Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

Chapter 2

Partial
derivatives
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

Define partial derivatives

Interpret partial derivatives

State and apply the rules of partial derivatives

2.1 Introduction
Chapter 2 will continue the discussion on functions of two variables. In the
remainder of this chapter the differentiation for functions of more than one
variable will be looked into. The process of differentiation requires one of the
variables to be changed at a time, while the remaining variable(s) are held
fixed. In other words, what should be done if only one or more than one of the
variables need to be changed?

2.2 Partial derivatives

Functions of several variables are functions of 2 or more variables. The
symbol is used for differentiating function of more than one variable. In
general, if z f ( x, y ) the notation used to represent the partial derivatives are:
f x ( x, y ) f x

f ( x, y )
f1 D1f Dx f
x x
x

f y ( x, y ) f y

f ( x, y )
f2 D2f Dy f
y y
y

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

Definition
If z f ( x, y ) , then the first partial derivatives of f with respect to x and y are
the functions f x and fy respectively defined by
f ( x x, y ) f ( x, y )
x
x 0

f x ( x, y ) lim

f ( x, y y ) f ( x, y )
y
y 0

f y ( x, y ) lim

provided the limits exist.

This definition indicates that if z f ( x, y ) , then to find f x , just consider y
constant and differentiate with respect to x. Similarly, to find fy , consider x
constant and differentiate with respect to y.

Steps : Differentiate functions of two variables

To find f x , assume y as a constant and

differentiate f ( x, y ) w.r.t. x
To find fy , assume x as a constant and
differentiate f ( x, y ) w.r.t. y

Example 1
Use the definition of partial derivatives to find
f ( x, y ) x 2 y

Solution

f
f ( x x, y ) f ( x, y )
lim
x x 0
x
( x x )2 y ( x 2 y )
x
x 0

lim

x 2 2 xx ( x )2 y x 2 y
x
x 0
x 2 x x
lim
x
x 0
lim

24

f
x

and

f
y

given

Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

f
lim 2 x x
x x 0
2x

f
f ( x, y y ) f ( x, y )
lim
y y 0
y

x 2 y y x 2 y
y
y 0

lim

x 2 y y x 2 y
y
y 0
y
lim
y 0 y
1
lim

Example 2
Use the definition of partial derivatives to find f x ( x, y ) and f y ( x, y ) if
f ( x, y ) x 3 y 2 .

Solution

f
f ( x x, y ) f ( x, y )
lim
x x 0
x

( x x )3 y 2 x 3 y 2
x
x 0

lim
lim

x 0

3 x 2 x 3 x ( x )2 ( x )3 y 2 x 3 y 2
x

x 3 y 2 3 x 2 y 2 x 3 xy 2 ( x )2 y 2 ( x )3 x 3 y 2
x
x 0

lim

3 x 2 y 2 x 3 xy 2 ( x )2 y 2 ( x )3
x
x 0

lim
lim

3x y

x 0

2 2

3 xy 2 x y 2 ( x )2 x
x

lim 3 x 2 y 2 3 xy 2 x y 2 ( x )2
x 0
2 2

3x y

f
f ( x, y y ) f ( x, y )
lim
y y 0
y

x 3 y y 2 x 3 y 2
y
y 0

lim

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

f
x 3 y 2 2yy y 2 x 3 y 2
lim
y y 0
y
x 3 y 2 2 x 3 yy x 3 y 2 x 3 y 2
y
y 0

lim

2 x 3 yy x 3 y 2
y
y 0

lim

x 3 2y y y
y
y 0

lim

lim x 3 2y y
y 0

2x 3 y

Warm up exercise
Use the definition of partial derivatives to find

f
f
and
y
x

given f ( x, y ) x xy

2.3 Interpretation
The partial derivatives of a function of two variables, z f ( x, y ) , have a
useful geometric interpretation. If y y 0 , then z f ( x0 , y 0 ) represents the
curve formed by intersecting the surface z f ( x, y ) with the plane y y 0 .
Therefore,
f ( x0 x, y 0 ) f ( x0 , y 0 )
x
x 0

f x ( x0 , y 0 ) lim

represents the slope of this curve at the point x0 , y 0 , f ( x0 , y 0 ) . Note that

both the curve and the tangent line lie in the plane y y 0 . Similarly,
f ( x0 , y 0 y ) f ( x0 , y 0 )
y
y 0

fy ( x0 , y 0 ) lim

represents the slope of this curve given by the intersection of z f ( x, y ) and

the plane x x0 at the point x0 , y 0 , f ( x0 , y 0 ) .

