Q.If V(x,y)=ex(xcosy−ysiny), then prove that ∂x2∂2V+∂y2∂2V=0.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Partial Derivatives
For a function of one variable, the derivative measures the rate of change of f with respect to x. For F(x,y), it is meaningful to ask for the rate of change with respect to x alone, holding y fixed — this is a partial derivative.
Definition. Let A={(x,y)∣a<x<b,c<y<d}⊂R2, F:A→R, (x0,y0)∈A.
- F has a partial derivative w.r.t. x at (x0,y0) if h→0limhF(x0+h,y0)−F(x0,y0) exists; the limit value is ∂x∂F(x0,y0), also written Fx(x0,y0).
- F has a partial derivative w.r.t. y at (x0,y0) if k→0limkF(x0,y0+k)−F(x0,y0) exists; the limit value is ∂y∂F(x0,y0), also written Fy(x0,y0).
Read ∂F/∂x as "partial F by partial x" (or "dho F by dho x"). Geometrically, F(x,y0) is the curve obtained by slicing the surface z=F(x,y) with the plane y=y0, and ∂x∂F(x0,y0) is the slope of the tangent to that curve at x=x0; symmetrically for ∂y∂F.
Tip
Mechanically, computing ∂x∂F just means differentiating F with respect to x by the ordinary rules, treating every OTHER variable as though it were a constant. All the familiar rules — sum, product, quotient, chain rule — carry over unchanged; only the "which letters are constants" bookkeeping is new. Partial derivatives extend to three or more variables the same way, holding all other variables fixed in turn.
Higher-order and mixed partial derivatives. Since Fx is again a function of (x,y), it can itself be partially differentiated: …Watch outExistence of Fx and Fy at a point does not imply F is continuous there (unlike the one-variable case, where differentiability always implies continuity). The classic example: f(x,y)=0 if xy=0 and f(x,y)=1 if xy=0. Both fx(0,0) and fy(0,0) exist and equal 0 (moving along either axis keeps f≡1), yet f is not even continuous at (0,0) (along y=x,x=0, f→0=f(0,0)=1).
V=ex(xcosy−ysiny). Product rule twice for Vxx, and twice for Vyy; the two sums cancel. …
Differentiate V twice with respect to x (holding y fixed, product rule on ex⋅(⋅) each time) and twice with respect to y (chain/product rule), then add.
Step 1. First partial w.r.t. x. Vx=ex(xcosy−ysiny)+ex(cosy)=ex[(xcosy−ysiny)+cosy]=ex[(x+1)cosy−ysiny].
Step 2. Second partial w.r.t. x. Differentiate Vx again the same way: Vxx=ex[(x+1)cosy−ysiny]+ex[cosy]=ex[(x+2)cosy−ysiny].
Step 3. First partial w.r.t. y. Vy=ex[−xsiny−siny−ycosy]=ex[−(x+1)siny−ycosy] (differentiating xcosy−ysiny w.r.t. y: −xsiny−(siny+ycosy) by the product rule on ysiny). …
Two rounds of product-rule differentiation in x and in y separately …
- Missing the product rule on ysiny when differentiating w.r.t. y (treating it as if only siny depended on y) …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Let A={(x,y)∣a<x<b, c<y<d}⊂R2. If the function u:A→R2 is harmonic in A, then :(a) ∂x2∂2u+∂y2∂2u=0 ∀(x,y)∈A(b) ∂x2∂2u+∂y2∂2u=1 ∀(x,y)∈A(c) ∂x2∂2u−∂y2∂2u=0 ∀(x,y)∈A(d) ∂x2∂2u−∂y2∂2u=1 ∀(x,y)∈A
›Reveal solutionSolution
Harmonic is, by definition, the property of satisfying Laplace's equation at every point of the domain.
- A twice continuously differentiable function u:A→R is called harmonic on the open set A if it satisfies Laplace's partial differential equation ∂x2∂2u+∂y2∂2u=0 at every point of A.
- This is the standard definition used throughout the theory of harmonic functions in two variables — no alternative (nonzero, subtraction-based) form defines harmonicity. …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If u(x,y)=ex2+y2, then ∂x∂u is equal to :(a) x2u(b) ex2+y2(c) y2u(d) 2xu
›Reveal solutionSolution
Applying the chain rule to the exponential with y held fixed brings down a factor of 2x, reproducing u itself.
- u(x,y)=ex2+y2. Differentiate partially with respect to x, treating y as constant.
- By the chain rule: ∂x∂u=ex2+y2⋅∂x∂(x2+y2). …
- CBSE 2025Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.If u=ex2, then ∂x∂u is equal to :(a) 2ex2(b) 2xex2(c) 0(d) ex2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the chain rule to u=ex2: ∂x∂u=2xex2.
Here u=ex2 is a function of x (treated as a function of x for the partial derivative). Using the chain rule, dxdef(x)=ef(x)⋅f′(x) with f(x)=x2:
∂x∂u=ex2⋅dxd(x2)=ex2⋅2x=2xex2.
…
- CBSE 2024Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.If q=1000+8p1−p2, then ∂p1∂q is :(a) 1000(b) −1(c) 1000−P2(d) 8
›Reveal solutionSolution
∂p1∂q=8.
To find the partial derivative with respect to p1, treat p2 (and any constant) as fixed and differentiate term by term:
q=1000+8p1−p2.
- ∂p1∂(1000)=0 (constant),
- ∂p1∂(8p1)=8, …
- CBSE 2023Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.If u=ex2, then ∂x∂u = ______ .(a) 2ex2(b) 2xex2(c) 0(d) ex2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Applying the chain rule to u=ex2 gives ∂x∂u=2xex2, so the answer is option (b).
Here u=ex2. Differentiate partially with respect to x using the chain rule dxdeg(x)=eg(x)g′(x) with g(x)=x2:
…
- CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If u(x,y)=ex2+y2, then ∂x∂u is equal to :(a) y2u(b) ex2+y2(c) 2xu(d) x2u
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating u=ex2+y2 partially with respect to x using the chain rule gives ∂x∂u=2xu.
- We are given u(x,y)=ex2+y2.
- To find ∂x∂u, differentiate with respect to x while treating y as a constant.
- Let w=x2+y2, so u=ew. By the chain rule, ∂x∂u=ew⋅∂x∂w.
- Since y is held constant, ∂x∂w=2x. …
- CBSE 2020Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.If u=ex2 then ∂x∂u is equal to :(a) 0(b) 2xex2(c) ex2(d) 2ex2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The partial derivative of u=ex2 with respect to x is 2xex2.
Given u=ex2. Differentiate partially with respect to x (chain rule: derivative of ef is ef⋅f′): …
- CBSE 2020Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.If u(x,y) is a continuous function of x and y, then ∂y∂x∂2u is equal to :(a) ∂x∂y∂2u(b) ∂x2∂2u(c) ∂y2∂2u(d) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
When u(x,y) is continuous (with continuous partials), the mixed second-order partial derivatives are equal, so ∂y∂x∂2u=∂x∂y∂2u.
The symbol ∂y∂x∂2u means: first differentiate u partially with respect to x, then with respect to y. The symbol ∂x∂y∂2u reverses the order.
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