What is meant by $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-1$ ? How to interpret it?

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Let $F(x,y,z)=0$. So $x,y,z$ are defined implicitly in function of the other variable, i.e. $x=x(y,z)$, $y=y(x,z)$ and $z=z(x,y)$. Now $$dx=fracpartial xpartial ydy+fracpartial xpartial zdz=fracpartial xpartial yleft(fracpartial ypartial xdx+fracpartial ypartial zdzright)+fracpartial xpartial zdz$$
and thus $$left(fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x-1right)dx+left(fracpartial xpartial z+fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zright)dz=0.$$
Since $dx$ and $dy$ are linearly independent, we finally get



beginalign*
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x&=1 tag1\
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z&=-fracpartial xpartial ztag2
endalign*



Equation $(1)$ is natural, but equation $(2)$ should be $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z=fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial ypartial y=fracpartial xpartial z,$ no ? So what's the matter here ? I know it's correct, but what does it mean exactly such a contradiction ? Because at the end I get
$$fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-1$$
instead of $1$ (what should be expected). What is the mystery behind ? :)







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  • 6




    Remember, $fracpartial xpartial y$ is not a fraction! There are some instances where it conveniently behaves like a fraction, but it is not a fraction and there are instances like this one where assuming it should have behaved like a fraction leads to contradictions.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 10 at 21:48










  • @JMoravitz: Could you tell a condition for that $fracpartial xpartial y$ behaves as a fraction ?
    – user380364
    Aug 11 at 9:04










  • Related: math.stackexchange.com/questions/942457/…
    – Hans Lundmark
    Aug 11 at 9:40














up vote
10
down vote

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Let $F(x,y,z)=0$. So $x,y,z$ are defined implicitly in function of the other variable, i.e. $x=x(y,z)$, $y=y(x,z)$ and $z=z(x,y)$. Now $$dx=fracpartial xpartial ydy+fracpartial xpartial zdz=fracpartial xpartial yleft(fracpartial ypartial xdx+fracpartial ypartial zdzright)+fracpartial xpartial zdz$$
and thus $$left(fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x-1right)dx+left(fracpartial xpartial z+fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zright)dz=0.$$
Since $dx$ and $dy$ are linearly independent, we finally get



beginalign*
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x&=1 tag1\
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z&=-fracpartial xpartial ztag2
endalign*



Equation $(1)$ is natural, but equation $(2)$ should be $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z=fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial ypartial y=fracpartial xpartial z,$ no ? So what's the matter here ? I know it's correct, but what does it mean exactly such a contradiction ? Because at the end I get
$$fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-1$$
instead of $1$ (what should be expected). What is the mystery behind ? :)







share|cite|improve this question


















  • 6




    Remember, $fracpartial xpartial y$ is not a fraction! There are some instances where it conveniently behaves like a fraction, but it is not a fraction and there are instances like this one where assuming it should have behaved like a fraction leads to contradictions.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 10 at 21:48










  • @JMoravitz: Could you tell a condition for that $fracpartial xpartial y$ behaves as a fraction ?
    – user380364
    Aug 11 at 9:04










  • Related: math.stackexchange.com/questions/942457/…
    – Hans Lundmark
    Aug 11 at 9:40












up vote
10
down vote

favorite
5









up vote
10
down vote

favorite
5






5





Let $F(x,y,z)=0$. So $x,y,z$ are defined implicitly in function of the other variable, i.e. $x=x(y,z)$, $y=y(x,z)$ and $z=z(x,y)$. Now $$dx=fracpartial xpartial ydy+fracpartial xpartial zdz=fracpartial xpartial yleft(fracpartial ypartial xdx+fracpartial ypartial zdzright)+fracpartial xpartial zdz$$
and thus $$left(fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x-1right)dx+left(fracpartial xpartial z+fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zright)dz=0.$$
Since $dx$ and $dy$ are linearly independent, we finally get



beginalign*
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x&=1 tag1\
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z&=-fracpartial xpartial ztag2
endalign*



