Chapter 14: Problem 45
Use the definition of partial derivatives as limits (4) to find \(f_{x}(x, y)\) and \(f_{y}(x, y)\) $$ f(x, y)=x y^{2}-x^{3} y $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The partial derivatives are \( f_x(x, y) = y^2 - 3x^2y \) and \( f_y(x, y) = 2xy - x^3 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Function
The given function is \( f(x, y) = xy^2 - x^3y \). We need to find the partial derivatives \( f_x(x, y) \) and \( f_y(x, y) \) using the definition of partial derivatives as limits.
02
Partial Derivative with respect to x
To find the partial derivative \( f_x(x, y) \), we consider \( y \) as a constant and differentiate with respect to \( x \):\[ f_x(x, y) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x + h, y) - f(x, y)}{h} \]Substitute \( f(x, y) \) and simplify:\[ f(x+h, y) = (x+h)y^2 - (x+h)^3y \]\[ f(x + h, y) - f(x, y) = xy^2 + hy^2 - (x^3y + 3x^2hy + 3xh^2y + h^3y) - (xy^2 - x^3y) \]Simplify:\[ hy^2 - 3x^2hy - 3xh^2y - h^3y \]Divide by \( h \) and take the limit:\[ \lim_{h \to 0} \left( y^2 - 3x^2y - 3xhy - h^2y \right) = y^2 - 3x^2y \]
03
Partial Derivative with respect to y
To find the partial derivative \( f_y(x, y) \), we consider \( x \) as a constant and differentiate with respect to \( y \):\[ f_y(x, y) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x, y + h) - f(x, y)}{h} \]Substitute \( f(x, y) \) and simplify:\[ f(x, y+h) = x(y+h)^2 - x^3(y+h) \]\[ f(x, y+h) - f(x, y) = x(y^2 + 2yh + h^2) - x^3(y + h) - (xy^2 - x^3y) \]Simplify:\[ 2xyh + xh^2 - hx^3 \]Divide by \( h \) and take the limit:\[ \lim_{h \to 0} \left( 2xy + xh - x^3 \right) = 2xy - x^3 \]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Limit Definition
The limit definition is a fundamental concept when it comes to finding derivatives. It's like zooming in on a curve until it looks like a straight line. For partial derivatives, we're doing this zooming for a multi-variable function. The key formula for finding a partial derivative with respect to a variable, say \( x \), involves taking the limit as \( h \) approaches 0 of \( \frac{f(x+h, y) - f(x, y)}{h} \).
- Here, \( x \) is the variable of interest, while \( y \) is held constant.
- The idea is to observe how the function changes as we make small adjustments to \( x \), while \( y \) stays the same.
- Similarly, to find a partial derivative with respect to \( y \), you switch roles and consider \( x \) as a constant.
Functions of Several Variables
Functions of several variables, like \( f(x, y) = xy^2 - x^3y \), are an extension of single-variable functions to more dimensions. Instead of just being reliant on one variable, these functions depend on multiple inputs. This opens up a new world of possibilities and complexities, which makes them very intriguing.
- Each variable in the function can affect the output in different ways.
- This causes the surface the function represents to be a lot more than just a line or a simple curve.
- Visualizing these can be like thinking of a landscape where each point has its own height (value of the function).
Differentiation
Differentiation is the process of calculating a derivative, which in the context of multi-variable functions, involves taking partial derivatives. It measures how a function changes as its input variables are slightly varied.
- The partial derivative \( f_x(x, y) \) tells us the rate of change of \( f \) with respect to \( x \), while keeping \( y \) constant.
- Similarly, \( f_y(x, y) \) gives the rate of change with respect to \( y \), with \( x \) held constant.
- This method can be used to find tangent planes and optimize functions of several variables.