# I need to understand partial derivatives.

1. Oct 3, 2007

### jedjj

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Find the indicated partial derivative.

$$u=e^{r\theta}\sin\theta; \frac{\partial^3u}{\partial r^2\partial\theta}$$

2. The attempt at a solution

I started to derive $$u_{\theta}$$ and I attained

$$r*e^{r\theta}\sin\theta + e^{r\theta}\cos\theta$$

But now I dont know how to take the derivative of the first equation, because there are 3 terms. It has been a few years since I have taken any math (I can assure you I won't take anymore breaks)

I just dont know where to go to attain $$u_{\theta r}$$

2. Oct 3, 2007

### l46kok

Actually there are two terms for you to derive, since your next objective is to derive with respect to r. In this process, you will treat $$\sin(\theta)$$ as a constant. Do you recall how to do product rule?

Oh of course you do, you just did it on your first derivation lol. Like I said, treat sine term as constant, derive with respect to r and apply product rule.

3. Oct 3, 2007

### jedjj

thank you for the response. so it should be $$\theta e^{r\theta}\sin\theta + \theta e^{r\theta}\cos\theta$$ ?

If so I'm not sure how I attain an r anywhere from this. The answer in the back of the book is showing a sine term as having an r in front of it.

nevermind, I looked at it for just a few more seconds and found the mistake.
Thanks so much

Last edited: Oct 3, 2007
4. Oct 3, 2007

### bob1182006

you do it the same but remember that you need to split up that derivative into 2 derivatives. and then you do the derivative of each term with respect to r just like you did in the first time with respect to theta.

5. Oct 3, 2007

### l46kok

No, I think you might've made some simple mistake

$$r * \frac{\partial}{\partial r}(e^{r\theta}\sin\theta) + \frac{\partial}{\partial r}r * (e^{r\theta}\sin\theta)$$

Do this for me and see what you get.

6. Oct 3, 2007

### jedjj

I have another question if you could help me please. I have a derivation done by my professor but I'm having problems getting this.

Question

verify that the function $$u=\frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2+z^2}}$$ is a solution of the three-dimensional Laplace Equation $$u_{xx}+u_{yy}+u_{zz}=0$$.

Attempt at a solution

$$u={(x^2+y^2+z^2)}^{-1/2}$$
$$u_x=-{(x^2+y^2+z^2)}^{-3/2}x$$
$$u_{xx}=-3{(x^2+y^2+z^2)}^{5/2}x^2-{(x^2+y^2+z^2)}^{-3/2}$$

He goes on to answer the question, but I do not understand where $$-{(x^2+y^2+z^2)}^{-3/2}$$ comes from. And if I didn't catch everything he wrote down, then I'm not seeing what I am missing.  OR why it is there.

Last edited: Oct 3, 2007
7. Oct 3, 2007

### bob1182006

In order to do the derivative of $$u_x$$ you need to use the product rule which gives you the $$u_{xx}$$

8. Oct 3, 2007

### jedjj

Thank you so much. I really cannot comprehend product rule!

9. Oct 3, 2007

### bob1182006

well it's exactly the same as the Calc I product rule just that now you take other variables like y,z in this case to be constants.

for your problem: say you had g(x,y,z)*h(x,y,z) and you need the derivative with respect to x. to solve it you need to use the product rule and you'll get:
(g(x,y,z)*h(x,y,z))'=g(x,y,z)*h'(x,y,z)+h(x,y,z)*g'(x,y,z)

in your case h(x,y,z)=-x and g(x,y,z)=$$(x^2+y^2+z^2)^{-3/2}$$