Chapter 4: Partial Differentiation
Section 4.3: Chain Rule
Essentials
Table 4.3.1 contains a review of the chain rule for composite functions of a single variable.
fx=ghx⇒f′x=g′hx h′x
Table 4.3.1 Chain rule for single-variable composite function
What single-variable calculus should have taught the student about the chain rule is that for a composite function, "differentiate from the outside, working inward."
Table 4.3.2 contains statements of different forms of the chain rule for composite functions of several variables. A careful examination of the members of this table will convince the student that the same idea of differentiating from the outside and working inward also characterizes the chain rule for functions of several variables.
Composite Function
Chain Rule
Ft=fxt,yt
F′t=fxxt,ytx′t+fyxt,yty′t
Gx,y=gfx,y
Gxx,y=g′fx,yfx
Gyx,y=g′fx,yfy
Fs,t=fxs,t,ys,t
Fss,t=fxxs,t,ys,txss,t+fyxs,t,ys,tyss,t
Fts,t=fxxs,t,ys,txts,t+fyxs,t,ys,tyts,t
Fs,t=fxs,t,ys,t,zs,t
Fs=fx xs+fy ys+fz zs Ft=fx xt+fy yt+fz zt
Fr,s,t=fxr,s,t,yr,s,t
Fr=fx xr+fy yr+fz zr
Fs=fx xs+fy ys+fz zs
Ft=fx xt+fy yt+fz zt
Table 4.3.2 Composite functions and their derivatives by an appropriate form of the chain rule
In the last two forms in Table 4.3.2 the arguments of the functions and derivatives have been suppressed so that the expressions would fit in a single line. However, it will prove to be extremely useful to represent the arguments fully as shown in the leftmost column of the table.
Examples
Example 4.3.1
The composition of fx,y=3−x2−y2 with xt=t,yt=t2 forms the function Ft=fxt,yt. Obtain F′t by an appropriate form of the chain rule, and again by writing the rule for F explicitly. Give a graphical interpretation of Ft.
Example 4.3.2
The composition of f⁡x,y=sin⁡2⁢x−3⁢y, with xt=t+1/t, yt=t−1/t forms the function Ft=fxt,yt. Obtain F′t by an appropriate form of the chain rule, and again by writing the rule for F explicitly. Show that the results agree.
Example 4.3.3
The composition of f⁡x,y=ln⁡2⁢y+1−x2 with x⁡t=t2, y⁡t=sin⁡t forms the function Ft=fxt,yt. Obtain F′t by an appropriate form of the chain rule, and again by writing the rule for F explicitly. Show that the results agree.
Example 4.3.4
The composition of f⁡x,y,z=x⁢ⅇ2⁢y⁢cos⁡4⁢z with x⁡t=1−t, y⁡t=t, z⁡t=1−t2 forms the function Ft=fxt,yt,zt. Obtain F′t by an appropriate form of the chain rule, and again by writing the rule for F explicitly. Show that the results agree.
Example 4.3.5
The composition of fx,y=x3y with x=r cost,y=r sint forms the function Fr,t=fxr,t,yr,t. Obtain the partial derivatives Fr and Ft by appropriate forms of the chain rule, and again by writing the rule for F explicitly. Show that the results agree.
Example 4.3.6
The composition of f⁡x,y=ln⁡3⁢x2+4⁢y2 with xr,s=3 r+2 s,yr,s=5 r−7 s forms the function Fr,s=fxr,s,yr,s. Obtain the partial derivatives Fr and Fs by appropriate forms of the chain rule, and again by writing the rule for F explicitly. Show that the results agree.
Example 4.3.7
The composition of f⁡x,y,z=x2+y2+z2 with x⁡r,s=ⅇr⁢cos⁡s, y⁡r,s=ⅇr⁢sin⁡s, z⁡r,s=r⁢s forms the function Fr,s=fxr,s,yr,s,zr,s. Obtain the partial derivatives Fr and Fs by appropriate forms of the chain rule, and again by writing the rule for F explicitly. Show that the results agree.
Example 4.3.8
Let Fx,y=frx,y,sx,y be defined by the composition of fr,s with r=x/y, s=y/x, for any sufficiently well-behaved function fr,s. Show that x⁢Fx+y⁢Fy=0.
Example 4.3.9
Let Fx,y=frx,y,sx,y be defined by the composition of fr,s with r=x2−y2, s=y2−x2, for any sufficiently well-behaved function fr,s. Show that y⁢Fx+x⁢Fy=0.
Example 4.3.10
If Fx,y is the composition of Gu,v with u=x2−y2, v=2 x y, obtain Fx and Fy in terms of Gu and Gv.
Example 4.3.11
If u=fx−y,y−x, show that ux+uy=0.
Example 4.3.12
If u=Fy−xx y,z−xx z, show that x2 ux+y2 uy+z2 uz=0.
Example 4.3.13
If u=x3 Fy/x,z/x, show that x ux+y uy+z uz=3 u.
Example 4.3.14
If w=fx,y and x=r coshs, y=r sinhs, obtain wr2−ws/r2 in terms of fx and fy.
Example 4.3.15
If z=y fx2−y2, show that y zx+x zy=x z/y.
Example 4.3.16
If z=x y+x fy/x, show that x zx+y zy=x y+z.
Example 4.3.17
If u is a function of r=x2+y2+z2, show that ux2+uy2+uz2=dudr2.
Example 4.3.18
If the equation fx,y,z=0 implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain zx and zy.
Example 4.3.19
If the equation z=fx,y,z implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain zx and zy.
Example 4.3.20
If the equation z=fx,y,z implicitly defines x=xy,z, obtain xy and xz.
Example 4.3.21
If the equation fx,y=gy,z implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain zx and zy.
Example 4.3.22
If the equation x2+y2=fx,y,z implicitly defines x=xy,z, obtain xy and xz.
Example 4.3.23
If the equation fx,y=0 implicitly defines y=yx, obtain y″x.
Example 4.3.24
If the equation fx,y,z=0 implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain zxy.
Example 4.3.25
If the equation x2+y3+z4+u5=1 implicitly defines u=ux,y,z, and the equation x+y2+z3=1 implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain ux and uy.
Example 4.3.26
If the equation u=x3+y3+z3+u3 implicitly defines u=ux,y,z and the equation z=x2+y2+z2 implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain ux and uy.
Example 4.3.27
If the equation u=x+y+z+eu implicitly defines u=ux,y,z and the equation z=x+y+cosz implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain ux and uy.
Example 4.3.28
If the equation fx,y,z,u=0 implicitly defines u=ux,y,z and the equation gx,y,z=0 implicitly defines z=zx,y, obtain ux and uy.
Example 4.3.29
The composition of fx,y with x=r cost, y=r sint produces the function Fr,t=fxr,t,yr,t. Express fx and fy in terms of Fr and Ft.
Example 4.3.30
The composition of fx,y with x=r cost, y=r sint produces the function Fr,t=fxr,t,yr,t. Express fxx+fyy in terms of Fr,Frr, and Ftt.
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