1. Chapter 8: Partial Derivatives
Section 8.3
Written by Dr. Julia Arnold
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Tidewater Community College, Norfolk Campus, Norfolk, VA
With Assistance from a VCCS LearningWare Grant

2. In this lesson you will learn
about partial derivatives of a function of two variables
about partial derivatives of a function of three or more variables
higher-order partial derivative

3. Partial derivatives are defined as derivatives of a function of multiple variables when all but the variable of interest are held fixed during the differentiation.
Definition of Partial Derivatives of a Function of Two Variables
If z = f(x,y), the the first partial derivatives of f with respect to x and y are the functions fx and fy defined by
Provided the limits exist.

4. To find the partial derivatives, hold one variable constant and differentiate with respect to the other.
Example 1: Find the partial derivatives fx and fy for the function

5. To find the partial derivatives, hold one variable constant and differentiate with respect to the other.
Example 1: Find the partial derivatives fx and fy for the function
Solution:

6. Notation for First Partial Derivative
For z = f(x,y), the partial derivatives fx and fy are denoted by
The first partials evaluated at the point (a,b) are denoted by

7. Example 2: Find the partials fx and fy and evaluate them at the indicated point for the function

8. Example 2: Find the partials fx and fy and evaluate them at the indicated point for the function
Solution:

9. The following slide shows the geometric interpretation of the partial derivative.
For a fixed x, z = f(x0,y) represents the curve formed by intersecting the surface z = f(x,y) with the plane x = x0.
represents the slope of this curve at the point (x0,y0,f(x0,y0))
Thanks to
For the animation.

11. Definition of Partial Derivatives of a Function of Three or More Variables
If w = f(x,y,z), then there are three partial derivatives each of which is formed by holding two of the variables
In general, if
where all but the kth variable is held constant

12. Notation for Higher Order Partial Derivatives
Below are the different 2nd order partial derivatives:
Differentiate twice with respect to x
Differentiate twice with respect to y
Differentiate first with respect to x and then with respect to y
Differentiate first with respect to y and then with respect to x

13. Theorem
If f is a function of x and y such that fxy and fyx are continuous on an open disk R, then, for every (x,y) in R,
fxy(x,y)= fyx(x,y)
Example 3:
Find all of the second partial derivatives of
Work the problem first then check.

14. Example 3:
Find all of the second partial derivatives of
Notice that fxy = fyx

15. Example 4: Find the following partial derivatives for the functionb. c. d. e.
Work it out then go to the next slide.

16. Example 4: Find the following partial derivatives for the function
Again, notice that the 2nd partials fxz = fzx b.

17. c. e.
Notice
All
Are Equal d.

18. Go to BB for your exercises.