Internal Use

Partial Derivatives
Internal Use

Objective
To find the partial
derivatives of two or
more variable functions.
Internal Use

Partial Derivatives
If 𝑧 = 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 is a point in the domain of 𝑓, then the 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒙 at

𝑥0 , 𝑦0 also called the 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒛 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒙 at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 is the derivative at 𝑥0 of the function

results when y = 𝑦𝑜 is held fixed and x is allowed to vary. This partial derivative is denoted by 𝑓𝑥 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 and is given by

𝑑 𝑓 𝑥0 + ∆𝑥, 𝑦0 − 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0
𝑓𝑥 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 = 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦0 |𝑥=𝑥0 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

Similarly, the 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚 at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 [also called the 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒛 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉

𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚 at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ] is the derivative at 𝑦0 of the function that results when 𝑥 = 𝑥0 is held fixed and y is allowed to

vary. This partial derivative is denoted by 𝑓𝑦 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 and is given by

𝑑 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 + ∆𝑦 − 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0
𝑓𝑦 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 = 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦 |𝑦=𝑦0 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦→0 ∆𝑦
Internal Use

Partial Derivatives Functions

The two formulas given define the partial derivatives of a function at a
specific point 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 . The partial derivatives as functions of the variables of 𝑥 and 𝑦,
omitting the subscripts are
𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥, 𝑦 − 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦
𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 − 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦
𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
∆𝑦→0 ∆𝑦
Internal Use

Examples:
Problem 1: Solution:
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 3𝑥 3 𝑦 2 , 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑: 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 3𝑥 3 𝑦 2
𝑎. ) 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑎. ) 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 = 3𝑦 2 3𝑥 2 = 9𝑥 2 𝑦 2

𝑏. ) 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑏. ) 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 = 3𝑥 3 2𝑦 = 6𝑥 3 𝑦

𝑐. ) 𝑓𝑥 (1, 𝑦) 𝑐. ) 𝑓𝑥 1, 𝑦 = 9 1 2 𝑦 2 = 9𝑦 2

𝑑. ) 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 1 𝑑. ) 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 1 = 6𝑥 3 1 = 6𝑥 3

𝑒. ) 𝑓𝑥 (1,2) 2 2
𝑒. ) 𝑓𝑥 1,2 = 9 1 2 = 36

𝑓. ) 𝑓𝑦 (1,2) 3
𝑓. ) 𝑓𝑦 1,2 = 6 1 2 = 12
Internal Use

Examples:
Problem 2: Solution:
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑥2𝑦3
1. 𝑧 = 4𝑒
𝑥2𝑦3 𝜕𝑧
1. 𝑧 = 4𝑒 𝑥2𝑦3 3 3 𝑥2𝑦3
𝑎. ) = 4𝑒 . 𝑦 2𝑥 = 8𝑥𝑦 𝑒
2. 𝑧 = cos(𝑥 5 𝑦 4 ) 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑧 𝑥2𝑦3 2 2 2 2 𝑥2𝑦3
𝑏. ) = 4𝑒 . 𝑥 3𝑦 = 12𝑥 𝑦 𝑒
𝜕𝑦
2. 𝑧 = cos(𝑥 5 𝑦 4 )
𝜕𝑧
𝑎. ) = − sin 𝑥 5 𝑦 4 ∙ 5𝑥 4 𝑦 4
𝜕𝑥
= −5𝑥 4 𝑦 4 sin 𝑥 5 𝑦 4
𝜕𝑧
𝑏. ) = − sin 𝑥 5 𝑦 4 ∙ 4𝑥 5 𝑦 3
𝜕𝑦
= −4𝑥 5 𝑦 3 sin 𝑥 5 𝑦 4
Internal Use

Examples:
Problem 3: Solution:
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 1. 𝑧 = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 sin 4𝑦 2
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑎. ) = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 0 + sin 4𝑦 2 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦 sin 4𝑦 2
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑧
1. 𝑧 = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 sin 4𝑦 2 𝑏. ) = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 cos 4𝑦 2 8𝑦 + sin 4𝑦 2 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 𝑥
𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑦
2. 𝑧 = 2 = 8𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦 cos 4𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑒 𝑥𝑦 sin 4𝑦 2
𝑥 + 𝑦2
𝑥𝑦
2. 𝑧= 2 2
𝑥 +𝑦
𝜕𝑧 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦(2𝑥) 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑦 3 − 2𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑦3 − 𝑥2𝑦
𝑎. ) = 2 2 2
= 2 2 2
= 2
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 +𝑦 𝑥 +𝑦 𝑥 + 𝑦2 2

