1 Functions of Several Variables
Chain Rule
Recall that for functions of a single variable, if y f ( x ) and x g (t ) , where f and g
are differentiable functions, by using the Chain Rule, y is indirectly a differentiable
function of t, where
dy dy dx
dt dx dt
For functions with several variables, we have
Chain Rule (Case 1)
Suppose that z f ( x, y ) is a differentiable function of x and y, where x g (t )
and y h(t ) are both differentiable functions of t. Then z is a differentiable
function of t and
z
dz z dx z dy
x y
dt x dt y dt
t t
Chain Rule (Case 2)
Suppose that z f ( x, y ) is a differentiable function of x and y, where
x g ( s, t ) and y h( s, t ) are both differentiable functions of s and t. Then
z z x z y z z x z y z
s x s y s t x t y t
x y
s t s t
Example 1
dz
If z x 2 y 3xy 4 , where x sin 2t and y cos t , find when t = 0.
dt
Solution z
dz z dx z dy
x y
dt x dt y dt
t t
(2 xy 3 y 4 )(2cos2t ) ( x 2 12 xy 3 )( sin t )
When t 0, x sin 0 0
2 Functions of Several Variables
When t 0, y cos0 1
dz
(0 3)(2cos0) (0 0)( sin 0) 6
dt t 0
Example 2
1 dz
Given that z x 2 y 2 , where x 2
and y 2t 3. Find by:
t dt
1
a. Substituting x 2
and y 2t 3 into z x 2 y 2 .
t
b. Using Chain Rule.
Solution
a. z x2 y 2
2
1
2 (2t 3 )2
t
1
4 4t 6
t
dz 4
5 24t 5
dt t
dz z dx z dy
b. z
dt x dt y dt
2 x y
2 x 3 2 y (6t 2 )
t
t t
1 2
2 2 3 2(2t 3 )(6t 2 )
t t
4
5 24t 5
t
3 Functions of Several Variables
Example 3
w w
Given that w x 2 y 2 z 2 , where x st, y s cos t and z s sin t . Find and .
s t
Solution
w w x w y w z
w
s x s y s z s
x y z
2 xt 2 y cos t 2 z sin t
2( st )(t ) 2( s cos t ) cos t 2( s sin t ) sin t s t s t s t
2st 2 2s cos 2t 2s sin 2 t
2s(t 2 cos 2t sin 2 t )
2s(t 2 1)
w w x w y w z
t x t y t z t
2 xs 2 y ( s sin t ) 2 z ( s cos t )
2 xs 2 ys sin t 2 zs cos t
2( st )( s) 2( s cos t ) s sin t 2( s sin t ) s cos t
2s 2t 2s 2 cos t sin t 2s 2 cos t sin t
2 s 2t
Example 4
f
Given that f ( x, y, z ) sin( x 2 y z ) , where x sr, y r 3 3s and z r 2 . Find .
s
Solution f
f f x f y x y z
s x s y s
s r s r r
2 xy cos( x 2 y z )(r ) x 2 cos( x 2 y z )(3)
2rxy cos( x 2 y z ) 3x 2 cos( x 2 y z )
cos( x 2 y z )(2rxy 3x 2 )
cos[( sr)2 (r 3 3s) r 2 ][2r( sr )(r 3 3s) 3( sr )2 ]
cos( s 2r5 3s3r 2 r 2 )(2sr 5 9s 2r 2 )