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

Precisely, the values of

MAT 295

f
f
and
at the point x0 , y 0 , z0 denotes the
y
x

slopes of the surface in the x- and y-directions, respectively.

z
fy= f(a,b)

fx = f(a,b)

(a, b,f(a,b))

(a, b,f(a,b))

y
L2

L1

fx is the slope parallel to x-axis

fy is the slope parallel to y-axis

Figure 2.1

z
z = f(x, y)

P(a, b, f(a, b))

y
(a, b, 0)

L2

L1

Figure 2.2

Note:
The curve above line L1 has slope fx(a, b) at point P
The curve above line L2 has slope fy(a, b) at point P
Example 3
Find the slopes of the surface given by
f ( x, y ) 1 ( x 1)2 ( y 2)2

at the point (1, 2, 1) in the x-direction and in the y-direction.

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

Solution

The partial derivatives of f with respect to x and y are

fy ( x, y ) 2( y 2) .

fx ( x, y ) 2( x 1) and

At the point (1, 2, 1), the slopes in the x- and y-directions are
f x (1,2) 2(1 1) 0

and

fy (1,2) 2(2 2) 0 .

Example 4
If f ( x, y ) 4 x 2 2y 2 , find

f x (1,1) and

fy (1,1)

and interpret these

numbers as slopes.

Solution

Compute the partial derivatives w.r.t x and y.

f x ( x, y ) 2x and fy ( x, y ) 4y

Evaluate the partial derivatives at the given points.

f x (1,1) 2 and fy (1,1) 4
f x (1,1) 2 is the slope of the tangent line to the intersection between

parabola z 2 x 2 and the vertical plane y = 1 at the point (1, 1, 1).

fy (1,1) 4 is the slope of the tangent line to the intersection between

parabola z 3 2y 2 and the plane x = 1 at the point (1, 1, 1).

Partial derivatives can also be interpreted as rates of change, no matter

how many variables are involved. If z = f(x,y), then

z
represents the rate
x

of change of z with respect to x when y is fixed. Similarly,

z
represents
y

the rate of change of z with respect to y when x is fixed.

Example 5
The area of a parallelogram with adjacent sides a and b and included
angle is given by A ab sin as shown in Figure 2.3.
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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

a) Find the rate of change of A with respect to a for a = 10, b = 20 and

.
6

b) Find the rate of change of A with respect to for a = 10, b = 20 and

.
6
a A ab sin

a sin

Figure 2.3

Solution

a) To find the rate of change of the area with respect to a, hold b and
constant and differentiate with respect to a to obtain
A
b sin
a
A

20 sin 10
a
6

b) To find the rate of change of the area with respect to , hold a and b
constant and differentiate with respect to to obtain

A
ab cos

200 cos 100 3

Warm up exercise
If f ( x, y ) x xy , find f x (1,1) and fy (1,1) and interpret these numbers
as slopes.

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

2.4 Partial Derivatives of Basic Functions

In general if f is a function of two variables and suppose we want to find the
effect of changing the independent variable x to f, then y will be kept fixed.
Then we are really considering f as a function of a single variable x. In this
case the process of finding the partial derivatives of f w.r.t. x is similar to
finding an ordinary derivative.
Table 2.1 consists of ordinary derivatives of some basic functions. However,
the symbol is used in place of d to indicate partial differentiation.