Equation $(1)$ is natural, but equation $(2)$ should be $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z=fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial ypartial y=fracpartial xpartial z,$ no ? So what's the matter here ? I know it's correct, but what does it mean exactly such a contradiction ? Because at the end I get
$$fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-1$$
instead of $1$ (what should be expected). What is the mystery behind ? :)







share|cite|improve this question














Let $F(x,y,z)=0$. So $x,y,z$ are defined implicitly in function of the other variable, i.e. $x=x(y,z)$, $y=y(x,z)$ and $z=z(x,y)$. Now $$dx=fracpartial xpartial ydy+fracpartial xpartial zdz=fracpartial xpartial yleft(fracpartial ypartial xdx+fracpartial ypartial zdzright)+fracpartial xpartial zdz$$
and thus $$left(fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x-1right)dx+left(fracpartial xpartial z+fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zright)dz=0.$$
Since $dx$ and $dy$ are linearly independent, we finally get



beginalign*
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial x&=1 tag1\
fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z&=-fracpartial xpartial ztag2
endalign*



Equation $(1)$ is natural, but equation $(2)$ should be $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z=fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial ypartial y=fracpartial xpartial z,$ no ? So what's the matter here ? I know it's correct, but what does it mean exactly such a contradiction ? Because at the end I get
$$fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-fracpartial xpartial zfracpartial zpartial x=-1$$
instead of $1$ (what should be expected). What is the mystery behind ? :)









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edited Aug 10 at 22:06









Math Lover

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asked Aug 10 at 21:46









user380364

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  • 6




    Remember, $fracpartial xpartial y$ is not a fraction! There are some instances where it conveniently behaves like a fraction, but it is not a fraction and there are instances like this one where assuming it should have behaved like a fraction leads to contradictions.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 10 at 21:48










  • @JMoravitz: Could you tell a condition for that $fracpartial xpartial y$ behaves as a fraction ?
    – user380364
    Aug 11 at 9:04










  • Related: math.stackexchange.com/questions/942457/…
    – Hans Lundmark
    Aug 11 at 9:40












  • 6




    Remember, $fracpartial xpartial y$ is not a fraction! There are some instances where it conveniently behaves like a fraction, but it is not a fraction and there are instances like this one where assuming it should have behaved like a fraction leads to contradictions.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 10 at 21:48










  • @JMoravitz: Could you tell a condition for that $fracpartial xpartial y$ behaves as a fraction ?
    – user380364
    Aug 11 at 9:04










  • Related: math.stackexchange.com/questions/942457/…
    – Hans Lundmark
    Aug 11 at 9:40







6




6




Remember, $fracpartial xpartial y$ is not a fraction! There are some instances where it conveniently behaves like a fraction, but it is not a fraction and there are instances like this one where assuming it should have behaved like a fraction leads to contradictions.
– JMoravitz
Aug 10 at 21:48




Remember, $fracpartial xpartial y$ is not a fraction! There are some instances where it conveniently behaves like a fraction, but it is not a fraction and there are instances like this one where assuming it should have behaved like a fraction leads to contradictions.
– JMoravitz
Aug 10 at 21:48












@JMoravitz: Could you tell a condition for that $fracpartial xpartial y$ behaves as a fraction ?
– user380364
Aug 11 at 9:04




@JMoravitz: Could you tell a condition for that $fracpartial xpartial y$ behaves as a fraction ?
– user380364
Aug 11 at 9:04












Related: math.stackexchange.com/questions/942457/…
– Hans Lundmark
Aug 11 at 9:40




Related: math.stackexchange.com/questions/942457/…
– Hans Lundmark
Aug 11 at 9:40










2 Answers
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up vote
4
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Here is a more symmetric explanation of this computation that hopefully makes the result less surprising. Since $F$ is constant on our surface, we have $$0=dF=F_xdx+F_ydy+F_zdz.$$
Now, how does this relate to partial derivative like $fracpartial xpartial y$? That partial derivative is just the coefficient of $dy$ when we write $dx$ as a linear combination of $dy$ and $dz$. Solving the equation above, we have $$dx=-fracF_yF_xdy-fracF_zF_xdx.$$ So, $fracpartial xpartial y=-fracF_yF_x$. Intuitively, this makes sense: if $z$ is held constant and we vary $y$ in one direction, we need to vary $x$ in the direction that makes $F$ move in the opposite direction, to keep $F$ equal to $0$. So since $F_x$ and $F_y$ represent the directions that $F$ varies when we change $x$ and $y$, the minus sign comes from needing the changes in $F$ from $x$ and $y$ to cancel out.