𝜕𝑧 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦(2𝑦) 𝑥 3 + 𝑥𝑦 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 2 𝑥 3 − 𝑥𝑦 2
𝑏. ) = 2 2 2
= 2 2 2
= 2
𝜕𝑦 𝑥 +𝑦 𝑥 +𝑦 𝑥 + 𝑦2 2
Internal Use

Examples: Solution:
3
Problem 4: 1. 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦 −
2 tan −1 𝑥
𝑦
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑥(0) 1
−
3 𝑦2 −
3 𝑦 −
3 𝑦
𝑎. )𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦 2 2 =𝑦
2
2 =𝑦 2 2
𝑥 𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑥2
3 𝑥 1+ 1+ 2
− 𝑦 𝑦
1. 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦 2 tan−1 1
𝑦 𝑦 −2
𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 = 2
𝑦 + 𝑥2

1
3 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 3 −5
−2 𝑦
𝑏. )𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦 ∙ 𝑥 2
+ tan−1 − 𝑦 2
1+ 𝑦 2
𝑦
𝑥
3 − 2 3 −5 𝑥
− 𝑦 −1
= −𝑦 2 ∙ 2 − ∙ 𝑦 2 tan
𝑥 2 𝑦
1+ 2
𝑦
3
− 5
𝑥𝑦 2 3 −2 −1 𝑥
𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 = − 2 2 − ∙𝑦 tan
𝑦 +𝑥 2 𝑦
Internal Use

Exercises:
1. 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 4𝑥 3 𝑦 2 . 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 2. 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑧 = 𝑒 3𝑥 sin 𝑦 . 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑
𝑎. ) 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑒. )𝑓𝑦 1, 𝑦
𝛿𝑧 𝛿𝑧
𝑏. )𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑓. )𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 1 𝑎. ) 𝑒. ) |(0,𝑦)
𝛿𝑥 𝛿𝑦
𝑐. )𝑓𝑥 1, 𝑦 𝑔. )𝑓𝑥 1,2
𝛿𝑧 𝛿𝑧
𝑑. )𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 1 ℎ. )𝑓𝑦 1,2 𝑏. ) 𝑓. ) |(𝑥,0)
𝛿𝑦 𝛿𝑦
𝛿𝑧 𝛿𝑧
𝑐. ) |(0,𝑦) 𝑔. ) |(𝑙𝑛3,0)
𝛿𝑥 𝛿𝑥
𝛿𝑧 𝛿𝑧
𝑑. ) |(𝑥,0) ℎ. ) |(𝑙𝑛3,0)
𝛿𝑥 𝛿𝑦
Internal Use

Partial Derivatives of Functions with More Than Two Variables

For a function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) of three variables, there are three partial derivatives:

𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 , 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 , 𝑓𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧

The partial derivative 𝑓𝑥 is calculated by holding y and z constant and differentiating with respect to x.

The partial derivative 𝑓𝑦 is calculated by holding x and z constant and differentiating with respect to y.

The partial derivative 𝑓𝑧 is calculated by holding x and y constant and differentiating with respect to z.

If a dependent variable 𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is used, then the three partial derivatives of f can be denoted by
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
, , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Internal Use

