Chapter 14: Problem 10
Find \(\partial f / \partial x\) and \(\partial f / \partial y\). \(f(x, y)=x /\left(x^{2}+y^{2}\right)\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
\( \partial f/\partial x = \frac{y^2 - x^2}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} \) and \( \partial f/\partial y = \frac{-2xy}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} \).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Partial Derivatives
To find the partial derivatives \( \partial f/\partial x \) and \( \partial f/\partial y \), we need to differentiate the given function \( f(x, y) = \frac{x}{x^2 + y^2} \) with respect to \( x \) and \( y \) separately, keeping the other variable constant.
02
Differentiate with Respect to x
To find \( \partial f/\partial x \), consider \( y \) as a constant and differentiate. We use the quotient rule: if \( u(x) = x \) and \( v(x) = x^2 + y^2 \), then \( \frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{u}{v}\right) = \frac{u'v - uv'}{v^2} \). Here, \( u' = 1 \) and \( v' = 2x \). Thus,\[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x} = \frac{(1)(x^2 + y^2) - (x)(2x)}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} = \frac{x^2 + y^2 - 2x^2}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} = \frac{y^2 - x^2}{(x^2 + y^2)^2}.\]
03
Differentiate with Respect to y
For \( \partial f/\partial y \), consider \( x \) as a constant and differentiate. Again, apply the quotient rule. Here, \( u = x \) as before, so \( u' = 0 \), and the only change is \( v'(y) = 2y \). Thus,\[\frac{\partial f}{\partial y} = \frac{(0)(x^2 + y^2) - (x)(2y)}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} = \frac{-2xy}{(x^2 + y^2)^2}.\]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quotient Rule
The quotient rule is a fundamental technique in calculus, particularly useful when differentiating quotients of two functions. When dealing with two functions, say \( u(x) \) and \( v(x) \), both dependent on \( x \), the rule helps determine the derivative of the division of these two functions. The quotient rule states that if you have a function \( f(x) = \frac{u(x)}{v(x)} \), then its derivative \( f'(x) \) is computed as follows:
- First, identify \( u \) and \( v \).
- Then, calculate \( u' \) and \( v' \), the derivatives of \( u \) and \( v \) with respect to \( x \).
- Finally, apply the formula: \( \frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{u}{v}\right) = \frac{u'v - uv'}{v^2} \). This formula tells you how the quotient of two functions changes as \( x \) changes.
Multivariable Calculus
Multivariable calculus expands the concepts of calculus from single-variable functions to functions involving several variables. This area of mathematics is incredibly useful in real-world applications, where problems involve more than one changing component.
- In multivariable calculus, we deal with functions like \( f(x, y) \) or \( f(x, y, z) \).
- The main idea is that changes in the outcome can be influenced by changes in more than one direction.
- This branch includes techniques such as partial derivatives, which measure how a function changes as one of the variables changes, keeping others constant.
Differentiation
Differentiation is the process of finding the derivative of a function, which is a way of measuring how the function's output changes as its input changes. In simpler terms, it tells you the slope of the function at any given point.
- For single-variable functions, it's straightforward as we only have one direction of variability.
- When we move to functions of several variables, partial differentiation is employed. This technique finds the rate of change with respect to one variable while keeping others constant.
- Each function has its specific rules and techniques, such as the chain rule or product rule, that might be utilized in finding derivatives.