Taylor Expansion to Understanding the Chain Rule

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of the chain rule in the context of Taylor expansions and derivatives of multivariable functions. Participants explore the relationship between variables in a function and how to properly apply differentiation techniques, particularly in cases where variables are not explicitly defined as functions of time.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that while ##F(t) = f(x(t),y(t))## is written as a function of ##t##, it is not explicitly defined as such, which complicates the application of the chain rule.
  • One participant provides an example to illustrate that when calculating ##dF/dt##, one can either express the variables in terms of ##t## or apply the chain rule directly using partial derivatives.
  • Another participant expresses confusion about why ##F(t)## is not considered an explicit function of ##t## and requests further reading on the topic.
  • Some participants disagree with the formula presented in the original post, arguing that it misrepresents the relationship between distance and time in the context of derivatives, specifically criticizing the assertion that ##\frac{d}{dt}x(t) = \Delta x##.
  • One participant agrees with part of the original formula but labels another part as "pure nonsense," indicating a lack of consensus on the correctness of the presented equations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the formula presented in the original post, with some supporting parts of it while others challenge its validity. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the correctness of the claims made about the chain rule and the dimensional analysis involved.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about the variables and their relationships, particularly in the context of dimensional analysis and the definitions of the derivatives involved.

TimeRip496
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upload_2015-12-20_16-36-58.png
I don't understand this as isn't according to chain rule,
upload_2015-12-20_16-38-25.png
.
So where is the
upload_2015-12-20_16-38-56.png
in the above derivative of F(t)?
Source: http://www.math.ubc.ca/~feldman/m226/taylor2d.pdf
 
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##F(t) = f(x(t),y(t))##, so despite written to be a function of ##t##, the functional form of ##F(t)## is not written explicitly as a function of ##t##.
 
blue_leaf77 said:
##F(t) = f(x(t),y(t))##, so despite written to be a function of ##t##, the functional form of ##F(t)## is not written explicitly as a function of ##t##.
Why is it not a function of t? I am still new to this so do you have something i can read on about this?
Besides thanks for your response!
 
TimeRip496 said:
Why is it not a function of t?
It's not an explicit function of ##t##. When you want to do chain rule, you have to pay attention on which variables are written explicitly, despite whether or not these variables are functions of yet another variable. For example take ##F(t) = xy^2## where ##x = \sqrt{t}## and ##y=t-2##. If you want to calculate ##dF/dt##, you can either first express ##x## and ##y## in terms of ##t## and then differentiate w.r.t. ##t## or let ##F## be expressed in ##x## and ##y## then use the chain rule
$$
\frac{dF}{dt} = \frac{\partial F}{\partial x} \frac{dx}{dt} + \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} \frac{dy}{dt} .
$$
Both answers should be identical.
TimeRip496 said:
do you have something i can read on about this?
I guess this problem should belong to multivariate calculus.
 
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blue_leaf77 said:
It's not an explicit function of ##t##. When you want to do chain rule, you have to pay attention on which variables are written explicitly, despite whether or not these variables are functions of yet another variable. For example take ##F(t) = xy^2## where ##x = \sqrt{t}## and ##y=t-2##. If you want to calculate ##dF/dt##, you can either first express ##x## and ##y## in terms of ##t## and then differentiate w.r.t. ##t## or let ##F## be expressed in ##x## and ##y## then use the chain rule
$$
\frac{dF}{dt} = \frac{\partial F}{\partial x} \frac{dx}{dt} + \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} \frac{dy}{dt} .
$$
Both answers should be identical.

I guess this problem should belong to multivariate calculus.
Thanks a lot! I now understand.
 
I do not agree with the formula shown in the OP (dimensional analysis again). The picture states that [itex]\frac{d}{dt}x(t) = \Delta x[/itex] which is obviously wrong. If x is distance and t is time, it tries to assert that velocity equals a (short) distance. The correct statement is [itex]\frac{d}{dt}x(t) \cdot \Delta t= \Delta x[/itex].
I can agree with the second line, but the third line is pure nonsense.
 
Svein said:
I do not agree with the formula shown in the OP (dimensional analysis again). The picture states that [itex]\frac{d}{dt}x(t) = \Delta x[/itex] which is obviously wrong. If x is distance and t is time, it tries to assert that velocity equals a (short) distance. The correct statement is [itex]\frac{d}{dt}x(t) \cdot \Delta t= \Delta x[/itex].
I can agree with the second line, but the third line is pure nonsense.
In the linked pdf file, the author for some reason sets ##\Delta t = 1##.
 

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