Implicit partial differentiation

morsel
Messages
29
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Find \partial x / \partial z at the point (1, -1, -3) if the equation xz + y \ln x - x^2 + 4 = 0 defines x as a function of the two independent variables y and z and the partial derivative exists.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


x + y/x \partial x / \partial z - 2x \partial x / \partial z = 0

Did I do the implicit differentiation correctly? I'm unsure about where to put \partial x / \partial z when I differentiate.

Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
morsel said:

Homework Statement


Find \partial x / \partial z at the point (1, -1, -3) if the equation xz + y \ln x - x^2 + 4 = 0 defines x as a function of the two independent variables y and z and the partial derivative exists.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


x + y/x \partial x / \partial z - 2x \partial x / \partial z = 0

Did I do the implicit differentiation correctly? I'm unsure about where to put \partial x / \partial z when I differentiate.
No, this isn't correct. When you take the partial of y lnx with respect to z you have to use the product rule (and then the chain rule), and as far as I can tell, you didn't use it.

Once you have differentiated both sides of the equation, solve algebraically for \frac{\partial x}{\partial z}
 
I think the ln term is correct. But the first term is not. Here you have to use the product and chain rule.
 
betel said:
I think the ln term is correct. But the first term is not. Here you have to use the product and chain rule.
I didn't check, but I think you're probably right. Having x be the dependent variable and y and z independent probably threw me off.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top