Simple Partial Derivatives Question

[apw235]

Homework Statement

Wheat production in a given year, W, depends on the average temperature T and the annual rainfall R. Scientists estimate that the average temperature is rising at a rate of 0.15 degrees celsius per year and rainfall is decreasing at a rate of 0.1 cm per year. The also estimate that, at current production levels, ∂W/∂T = -2 and ∂W/∂R = 8.

a) what is the significance of the signs of the partials?
b) estimate the current rate of change of wheat production dW/dt.

The Attempt at a Solution

So the function is W(T,R). taking the partial with respect to temperature and getting a negative value means that as the temperature is rising, Wheat production is decreasing, and the positive value for rainfall decreasing means that wheat production is rising as rainfall decreases? this doesn't make sense to me, why would the wheat production increase as rainfall decreased...am i thinking about it wrong?

i'm not sure what they want us to do for part b though.., haven't tried that part yet.

thanks

 

[Dick]

Chain rule for partial derivatives. dW/dt=(dW/dR)*(dR/dt)+(dW/dT)*(dT/dt). Look it up. You'll need to substitute partial symbols for some of those d's.

 

[apw235]

i know the chain rule but do i use .15 as dT/dt and .1 as dR/dt? then it becomes extremely trivial, i thought it would be more involved...oh well

 

[Dick]

It's not.