Website title: Partial Differentiation for f(x,y)=(3x^2+y^2+2xy)^1/2

wezzo62
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Find ∂fxand ∂fy for: f(x,y)=(3x2+y2+2xy)1/2

i tried using the chain rule and said f(x,y) = u1/2 then
∂fu = 1/2u-1/2, ∂ux = 6x + 2 and ∂uy=2y+2

∂fx = 1/2(3x2 + y2 + 2xy)-1/2(6x + 2)

∂fy = 1/2(3x2 + y2 + 2xy)-1/2(2y + 2)

im not sure if this is correct as i don't know if I am doing the ∂ux and ∂uy part right?

I also have a similar problem with f(x,y)=(x+y)3:
∂fu=3u2, ∂ux and ∂uy=1
in which case both ∂fx and ∂fy=3(x+y)2. . . .
im not sure if ∂ux should be 1+y, ∂uy = x+1 therefore
∂fx=3(x+y)2(1+y) and ∂fy=3(x+y)2(x+1)

any help much appreciated, thanks
 
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Your first one is almost correct, and your second has the same error. Remember that the derivative of 2xy with respect to y is 2x, not 2. And similarly with the derivative with respect to x: it's 2y, not 2.
 
I figured it was something like that. so for the first one ∂ux=6x+y2+2y and ∂uy=3x2+2y+2x? which would make ∂fx=1/2(3x2+y2+2xy)-1/2(6x+y2+2y) and ∂fy=1/2(3x2+y2+2xy)-1/2(3x2+2y+2x) . . . . ?

also for the second one I've now got ∂fx=3(x+y)2y and ∂fy=3(x+y)2x
 
You've almost got it, but now you're including too many terms. What's the derivative of y^2 with respect to x?
 
2y dy/dx?
 
That would be correct if y depended on x, but here y and x are independent. So y^2 is a constant with respect to x, and you know the derivative of a constant, yeah?
 
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