1.

Part ial Differe ntiation (Introduct ion)

In the package on introductory differ entiati on, rates of change
of functions were shown to be measured by the derivative. Many
applicatio ns require functions with more than one variable: the ideal
gas law, for example, is
pV = kT
where p is the pressure, V the volume, T the absolute temperature of
the gas, and k is a consta nt. Rearranging this equation as
kT
p= V
shows that p is a function of T and V . If one of the variables, say T ,
is kept fixed and V changes, then the derivative of p with respect to
V measures the rate of change of pressure with respect to volume. In
this case, it is called the partial derivative of p with respect to V and
written as
∂p
.
∂V
 ?
Section 1: Partial Differe ntiation (Introduct ion)
4

kT
Example 1 If p = , find the partial derivatives of p:
V
(a) with respect to T , (b) with respect to V .

Solut ion
(a) This part of the example proceeds as follows:
kT
p = V ,
∂p k
∴ = ,
∂T V
where V is treat ed as a consta nt for this calculatio n.
(b) For this part, T is treated as a consta nt. Thus
1
p = kT = kT V −1 ,
V
∂p ∴
∂V
2
= −kT V kT
= .
V2
Section 1: Partial Differe ntiation (Introduct ion) 5

The symbol ∂ is used whenever a function with more than one variable
is being differentiated but the techniques of partial differentiat ion are
exactly the same as for (ordinary ) differentiat ion.
∂z ∂z
Example 2 Find 2 3
∂x and ∂y for the function z = x y .
Solut ion
z = x2 For the first part y 3 is treated as
3
y
∂z 3 a constant and the derivative of
∴ = 2xy , x2 with respect to x is 2x.
∂x
∂z For the second part x2 is treated
and = x2 3y 2
as a consta nt and the
∂y , derivati ve of y 3 with respect to y
= 3x2 y 2 is 3y2 .
.

∂z ∂z ∂y
Exe rcise 1. Find and
∂x
 for each of the following functions.
(Click on the green letters for solutions.)
1
(a) z = x2 y 4 , (b) z = (x4 + x2 )y 3 , (c) z = y 2 sin(x).
 ?
Section 2: The Rules of Partial Differe ntiation 6

2. The Rules of Partial Differenti at ion

Since partial diffe rentiation is essentially the same as ordinary differ-
entiation , the product, quotient and chain rules may be applied.
∂z
Example 3 Find for each of the following functions.
∂x
x−y
(a) z = xy cos(xy) , (b) z = . x + y, (c) z = (3x + y)2
Solut ion
(a) Here z = uv, where u = xy and v = cos(xy) so the product rule
applies (see the package on the Product and Quotient Rules).

u= xy and v =
cos (xy)
∂u ∂v
∴ = y and = y sin(xy) .
∂x ∂x

Thu
s
 ∂z ∂u ∂v 2
= v+ u = y cos(xy) − xy
sin(xy) .
∂x ∂x ∂x
Section 2: The Rules of Partial = Differe ntiation 7

(b) Here z = u/v, where u = x − y and v = x + y so the

quotient rule
applies (see the package on the Product and Quotient Rules).
u = x − y and v = x+y
∂u ∂v
= 1.
∴ = 1 and ∂x
∂x
Thu ∂u ∂v
s v −u
∂z ∂x ∂x
=
v2
∂x (x + y) − (x − 2y
.
y) (x + y)2
=
(x + y)2
(c) In this case z = (3x + y)2 so z = u2 where u = 3x + y, and the
chain rule applies (see the package on the Chain Rule).
z = u2 and u = 3x + y
∂z ∴ = 2u
∂u
 and ∂u
= 3.
∂x
Thus ∂z ∂z ∂u
= = 2(3x + y)3 = 6(3x + y) .
∂u ∂x
∂x
Section 2: The Rules of Partial Differe ntiation 8

∂z ∂z
Exe rcise 2. Find and for each of the following functions.
∂x ∂y
(Click on the green letters for solutio ns.)

cos(x)
(a) z = (x2 +3x) sin(y), (b) z = , (c) z = ln(xy),
y5
2 +y 2
(d) z = sin(x) cos(xy), (e) z = e(x )
, ( f ) z = sin(x2 + y).

