Chapter 5

1. Find the first-order partial derivatives 𝜕𝑦⁄𝜕𝑥 , 𝜕𝑦⁄𝜕𝑧 , 𝜕𝑦⁄𝜕𝑡 of:

𝑦 = 11𝑥 2 𝑧𝑡 − 5𝑧 3 𝑡 2 + 9𝑥𝑧𝑡 3 + 3𝑥 2 𝑧 2

𝜕𝑦
= 22𝑥𝑧𝑡 + 9𝑧𝑡 3 + 6𝑥𝑧 2
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑦
= 11𝑥 2 𝑡 − 15𝑧 2 𝑡 2 + 9𝑥𝑡 3 + 6𝑥 2 𝑧
𝜕𝑧

𝜕𝑦
= 11𝑥 2 𝑧 − 10𝑧 3 𝑡 + 27𝑥𝑧𝑡 2
𝜕𝑡

2. Use appropriate rules to find the first-order partials for each of the following:

(i) 𝑧 = (𝑤 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)(3𝑤 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦)

𝜕𝑧
= (𝑤 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)(3) + (3𝑤 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦)(1) = 𝟔𝒘 − 𝒙 − 𝟕𝒚
𝜕𝑤

𝜕𝑧
= (𝑤 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)(2) + (3𝑤 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦)(−1) = −𝒘 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟐𝒚
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑧
= (𝑤 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)(−4) + (3𝑤 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦)(−1) = −𝟕𝒘 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟖𝒚
𝜕𝑦

𝑥 2 −𝑦 2
(ii) 𝑧=
3𝑥+2𝑦
𝜕𝑧 2𝑥(3𝑥 + 2𝑦) − (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )(3) 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙𝒚 + 𝟑𝒚𝟐
= =
𝜕𝑥 (3𝑥 + 2𝑦)2 (𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐𝒚)𝟐

𝜕𝑧 −2𝑦(3𝑥 + 2𝑦) − (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )(2) −𝟐𝒙𝟐 = −𝟔𝒙𝒚−𝟐𝒚𝟐

= =
𝜕𝑦 (3𝑥 + 2𝑦)2 (𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐𝒚)𝟐

(iii) 𝑧 = (5𝑥 2 − 4𝑦)2 (2𝑥 + 7𝑦 3 )

Using the product rule and generalized power function rule:

𝜕𝑧
= (5𝑥 2 − 4𝑦)2 (2) + (2𝑥 + 7𝑦 3 )[2(5𝑥 2 − 4𝑦)(10𝑥)]
𝜕𝑥
= 𝟐(𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒚𝟐 ) + (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕𝒚𝟑 )[𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒙𝟑 − 𝟖𝟎𝒙𝒚]

𝜕𝑧
= (5𝑥 2 − 4𝑦)2 (21𝑦 2 ) + (2𝑥 + 7𝑦 3 )[2(5𝑥 2 − 4𝑦)(−4)]
𝜕𝑦
= (𝟐𝟏𝒚𝟐 )(𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒚)𝟐 + (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕𝒚𝟑 )(−𝟒𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝟐𝒚)

1
3. Take the first, second, and cross partial derivatives of the following functions:

(i) 𝑧 = 7𝑥 3 + 9𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 5

𝜕𝑧 𝜕2 𝑧
= 21𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 = 42𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2

𝜕𝑧 𝜕2 𝑧
= 9𝑥 + 10𝑦 4 = 40𝑦 3
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕2 𝑧 𝜕 𝜕𝑧 𝜕 𝜕2 𝑧 𝜕 𝜕𝑧 𝜕
= 𝜕𝑦 (𝜕𝑥) = 𝜕𝑦 (21𝑥 2 + 9𝑦) = 𝟗 = 𝜕𝑥 (𝜕𝑦) = 𝜕𝑥 (9𝑥 + 10𝑦 4 ) = 𝟗
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥

(ii) 𝑧 = 𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦

𝜕𝑧 𝜕2 𝑧
= 3𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦 = 3𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦 (3) = 9𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2

