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Question:

Suppose $w=F(x,y,t), \ y=g(x,t), \ x=h(t)$. Find $dw/dt$ in terms of partial derivatives of $F,g$, and the derivative of $h$.

So I know that I need to use chain rule. But $w$ is a function of $x,y,t$ and when I do partial derivatives, wouldn't there be $dw/dt$ on both sides of equation?

Dmoreno
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Henry Ma
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1 Answers1

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Take into account that, if you write $w$ as $w = F\left(h(t), g(h(t),t), t\right) = F(A_1,A_2,A_3)$, then:

$$ \frac{\partial w}{\partial t} = \frac{\partial w}{\partial A_1} \frac{\partial A_1}{\partial t} + \frac{\partial w}{\partial A_2} \frac{\partial A_2}{\partial t} + \frac{\partial w}{\partial A_3} \frac{\partial A_3}{\partial t}$$

Note now that:

\begin{align} \partial_t A_1 & = h'(t), \\ \partial_t A_2 & = \partial_t g(h(t),t) = \frac{\partial g}{\partial h} \frac{\partial h}{\partial t} + \frac{\partial g}{\partial t} \frac{\partial t}{\partial t} , \\ \partial_t A_3 & = 1 . \\ \end{align}

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

Dmoreno
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    Thanks for the reply! I am just thinking, on both sides there are the partial derivatives of w on t, as A3=t, and it would be offset. – Henry Ma Sep 26 '14 at 02:04