# Implicit differentiation help three variables!

1. Oct 24, 2012

### aluvieriti

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I have a question. How in general would one differentiate a composite function like F(x,y,z)=2x^2-yz+xz^2 where x=2sint , y=t^2-t+1 , and z = 3e^-1 ? I want to find the value of dF/dt evaluated at t=0 and I don't know how. Can someone please walk me through this?

2. Relevant equations
Mod note: Fixed the equation below to match the OP's change above.
F(x,y,z)=2x^2-yz+xz^2

dF/dx=4x-z^2 , dF/dy= -z , dF/dz = 2xz-y , dz/dt=0 , dx/dt=2cost, dy/dt=2t-1

dF/dx dx/dt + dF/dy dy/dt + dF/dz dz/dt= dF/dt

3. The attempt at a solution

I tried a couple of things, including chain rules and jacobians. I know that dF/dt should equal dF/dx dx/dt + dF/dy dy/dt + dF/dz dz/dt but for some reason this doesn't work, or I am doing something wrong. I start out by differentiating to get dF/dx=4x-z^2 , dF/dy= -z , dF/dz = 2xz-y , dz/dt=0 , dx/dt=2cost, dy/dt=2t-1 but this doesn't match the answer, which my book says is 24.

How do they get this, and where is my error? Thanks.

Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2012
2. Oct 24, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Do you have a typo in your definition for F(x, y, z)? As you wrote it, it could be simplified to 3x2 - yz.
These three should be partial derivatives, and a couple of them are incorrect, at least based on what you wrote.

$$\frac{\partial F}{\partial x} = 6x$$

3. Oct 24, 2012

### aluvieriti

Sorry, yes there was a typo, I fixed it. Are the partials still wrong? Thanks for responding so quickly!

4. Oct 24, 2012

### aluvieriti

I want to rephrase the question. Since everyone else I have talked to thinks there was an error in the book, does everyone here agree?

5. Oct 24, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Here's your work from post #1.
Your partial with respect to x has a sign error. The other partials are correct, and your three derivatives are correct.