Differentiating a function
1.

d
c 0 ,
dx
w here c is a constant

2.

d n
x nx n 1 ,
dx
w here n is a constant

3.

d
ln x 1
dx
x

11.

d
cos ec x (cos ec x )(cot x )
dx

4.

d
log b x 1 . log b e
dx
x

12.

d
cot x cos ec 2 x
dx

5.

d x
e ex
dx

13.

d
1
sin1 x
dx
1 x 2

6.

d x
c c x ln c ,
dx
w here c is a constant

14.

d
1
cos 1 x
dx
1 x 2

7.

d
sin x cos x
dx

15.

d
1
tan 1 x
dx
1 x 2

9.

d
tan x sec 2 x
dx

10.

d
sec x sec x. tan x
dx

d
cos x sin x
8. dx
Table 2.1
Steps : Differentiate functions of two variables

Identify function : f ( x, y )
Identify changed variable : x or y
Consider the function as a function of a single
variable
Differentiate the function with respect to the
identified variable

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

Example 6
Find fx and fy for the given functions:
a)

f ( x, y ) y

c) f ( x, y ) x 4 y

b)

f ( x, y ) 3 x 2

d) f ( x, y ) 3 xy

Solution

a)

fx

y 0
x

b)

fx

3x 2 6x
x

c)

fx

4
x y 4x 3 y
x

d)

fx

fy

y 1
y

fy

3x 2 0
y

fy

4
x y x4
y

3xy

fy

3 xy 2

1
1
3 xy 2 3 y
2
1
3 y

2 3 xy

3xy

3 xy 2

23 xy 2
3y

1
1
3 xy 2 3 x
2
1
3 x

fx

23 xy 2

fy

3y

2 3 xy

3x

2 3 xy

3x
2 3 xy

Example 7
Find

f
f
and
for the given functions:
y
x

a)

f ( x, y ) sin x

c) f ( x, y ) ln( x 4 y )

b)

f ( x, y ) e3y

d) f ( x, y ) tan(8xy )

Solution

a)

fx

sin x cos x
x

fy

31

sin x 0
y

MAT 295

Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

fy

3y
e
3e 3 y
y

ln x 4 y 4 x 3 y
x

fy

4
x y x4
y

3xy

fy

b)

fx

3y
e
0
x

c)

fx

d)

fx

3 xy 2

1
1
3 xy 2 3 y
2
1
3 y

2 3 xy

3xy

3 xy 2

23 xy 2

3y

1
1
3 xy 2 3 x
2
1
3 x

MAT 295

23 xy 2

3y

2 3 xy

3x

2 3 xy

3x
2 3 xy

Warm up exercise
Find f x and f y for the given functions.
f ( x, y ) 3x

(iii) f ( x, y ) cos xy

(ii) f ( x, y ) 3 x 2 y 2

(iv) f ( x, y ) ln( xy 2 )

(i)

2.5 Rules of Partial Derivatives

Before we proceed further, let us recall the rules of ordinary differentiation as
illustrated in Table 2.2. These rules for finding ordinary derivatives may also
be used to find partial derivatives.

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

1.

d
c 0 ; c is a constant
dx

5.

d
f ( x ) df
dx
dx

4.

d
f ( x ) g( x ) df df
dx
dx dx

d
f ( x )g( x ) df g( x ) f ( x ) dg
dx
dx
dx

df
df
g( x ) f ( x )
d f ( x ) dx
dx

6.

2
dx g ( x )
g ( x )

d n
2.
x nx n 1
dx

3.

MAT 295

7.

d
f g( x ) df dg
dx
dx dx

Table 2.2
Table 2.3 illustrates the derivatives of a function with chain rule.

Differentiating a function with Chain rule (when u is a function of x)

1.

d
u n n(u )n 1. d (u ) ,
dx
dx
w here n is a constant

8.

d
tan( u ) sec 2 ( u ). d ( u )
dx
dx

2.

d
ln( u ) 1 . d ( u )
dx
( u ) dx

9.

d
sex(u ) sec(u ). tan(u ) . d (u )
dx
dx

d
log b (u )
dx
3.
1
d

. log b e . (u )
(u )
dx
4.

