The Chain Rule, Dierentials and Partial Derivatives

Stephen R. Addison
University of Central Arkansas

January 22, 2013

Outline

Introduction

The Chain Rule

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

2 / 16

Introduction

Introduction

In this class we will review some results of basic calculus. Unfortunately, as introductory calculus classes focus more and more on the use of the calculator, many of you will be seeing these results for the rst time. You will nd it useful to become procient at these sorts of manipulations.

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

3 / 16

The Chain Rule

The Chain Rule

Consider y = f (x ) and x = g (t ) so y = f (g (t )). Using the chain rule we can nd dy /dt , dy df dx = . dt dx dt

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

4 / 16

The Chain Rule

Chain Rule for Partial Derivatives

Now consider a function w = f (x , y , x ). Suppose we want to explore the behavior of f along some curve C, if the curve is parameterized by x = x (t ), y = y (t ), and z = z (t ). If we want to calculate dw dt we need the chain rule for partial derivatives.

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

5 / 16

The Chain Rule

Chain Rule for Partial Derivatives

The chain rule for partial derivatives: dw w dx w dy w dz = + + . dt x dt y dt z dt Using this, we dene the total dierential of w as dw = In this expression the
w xi dxi

w w w dx + dy + dz . x y z are called partial dierentials.

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

6 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

We can use the denition of the total dierential to develop relationships between partial derivatives. In thermal physics, we will usually want to explicitly denote which variables are being held constant. We do this by placing subscripts on our partial derivatives. Thus we can rewrite our expression for the dierential of w as dw = w x dx +
y ,z

w y

dy +
x ,z

w z

dz .
x ,y

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

7 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Now suppose there is a relationship between x , y , and z such that f (x , y , z ) = 0. We can then write x = x (y , z ), y = y (x , z ), and z = z (x , y ). We can write the total dierential of x as dx = x y dy +
z

x z

dz .
y

(1)

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

8 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Similarly, from y = y (x , z ), we write the total dierential of y as dy = y x dx +

z

y z

dz .
x

(2)

Then, inserting (1) in (2) we have, dx = x y y x dx +

z

x y

y z

+
x

x z

dz .
y

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

9 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Only two of the variables x , y , z are independent. The above equation is true for all values of dx and dz . If we choose x and z as the independent variables and dz = 0 and dx = 0. Then dx = or, x y which we rewrite as x y
z

x y

y x

dx
z

y x =
z

=1
z

1
y x z

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

10 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Next we choose dx = 0 and dz = 0, so x y y z +
x

x z =

dz = 0
y

x y and nally we write x y

y z

x z

y z

z x

= 1.
y

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

11 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Now lets consider f as a function of x , y , and z where x , y and z are related. This means that we can write f = f (x , y ) or f = f (x , z ), etc. Or, we could equally well write one of the xi as a function of f and the other xi .

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

12 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

If we write x = x (f , y ) and y = y (f , z ) then we can immediately write their total dierentials as dx = and dy = x f y f df +
y

x y y z

dy
f

df +
z

dz
f

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

13 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

leading to dx = x f +
y

x y

y f

df +
z

x y

y z

dz .
f

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

14 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

We can also write x = x (f , z ) and write its total dierential as dx = x f df +
z

x z

dz .
f

Then equating the coecients of df and dz in the expressions for dx , the coecients of dz result in x y which we rewrite as x y y z z x = 1.
f

y z

=
f

x z

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

15 / 16

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

Relationships between Partial Derivatives

We will nd many of these results useful in our study of thermal physics. You will nd that you will learn some of them. However, the important thing is to be able to derive them when they are needed.

Stephen R. Addison (UCA)

Partial Derivatives

January 22, 2013

16 / 16