CHAPTER 16 SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISES IN FUNCTIONS OF

MORE THAN ONE VARIABLE PARTIAL DIFFERENTIATION

Exercises on 16.1
1. In the relation between P, V, and T, how does P vary with i) T, ii) V? How does
V vary with iii) T, iv) P?
Solution
From P = = P(V, T) we see that
i) As T increases, P will also increase - in a linear fashion, or in
proportion. We say P increases linearly with T.
ii) As V increases, P will decrease - we say P is inversely proportional
to V.
iii) Solving the equation for V
V =
we see that V increases linearly with T, and
iv) V is inversely proportional to P.
2. If V increases by 10% while T remains constant, by what percentage,
approximately, does P change?
Solution
If V increases by 10% then P becomes
P' = =
on using the binomial approximation
1 x for x small
= P 0.1P
1
So
0.1
or P decreases by approximately 10%.
Exercise 16.2
Sketch the surface representing the function
z = x
2
+ y
2
Solution
The easiest way to do this is to note that all values of (x, y) that lie on
the circle
x
2
+ y
2
= c
will give the same value, c, of z. One typical pair of values of x and y
serves to defne each circle - for example (1, 1) defnes the circle z = 2 =
x
2
+ y
2
and such representative values can be used to provide a number
of circles through which the total surface can be drawn. This is
illustrated in the fgure (UEM 486).
*** Figure 16.4 from book, page 486 ***
Exercise on 16.3
Find f
x
, f
y
for the following functions
i) f(x, y) = ii) f(x,y) = e
3x + cos(xy)
Solution
i) Treating y as a constant in f(x, y) = and diferentiating with respect
to x gives, using the product rule and =
= f
x
=
and putting over a common denominator gives
2
f
x
=
You can now do exactly the same with y exchanged for x, for practice.
However, also note that because of the symmetry between x and y in
f(x,y) one can immediately write down the result as
f
y
=
by analogy with f
x
.
ii) f(x,y) = e
3x + cos(xy)
is a classic case of function of a function rule,
even though there are two variables, which may make it look more
complicated. Keeping y constant and diferentiating with respect to x
gives
f
x
= e
3x + cos(xy)
= e
3x + cos(xy)
(3 y sin (xy))
Similarly

f
y
= e
3x + cos(xy)
= x e
3x + cos(xy)
sin (xy)
Exercises on 16.4
1. Find all frst and second order partial derivatives of the following
functions, f(x,y), checking the equality of the mixed derivatives
i) f(x,y) = x
3
y
2
+ 4xy
4
ii) f(x,y) = e
xy
cos(x + y)
Solution
All that is needed in these problems is a steady hand with the diferentiation
i) For f(x,y) = x
3
y
2
+ 4xy
4
we have
f
x
= 3x
2
y
2
+ 4y
4

f
y
= 2x
3
y + 16xy
3

3
f
xx
= = 6xy
2
(remembering that y is regarded as a constant still)
f
yy
= = 2x
3
+ 48xy
2

f
yx
= (f
y
)
x
= (2x
3
y + 16xy
3
)
x
= 6x
2
y + 16y
3


= f
xy
as you can check.

ii) f(x,y) = e
xy
cos(x + y)
f
x
= ye
xy
cos(x + y) e
xy
sin(x + y) = e
xy
(ycos(x + y) sin(x + y))

f
y
= xe
xy
cos(x + y) e
xy
sin(x + y) = e
xy
(xcos(x + y) sin(x + y))
f
xx
= ye
xy
(ycos(x + y) sin(x + y)) + e
xy
( ysin(x + y) cos(x + y))
= e
xy
((y
2
1)cos(x + y) 2ysin(x + y))
f
yy
= = xe
xy
(xcos(x + y) sin(x + y)) + e
xy
( xsin(x + y) cos(x + y))
= e
xy
((x
2
1)cos(x + y) 2xsin(x + y))
f
yx
= (f
y
)
x
= (e
xy
(xcos(x + y) sin(x + y)))
x

= ye
xy
(xcos(x + y) sin(x + y))
+ e
xy
(cos(x + y) xsin(x + y) cos(x + y))
= e
xy
(xycos(x + y) (x + y)sin(x + y))

