NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9

Partial Derivatives

APPLICATION OF PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

(PARTIAL DERIVATIVE in Engineering Problems)

1. MATERIALS

Castiglianos theorem says the displacement, , under a force P is given by :

U
where U is the internal strain energy of the body. For the
P
following, find :
P2 L 9 P 2 L3
a) U b) U
2 AE 96 EI

2. STRUCTURES

Given the stress function, ( x, y) Ax 2 y 4 Bx 4 y 2 where A and B are

2
x y x 2
constants, find the stresses, and where
y and

2
y 2 .
x

3. FLUID MECHANICS
u v
The continuity equation is defined as : 0 , where u, v are
x y
velocities of the fluid in the x, y directions respectively. Show that
u y 2 x2 , v 2 xy will satisfy the continuity equation.
 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

4. THERMODYNAMICS

Given the ideal gas equation, PV RT where P is pressure, V is

volume, T is temperature and R is the gas constant. Given isothermal
1 V 1 V
compressibility k and .
V P V T
1 1
Show that : k and .
P T

5. Suppose that D x 2 y 2 is the length of the diagonal of a rectangle whose

sides have lengths x and y that are allowed to vary.

a) Find a formula for the rate of change of D with respect to x if

varies with y held constant.

b) Hence, use this formula to find the rate of change of D with respect to x at
the point when x 3 and y 4 .

6. Let f ( x, y) x 2 y 5 y 3

a) Find the slope of the surface z f ( x, y) in the x-direction

at the point (1,-2).

b) Find the slope of the surface z f ( x, y) in the y-direction

at the point (1,-2).

 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

7. A point moves along the intersection of the elliptic paraboloid z x 3y

2 2

and the plane y 1 . At what rate is z changing with x when the point

is at (2,1,7) ?

8. The volume V of a right circular cylinder is given by the formula V r 2h ,

where r is the radius and h is the height.

a) Find a formula for the instantaneous rate of change of V with respect to

r if r change and h remains constant.

b) Find a formula for the instantaneous rate of change of V with respect to

h if h change and r remains constant.

c) Suppose that h has a constant value of 4 inches, but r varies. Find

the rate of change of V with respect to r at the point where r =6

inches.

d) Suppose that r has a constant value of 8 inches, but h varies. Find the

rate of change of V with respect to h at the point where h =10 inches.

9. Show that the functions given below are solutions of the wave equation

2W 2 W
2
c
t 2 x 2

a) W sinx c t cos2 x 2ct b) W ln 2 x 2c t

c) W tan2 x 2c t
 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

10. Show that the functions given below satisfy the

2 f 2 f 2 f
three-dimensional Laplace equation : 0 or
x 2 y 2 z 2

2 f 2 f
two-dimensional Laplace equation : 0
x 2 y 2

a) f x 2 y 2 2z 2 b)
f 2 z .3 3 x 2 y 2 z
c) f e2 y cos 2 x d)
f x2 y 2 z 2
1 2

11. Determine whether u ( x, y) x 2 xy is a solution of the

u u
partial differential equation : 2 y
x y

12. Verify that z sin(xy ) satisfies the equation :

2 z 2 z
2 ( x2 y 2 ) z 0
x 2
y

x
13. Determine whether u ( x, y) xy is a solution of the partial
y

2u 2u
differential equation : y 2x 2x
y 2 xy

14. Given z ( x, y) x 2 y 2 , verify that z ( x, y) is a solution of :

2 z 2 z
2 ( x 2 y 2 ) 1 2
x 2
y
 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

APPLY SMALL CHANGES TO ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

V
15. If I and V = 250 volts , R = 50 ohms. Find the change in I resulting
R
from an increase in 1 volt in V and an increase of 0.5 ohm in R.

ws 3
16. If y 4 , find the percentage change in y when w increase by 2% ,
d
s decrease by 3% and d decrease by 1%.

17. The deflection y at the centre of a circular plate suspended at the edge and

kwd 4
uniformly loaded is given by y , where w = total load, d diameter
t3
of plate, t thickness and k is a constant. Calculate the approximate
change in y if w is increased by 3%, d is decreased by 2.5% and t is
increased by 4%.

18. The two sides forming the right angle 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:

a) the area of the triangle, A

h
b) the length of h a

b
 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

Solving Optimization Problems

(problem involving maximum or minimum value)

19. Find where the stationary points of the following functions occurs and

determine whether they are maximum, minimum or saddle points :

a) f ( x, y) x 2 y 2 6 xy 10 x 14 y

b) f ( x, y) x 3 y 2 x y

c) f ( x, y) ( x 2) 2 ( y 1) 2

d) f ( x, y) 1 x 2 y 2

20. A firm produces two types of graphics calculators, x hundred of type A and y
hundred of type B per month. The revenue and cost equations ( in thousands
of Ringgit Malaysia ) for the month are :

R ( x, y) 0.2 x2 0.25 y 2 0.2 xy 200 x 160 y

C ( x, y) 100 x 70 y 4000

a) Determine the number of each type calculators that should be produced to

maximize profit.

b) Determine the maximum profit.

 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

21. An open rectangular box having a volume of 9 m3 is to be

constructed from a tin sheet.

a) Show that the amount of material used is

18 18
given by : A xy
x y

b) Find the dimensions of such a box if the amount of material used is to be

minimal.

22. A packaging company must design a cardboard box with a bottom, no top,

and a partition in the middle that divides the box into two equal sections, each
having a volume of 24 inches 3 . Find the dimensions that use the least amount
of cardboard.
 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

23. i) Find the dimensions of a rectangular tank, without a top, with minimum
surface and a fixed volume of 0.9 m3 .

ii) What can you conclude about your result ?

24. Find three positive numbers whose sum is 48 and such that their product is as
large as possible.

25. Determine three positive numbers x, y, and z whose sum is 10 that produce

a maximum value for the expression x 2 y z .

26. A closed rectangular box with a volume of 16 ft 3 is made from two kinds of

materials. The top and bottom are made of material costing 10 per square

foot and the sides from material costing 5 per square foot. Find the
dimensions of the box so that cost of materials is minimized.
 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

ANSWERS

PL 3PL3
1. a) b)
AE 16 AE

2 2
2. y 2 2 Ay 4 12 Bx 2 y 2 x 2 12 Ax 2 y 2 2 Bx 4
x y

D x 3
5 a) b)
x x y
2 2 5

6. a) -4 b) 61

7) 4

8 a) 2rh b) r 2

c) 48 150.80 d) 64 201.06

15) I reduces 0.03 ampere.

16) y is decreased by 3%

17) y decrease by 19% approximately.

18) a) A 1% of A b) h 0.5% of h

19. a) point (2,1) is saddle point

1 1 1 1
b) , is minimum point and , is saddle point
3 2 3 2

c) 2,1 is minimum point

d) 0,0 is maximum point

 NCB 10103: MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 Tutorial 9
Partial Derivatives

20. a) x =200 units, y= 100 units b) RM 10,500

21. ii) 2.62 m 2.62m 1.31m

22. x 4 , y 6 and z 2 will give minimum surface area.

23 . i) 1.216 m 1.216m 0.609 m

ii) One of the length is half of the other two.

24. 16, 16 ,16

25. 5, 5/2, 5/2

26. length and width = 2 feet

height = 4 feet