Quiz If z = cos(xy), which of the following state ments is tru e?

∂z ∂z ∂z 1 ∂z
(a) = , (b) = ,
∂x ∂y ∂x x ∂y
1 ∂z ∂z 1 ∂z 1 ∂z
= , (d) = .
(c) y ∂x ∂y y ∂x x ∂y
 3 2
Section 3: Higher Order Partial Deri vatives 9

3. Higher Ord er Partial Deri vat ives

Derivatives of order two and higher were introduced in the package on
Maxima and Minima . Finding higher order derivatives of functions
of more than one variable is similar to ordinary differentiatio n.
∂ 2z
Example 4 Find if z = e(x +y ) .
∂x2

Solut ion First differe ntiate z with respect to x, keeping y consta nt,
then differ entiate this function with respect to x, again keeping y
consta nt. 3 2
z = e(x +y )
∂z 3 2
∴ = 3x2 e (x +y )using the chain rule
∂x
3
+y 2 )
∂2 ∂(3x2 ) 3 2 ∂(e (x )
z (x +y ) 2
= e + 3x using the product rule
∂x ∂x
∂x2 3 2 3 2

∂2 z
∂x2 = 6xe (x +y )
+ 3x2 (3x2 e(x +y )
)
4 (x3 +y2 )
= (9x + 6x)e
 2 2 2 2
Section 3: Higher Order Partial Deri vatives 10

∂ z ∂ z
In addition to both and , when there are two variables there
∂x2 ∂y 2 3 2
is also the possibility of a mixed second order deri vative.

∂ 2z
Example 5 Find if z = e(x +y )
.
∂x∂y
∂ ∂z
∂ z is interpret ed as ; in words,
Solut ion The symbol
∂x∂y ∂x ∂y
first differ entiate z with respect to y, keeping x consta nt, then differ-

entiate this function with respect to x, keeping y consta nt. (It is this
differentiat ion, first with respect to x and then with respect to y, that
leads to the name of mixed derivative.)
∂z
First with x consta nt = 2ye(x +y ) (using the chain rule.)
∂y
∂ z ∂
Second with y consta nt = 2ye(x +y )
∂x∂y 3 23 2

∂x
3 +y 2
= 3x2 2ye(x )

3 +y 2 )
= 6x2 ye(x .
 22 3 2
Section 3: Higher Order Partial Deri vatives 11

The obvious question now to be answered is: what happens

if the order of differ entiation is reversed?

∂ z ∂ ∂z 3
+y 2 )
Example 6 Find = if z = e(x .
∂y∂x ∂y ∂x
Solut ion
∂z
First with y consta nt = 3x2 e(x +y )
(using the chain rule).
∂x
∂ z ∂ 3 2
Second with x consta nt = 3x2 e(x +y )
∂y∂x ∂y
3 +y2
= 2y3x2 e(x )

3 2 ∂2 z
= 6x2 ye(x +y ) .
= ∂x∂y
As a general rule, when calculating mixed derivatives the order of
differentiat ion may be reversed without affecting the final result.
 2 2
Section 3: Higher Order Partial Deri vatives 12

Exe rcise 3. Confirm the state ment on the previous page by finding
∂ z ∂ z
both and for each of the following functions, whose first
∂x∂y ∂y∂x
order partial derivatives have already been found in exercise 2. (Click

on the green letters for solutio ns.)

cos(x)
(a) z = (x2 +3x) sin(y), (b) z = , (c) z = ln(xy),
y5
2 2
(d) z = sin(x) cos(xy), (e) z = e(x +y ) , ( f ) z = sin(x2 + y).

Notation For first and second order partial derivatives there is a

∂f ∂f
compact notatio n. Thus can be written as fx and as fy .
∂y
∂x 2
∂ 2f ∂ f
Similarly is written f xx while is written fxy .
∂x∂y
2
∂x

Quiz If z = e−y sin(x), which of the following is zxx + zyy ?