= f
xy
as you can check directly.
2. Show that f(x, y) = ln satisfes the partial diferential equation:
4
+ = 0
This is called the Laplace equation in two dimensional rectangular
coordinates. It is very important in fuid mechanics, electromagnetism,
and many other areas of science and engineering, as well as being a key
equation in pure mathematics.
Solution
With f(x, y) = lnwe have
f
x
=
and
f
xx
= =
On the other hand we fnd by the same process that
f
yy
=
Direct addition then gives
f
xx
+ f
yy
= + = 0
as required.
Exercises on 16.5
1. Find the total diferential dz when
i) z = ln(cos(xy)) ii) z = exp(/y)
Solution
Really, these exercises amount to little more than fnding the frst order
derivatives
5
i) z = ln(cos(xy))
z
x
= = ytan(xy) and z
y
= xtan(xy) and so
dz = z
x
dx + z
y
dy = ytan(xy) dx xtan(xy) dy
= tan(xy)(ydx + xdy)
ii) z = exp(/y)
z
x
= exp(/y) and z
y
= exp(/y) and so
dz = exp(/y)
= exp(/y) (ydx xdy)
2. If z = eand x = ln t, y = t, calculate from the total derivative
formula and show that it agrees with the result obtained by substitution
for x and y before diferentiating.
Solution
From the total derivative we have
= + = 2e+ 3e
= 2e+ 3e2t
= 2e+ 6te
= t
2
e
3t
2
+ 6t t
2
e
3t
2
= (6t
3
+ 2t)e
3t
2
= 2t(3t
2
+ 1)e
3t
2

If we frst substitute for x and y in terms of t we obtain
z = e= t
2
e
3t
2

on using e= x. Diferentiating this with respect to t now gives
= 2te
3t
2
+ t
2
e
3t
2
(6t) = 2t(3t
2
+ 1)e
3t
2

6
as previously.
REINFORCEMENT EXERCISES IN FUNCTIONS OF MORE THAN ONE
VARIABLE
1. Find the values of the following functions at the points given :-
i) f(x, y) = 2xy+ 3xy at the point (2, 1)
ii) g(x, y) = (x + y)esin y at the point (0, /2)
iii) h(x, y, z) = at the points (1, 2, 2) and (3, 2, 4)
iv) l(x, y,z) = e
x
2
y
4
cos z at
Solution
i) The value of f(x, y) = 2xy+ 3xy at the point (2, 1) is
f(2, 1) = 2(2)(1)+ 3(2)= 4 + 12 = 16
ii) g(0, /2) = esin = =
iii) h(1, 2, 2) = = = 3
h(3, 2, 4) = =
iv) l = e
0
2
( 2)
4
cos = (1)(16)= 8
2. Sketch the surfaces represented by z = f(x, y) where
i) z = 1 3y ii) x+ y+ z= 9
Solution
i) Since z = 1 3y does not depend on x, its profle will be the same
for all values of x. If we sketch it for say x= 0 then we simply get the line
z = 1 3y in the yz plane. The total surface is then obtained by
translating this line parallel to itself in the positive and negative x
directions. The fgure shows this on the positive side of the xz plane
with z positive.
7
*** Figure from book, 2 (i) page 496 ***
ii) x+ y+ z= 9 is the equation of a sphere with centre at the origin
and with radius = 3, shown in the fgure below.
*** Figure from book, 2 (ii) page 496 ***
3. Determine z/x, z/y in each case
i)z = x
2
+ y
2
ii)z = iii)z = x
3
+ x
2
y + y
4
iv)z = v)z = e
xy
cos(3y
2
) vi)z = ln(1 + xy)
vii)z = e
xy
(2 + 3xy) viii)z = ix)z = x
3
tan
1
Solution
This is really nothing more than a marathon exercise in diferentiation, and you
need no more skills than we covered in Chapter 8 - along with an ability to keep
focused on whether it is x or y you are diferentiating with respect to!
i)z = x
2
+ y
2
= 2x (y is constant) = 2y (x is constant)
ii) z =
z
x
= z
y
=
iii) z = x
3
+ x
2
y + y
4
z
x
= 3x
2
+ 2xy z
y
= x
2
+ 4y
3
iv) z = = (x
2
+ y
2
)
1/2

so
z
x
=
3/2
(2x) =
and by symmetry
z
y
=
v) z = e
xy
cos(3y
2
)
8
z
x
= ye
xy
cos(3y
2
)
z
y
= xe
xy
cos(3y
2
) + e
xy
( sin (3y
2
)) 6y
= e
xy
(xcos(3y
2
) 6ysin (3y
2
))
vi) z = ln(1 + xy)
z
x
= and by symmetry z
y
=
vii) z = e
xy
(2 + 3xy)
z
x
= ( y)e
xy
(2 + 3xy) + e
xy
(3y) = ye
xy
(1 3xy)
(same as answer in book)
z
y
= ( x)e
xy
(2 + 3xy) + e
xy
(3x) = xe
xy
(1 3xy)
viii) z =
z
x
=
z
y
= =
=
ix) z = x
3
tan
1
z
x
= 3x
2
tan
1
+ x
3
= 3x
2
tan
1
+
9
z
y
= x
3
=
4. For each of the functions in Q3 evaluate , whenever possible.
Solution
i)z = x
2
+ y
2
= 2x so = 2(0) = 0
= 2y so = 2(2) = 4
ii) z =
z
x
= does not exist at y = 0
z
y
= so = =
iii) z = x
3
+ x
2
y + y
4
z
x
= 3x
2
+ 2xy so = 0
z
y
= x
2
+ 4y
3
so = 1
2
+ 4(2)
3
= 33
iv) z =
z
x
= so does not exist (division by zero)
z
y
= so = =
v) z = e
xy
cos(3y
2
)
z
x
= ye
xy
cos(3y
2
) so = 0
z
y
= e
xy
(xcos(3y
2
) 6ysin (3y
2
))
so
10
= e
2
(cos(12) 12sin (12))
vi) z = ln(1 + xy)
z
x
= so = 0
z
y
= so = =
vii) z = e
xy
(2 + 3xy)
z
x
= ye
xy
(1 3xy) so = 0
z
y
= xe
xy
(1 3xy) so = 1e
2
(1 6) = 5e
2

