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Partial Derivatives
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& Their Geometric Meaning in 2-Dimensions

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1/31/2011

Sojharo

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Partial Derivatives & Their Geometric Meaning in 2-Dimensions

Sojharo

Institute of Business Administration

Faculty of Computer Science

Calculus and Analytic Geometry

Hisham Bin Zubair

January 31, 2011

PARTIAL DERIVATIVES AND THEIR
GEOMETRICAL MEANING IN 2-DIMENSIONS

Introduction to 3-dimensions
There are many situations when equations with more than one independent variable are

also required. Similarly, there are also such functions which have more than one independent

variable. Whenever, 1-dimension is considered, in mathematical point of view, it means one

dependent variable (say x) and one independent variable (say y). Such an equation can be

represented in 2-dimensional coordinate system. But, whenever 2-dimensions are considered, it

means there are two independent variables (say x and y) and one dependent variable (say z).

When we talk of partial derivative in 2-dimensions, we mean partial derivative of a function with

two independent variables. Such an equation can be represented in 3-dimensional coordinate

system. Because equation with 2 independent variables has three coordinates i.e. x-coordinate, y-

coordinate and z-coordinate. Graphical representation of one of such functions is shown in the

following figure.

Figure 1: This figure shows the graph for the function: z= sinx + 2siny

In figure 1, there are three different variables: x, y and z. The variables x and y are

independent and the variable z is dependent on both x and y. It is denoted by z = f(x, y). In the
above area, we have graph in three-space (x, y, and z) instead of two-space (x, y). Therefore, we

call above space as xyz-coordinate system.

In many books whenever function in 3-dimensions is considered, it is assumed to have

two independent variables and one dependent variable. On the other hand, some books also show

function in 3-dimensions as function having three independent variables and one dependent

variable. We will use the latter way to represent functions with more than one independent

variable. So, function in 2-dimensions here means the function with two independent variables

and 1 dependent variable which can be represented on the 3-dimensional coordinate system.
Partial Derivative in 2-Dimensions
In function like z = f(x, y), when we hold one independent variable (say y) constant and

differentiate with respect to other variable (say x), we get a partial derivative. In other words, we

hold any one of two variables fixed i.e. if we hold the variable x fixed then we let the variable y

vary and can also differentiate with respect to y. This type of derivate has its own notation and

uses a symbol which looks like .

Definition of Partial Derivative

If we have z = f(x, y), then the partial derivative of z with respect to x is simply derivative

of z with respect to x when the variable y is kept constant. We often denote the variable y as y =


 when it is held fixed. This partial derivative is denoted by and can be expressed as form of


limit:

 
 ∆
,   
, 
  lim  

 ∆ ∆

Equation 1: Differentiation of f(x, y) with respect to x while y remains constant

Graphically, it may be expressed as:

Figure 2: Graphical representation of the derivative of f(x, y), with respect to x while y remains constant
 Similarly, the partial derivative of z with respect to y is simply derivative of z with

respect to y when the variable x is kept constant. We often denote the variable x as x =
 when it


is held fixed. This partial derivative is denoted by  and can be expressed as form of limit:

 
,   ∆  
, 
  lim  
  ∆ ∆

Equation 2: Differentiation of f(x, y) with respect to y while x remains constant

Graphically, it may be expressed as:

Figure 3: Graphical representation of the derivative of f(x, y), with respect to y while x remains constant

The subscript y or x in Equation 1 and Equation 2 denotes the variable that is held

constant. If there is no ambiguity, the subscript can be omitted. Partial derivative can be evaluated

by the same rules as for ordinary differentiation, treating one of both independent variables as

constant. If we notice, after taking differentiation of f(x, y) with respect to x and then again

differentiating it with respect to y, we get two tangent lines associated with the plane z = f(x, y) at

the point 
, , 
 ,   (Figure 4).
 Figure 4: Figures Figure 2 and Figure 3 combined. The tangent lines at the point , , ! , !  a plane that, we
may say, appears to be the tangent to the surface.

Example 1: Evaluating Partial Derivatives

Find the partial derivatives of 
,  " 4
$  %  5  4
.

