degree 1.

By Euler’s Theorem we get,

13
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

 u 
x
x
 e   y  eu   1
y

u u
 xeu  yeu  1.eu
x y

u u
x y 1 (Showed).
x y

 x  u u u
Problem-03: If u  sin 1   then show that x x  y y  z z  0 .
 yz

 x 
Sol : Giventhat , u  sin 1  
 yz
x
 sin u 
yz
1
 yz
 sin u   
 x 
1
y z
 sin u    
 x x

y z
 sin u  x 0  ,   say 
 x x
Here, sin u is a homogeneous function of degree 0.

By Euler’s Theorem we get,

  
x  sin u   y  sin u   z  sin u   0.sin u
x y z

u u u
 x cos u  y cos u  z cos u 0
x y z

u u u
x y z 0 (Showed).
x y z

 x y  u u 1
Problem-04: If u  cos 1   then show that x  y  cot u  0 .
 x  y  x y 2

14
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

 x y 
Sol : Giventhat , u  cos 1 
 x  y 
 
x y
 cos u 
x y

 y
x 1  
 cos u   x
 y
x 1  
 x

 y
x 1  
 cos u   x
 y
x 1  
 x

 y
1
 cos u  x 2    say 
x

1
Here, cos u is a homogeneous function of degree .
2
By Euler’s Theorem we get,

  1
x  cos u   y  cos u   cos u
x y 2

u u 1
  x sin u  y sin u   cos u
x y 2

u u 1
x y   cot u
x y 2

u u 1
x  y  cot u  0 (Showed).
x y 2

Exercise:
 x2  y 2  u u 1
Problem-01: If u  tan 1   then show that x  y  sin 2u .
 x y  x y 2

 x y u u
Problem-02: If u  sin 1   then show that x  y 0.
 x  y  x y

15
 Sayma Suraiya, Assistant Professor, DIU

x u u
Problem-03: If u  sin 1    tan 1   then show that x  y  0 .
y
 y x x y

 x y  u u 1
Problem-04: If u  sin 1   then show that x  y  tan u .
 x y x y 2

 x y  u u 1
Problem-05: If u  tan 1   then show that x  y  sin 2u .
 x  y  x y 4

16