(a) e−y sin(x), (b) 0, (c) −e−y sin(x), (d) −e−y cos(x).
 ? p ? p ? p
Section 4: Quiz on Partial Deri vatives 13

4. Quiz on Part ial Der ivat ives

Choose the correct option for each of the following.
Begin Quiz
∂z
1. If z = x2 + 3xy + y 3 then is
∂x
(a) 2x + 3y + 3y 2 , (b) 2x + 3x + 3y 2
, (c) 2x + 3x , (d) 2x + 3y .
2. If w = 1/r, where r 2 = x2 + y 2 + z 2 , then xw x + ywy + zwz
is
(a) −1/r , (b) 1/r , (c) −1/r2 , (d) 1/r 2 .
r
x
3. If u = then uxx is
y
1 1 1 1
(a) − , (b) , (c) , (d) .
3 x3 3 x3
4 x3 8 8 x3
p
4
End Quiz
Solutions to Exercises 14

Solutions to Exercises
∂z
Exercise 1(a) To calculate the partial derivative of the function
∂x
z = x2 y4 , the factor y 4 is treated as a consta nt:

∂z
= x2 y 4 = x2 × y 4 = 2x(2−1) × y 4 = 2xy 4 .
∂ ∂
∂x ∂x ∂x

∂z
Similarly, to find the partial derivative , the factor x2 is treated
∂y
as a consta nt:

∂z x2 y 4 = x2 × y4 = x2 × 4y (4−1) = 4x2 y3 .
= ∂
∂
∂y ∂y ∂y

Click on the green square to retu rn

Solutions to Exercises 15

∂z
Exercise 1(b) To calculate for the function z = (x4 + x2 )y 3 , the
∂x
factor y3 is treat ed as a consta nt:
∂z
= (x4 + x2 )y 3 = x4 + x2 × y3 = (4x3 + 2x)y 3 .
∂ ∂
∂x ∂x ∂x

∂z
To find the partial derivative 4 2
∂y the factor (x + x ) is treated as a
consta nt:
∂
∂z (x4 + x2 )y 3 = (x4 + x2 ) × y 3 = 3(x4 + x2 )y 2 .
=
∂
∂y ∂y ∂y

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 1
Solutions to y 1Exercises 16

Exercise 1(c) If z = y 2 sin(x) then to ∂z

the y 2 factor
calculate kept constant:
is
∂x
∂z
∂ = 1 1 ∂ 1
(sin(x)) = y 2 cos(x) .
∂x ∂x y 2 ∂x
sin(x) = y2
×
∂z
Similarly, to evaluate the partial derivative
∂y the factor sin(x) is
treated as a constant:

∂z 1 ∂ 12 1 − 12
= 2 sin(x) y × sin(x) y sin(x) .
∂ = =
∂y ∂y ∂y 2
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Solutions to Exercises 17

Exercise 2(a) The function z = (x2 + 3x) sin(y) can be written as

z = uv , where u = (x2 + 3x) and v = sin(y) . The partial
derivati ves of u and v with respect to the variable x are
∂u ∂v
= 2x + 3 , = 0,
∂x ∂x
while the partial derivatives with respect to y are
∂u ∂v
= 0, = cos(y) .
∂y ∂y
Applying the product rule
∂z ∂u ∂v
= v+ u = (2x + 3) sin(y) .
∂x ∂x ∂x
∂z ∂u ∂v
= v+ u = (x2 + 3x) cos(y) .
∂y ∂y ∂y
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Solutions to Exercises ? 18
? ??
Exercise 2(b)
cos(x)
The function z = can be written as z = cos(x)y −5 .
y5
Treating the factor y −5 as a constant and differentiating with respect

to x:

∂z sin(x)
= sin(x)y −5 = .
∂x y5
Treating cos(x) as a consta nt and differentiati ng with respect to y:

