Calculus (3rd Edition)

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1464125260
ISBN 13: 978-1-46412-526-3

Chapter 15 - Differentiation in Several Variables - 15.3 Partial Derivatives - Exercises - Page 782: 74

Answer

We show that $f$ cannot satisfy Clairaut's Theorem, therefore there does not exist any function $f\left( {x,y} \right)$ such that $\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial x}} = xy$ and $\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial y}} = {x^2}$.

Work Step by Step

Assume $\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial x}} = xy$ and $\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial y}} = {x^2}$. We take the mixed derivatives and obtain: $\frac{{{\partial ^2}f}}{{\partial y\partial x}} = x$ ${\ \ \ }$ and ${\ \ \ }$ $\frac{{{\partial ^2}f}}{{\partial x\partial y}} = 2x$ Since $\frac{{{\partial ^2}f}}{{\partial y\partial x}} \ne \frac{{{\partial ^2}f}}{{\partial x\partial y}}$ for $x \ne 0$, $f$ does not satisfy the Clairaut's Theorem. However, $\frac{{{\partial ^2}f}}{{\partial y\partial x}}$ and $\frac{{{\partial ^2}f}}{{\partial x\partial y}}$ are continuous functions. Thus, a contradiction. Therefore, we conclude that there does not exist any function $f\left( {x,y} \right)$ such that $\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial x}} = xy$ and $\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial y}} = {x^2}$.
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