Trouble computing ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1)

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I just noticed that some of my answers were wrong. I hope you don't mind.In summary, given the equation of the surface x^4 * y^7 + y^6 * z^8 + z^7 * x^9 + 4xyz = 7, its derivative z = f(x,y) in a neighborhood of the point (1,1,1) with f(x,y) differentiable can be found by taking the first and second partial derivatives with respect to x and y. The first derivatives are ∂f/∂x(1,1) = -17/19 = -0.894736842105263 and ∂f/∂y(1,1) = -17
  • #1
s3a
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Homework Statement


Question:
"Given that the surface x^4 * y^7 + y^6 * z^8 + z^7 * x^9 + 4xyz = 7
has the equation z = f(x,y) in a neighborhood of the point (1,1,1) with f(x,y) differentiable, find the derivatives.

Find:
a) ∂f/∂x(1,1)
b) ∂f/∂y(1,1)
c) ∂^2 f/∂x^2"

Answers:
∂f/∂x(1,1) = -17/19 = -0.894736842105263
∂f/∂y(1,1) = -17/19 = -0.894736842105263
∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1) = -2.2399766729844


Homework Equations


Just taking the derivative of
4x^3 * y^7 + 9x^8 * z^7 + 4yz + ∂f/∂x(8z^7 * y^6 + 7z^6 + 4yz).
I also know that ∂f/∂x(1,1) = -17/19.


The Attempt at a Solution


I successfully get every single part of this question except the ∂^2 f/∂x^2 part.

Instead of isolating for ∂f/∂x and trying to differentiate that again with respect to x (which seems very difficult, if not impossible, to do by hand), I just implicitly differentiate for the second time treating ∂f/∂x as a function. I then just plug in -17/19 for ∂f/∂x(1,1) and plug in the point (1,1,1) and get the wrong answer. I tried computing ∂^2 f/∂x^2 several times and keep getting it wrong so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
 

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  • #2
s3a said:

Homework Statement


Question:
"Given that the surface x^4 * y^7 + y^6 * z^8 + z^7 * x^9 + 4xyz = 7
has the equation z = f(x,y) in a neighborhood of the point (1,1,1) with f(x,y) differentiable, find the derivatives.

Find:
a) ∂f/∂x(1,1)
b) ∂f/∂y(1,1)
c) ∂^2 f/∂x^2"

Answers:
∂f/∂x(1,1) = -17/19 = -0.894736842105263
∂f/∂y(1,1) = -17/19 = -0.894736842105263
∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1) = -2.2399766729844


Homework Equations


Just taking the derivative of
4x^3 * y^7 + 9x^8 * z^7 + 4yz + ∂f/∂x(8z^7 * y^6 + 7z^6 + 4yz).
I also know that ∂f/∂x(1,1) = -17/19.


The Attempt at a Solution


I successfully get every single part of this question except the ∂^2 f/∂x^2 part.

Instead of isolating for ∂f/∂x and trying to differentiate that again with respect to x (which seems very difficult, if not impossible, to do by hand), I just implicitly differentiate for the second time treating ∂f/∂x as a function. I then just plug in -17/19 for ∂f/∂x(1,1) and plug in the point (1,1,1) and get the wrong answer. I tried computing ∂^2 f/∂x^2 several times and keep getting it wrong so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
Here's the Latex of the equation of the surface: [itex]x^4 \, y^7 + y^6 \, z^8 + z^7 \, x^9 + 4xyz = 7[/itex]

Here's Latex for your result for the first partial derivative:
[itex]\displaystyle
4x^3 \, y^7 + 9x^8 \, z^7 + 4yz + \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}(8z^7 \, y^6 + 7z^6 + 4yz)=0[/itex]​

I got something different:
[itex]\displaystyle
4x^3 \, y^7 + 9x^8 \, z^7 + 4yz + \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}(8z^7 \, y^6 + 7z^6\,x^9 + 4yz)=0[/itex]

Here's the image of your work, so it's easier to check out.
attachment.php?attachmentid=44347&d=1330124781.jpg


That's a correct method.
 
  • #3
I kept getting it wrong so many times but I finally got it right. What I had shown here is wrong for the first differentiation with respect to x and so was yours.

Here is my work if you can read the handwriting and care.

Thank you!
 

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  • #4
s3a said:
I kept getting it wrong so many times but I finally got it right. What I had shown here is wrong for the first differentiation with respect to x and so was yours.

Here is my work if you can read the handwriting and care.

Thank you!
It took me a long time to see what I had wrong.

Should be 4xy, not 4yz in the parentheses.

Here's the corrected first derivative.

[itex]\displaystyle
4x^3 \, y^7 + 9x^8 \, z^7 + 4yz + \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}(8z^7 \, y^6 + 7z^6\,x^9 + 4xy)=0[/itex]
 
  • #5
Yeah, I saw it. :smile: Also, sorry, I should have told you and spared your wasteful search.
 

Related to Trouble computing ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1)

1. What is the definition of ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1)?

∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1) is the second partial derivative of a function f with respect to the variable x, evaluated at the point (1,1). It measures the rate of change of the slope of the function at that specific point.

2. How do you compute ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1)?

To compute ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1), you can use the definition of a second partial derivative, which is the partial derivative of the first derivative with respect to the same variable. Alternatively, you can also use the chain rule to calculate the second derivative.

3. What does ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1) tell us about the function?

∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1) can provide information about the concavity of the function at the point (1,1). If the second derivative is positive, the function is concave up, and if it is negative, the function is concave down at that point.

4. Why is it important to compute ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1)?

Knowing the second derivative at a specific point allows us to analyze the behavior of the function at that point. It helps us determine if the function is increasing or decreasing and the nature of its curvature, which can be useful in optimization problems and in understanding the overall behavior of the function.

5. Are there any applications of computing ∂^2 f/∂x^2 (1,1)?

Yes, there are many applications of computing the second derivative at a specific point. For example, in physics, it can be used to determine the acceleration of an object at a specific point in time. In economics, it can be used to analyze the marginal rate of change of a cost or revenue function. It also has applications in engineering, statistics, and other fields.

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