MHB Understanding the Chain Rule and Product Rule in Multivariable Calculus

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The discussion revolves around a multivariable calculus problem involving the chain rule and product rule to find the second derivative of a function z with respect to r. The original poster expresses confusion over discrepancies between their calculations and the book's solution, particularly regarding an extra term and the notation used. Participants clarify that the function z depends on r through x and y, which are expressed in terms of r and s. They emphasize the importance of understanding the notation and concepts behind derivatives rather than just the calculations. The conversation highlights the complexity of applying the chain rule in multivariable contexts and the need for clear notation.
Petrus
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Hello MHB,
I got one exempel that I don't get same result as my book.
Exempel: If $$z=f(x,y)$$ has continuos second-order partial derivates and $$x=r^2+s^2$$ and $$y=2rs$$ find $$\frac{d^2z}{dr^2}$$
So what I did before checking soulotion:
$$\frac{d^2z}{dr^2}=\frac{dz}{dr} \frac{d}{dr}$$
So I start with solving $$\frac{dz}{dr}=\frac{dz}{dx}\frac{dx}{dr}+\frac{dz}{dy}\frac{dy}{dr} = \frac{dz}{dx}(2r)+\frac{dz}{dy}(2s)$$
so now we got $$\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dx}(2r)+\frac{dz}{dy}(2s))$$ and that is equal to $$2r\frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dx}+2s\frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dy}$$
my book soloution:
$$\frac{d^2z}{dr^2}= \frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dx}(2r)+\frac{dz}{dy}(2s))$$ and they equal that to $$2\frac{dz}{dx}+2r\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dx})+2s \frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dy})$$
my question is where do they get that extra $$2\frac{dz}{dx}$$ (I suspect it was a accident) and my last question why do they got parantes on $$(\frac{dz}{dx})$$ and $$(\frac{dz}{dy})$$
then they solve $$\frac{d}{dr} (\frac{dz}{dx})$$ and $$\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dx})$$
why do they do that and how do they do it? unfortently I have to run so I can't post fully soloution, will post it later.

Regards,
 
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Re: chain rule and product rule

Petrus said:
so now we got $$\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dx}(2r)+\frac{dz}{dy}(2s))$$ and that is equal to $$2r\frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dx}+2s\frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dy}$$

here you have a mistake $$2r $$ can't be taken out , it is not constant .

use product rule
 
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Re: chain rule and product rule

ZaidAlyafey said:
here you have a mistake $$2r $$ can't be taken out , it is not constant .
ignore thanks zaid
 
Re: chain rule and product rule

ZaidAlyafey said:
here you have a mistake $$2r $$ can't be taken out , it is not constant .

use product rule
I got one question. How do we know for sure that our function z got variable r in it? May sound stupid but I would like to know? Is it because we can rewrite x and y?
 
Re: chain rule and product rule

Petrus said:
I got one question. How do we know for sure that our function z got variable r in it? May sound stupid but I would like to know? Is it because we can rewrite x and y?

We can't make sure , but it depends on r because both x and y depends on the value of r and s.
 
I don't understand this part
$$\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dx})=\frac{d}{dx}(\frac{dz}{dx})\frac{dx}{dr}+(\frac{d}{dy}(\frac{dz}{dx}) \frac{dy}{dr}=\frac{d^z}{dz^2}(2r)+\frac{d^2z}{dydx}(2s)$$
they do same with $$\frac{d}{dr}( \frac{dz}{dy})$$ and I don't understand it, what does it means to take $$\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{dz}{dx})$$

Regards,
 
We know that :

$$\frac{d}{dr}(z) = \frac{dz}{dx}\cdot \frac{dx}{dr}+\frac{dz}{dy}\cdot \frac{dy}{dr}$$

but we want to find here $$\frac{d}{dr} \left( \frac{dz}{dx}\right)$$

so what do we do using the chain rule ?
 
Here is a hint

substitute $$\frac{dz}{dx}$$ instead of each $$z$$
 
ZaidAlyafey said:
Here is a hint

substitute $$\frac{dz}{dx}$$ instead of each $$z$$
that made it more clear, I was like thinking and thinking and then when I read your hint it made clear! I was never thinking about that!
$$\frac{d}{dr}(z) = \frac{dz}{dx}\cdot \frac{dx}{dr}+\frac{dz}{dy}\cdot \frac{dy}{dr} <=> \frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dx}=\frac{d(\frac{dz}{dx})}{dx}\frac{dx}{dr}+ \frac{d( \frac{dz}{dx})}{dy}\frac{dy}{dr} <=> \frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dx}=\frac{\frac{d^2z}{dx}}{dx}\frac{dx}{dr}+ \frac{ \frac{d^2z}{dx}}{dy}\frac{dy}{dr} $$ and now we can use the rule $$\frac{ \frac{a}{b}}{\frac{c}{d}} = \frac{ad}{bc}$$ to make it easy to see I always add an /1 in evry term in bottom exempel $$dx= \frac{dx}{1}$$(I somehow screw it when I try it with latex :S) so we got $$\frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dx}=\frac{d^2z}{(dx)^2}\frac{dx}{dr}+ \frac{d^2z}{dxdy}\frac{dy}{dr} <=>\frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dx}= \frac{d}{dx}\frac{dz}{dx}\frac{dx}{dr}+\frac{d}{dx}\frac{dz}{dy}\frac{dy}{dr}$$

(Huh was a challange to do this on $$\LaTeX$$ but worked well:D)
 
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  • #10
Petrus said:
$$\frac{d}{dr}(z) = \frac{dz}{dx}\cdot \frac{dx}{dr}+\frac{dz}{dy}\cdot \frac{dy}{dr} <=> \frac{d}{dr}\frac{dz}{dx}=\frac{d(\frac{dz}{dz})}{dx}\frac{dx}{dr}+ \frac{d( \frac{dz}{dx})}{dy}\frac{dy}{dr} $$

You have some mistakes , how did you get $$\frac{dz}{dz}$$?
 
  • #11
ZaidAlyafey said:
You have some mistakes , how did you get $$\frac{dz}{dz}$$?
Typo... I am working with edit it... got confused:S
 
  • #12
Thanks Zaid:) I finish edit it and now I understand what my book did :) Unfortently I could not figoure it out by myself but now I learned it! Thanks for taking your time(Smile)(Yes)
 
  • #13
You have some wrong notations

$$\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{dz}{dx}\right)$$

what is that equal to ?
 
  • #14
ZaidAlyafey said:
You have some wrong notations

$$\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{dz}{dx}\right)$$

what is that equal to ?
$$\frac{d^2z}{(dx)^2}$$
 
  • #15
Petrus said:
$$\frac{d^2z}{(dx)^2}$$

This is the second derivative of z with respect to x , it isn't usual multiplication !
 
  • #16
ZaidAlyafey said:
This is the second derivative of z with respect to x , it isn't usual multiplication !
I always have write it as that :s but I think in my brain that it means second derivate but that is obvious wrong... $$\frac{d^2z}{dx^2}$$
 
  • #17
Petrus said:
I always have write it as that :s but I think in my brain that it means second derivate but that is obvious wrong... $$\frac{d^2z}{dx^2}$$

The most important thing that you understand , it is not a matter of notations it is a matter of comprehending the concept behind , best luck .
 

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