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Partial Derivatives

The partial derivative is used in vector calculus and differential geometry to calculate the derivative of functions with multiple variables. The partial derivative is found by differentiating the function with respect to one variable while holding all other variables constant. This process is called partial differentiation. Some common rules for partial derivatives include the product rule, quotient rule, power rule, and chain rule. Partial derivatives are denoted with the symbol ∂ and are used to find the slope of tangent lines to surfaces defined by functions of multiple variables.

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331 views

Partial Derivatives

The partial derivative is used in vector calculus and differential geometry to calculate the derivative of functions with multiple variables. The partial derivative is found by differentiating the function with respect to one variable while holding all other variables constant. This process is called partial differentiation. Some common rules for partial derivatives include the product rule, quotient rule, power rule, and chain rule. Partial derivatives are denoted with the symbol ∂ and are used to find the slope of tangent lines to surfaces defined by functions of multiple variables.

Uploaded by

rashi agrawal
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Partial Derivatives

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PARTIAL DERIVATIVE DEFINITION

The partial derivative is used in vector calculus and differential geometry. In


Mathematics, sometimes the function depends on two or more variables. Here, the
derivative converts into the partial derivative since the function depends on several
variables. Suppose, we have a function f(x, y), which depends on two variables x and
y, where x and y are independent of each other. Then we say that the function f
partially depends on x and y. Now, if we calculate the derivative of f, then that
derivative is known as the partial derivative of f. If we differentiate the function f
with respect to x, then take y as a constant and if we differentiate f with respect to y,
then take x as a constant.
PARTIAL DERIVATIVE SYMBOL
In● mathematics,
  the partial derivative of any function having several variables
is its derivative with respect to one of those variables where the others are held
constant. The partial derivative of a function f with respect to the differently x
is variously denoted by or . Here ∂ is the symbol of the partial derivative which
is generally pronounced as “del”.

Example: Suppose f is a function in x and y then it will be expressed by f(x, y).


So, the partial derivative of f with respect to x will be keeping y as constant. It
should be noted that it is , not dx. is also known as .
PARTIAL DERIVATIVE FORMULA
If f(x,y) is a function, where f partially depends on x and y and if we differentiate f
with respect to x and y then the derivatives are called the partial derivative of f. The
formula for partial derivative of f with respect to x taking y as a constant is given by;
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIATION
The process of finding the partial derivatives of a
given function is called the partial differentiation.
Partial differentiation is the act of taking one of
the tangent lines of the graph of the given
function and obtaining its slope. Let’s understand
this with the help of the below example.
Example:
Suppose that f is a function of more than one
variable such that,
f = x2 + 3xy
The graph of z = x2 + 3xy is given below:
 
The graph of this function represents a surface in Euclidean space. To each point
on this surface, there is an infinite number of tangent lines. Now, we can apply
the partial differentiation for choosing one of these lines and finding its slope. U
To find the tangent line’s slope to the function at one point, say P(1,1) and
parallel to the xz-plane, we treat y as a constant.
By finding the derivative of the equation taking y as a constant, we can get the
slope of the given function f at the point (x, y).
This can be done as follows.

The value of at (1, 1) is:


2(1) + 3(1) = 5
That means the slope is 5.
Therefore, = 5 at (1, 1).
PARTIAL DERIVATIVE RULES
1) PRODUCT RULE:

If u = f(x,y).g(x,y), then,
 
2) QUOTIENT RULE

If where g(x,y) ≠ 0, then;


 
3) POWER RULE
 
4) Chain Rule
If u = u(x, y) and the two independent variables x and y are each a function of just one other
variable t so that x = x(t) and y = y(t), then to find du/dt we write down the differential of u

Then taking limits δx → 0, δy → 0 and δt → 0 in the usual way we have,

Note we only need straight ‘d’s’ in and because x and y are function of one variable t
whereas u is a function of both x and y.
It is important to note that: not equal to etc.
Why? Because means differentiating s w.r.t x holding y constant whereas means
differentiating x w.r.t s holding t constant.
Partial derivatives Examples

 
Example 1: Determine the partial derivative of the function: f (x,y) = 3x + 4y.
Solution:
Given function: f (x,y) = 3x + 4y
To find , keep y as constant and differentiate the function:
Therefore, = 3
Similarly, to find , keep x as constant and differentiate the function:
Therefore, = 4
Example 2: Find ∂f/∂x, ∂f/∂y, ∂f/∂z for the given
function,
Solution:
To find
Given Function:

 
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