Partial derivative in spherical coordinates

[jonathanpun]

I am facing some problem about derivatives in spherical coordinates

in spherical coordinates:
x=r sinθ cos\phi
y=r sinθ sin\phi
z=r cosθ

and
r=\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}}
θ=tan^{-1}\frac{\sqrt{x^{2}+y{2}}}{z}
\phi=tan^{-1}\frac{y}{x}

\frac{\partial x}{\partial r}=sinθ cos\phi
then \frac{\partial r}{\partial x}=\frac{1}{sinθ cos \phi }

but if i calculate directly from r:
\frac{\partial r}{\partial x} = \frac{x}{\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}}}
substitute:
=\frac{r sinθ cos \phi }{r}
= sinθ cos\phi

Why do the results are different? what i did wrong?


From http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=63886
not this case is the second case? but why the inverse still not true?

[mathman]

∂r/∂x is defined for constant x and y.
∂x/∂r is defined for constant θ and φ.

There is no reason that they should be reciprocal.

[HallsofIvy]

∂r/∂x is defined for constant x and y.
You mean "for constant y and z" don't you?

∂x/∂r is defined for constant θ and φ.

There is no reason that they should be reciprocal.

[mathman]

You mean "for constant y and z" don't you?

Correct - my typo.