∂v cos(x)
= cos(x)( 5y −6 ) = 5 .
∂y y6

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Solutions to Exercises 19

Exercise 2(c) The function z = ln(xy) can be rewritten as (see the

package on logarithms)
z = ln(xy) = ln(x) + ln(y) .
Thus the partial derivative of z with respect to x is
∂z ∂
= (ln(x) + ln(y)) = ln(x) = 1 .
∂
∂x ∂x ∂x x
Similarly the partial derivative of z with respect to y is
∂z ∂
=(ln(x) + ln(y)) = ln(y) = 1 .
∂
∂y ∂y ∂y y
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Solutions to Exercises 20

Exercise 2(d) To calculate the partial derivatives of the function

z = sin(x) cos(xy) the product rule has to be applied
∂z ∂
= cos(xy)
∂x ∂x sin(x) + sin(x) cos(xy) ,
∂z ∂ ∂
= cos(xy) ∂x cos(xy) .
∂y ∂y
sin(x) + sin(x)
∂
∂y
Using the chain rule with u = xy for the partial derivatives of cos(xy)
∂ ∂ cos(u) ∂u
cos(xy) = = − sin(u)y = − y sin(xy) ,
∂x ∂u ∂x
∂ ∂ cos(u) ∂u
cos(xy) = = − sin(u)x = − x sin(xy) .
∂y ∂u ∂y
Thus the partial derivatives of z = sin(x) cos(xy) are
∂z ∂z
= cos(xy) cos(x) − y sin(x) sin(xy) , = −x sin(x) sin(xy) .
∂x ∂y
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Solutions to Exercises 21

2 +y 2
Exercise 2(e) To calculate the partial derivatives of z = e(x )
the
chain rule has to be applied with u = (x2 + y 2 ):
∂z ∂u ∂u
= (e u ) = eu ,
∂
∂x ∂u ∂x ∂x

∂z ∂u ∂u
= (e u ) = eu .
∂
∂y ∂u ∂y ∂y

The partial derivatives of u = (x2 + y 2 ) are

∂u ∂(x 2 ) ∂u ∂(y 2 )
= = 2x , = = 2y .
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y
2 +y 2 )
Therefore the partial derivatives of the function z = e(x are

∂z ∂u 2
+y 2 )
= eu = 2x e(x ,
 ∂x ∂x
∂z ∂u
= eu = 2y
2 2
(x +y )
e .
∂x ∂x
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Solutions to Exercises 22

Exercise 2(f ) Applying the chain rule with u = x2 + y the

partial derivatives of the function z = sin(x2 + y) can be written as
∂z ∂ ∂u ∂u
= (sin(u)) = cos(u) ,
∂x ∂u ∂x ∂x

∂z ∂ ∂u ∂u
= (sin(u)) = cos(u) .
∂y ∂u ∂y ∂y

The partial derivatives of u = x2 + y are

∂u ∂x2 ∂u ∂y
= = 2x , = = 1.
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y
Thus the partial derivatives of the function z = sin(x2 + y) are
∂z ∂u
= cos(u) = 2x cos(x2 + y) ,
∂x ∂x
∂z ∂u
= cos(u) = cos(x2 + y) .
∂y ∂y
Click on the green square to retu rn
Solutions to Exercises 23

Exercise 3(a)
From exercise 2(a) , the first order partial derivatives of
z = (x2 + 3x) sin(y) are
∂z ∂z
= (2x + 3) sin(y) , = (x2 + 3x) cos(y) .
∂x ∂y
The mixed second order derivatives are
∂2 z ∂
= ∂ ∂z
= (x2 + 3x) cos(y) = (2x + 3) cos(y) ,
∂x∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x
∂2 z ∂
= ∂ ∂z
= ((2x + 3) sin(y)) = (2x + 3) cos(y) .
∂y∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
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Solutions to ? ? , .
Exercises 24
?

