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multivariable question

Subject: multivariable question
From: "G Patel"
Date: 31 Oct 2006 08:51:54 -0800
Newsgroups: sci.math
Say we have function f(x,y) that has partial derivatives at (a,b).

Then in general, is the following true  (say, for f_x(a,b) ):

1)  f_x(a,b)  =  d/dx [ f(x, b) ]  @x=a

2)  first sub y = b into function f_x(x,y) ,
then sub  x=a into f_x(x, b) , does the result always equal f_x(a,b)?


[assuming f_x(x,b) is a finite defined value @x=a]


Example of where I might use this:


f(x,y) = e^(x^3 + y^3)^(1/3)    *defined at (0,0)

f_x(x,y) =      x^2 * e^(x^3 + y^3)^(1/3)
             ==========================    *not defined at (0,0)
                    (x^3 + y^3)^(2/3)


this function gives 0/0 when attempting to find value at (0,0), but
using both methods we get correct result:

1)  f_x(0,0) = d/dx [ f(x,0) ] @x=0
                 = d/dx [e^(x^3)^(1/3)] @x=0
                 = d/dx [e^x] @x=0
                 = e^x @x=0
                 = 1

2) plug y=0 into f_x(x,y)

   f(x,0) =      x^2 * e^(x^3)^(1/3)
             ==================
                 (x^3)^(2/3)

                   x^2 * e^x
           =  ================
                    x^2

           = e^x  = f(x,0)

therefore f(0,0) = f(x=0, 0) = e^0 = 1



Do both these methods work in general (if the partials do exist by
limit def. and result of methods mentioned are finite defined values) ?


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