Solution
Treating y as constant and differentiating with respect to x, we obtain


  " 12
%  %  4



Treating x as a constant and differentiating with respect to y, we obtain


  " 8
%   5
 

These two partial derivatives are sometimes called first order partial derivatives. The

 
definitions of 
and 
give us two different ways of differentiating z = f(x, y) at a point: with

respect to x while keeping y as a constant and with respect to y while keeping x as a constant. As
the above and following examples show, the values of these partial derivatives are usually

different at a given point (

 ,  ).

Example 2: Finding Partial Derivatives at a point

 
Find the values of and at the point (4, -5) if 
,  "
%  3
    1.
 

Solution:

To find , we treat y as a constant and differentiae with respect to x:


 
+, " x %  3xy  y  1
- 

" 2x  3 · 1 · y  0  0

" 2
 3


The value of at (4, -5) is equal to 2(4) + 3(-5) = -7.



To find , we treat x as a constant and differentiae with respect to y:


 
+, " x %  3xy  y  1
2 

"0 3·x·110

" 3
 1


The value of at (4, -5) is equal to 3(4) + 1 = 13.


Figure 5: Graph of the function given in Example 2

 Note that for a 2-dimensional plane, the partial derivative with respect to x happens to be

independent of variable y, and partial derivative with respect to y happens to be independent of

variable x. This situation will not be true in general.

The total derivative of F is a tiny piece of surface defined by the partial derivatives:

4 4
34 "   3
   3

  

Example 3: Finding Partial Derivative of a rational function

9

" %

 5

Solution:
In such kind of problem, as in Calculus I, we will use quotient rule.

 9
%  5  9
2

  "

 
%  5%

9
%  45
"

%  5%

Now,

 0
%  5  9
5
  "
  
%  5%

 45

"

%
 5%

What’s the logic behind this topic?

Whenever we differentiate the function f with respect to x, we are finding the rate of

change of f whenever x changes. This shows how the change in x affects the change in f.

Similarly, in partial derivatives the result we get helps us to understand how the change in both x

and y affects the change in f. In standard partial derivative we hold all independent variables

constant but x. On the other hand, in total derivative all independent variables are allowed to vary

with x.
Chain Rule in Partial Derivatives (Implicit Differentiation)
If we have function in terms of three variable x, y and z we may assume that z is a

function of y and x. In other words, we can write z = f(x, y). Then whenever we differentiate z’s


with respect to x we use the chain rule and add on a . Likewise, whenever we differentiate z’s



with respect to y we will add on a .

Example 4
 
Find  and  for the function,
$ %  5
 6 "
%   $

Solution:
 
We start differentiating with . We should not forget to add on a 
whenever we

differentiate a z.

 
3
% %  2
$  5 6  5
 6 " 2

 


Now, solving for 


2
$  5
 6  " 2
 3
% %   6


 2
 3
% %   6
"

2
$  5
 6

 
Now, we will do same thing for and this time we should remember to add on a
 

whenever we differentiate a z.

 
2
$ 
 25
 7  5
 6  " 3 %


2
$  5
 6  " 3 %  25
 7


 3 %  25
 7
"

2
$  5
 6
Higher Order Partial Derivatives
In case we have to find the Higher Order derivatives for the function involving more than one

independent variable, we use the same method that we used to do for the functions with one

variable. But this time, we will have four possible second order derivatives. Here they are and the

notations that will be used to denote them.

  %
  "  "  "



%

  %
  "  "  "
 


  %
  "  "  "

 


  %
  "  "  "
   %
Bibliography
Anton, H. (1999). Calculus: A New Horizon. John Willey & Sons.

Blinder, S. M. (2008). Guide to Essential Math. London: Elsevier.

Finney, T. (2005). Calculus. Pearson Addison-Wesley.

Paul. (n.d.). Calculus III: Partial Derivatives. Retrieved January 29, 2011, from Paul's Online Math
Notes: http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcIII/PartialDerivatives

Wolfram. (n.d.). Total Derivatives. Retrieved January 28, 2011, from Wolfram Mathematica:
Documentation Center:
http://reference.wolfram.com/mathematica/tutorial/TotalDerivatives.html

Wrede, R. C., & Spiegel, M. (2002). Advanced Calculus: Schaum's Outlines. USA: McGraw-Hill.