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How can I calculate the first partial derivative $P_{x_i}$ and the second partial derivative $P_{x_i x_i}$ of function: $$ P(x,y):=\frac{1-\Vert x\rVert^2}{\Vert x-y\rVert^n}, x\in B_1(0)\subset\mathbb{R}^n,y\in S_1(0)? $$

I ask this with regard to Show that the Poisson kernel is harmonic as a function in x over $B_1(0)\setminus\left\{0\right\}$.

I think it makes sense to ask this in a separate question in order to give details to my calculations.

First partial derivative:

I use the quotient rule. To do so I set $$ f(x,y):=1-\lVert x\rVert^2,~~~~~g(x,y)=\Vert x-y\rVert^n. $$ Then I have to calculate $$ \frac{f_{x_i}g-fg_{x_i}}{g^2}. $$ Ok, I start with $$ f_{x_i}=(1-\lVert x\rVert^2)_{x_i}=(1)_{x_i}-(\sum_{i=1}^n x_i^2)_{x_i}=-2x_i. $$ Next is to use the chain rule: $$ g_{x_i}=((\sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-y_i)^2)^{\frac{n}{2}})_{x_i}=\frac{n}{2}\lVert x-y\rVert^{n-2}(2x_i-2y_i) $$

So all in all I get $$ P_{x_i}=\frac{-2x_i\cdot\Vert x-y\rVert^n-(1-\lVert x\rVert^2)\cdot\frac{n}{2}\lVert x-y\rVert^{n-2}(2x_i-2y_i)}{\Vert x-y\rVert^{2n}} $$

Is that correct? Can one simplify that?

I stop here. If you say it is correct I continue with calculatin $P_{x_i x_i}$.

Community
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  • Ok, but I remebered that. Where is the mistake? Where did I treat y as not constant? –  Nov 16 '13 at 11:32
  • Is the mistake at my calculation of $g_{x_i}$? I do not see where. –  Nov 16 '13 at 12:02
  • @math12 The inner derivative of $g_{x_i}$ is $2x_i$ and not $2x_i - 2y_i$ – AlexR Nov 16 '13 at 12:14
  • But why? The inner function is $\Vert x-y\rVert^2$, right? And if I write this as $\sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-y_i)^2$ then to my opinion the derivative is $2x_i-2y_i$? –  Nov 16 '13 at 12:16
  • In the second summand in the numerator of the last expression it must be $;||x-y||^{n-1};$ , I think. – DonAntonio Nov 16 '13 at 12:42
  • No, I think not. Because you have $(\sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-y_i)^2)^{n/2-1}$ and this is the same as $\lVert x-y\rVert^{n-2}$, isn' it? –  Nov 16 '13 at 12:49
  • Right on! I missed that one...good! – DonAntonio Nov 16 '13 at 13:11

2 Answers2

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If $\;x=(x_1,...,x_n)\;,\;\;y=(y_1,...,y_n)\;$ , then

$$P(x,y):=\frac{1-\sum_{k=1}^nx_i^2}{\left(\sum_{i=1}^n(x_i-y_i)^2\right)^{n/2}}$$

so for example

$$P_{x_i}'=\frac{-2{x_i}\left(\sum_{i=1}^n(x_i-y_i)^2\right)^{n/2}-n(x_i-y_i)\left(\sum_{i=1}^n(x_i-y_i)^2\right)^{n/2-1}\left(1-\sum_{k=1}^nx_i^2\right)}{\left(\sum_{i=1}^n(x_i-y_i)^2\right)^n}$$

DonAntonio
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  • Could you please show me how you got the second summand in the numerator? The first is the same that I have but the second: I do not see how you get that. –  Nov 16 '13 at 12:44
  • Chain rule: the inner derivative$;=2(x_i-y_i);$ multiplied by the exterior one$;=\frac n2(\sum....)^{n/2 - 1};$ ... – DonAntonio Nov 16 '13 at 12:45
  • So your result is exactly the same as my result. Great! –  Nov 16 '13 at 12:53
  • Now I have to calculate the derivative of this MONSTER. OMG –  Nov 16 '13 at 12:58
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    Yes, we have the same...and now you have to derivate that horror....good luck! – DonAntonio Nov 16 '13 at 13:12
  • As the derivative of the numerator I got $-2\lVert x-y\rVert^n-n\lVert x-y\rVert^{n-2}(1-\lVert x\rVert^2)-n(x_i-y_i)(\frac{n}{2}-1)\lVert x-y\rVert^{n-4}(1-\lVert x\rVert^2)$. –  Nov 16 '13 at 13:33
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As the second derivative I get $$ P_{x_i x_i}=-2\lVert x-\xi\rVert^{-n}+4x_in\lVert x-\xi\rVert^{-n-2}(x_i-\xi_i)-n\lVert x-\xi\rVert^{-n-2}(1-\lVert x\rVert^2)-n(x_i-\xi_i)^2(-n-2)\lVert x-\xi\rVert^{-n-4}(1-\lVert x\rVert^2) $$

My question is if then

$$ \Delta P=\sum_{i=1}^{n}P_{x_i x_i}=0? $$