𝜕𝑧 𝜕2 𝑧
= 2𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦 = 2𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦 (2) = 4𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕2 𝑧 𝜕2 𝑧
=6𝑒 3𝑥+2𝑦 =𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

(iii) 𝑧 = ln⁡(5𝑥 + 9𝑦)

𝜕𝑧 5 𝜕𝑧 9
= 5𝑥+9𝑦 = 5𝑥+9𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

By the quotient rule:

𝜕2 𝑧 0(5𝑥+9𝑦)−5(5) −25 𝜕2 𝑧 0(5𝑥+9𝑦)−9(9) −81

= = (5𝑥+9𝑦)2 = = (5𝑥+9𝑦)2
𝜕𝑥 2 (5𝑥+9𝑦)2 𝜕𝑦 2 (5𝑥+9𝑦)2

𝜕2 𝑧 −45 𝜕2 𝑧
= =
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 (5𝑥+9𝑦)2 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥

4. For the following functions, (a) find the critical points, and (b) determine if at these points
the functions is at a relative maximum, relative minimum, inflexion point, or saddle point.

(i) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 3𝑥 3 + 1.5𝑦 2 − 18𝑥𝑦 + 17

a. Set the first-order partial derivatives equal to zero,

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 9𝑥 2 − 18𝑦 = 0
𝑓 ′ 𝑦 = 3𝑦 − 18𝑥 = 0
and solve the critical values,

18𝑦 = 9𝑥 2 ⇔ 𝑦 = 1/2𝑥 2
3𝑦 = 18𝑥 ⇔ 𝑦 = 6𝑥

2
Setting 𝑦 equal to 6𝑥

1
= 6𝑥 ⇔ 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 = 0 ⇔ 𝑥(𝑥 − 12) = 0 ⇔ 𝒙 = 𝟎 or 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟐
2𝑥 2

Setting 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 12 into 𝑦 = 6𝑥 we get (0,0) and (12,72) as the coordinates of the
critical points.

b. Take the second-order partial derivatives, evaluate tem at the critical points and note the
signs:

𝑓 ′ ′𝑥 = 18𝑥 𝑓 ′′ 𝑦𝑦 = 3
′
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 (0,0) = 18(0) 𝑓 ′′ 𝑦(0,0) = 3 > 0
′
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 (12,72) = 18(12) = 216 > 0 𝑓 ′′ 𝑦(12,72) = 3 > 0

Then take cross-partials:

𝑓𝑥𝑦 = −18 = 𝑓𝑦𝑥

Evaluate it at the critical point and test the third condition:

2
𝑓𝑥𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏) × 𝑓𝑦𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏) > [𝑓𝑥𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏)]

At (0.0) 0 × 3 < (−18)2

At (12.72) 216 × 3 > (−18)2

2
With 𝑓𝑥𝑥 𝑓𝑦𝑦 > (𝑓𝑥𝑦 ) and 𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 > 0 at (12,72) is a relative minimum.
2
With 𝑓𝑥𝑥 𝑓𝑦𝑦 < (𝑓𝑥𝑦 ) and 𝑓𝑥𝑥 and 𝑓𝑥𝑦 of the same sign at (0,0), 𝑓(0,0) is an inflexion point.

(ii) 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦) = ln⁡(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 − 6𝑦)

a.
2𝑥 − 4
𝑧𝑥 = = 0 ⇔ 2𝑥 − 4 = 0 ⇔ 𝑥 = 2
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 − 6𝑦
6𝑦 − 6
𝑧𝑦 = 2 = 0 ⇔ 6𝑦 − 6 = 0 ⇔ 𝑦 = 1
𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 − 6𝑦

b.
(2)(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 − 6𝑦) − (2𝑥 − 4)(2𝑥 − 4)
𝑧𝑥𝑥 =
(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 − 6𝑦)2