Exercise 3(b)
cos(x)
From exercise 2(b) , the first order partial derivatives of z
= y5
are
∂z sin(x) ∂z cos(x)
= , =− ,
y5 ∂y y6
∂x 5

so the mixed second order derivatives are

∂2 z ∂z cos(x) sin(x)
= = −5 =5
∂x∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x y6 y6
∂2 z ∂ ∂z ∂ sin(x) sin(x)
= = − =5
∂y∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y y5 y6
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Solutions to Exercises 25

Exercise 3(c)
From exercise 2(c) , the first order partial derivatives of z = ln(xy)
are
∂z 1 ∂z 1
= , = .
∂x x ∂y y
The mixed second order derivatives are
∂2 z
= ∂ ∂z
= ∂ 1 = 0,
∂x∂y ∂x ∂y
∂2 z ∂x y
= ∂ ∂z
= = 0.
∂y∂x ∂y ∂x ∂ 1
∂y x
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Solutions to ? Exercises 26

Exercise 3(d) From exercise 2(d) , the first order partial

derivatives of z = sin(x) cos(xy) are
∂z ∂z
= cos(x) cos(xy) − y sin(x) sin(xy) , = − x sin(x) sin(xy) .
∂x ∂y
The mixed second order derivatives are
∂2 z ∂z ∂
= = (−x sin(x) sin(xy))
∂x∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x
= − sin(x) sin(xy) − x cos(x) sin(xy) − xy sin(x) cos(xy) ,
∂2 z ∂ ∂z ∂
= = (cos(x) cos(xy) − y sin(x) sin(xy))
∂y∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
= −x cos(x) sin(xy) − sin(x) sin(xy) − xy sin(x) cos(xy) .
N.B. In the solution above a product of three functions has been
differentiat ed. This can be done by using two applications of the
product rule.
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Solutions to Exercises 27

Exercise 3(e) From exercise 2(e) , the first order partial derivatives
2 2
of z = e(x +y ) are
∂z 2 2 ∂z 2 2
= 2xe (x +y ) , = 2ye(x +y ) .
∂x ∂y
The mixed second order derivatives are thus
∂2 z ∂ ∂z ∂ 2 2 2 +y2 )
= = 2ye(x +y ) = 4xye(x ,
∂x∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x
∂2 z ∂ ∂z ∂ 2 2 2 2
= =
∂y∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y 2xe (x +y )
= 4yxe (x +y )
.
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 ?
Solutions to Exercises 28
?
Exercise 3(f ) From exercise 2(f ), the first order partial derivati ves
of z = sin(x2 + y) are
∂z ∂z
= 2x cos(x2 + y) , = cos(x2 + y) .
∂x ∂y
The mixed second order derivatives are thus
∂2 z ∂
= ∂ ∂z
= cos(x2 + y) = 2x sin(x2 + y) ,
∂x∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x
∂2 z ∂
= ∂ ∂z
= 2x cos(x2 + y) = 2x sin(x2 + y) .
∂y∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
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Solutions to Quizzes 29

Solutions to Quizzes
Solut ion to Qu iz:
To determine which of the options is correct, the partial derivatives
of z = cos(xy) must be calculated. From the calculations of exercise
2(d) the partial derivatives of z = cos(xy) are
∂ ∂ cos(u) ∂u
cos(xy) = = − sin(u)y = − y sin(xy) ,
∂x ∂u ∂x
∂ ∂ cos(u) ∂u
cos(xy) = = − sin(u)x = −x sin(xy) .
∂y ∂u ∂y
Therefo re
1 ∂ 1 ∂
cos(xy) = − sin(xy) = cos(xy) .
y ∂x x ∂y

The other choices, if checked, will be found to be false. End Quiz

 ?
Solutions to Quizzes 30

Solut ion to Qu iz:

The first order derivatives of z = e−y sin(x) are
zx = e−y cos(x) , zy = − e−y sin(x) ,
where e−y is kept constant for the first differe ntiation and sin(x) for
the second. Continuing in this way, the second order derivatives zxx
and zyy are given by the expressions
∂ ∂z ∂ y
zxx = = cos(x) −e−y sin(x) ,
∂x ∂x
e− =
∂x
∂ ∂z ∂
zyy = = e− y y
sin(x) .
∂y ∂y ∂y sin(x) =
e−
Adding these two equations together gives
zxx + zyy = 0 .
End Quiz