Total differentials and the chain rule MIT 18.02SC Multivariable Calculus, Fall 2010
DAVID JORDAN: Hello, and welcome back to recitation. Today the problem I'd like to work with you is about computing partial derivatives and the total differential. So we have a function z which is x squared plus y squared. So it depends on the two variables x and y. Now the variables x and y themselves depend on two auxiliary variables, u and v. So that's the setup that we have. So in part a, we just want to compute the total differential dz in terms of dx and dy. So u and v aren't going to enter into the picture. And then in part b, we're going to compute the partial derivative partial z partial u in two different ways. First, we're going to compute it using the chain rule. And then we're going to compute it using total differentials. And so we'll substitute in some of the work that we had in a to solve that part. So why don't you pause the video now and work on the problem. We'll check back and we'll do it together. Hi, and welcom...