Partial derivitives chain rule proof

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 8K views
ProPatto16
Messages
323
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



If u=f(x,y) where x=escost and y=essint

show that d2u/dx2+d2u/dy2 = e-2s[d2u/ds2+d2u/dt2

The Attempt at a Solution



i have no idea!

question though, do the partial derivitives have to be solved and expanded then just show that one side equals the other or can it be proven by manipulating the terms as they are?

the only relevant chain rule is this one

du/ds=du/dx*dx/ds+du/dy*dy/ds and du/dt=du/dx*dx/dt+du/dy*dy/dt

this gives the first step of the partial derivitives to some of the question. how would i go about finding the second partial derivative?

any help would be great!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You find the second partial derivative by doing it again!

For example, [itex]x= e^s cos(t)[/itex] and [itex]y= e^s sin(t)[/itex] so
[tex]\frac{\partial f}{\partial s}= \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}(e^s cos(t)+ \frac{\partial f}{\partial y}(e^s sin(t)[/tex]

Then
[tex]\frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial s^2}= \frac{\partial}{\partial s}\left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}(e^s cos(t)+ \frac{\partial f}{\partial y}(e^s sin(t)\right)[/tex]
[tex]= \frac{\partial}{\partial s}\left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\right)(e^s cos(t))+[/tex][tex]\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\left(\frac{\partial}{\partial s}\right)\left(\frac{\partial}{\partial s}\right)\left(e^s cos(t)\right)+[/tex][tex]\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}(e^s sin(t))+ \frac{\partial}{\partial s}\left(e^s sin(t)\right)[/tex]
[tex]= \frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial x^2}(e^s cos(t))^2+\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}(e^s cos(t)) \frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial x^2}(e^s sin(t))^2+ \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}(e^s sin(t))[/tex]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
in the last line... should there be a + in the middle there?
 
Last edited:
assuming there is meant to be a plus in there... and continuing on...

that last line simplifies to:

= d2f/dx2(e2scos2t+e2ssin2t) + df/dx(escost+essint)

= d2f/dx2[e2s(cos2t+sin2t)] + df/dx(escost+essint)

now i can see that cos2t+sin2t = 1 so first term becomes d2f/dx2[e2s]

then when you did it with d2f/dy2 you would get d2f/dy2[e2s] for the first term then a similar second second, then i can see how the proof would work out


but i can't get rid of the second terms df/dx(escost+essint) and the df/dy one ?
 
hold up...

f in terms of x and y would just be f=x+y right? without making the substitutions for the equations of x and y... therefore df/dx would be zero? then it all works out!