Partial Derivative Calculator
Use the Partial Derivative Calculator below to solve your partial derivative related problems:
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What is a partial derivative?
How do you compute it? For what purposes is it used for?
If you’re looking for answers to questions like these, then you’ve come to the right page. We will discuss the above questions as well as the various areas where partial derivates are used.
What is a Partial Derivative?
The term contains two words: partial and derivative. The derivative of any algebraic expression is calculated with respect to a certain specified variable. This is done by differentiating the given function or expression with respect to the specified variable and it symbolizes the change in given function f(x) when the specified variable changes infinitesimally.
Also see our series on solving integral equations.
The derivative part is pretty clear when f(x) is composed of a single variable, but if it contains more than one variable then the inter-dependence of each variable also needs to be taken into account while calculating the derivative. And this is where the concept of “partial” derivative comes into play.
The partial derivative of a multi-variable expression with respect to a single variable is computed by differentiating the given function w.r.t. the desired variable whilst treating all other variables as constant, unlike the total differential where all variables can vary.
Partial derivatives symbolize instantaneous change in a given function relative to the infinitesimal change of variable under consideration. It is extensively used in differential geometry and vector calculus. Also, for optimization purposes, partial derivatives play a major role in every field and the total derivative can be computed step-by-step using partial derivatives.
Examples & Usage of Partial Derivatives
As stated above, partial derivative has its use in various sciences, a few of which are listed here:
Partial Derivatives in Optimization
Partial derivates are used for calculus-based optimization when there’s dependence on more than one variable.
Partial Derivatives in Geometry
To compute rate at which a certain geometric quantity, volume, surface area, etc., varies when a basic measurement (radius, height, length, etc) is varied.
Partial Derivatives in Mathematical Physics
Partial derivatives (rather partial differential equations) have extensive use in mathematical physics (and variational calculus, Fourier analysis, potential theory, vector analysis, etc).
Partial Derivatives in Thermodynamics
Partial derivatives in this case can be thermal variables or ratios of some variables like mole fractions in the Gibbs energy equation.
Partial Derivatives in Quantum Mechanics
Schrodinger wave equations and several other equations from quantum mechanics inherently use partial derivatives.
Partial Derivatives in Economics
Most functions explaining economic behavior statements like the behaviors depending on so and so variables in a particular manner, are obtained using the concept of partial derivates where independent variation in the behavior is observed by varying the fundamental variables one by one.
In addition to these partial derivatives are used in many other areas of education to calculate the differentiation of a function partially with respect to a variable.
Also see: Derivative of x squared is 2x, but can that be only x?
Notations used in Partial Derivative Calculator
Let f be a function in x,y and z.
First order partial derivatives are represented by
$ \dfrac{\partial f}{\partial x} = f_x$
Second order partial derivatives given by
$ \dfrac{\partial^2 f}{\partial x^2} = f_{xx}$
The mix derivative is shown by
$ \dfrac{\partial^2 f}{\partial x^2} = f_{xx}$
Summarizing
As much use, partial derivatives have, they are equally difficult to compute at higher levels and hence online partial derivative calculators are designed to help the users simplify their computations. Above I have showcased a partial derivative calculator that solves partial derivative problems step by step, equipped with the functions of computing partial derivatives to cater to all your computational needs.