At 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 1

3
 (−7)(2) − 0 −14
𝑧𝑥𝑥 = = <0
(−7)2 49
(−7)(6) − 0 −42
𝑧𝑦𝑦 = = <0
(−7)2 −49

Then,
−(2𝑥 − 4)(6𝑦 − 6)
𝑧𝑥𝑦 = = 𝑧𝑦𝑥
(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 − 6𝑦)2

2
At 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 1, 𝑧𝑥𝑦 = 0 = 𝑧𝑦𝑥 . With 𝑧𝑥𝑥 , 𝑧𝑦𝑦 <0, and 𝑧𝑥𝑥 × 𝑧𝑦𝑦 > (𝑧𝑦𝑥 ) the function is at a
Maximum

5. Find the total differential 𝑑𝑧 for the function 𝑧 = (𝑥 − 3𝑦)3

𝑧𝑥 = 3(𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 (1) 𝑧𝑦 = 3(𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 (−3)

𝑑𝑧 = 3(𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 𝑑𝑥 − 9(𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 𝑑𝑦

6. In monopolistic competition producers must determine the price that will maximize their
profit. Assume that a producer offers two different brands of a product, for which the
demand functions are:

𝑄1 = 14 − 0.25𝑃1
𝑄2 = 24 − 0.5𝑃2

And the joint cost function is:

𝑇𝐶 = 𝑄12 + 5𝑄1 𝑄2 + 𝑄22

Find:
(i) The profit-maximizing level of output for each product
(ii) The profit-maximizing price for each product
(iii) The maximum profit
(Hint: Total Revenue for the firm is 𝑃1 𝑄1 + 𝑃2 𝑄2 )

(i) 𝑀 = 𝑃1 𝑄1 + 𝑃2 𝑄2 − 𝑇𝐶 ⇔ 𝑀 = 𝑃1 𝑄1 + 𝑃2 𝑄2 − (𝑄12 + 5𝑄1 𝑄2 + 𝑄22 )

From
𝑄1 = 14 − 0.25𝑃1 ⇒ 𝑃1 = 56 − 4𝑄1
𝑄2 = 24 − 0.5𝑃2 ⇒ 𝑃2 = 48 − 2𝑄2

Substituting in the Profit function:

𝑀 = (56 − 4𝑄1 )𝑄1 + (48 − 2𝑄2 )𝑄2 − 𝑄12 − 5𝑄1 𝑄2 − 𝑄22 )
𝑀 = 56𝑄1 − 5𝑄12 + 48𝑄2 − 3𝑄22 − 5𝑄1 𝑄2

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Then, maximize by the familiar rules:
𝑀1 = 56 − 10𝑄1 − 5𝑄2 = 0
𝑀2 = 48 − 6𝑄2 − 5𝑄1 = 0

Which them solved simultaneously give

𝑄1 = 2.75
𝑄2 = 5.7

Take the second-order derivatives to be sure 𝑀 is maximized:

𝑀11 = −10 𝑀22 = −6 𝑀12 = −5 = 𝑀21

With both second direct partials negative and 𝑀11 × 𝑀22 > (𝑀12 )2, the function is
maximized at the critical values.

(ii) Substitute 𝑄1 = 2.75 and 𝑄2 = 5.7 in 𝑃1 = 56 − 4𝑄1 and 𝑃2 = 48 − 2𝑄2 , respectively,

to find the profit-maximizing price for each product.

𝑷𝟏 = 56 − 4(2.75) = 𝟒𝟓 for brand 1

𝑷𝟐 = 48 − 2(5.7) = 𝟑𝟔. 𝟔 for brand 2

(ii) Max-profit is:

𝑴 = 45(2.75) + 36.3(5.7) − (2.75)2 − 5(2.75)(5.7) − (5.7)2 = 𝟐𝟏𝟑. 𝟗𝟒

7. Find the turning point of the following function and determine whether it is a maximum
or minimum.

𝑦 = 3𝑥12 − 5𝑥1 − 𝑥1 𝑥2 + 6𝑥22 − 4𝑥2 + 2𝑥2 𝑥3 + 4𝑥32 + 2𝑥3 − 3𝑥1 𝑥3