10.

d
cos ec (u )
dx
(cos ec (u ))(cot(u )).

d (u )
d
e
e( u ) . ( u )
dx
dx

d (u )
d
c
c (u ) ln c .
(u) ,
5. dx
dx
w here c is a constant

d
(u )
dx

11.

d
cot(u ) cos ec 2 (u ). d (u )
dx
dx

12.

d
1
d
sin1( u )
.
(u )
2 dx
dx
1 (u )

6.

d
sin(u ) cos(u ). d ( u )
dx
dx

13.

d
1
d
cos1(u )
.
(u )
dx
1 (u )2 dx

7.

d
cos(u ) sin(u ). d ( u )
dx
dx

14.

d
1
d
tan 1(u )
.
(u )
2
dx
1 (u ) dx

Table 2.3
Again for functions of two or more variables, the symbol is used in place
of d.
Besides using these differentiation rules for algebraic operations, the chain
rule may also be used to differentiate composite functions.

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

Steps : Using rules of partial derivatives

Determine the algebraic operation

Select the appropriate rule
Differentiate the functions by holding all variables
constant except for the changed variable

Example 8
Let f ( x, y ) 7x y and g ( x, y ) e 2xy then compute
a)

g
f
g f
,
,
and
y
x x y

c)

(fg )
(fg ) and
y
x

b)

(f g )
(f g ) and
y
x

d)

g
f
and

y f
x g

Solution

a) Taking y as constant
f
g
and
7
2ye 2 xy
x
x
Taking x as constant
f
1
and
y

g
2 xe xy
y

b) Apply sum and difference rule

f g
(f g )

x
x x

f g
(f g )

y
y y

7 2ye 2 xy

1 2 xe2 xy

c) Apply product rule

f
g
(fg )
g ( x, y ) f ( x, y )
x
x
x
(7) e 2 xy (7 x y ) 2ye 2 xy

f
g
(fg )
g ( x, y ) f ( x, y )
y
y
y
(1) e 2 xy (7 x y ) (2xe2 xy )

34

Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

d) Apply quotient rule

f
g
g ( x, y ) f ( x, y )
f x
x

2
x g
g ( x, y )

7 e 2 xy (7 x y ) 2ye 2 xy
(e 2 xy )2
e 2 xy 7 (7 x y ) 2y
(e 2 xy )2

7 14xy 2y
2

e xy

g

f

g
f
f ( x, y ) g ( x, y )
y
y
f 2 ( x, y )
2xe2 xy (7 x y ) e 2 xy (1)
(7 x y )2

e 2 xy 2 x 7 x y 1
(7 x y )2

e 2 xy 14 x 2 2 xy 1
(7 x y )

Example 9
Given f ( x, y ) x 2 y 4 , find
a) fx ( x, y )

c)

fy ( x, y )

b) f x (2,1)

d)

fy (2,1)

Solution

a) fx ( x, y ) 2xy 4
b) fy ( x, y ) 4 x 2 y 3
c) fx (2,1) 2(2)(14 ) 4
d) fy (2,1) 4(22 )(13 ) 16

35

MAT 295

Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

Example 10
Find

z
z
and
y
x

a) z 2x 5 y 4 10 x 3 y 2
b) z sin x ln y x 5 sec y
c) z e 2x cos2xy
d) z tan( e x y ) 2x y 5