viii) z =
z
x
= so = 0

z
y
= so = =
ix) z = x
3
tan
1
z
x
= 3x
2
tan
1
+ so does not exist
z
y
= so = =
5. Determine all frst order partial derivatives
i)w = x
2
+ 2y
2
+ 3z
2
ii)w =
iii)w = xyz iv)w = x cos(x + yz)
v)w = e
xy
ln(x + y + z)
Solution
11
Again, little more than standard plodding diferentiation - except you might use
symmetry sometimes to simplify the calculations. And, of course, we have three
independent variables to contend with now!
i) w = x
2
+ 2y
2
+ 3z
2
w
x
= 2x w
y
= 4y w
z
= 6z
ii) w = = (1 x
2
y
2
z
2
)
1/2
w
x
=
3/2
( 2x) =
There is no need to repeat the calculations for y and z since the form of
the results will clearly be the same and we will get
w
y
=
w
z
=
iii) w = xyz
w
x
= yz w
y
= xz w
z
= xy
iv) w = x cos(x + yz)
w
x
= cos(x + yz) xsin(x + yz)
w
y
= xzsin(x + yz)
w
z
= xysin(x + yz)
v) w = e
xy
ln(x + y + z)
w
x
= ye
xy
ln(x + y + z) + e
xy

= e
xy

12
w
y
= xe
xy
ln(x + y + z) + e
xy

= e
xy

w
z
=
6. Determine all second order partial derivatives for the functions in Q3.
Solution
More tedious practice in diferentiation, using the results obtained in Q3. And,
of course, remember that z
xy
= z
yx

i)z = x
2
+ y
2
z
x
= 2x and z
y
= 2y
So, diferentiating a second time,
z
xx
= (z
x
)
x
= (2x)
x
= 2 and similarly z
yy
= 2 and z
xy
= 0
ii) z =
z
x
= z
y
=
So
z
xx
= = 0
z
yy
= =
z
xy
= =
iii) z = x
3
+ x
2
y + y
4
z
x
= 3x
2
+ 2xy z
y
= x
2
+ 4y
3
So
z
xx
= = 6x + 2y
13
z
yy
= = 12y
2
z
xy
= = 2x
iv) z = = (x
2
+ y
2
)
1/2

z
x
= and z
y
=
So
z
xx
= =
= =
=
z
yy
= =
z
xy
= =
=

v) z = e
xy
cos(3y
2
)
z
x
= ye
xy
cos(3y
2
) z
y
= e
xy
(xcos(3y
2
) 6ysin (3y
2
))
So
z
xx
= = y
2
e
xy
cos(3y
2
)
z
yy
=
= xe
xy
(xcos(3y
2
) 6ysin (3y
2
)) + ye
xy
( 6yxcos(3y
2
) 6sin (3y
2
)
36y
2
cos(3y
2
))
= e
xy
(x
2
cos (3y
2
) 12xy sin (3y
2
) 6 sin (3y
2
) 36 y
2
cos (3y
2
))
14
z
xy
=
= e
xy
cos(3y
2
) + xye
xy
cos(3y
2
) 6y
2
e
xy
sin(3y
2
)
= e
xy
(cos (3y
2
) + xy cos (3y
2
) 6 y
2
sin (3y
2
))

vi) z = ln(1 + xy)
z
x
= z
y
=
So
z
xx
= =
z
yy
= =
z
xy
= = =
vii) z = e
xy
(2 + 3xy)
z
x
= ye
xy
(1 3xy) z
y
= xe
xy
(1 3xy)
So
z
xx
= =
= ye
xy
(y 3xy
2
) + e
xy
( 3y
2
) = e
xy
( y
2
+ 3xy
3
3y
2
)
= e
xy
(3xy
3
4y
2
)

