Chapter 6: Problem 64
$$\text {Find } f_{x x}, f_{x y}, f_{y x}, \text { and } f_{y y}$$ $$f(x, y)=\frac{x y}{x-y}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The second-order partial derivatives are: \(f_{xx} = \frac{2y^2}{(x-y)^3}\), \(f_{xy} = -\frac{2y (x-2y)}{(x-y)^3}\), \(f_{yx} = -\frac{2y (x-2y)}{(x-y)^3}\), and \(f_{yy} = \frac{2x^2}{(x-y)^3}\).
Step by step solution
01
Compute the Partial Derivative with respect to x
First, find the first partial derivative of the function \(f(x, y) = \frac{xy}{x - y}\) with respect to \(x\). Use the quotient rule: \[\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{u}{v} \right) = \frac{u'v - uv'}{v^2}\]where \(u = xy\) and \(v = x - y\):\[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x} = \frac{(y \cdot (x-y)) - (xy \cdot 1)}{(x-y)^2} = \frac{y(x-y) - xy}{(x-y)^2} = \frac{yx - y^2 - xy}{(x-y)^2} = \frac{-y^2}{(x-y)^2}\]
02
Compute the Partial Derivative with respect to y
Now, find the first partial derivative of the same function with respect to \(y\) using the quotient rule:\[\frac{\partial f}{\partial y} = \frac{(x \cdot (x-y)) - (xy \cdot (-1))}{(x-y)^2} = \frac{x(x-y) + xy}{(x-y)^2} = \frac{x^2 - xy + xy}{(x-y)^2} = \frac{x^2}{(x-y)^2}\]
03
Compute the Second Partial Derivative \(f_{xx}\)
Next, find the second partial derivative with respect to \(x\). Compute the derivative of \(f_x = -\frac{y^2}{(x - y)^2}\):Apply the chain rule and quotient rule again (\(u = -y^2\) and \(v = (x - y)^2\)):\[\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{-y^2}{(x - y)^2} \right) = \frac{(0 \cdot (x - y)^2) - (-y^2 \cdot 2(x - y))}{((x - y)^2)^2} = \frac{2y^2(x - y)}{(x - y)^4} = \frac{2y^2}{(x-y)^3}\]
04
Compute the Second Partial Derivative \(f_{xy}\)
Compute the cross partial derivative with \(f_{xy}\). Differentiate \(f_x = -\frac{y^2}{(x - y)^2}\) with respect to \(y\):Apply the quotient rule (\(u = -y^2\) and \(v = (x - y)^2\)):\[\frac{d}{dy} \left( \frac{-y^2}{(x - y)^2} \right) = \frac{(-2y \cdot (x - y)^2) - (-y^2 \cdot 2(x - y))\cdot (-1)}{((x - y)^2)^2} = \frac{-2y (x-y)^2 + 2y^2 (x-y)}{(x-y)^4} = -\frac{2y (x-y) - 2y^2}{(x-y)^3}\]Simplify further:\[-\frac{2y (x-y) - 2y^2}{(x-y)^3} = -\frac{2yx - 2y^2 - 2y^2}{(x-y)^3} = -\frac{2yx - 4y^2}{(x-y)^3} = -\frac{2y (x-2y)}{(x-y)^3}\]
05
Compute the Second Partial Derivative \(f_{yx}\)
By Clairaut's theorem, if \(f\) is continuous and all its second-order partial derivatives are continuous, then \(f_{xy} = f_{yx}\). Therefore,\[ f_{yx} = -\frac{2y (x-2y)}{(x-y)^3} \]
06
Compute the Second Partial Derivative \(f_{yy}\)
Finally, find the second partial derivative with respect to \(y\). Compute the derivative of \(f_y = \frac{x^2}{(x - y)^2}\) with respect to \(y\):Apply the quotient rule (\(u = x^2\) and \(v = (x - y)^2\)):\[\frac{d}{dy} \left( \frac{x^2}{(x - y)^2} \right) = \frac{(0 \cdot (x - y)^2) - (x^2 \cdot 2(x - y))(-1)}{((x - y)^2)^2} = \frac{2x^2 (x - y)}{(x-y)^4} = \frac{2x^2}{(x-y)^3}\]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Partial Differentiation
Partial differentiation involves finding the derivative of a function with respect to one variable while keeping other variables constant. For a function like \(f(x, y) = \frac{xy}{x-y}\), we can find the first partial derivatives \(f_x\) and \(f_y\). These derivatives help us understand how the function changes as each variable changes independently.
Quotient Rule
The quotient rule is used when differentiating a function that is the quotient of two other functions. The general form of the quotient rule is:\[\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{u}{v} \right) = \frac{u'v - uv'}{v^2}\]For example, in the case of \(f(x, y) = \frac{xy}{x-y}\), when finding the partial derivatives \(f_x\) and \(f_y\), we treat the numerator \(xy\) as \(u\) and the denominator \(x-y\) as \(v\). Applying the quotient rule helps us break down the problem step by step.
Clairaut's Theorem
Clairaut's theorem states that if the mixed partial derivatives of a function are continuous, they are equal. In other words, \(f_{xy} = f_{yx}\). For the function we're dealing with, \(f(x, y) = \frac{xy}{x - y}\), we can use Clairaut's theorem to assert that the mixed partial derivatives are the same, simplifying our calculations. This holds true as long as the function's second-order partial derivatives are continuous, which they are in this example.
Chain Rule
The chain rule is a formula to compute the derivative of a composite function. It's used extensively when calculating second-order partial derivatives. For instance, when computing \(f_{xx}\) or \(f_{yy}\), the chain rule helps us handle the composition of multiple functions. In the function \(f(x, y) = \frac{xy}{x - y}\), applying the chain rule allows us to manage derivatives of products and quotients more efficiently, ensuring we obtain accurate results through correct differentiation.