Partial derivatives of function log(x^2+y^2)

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 4K views
Chromosom
Messages
14
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


I have got a question concerning the following function:

[tex]f(x,y)=\log\left(x^2+y^2\right)[/tex]​

Partial derivatives are:

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial x^2}=\frac{y^2-x^2}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}[/tex]​

and

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial y^2}=\frac{x^2-y^2}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}[/tex]​

The conclusion is that the following equation is right:

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial x^2}=-\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial y^2}[/tex]​

But I can not understand, how can it be possible. The role of x and y variables are exactly the same, then why derivatives are not the same?

Sorry for my English - it is my second language. I am from Poland.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Chromosom said:

Homework Statement


I have got a question concerning the following function:

[tex]f(x,y)=\log\left(x^2+y^2\right)[/tex]​

Partial derivatives are:

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial x^2}=\frac{y^2-x^2}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}[/tex]​

and

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial y^2}=\frac{x^2-y^2}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}[/tex]​

The conclusion is that the following equation is right:

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial x^2}=-\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial y^2}[/tex]​

But I can not understand, how can it be possible. The role of x and y variables are exactly the same, then why derivatives are not the same?

Sorry for my English - it is my second language. I am from Poland.

There's a factor of 2 missing in all your second derivatives.

The result is exactly as you'd expect. The variable you're differentiating with respect to, matters. If it's x, then y is treated as a constant, and vice versa. So if the "active" variable is leading in the numerator in one derivative, the same should apply in the other. It's just that the "active" variable is x in one case and y in the other, and the other variable acts like a constant.
 
Chromosom said:

Homework Statement


I have got a question concerning the following function:

[tex]f(x,y)=\log\left(x^2+y^2\right)[/tex]​

Partial derivatives are:

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial x^2}=\frac{y^2-x^2}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}[/tex]​

and

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial y^2}=\frac{x^2-y^2}{\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2}[/tex]​

The conclusion is that the following equation is right:

[tex]\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial x^2}=-\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial y^2}[/tex]​

But I can not understand, how can it be possible. The role of x and y variables are exactly the same, then why derivatives are not the same?

Sorry for my English - it is my second language. I am from Poland.

How did you get those partial derivatives? They are wrong.


P.S. There's nothing wrong with your English, and even if there were, there is nothing to apologise for.