1
xy

Solution

a) z 2x 5 y 4 10 x 3 y 2
z

2x 5 y 4 10 x 3 y 2
x x

10 x 3 y 2

2x 5
y
x
x
x
x

10 x 4 0 0 3 x 2 y 2
10 x 4 3 x 2 y 2

2x 5 y 4 10 x 3 y 2
y y

10 x 3 y 2

2x 5
y
y
y
y
y

0 4y 3 0 2x 3 y
4y 3 2x 3 y

b) z sin x ln y x 5 sec y
z

sin x ln y x 5 sec y
x x

sin x ln y x 5 sec y

x
x

sin x ln y sin x ln y x 5 sec y x 5 sec y

x
x
x
x

cos x ln y sin x (0) 5 x 4 sec y x 5 (0)

cos x ln y 5 x 4 sec y

sin x ln y x 5 sec y
y y

sin x ln y x 5 sec y

y
y

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

sin x ln y sin x ln y x 5 sec y x 5 sec y

y y
y
y
y
1
(0) ln y sin x (0) sec y x 5 (sec y tan y )
y
sin x

x 5 sec y tan y
y

c) z e 2x cos2xy
z
2x

e cos2 xy
x x
2x

e cos2 xy e 2 x
cos2 xy
x
x

2 e 2 x cos2 xy e 2 x sin( 2 xy ) (2y )

2e 2 x cos2 xy 2ye 2 x sin( 2 xy )

z
2x

e cos2 xy
y y
2x

e cos2 xy e 2 x
cos2 xy
y
y
z
(0) cos2 xy e 2 x sin( 2xy ) (2x )
y

2xe2 x sin( 2xy )

d) z tan( e x y ) 2x y 5

1
xy

z

1

tan( e x y ) 2 x y 5

x x
xy

1
tan( e x y )
2 x y 5

x
x
x xy
2

sec (e

xy

)(e

xy

xy 1
)
2x y 5 2
x
x
1

1
e
sec (e
) 2 x y 5 2 2 ( xy 2 ( y )
2
1
y
e x y sec 2 (e x y )

2
2 x y 5 ( xy )
xy

xy

e x y sec 2 (e x y )

1
2x y

1
x 2y

z

1

tan( e x y ) 2x y 5

y y
xy

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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

tan( e x y )
2 x y 5

y y
y
y xy
sec 2 (e x y )(e x y )

xy

sec (e

xy

xy 1
2x y 5 2
y
y
1

1
) 2 x y 5 2 5 y 4 ( xy ) 2 ( x )
2

e x y sec 2 (e x y )
e x y sec 2 (e x y )

5y 4
2 2x y 5
5y 4
2 2x y 5

x
( xy )2
1
xy 2

Example 11
Given w f ( x, y, z) xz sin( y 2 z) xy 2 z 3 find

w dw
w
,
and
.
x dy
z

Solution

Taking y and z as constant

w
y 2z3
z
x
2 xy 2 z 3

Taking x and z as constant

w
2yz cos(y 2 z )
y

xyz 3
xy 2 z 3

Taking x and y as constant

w
3 xy 2 z 2
x y 2 cos(y 2 z )
y
2 xy 2 z 3

Example 12
Show that u Ax4 2Bx 2 y 2 Cy 4 satisfies the function x

Solution

Given u Ax 4 2Bx 2 y 2 Cy 4
y
u
x
y
4u
x
y

38

u
u
y
4u
x
y

Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

MAT 295

u
4Ax3 4Bxy 2
x
u
4Bx 2 y 4Cy 3
y
x

u
u
y
x( 4Ax3 4Bxy2 ) y( 4Bx 2 y 4Cy 3 )
x
y

4Ax4 4Bx 2 y 2 4Bx 2 y 2 4Cy 4

4( Ax4 Bx 2 y 2 Bx 2 y 2 Cy 4 )

4u

Warm up exercise
Given that f ( x, y ) 5x 3 y 4 cos xy ln xy
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

5 x 3 y 4 cos xy ln xy
x
Then compute f x (1, 0) by substitute x=1 and y=0

5 x 3 y 4 cos xy ln xy
Next find
y
Compute fy (1, 0) by substitute x=1 and y=0

Find

Example 13
Find f p and fq

i)

f ( p, q ) tan 1(ln pq )

ii)

Solution

i)

f ( p, q ) tan 1(ln pq )
f
1

(ln pq )
2
p 1 (ln pq ) p

( pq )
1 (ln pq ) pq p
1

39

f ( p, q ) p 4 cot( pq 3 )

Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

f
1

p 1 (ln pq )2

(q )
pq

1

1 (ln pq ) p
1

f
1

(ln pq )
2
q 1 (ln pq ) q

( pq )
1 (ln pq ) pq q

( p)
1 (ln pq ) pq

1

1 (ln pq ) q

f ( p, q ) p 4 cot( pq 3 )

b)

f
v
u
u
v
p
p
p

4p3 cot( pq 3 ) p 4 csc2 ( pq 3 )(q 3 ) ;

4p3 cot( pq 3 ) p3q 4 csc2 ( pq 3 )
f
u
v

v ( p, q ) u( p, q )
q q
q

p 4 csc2 ( pq 3 )(3pq 2 )
3p5q 2 csc2 ( pq 3 )

Example 14

2
2
For f (r , s ) e rs r 2 s 3 , find fr (0,1) and fs (0,1).

Solution

fr

2
rs 2 2
r s3
e

r
r
2

s 2e rs 2 r 2 s 3 2r

2
s 2e rs 4r r 2 s 3

fr (0,1) (1)2 (1)

1
40

MAT 295

Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

fs

MAT 295

2
rs 2 2
r s3
e

s
s
2

2rsers 2 r 2 s 3 3s 2

2
2rsers 6s 2 r 2 s 3

2xyexy 2(x2 y3 )(3y2 )

2

2xyexy 6y2 (x2 y3 )

fs (0,1) 6(1)2 (1)

6

Warm up exercise
Let f (r , s ) r 2 3rs and g(r , s ) cos rs .
(i) Find the partial derivatives fr and fs .
(ii) Find the partial derivatives g r and g s .
(iii) Then compute

g
f
(f .g ) f (r , s )
g (r , s )
a)
(f .g ) by using
r
r
r
r

g
f
b)
(f .g ) by using
(f .g ) f (r , s )
g (r , s )
s
s
s
s

Exercise 2
Partial Derivatives
1. Let z f ( x, y ) . Define fx ( x, y ) and fy ( x, y ) . Write other notations which can be
used to represent fx ( x, y ) and fy ( x, y ) .
2. Derive

Z
Z
and
using the definition of partial derivatives (limits):
y
x

a) Z( x, y ) x 5y 2

b) Z( x, y ) 2x 2 y 2

3. If f ( x, y ) x 2 y 2 find f x (3,4) and fy (0,2)

4. Given Z( x, y ) sin(2x 3y ) , find

Z
( 6,4 )
y
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Part 1 PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

5. In each of the following, find

f
f
and
.
y
x

a) f ( x, y ) x 2 y y 5

e) f ( x, y ) ln( xy 2 x 3 )

b) f ( x, y ) e xy tan( xy )

f) f ( x, y ) x 7 sin(e7 xy )

c) f ( x, y )

x2 y 2

g) f ( x, y )

x2 y 2

sec 3 ( xy )
x3y

h) f ( x, y ) x 2 y

d) f ( x, y ) sin 2x cos 3y

6. Find all the first order derivatives for the following functions:
a) Z( x, y ) 3x 2y 4

d) Z( p, q ) p ln q

b) U( x, t, ) xe t sin

e) f ( x, y ) x 2 4y 2

c) W ln( x 2y 3z)

f) U x 2 y 2 z 2

7. Let f ( x, y ) 3 x 3 y 2 . Find:
a) fx ( x, y )

d) fy ( x, y )

b) f x (1, y )

e) fy (x,1)

c) f x (1,2)

f) fy (1,2)

8. Let z e 2x sin y . Find:

a)

z
x

z
y

b)

9. If z xf ( x, y ) , show that x

z
z
y
z
x
y

10. Find f x and fy .

a) f ( x, y )

xy
xy

b) f ( x, y ) x 3e y y 3 sec x

y
c) f ( x, y ) x 3 cos
x

d) f ( x , y ) e xy sin( 4y 2 )

42

y5
x

MAT 295