Calculus 3 : Applications of Partial Derivatives

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 3

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find  of the function:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The gradient of a function is given by

To find the given partial derivative of the function, we must treat the other variable(s) as constants. 

The partial derivatives are

The derivatives were found using the following rules:

Example Question #21 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find  of the function 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The formula for the gradient of F is 

.

Using the rules for partial differentiation, we get

.

Putting into vector notation, we get 

Example Question #22 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find the equation of the plane tangent to the point  if the gradient vector .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By definition,  is the vector that orthogonal to the plane at the point we were given.

We then use the formula for a plane given a point  and normal vector .

We get 

.

Through algebraic manipulation, we get 

.

Example Question #1581 : Calculus 3

Find the gradient, , of the function .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The gradient of a function  is as follows:

.

We compute the derivative of the function with respect to each of the variables and treat the others like constants.

Using the rule 

,

we obtain 

,

and 

.

Putting these expressions into the vector completes the problem, and you obtain 

.

Example Question #25 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find the gradient, , of the function .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The gradient of a function  is as follows: 

.

We compute the derivative of the function with respect to each of the variables and treat the others like constants.

Using the rule 

,

we obtain 

,

and .

Putting these expressions into the vector completes the problem, and you obtain 

.

Example Question #31 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find the gradient, , of the function .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The gradient of a function  is as follows: 

.

We compute the derivative of the function with respect to each of the variables and treat the others like constants.

Using the rule 

,

we obtain 

,

and 

.

Putting these expressions into the vector completes the problem, and you obtain 

Example Question #32 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find  of the function .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The gradient of a function  is as follows: 

.

We compute the derivative of the function with respect to each of the variables and treat the others like constants.

Using the rule , we obtain 

,

and 

.

Putting these expressions into the vector completes the problem, and you obtain 

.

Example Question #33 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find the tangent plane to the surface given by

at the point 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the tangent plane is given by

So, we must find the partial derivatives for the function evaluated at the point given. To find the given partial derivative of the function, we must treat the other variable(s) as constants.

The partial derivatives are

The derivatives were found using the following rules:

Now, we evaluate them at the given point:

Finally, plug in all of our information into the formula and simplify:

 

Example Question #31 : Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes, And Normal Lines

Find the tangent plane to the surface given by

at the point 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the tangent plane is given by

So, we must find the partial derivatives for the function evaluated at the point given. To find the given partial derivative of the function, we must treat the other variable(s) as constants.

The partial derivatives are

The rules used to find the derivatives are

Evaluated at the given point, the partial derivatives are

Plugging all of this into the above formula, and simplifying, we get

 

Example Question #51 : Applications Of Partial Derivatives

Find the tangent plane to the surface given by

at the point 

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation of the tangent plane is given by

So, we must find the partial derivatives for the function evaluated at the point given. To find the given partial derivative of the function, we must treat the other variable(s) as constants.

The partial derivatives are

The derivatives were found using the following rules:

Next, we evaluate the partial derivatives at the given point:

Plugging in all our information into the formula above, we get

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