Examples: SOLUTION:
1. ) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑧 ln(𝑥 2 𝑦 cos 𝑧)
2𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧 2𝑧
1. 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑥, 𝑓𝑦, 𝑓𝑧. 𝑎. )𝑓𝑥 = 𝑧 ∙ 2
𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧
=
𝑥
𝑥 2 cos 𝑧 𝑧
𝑏. )𝑓𝑦 = 𝑧 ∙ 2 =
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑧 ln 𝑥 2 𝑦 cos 𝑧 𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧 𝑦
−𝑥 2 𝑦 sin 𝑧
𝑐. )𝑓𝑧 = 𝑧 ∙ 2 + ln 𝑥 2 𝑦 cos 𝑧 = −𝑧 tan 𝑧 + ln 𝑥 2 𝑦 cos 𝑧
𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧
𝛿𝑤 𝛿𝑤 𝛿𝑤
2. 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 , , . 𝑥2 − 𝑦2
𝛿𝑥 𝛿𝑦 𝛿𝑧 2. ) 𝑤 = 2
𝑦 + 𝑧2
𝛿𝑤 2𝑥
𝑎. ) =
𝛿𝑥 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2
𝑥2 − 𝑦2 𝛿𝑤 (𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) −2𝑦 − (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )(2𝑦) −2𝑦 3 − 2𝑦𝑧 2 − 2𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑦 3
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑤 = 2 𝑏. ) = 2 2 2
=
𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2
𝑦 + 𝑧2 𝛿𝑦 𝑦 +𝑧
𝛿𝑤 −2𝑦𝑧 2 − 2𝑥 2 𝑦
=
𝛿𝑦 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 2
2 2 2 2
𝛿𝑤 2 2
2𝑧 𝑦 + 𝑧 0 − (𝑥 − 𝑦 )(2𝑧)
𝑐. ) = 𝑥 −𝑦 − 2 𝑜𝑟
𝛿𝑧 𝑦 + 𝑧2 2 𝑦2 + 𝑧2
𝛿𝑤 −2𝑧𝑥 2 + 2𝑧𝑦 2
=
𝛿𝑧 𝑦2 + 𝑧2
Internal Use

Examples:
3. 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 4 𝑧 3 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧 2 + 1 . 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 4. 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑤 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 cos 𝑧 . 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑

4 3 𝜕𝑤
𝑎. ) 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 2𝑥𝑦 𝑧 + 𝑦 𝑎. ) 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 2𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑧
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤
2 3 3
𝑏. )𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 4𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 + 𝑥 𝑏. ) 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 cos 𝑧
𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑤
𝑐. )𝑓𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 4 𝑧 2 + 2𝑧 𝑐. ) 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = −𝑥 2 𝑦 sin 𝑧
𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑤
𝑑. )𝑓𝑥 1, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 2𝑦 4 𝑧 3 + 𝑦 𝑑. ) 2, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 4𝑦 cos 𝑧
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤
2
𝑒. )𝑓𝑦 1,2, 𝑧 = 4 1 2 3 𝑧 3 + 1 = 32𝑧 3 + 1 𝑒. )
𝜕𝑦
2,1, 𝑧 = 4 cos 𝑧
𝜕𝑤
𝑓. )𝑓𝑧 1,2,3 = 3 1 2 (2)4 (3)2 +2 3 = 438 𝑓. ) 2,1,0 = −4 sin 0 = 4 0 = 0
𝜕𝑧
Internal Use

Examples:
5. 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑧 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑧𝑙𝑛 𝑥 3 𝑦 cos 𝑧 .

3𝑥 2 𝑦 cos 𝑧 3
3𝑧
𝑓𝑥 = 𝑧 3
+ ln 𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧 ∙ 0 =
𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧 𝑥

𝑥 3 cos 𝑧 3
𝑧
𝑓𝑦 = 𝑧 3 + ln 𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧 ∙ 0 =
𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧 𝑦

−𝑥 3 𝑦 sin 𝑧 3 3
𝑓𝑧 = 𝑧 3
+ ln 𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧 ∙ 1 = −𝑧 tan 𝑧 + ln(𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧)
𝑥 𝑦 cos 𝑧
Internal Use

Exercises:
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑥, 𝑓𝑦, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑧. 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 , , .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
−
3 𝑥𝑧 𝑧
𝑎. ) 𝑤 = 2𝑦𝑒 sin 𝑥𝑧
𝑎. ) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑦 2 sec
𝑦
𝑥2 − 𝑦2
1 𝑏. ) 𝑤 = 2
𝑏. ) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = tan−1 𝑦 + 𝑧2
𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 4

2 2
𝑐. ) 𝑤 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2
𝑐. ) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = cosh( 𝑧) sinh (𝑥 𝑦𝑧)

𝑑. ) 𝑤 = 𝑦 4 𝑒 2𝑥+3𝑧