Similarly, we can see from symmetry that
z
yy
= = e
xy
(3x
3
y 4x
2
)
z
xy
= =
= xe
xy
(y 3xy
2
) + e
xy
(1 6xy)
15
= e
xy
( xy + 3x
2
y
2
+ 1 6xy)
= e
xy
(3x
2
y
2
7xy + 1)
viii) z =
z
x
= z
y
=
So
z
xx
= =
z
yy
= =
=
=
after a bit of tidying up.
z
xy
= = =
=
ix) z = x
3
tan
1
z
x
= 3x
2
tan
1
+ z
y
=
So
z
xx
=
= 6xtan
1
+ 3x
2
+ 2
and you can regard it as an algebra test to show that this reduces to
= 6x tan
1
+

16
z
yy
= =
For z
xy
it is probably easier in this case to evaluate z
yx
, ie do the y
derivative frst. Then

z
xy
= = + =
7. Determine all second order partial derivatives for Q5 i), iii), iv).
Solution
i) w = x
2
+ 2y
2
+ 3z
2
w
x
= 2x w
y
= 4y w
z
= 6z
So
w
xx
= = 2
w
yy
= = 4
w
zz
= = 6
and
w
xy
= w
xz
=w
yz
= 0
iii) w = xyz
w
x
= yz w
y
= xz w
z
= xy
So
w
xx
= = 0
w
yy
= = 0
w
zz
= = 0
and
17
w
xy
= = z
w
xz
= = y
w
yz
= = x
iv) w = x cos(x + yz)
w
x
= cos(x + yz) xsin(x + yz)
w
y
= xzsin(x + yz)
w
z
= xysin(x + yz)
So
w
xx
= = 2sin(x + yz) xcos(x + yz)
w
yy
= = xz
2
cos(x + yz)
w
zz
= = xy
2
cos(x + yz)
w
xy
= = zsin(x + yz) xzcos(x + yz)
w
xz
= = ysin(x + yz) xycos(x + yz)
w
yz
= = xsin(x + yz) xyzcos(x + yz)
8. Show that T(x, t) = ae
b
2
t
cos bx, where a and b are arbitrary constants,
satisfes the equation
=
Solution
With T(x, t) = ae
b
2
t
cos bx we have
18
= ab
2
e
b
2
t
cos bx
= abe
b
2
t
sin bx
= ab
2
e
b
2
t
cos bx =
9. Determine dz for the functions
i)z = x
2
3y
2
ii) z = 3x
2
y
3
iii)z = ln(x
2
+ y
2
) iv) z = cos(x + y)
v)z = x
2
e
xy
Solution
To fnd the total derivative, all we need is the frst order derivatives of the
function. We will do the frst question in detail and the rest in outline, for you to
fll in the gaps.
i) For z = x
2
3y
2
we have
= 2x = 6y
So
dz = dx + dy = 2xdx 6ydy
ii) z = 3x
2
y
3
dz = dx + dy = 6xy
3
dx + 9x
2
y
2
dy
iii) z = ln(x
2
+ y
2
)
dz = dx + dy = dx + dy
iv) z = cos(x + y)
dz = sin(x + y)dx sin(x + y)dy

v) z = x
2
e
xy
19
dz = (2xe
xy
x
2
ye
xy
)dx x
3
e
xy
dy = xe
xy
((2 xy)dx x
2
dy
10. If z = 3x
2
+ 2xy y
2
and x and y vary with time t according to x
= 1 + sin t and y = 3 cos t1 evaluate directly and by using the total
derivative (chain) rule.
Solution
If z = 3x
2
+ 2xy y
2
and x = 1 + sin t , y = 3 cos t 1 then
= + = (6x + 2y) + (2x 2y)
= (6x + 2y) cos t 3(2x 2y) sin t
= (6(1 + sin t) + 2(3 cos t 1)) cos t 3(2(1 + sin t) 2(3 cos t 1)) sin t
= 6(cos
2
t + 4cos t sin t sin
2
t 2 sin t) + 4 cos t
= 6(cos 2t + 2sin 2t 2 sin t) + 4 cos t
= 6cos 2t + 12sin 2t 12 sin t + 4 cos t
On the other hand, substituting frst for x and y in terms of t in the
expression for z we have
z = 3x
2
+ 2xy y
2

= 3(1 + sin t)
2
+ 2(1 + sin t)(3 cos t 1) (3 cos t 1)
2

= 3 sin
2
t 9 cos
2
t + 3 sin 2t + 4 sint + 12 cos t
and then diferentiation with respect to t gives
= 6 sin t cos t + 18 cos t sin t + 6 cos 2t + 4 cos t 12 sin t
= 12 sin 2t + 6 cos 2t 12 sin t + 4 cos t
agreeing with the previous result.
20
21