But now we see immediately where your surprising minus signs are coming from. If we compute $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z$ we would get $$left(-fracF_yF_xright)left(-fracF_zF_yright)=fracF_zF_x.$$ Since we lost our minus sign, this is the negative of $fracpartial xpartial z=-fracF_zF_x$. Using the same intuition as before, we are multiplying the change in $x$ needed to counteract a change in $y$ (and keep $F$ constant) by the change in $y$ needed to counteract a change in $z$. The two "counteracts" cancel each other out, and we end up with the change in $x$ needed to duplicate a change in $z$, rather than to counteract the change in $z$.



Ultimately, the lesson here is that derivatives are not fractions, especially not partial derivatives. Ordinary derivatives often behave like fractions (because they are limits of fractions) via the chain rule. Partial derivatives do not (and the chain rule for them does not look like just multiplying fractions!), because as explained in J.G.'s answer they are extremely sensitive to what other variables are being held constant. In particular, in your partial derivatives $fracpartial xpartial y$ and $fracpartial ypartial z$, $z$ is being held constant for the first one while $x$ is being held constant for the second one. So these derivatives are being computed under different "background assumptions", and it's not particularly reasonable to expect them to behave like fractions the way single-variable derivatives do.






share|cite|improve this answer





























    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Partial derivatives are only defined once you specify what's held constant. Partial derivatives' product only allows chain-rule style cancellations if they're defined with the same thing(s) assumed constant. For example, if $x,,y,,z$ were non-constant differentiable functions of $w$, you'd have $(fracpartial xpartial y)_w(fracpartial ypartial z)_w(fracpartial zpartial x)_w=+1$, where the subscript indicates the constant-$w$ condition. The result you're trying to understand is radically different; it's $(fracpartial xpartial y)_z(fracpartial ypartial z)_x(fracpartial zpartial x)_y=-1$, with a condition $f(x,,y,,z)=0$ existing and no fourth variable involved.



    As a simple example of why the choice of what to hold constant matters, compare $2$-dimensional Cartesian and polar coordinates. Holding $y$ constant, $x^2=r^2-y^2$ implies $2x(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=2r$ so $(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=fracrx$; holding $theta$ constant, $x=rcostheta$ implies $(fracpartial xpartial r)_theta=costheta=fracxr$.






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      2 Answers
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      Here is a more symmetric explanation of this computation that hopefully makes the result less surprising. Since $F$ is constant on our surface, we have $$0=dF=F_xdx+F_ydy+F_zdz.$$
      Now, how does this relate to partial derivative like $fracpartial xpartial y$? That partial derivative is just the coefficient of $dy$ when we write $dx$ as a linear combination of $dy$ and $dz$. Solving the equation above, we have $$dx=-fracF_yF_xdy-fracF_zF_xdx.$$ So, $fracpartial xpartial y=-fracF_yF_x$. Intuitively, this makes sense: if $z$ is held constant and we vary $y$ in one direction, we need to vary $x$ in the direction that makes $F$ move in the opposite direction, to keep $F$ equal to $0$. So since $F_x$ and $F_y$ represent the directions that $F$ varies when we change $x$ and $y$, the minus sign comes from needing the changes in $F$ from $x$ and $y$ to cancel out.



      But now we see immediately where your surprising minus signs are coming from. If we compute $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z$ we would get $$left(-fracF_yF_xright)left(-fracF_zF_yright)=fracF_zF_x.$$ Since we lost our minus sign, this is the negative of $fracpartial xpartial z=-fracF_zF_x$. Using the same intuition as before, we are multiplying the change in $x$ needed to counteract a change in $y$ (and keep $F$ constant) by the change in $y$ needed to counteract a change in $z$. The two "counteracts" cancel each other out, and we end up with the change in $x$ needed to duplicate a change in $z$, rather than to counteract the change in $z$.



      Ultimately, the lesson here is that derivatives are not fractions, especially not partial derivatives. Ordinary derivatives often behave like fractions (because they are limits of fractions) via the chain rule. Partial derivatives do not (and the chain rule for them does not look like just multiplying fractions!), because as explained in J.G.'s answer they are extremely sensitive to what other variables are being held constant. In particular, in your partial derivatives $fracpartial xpartial y$ and $fracpartial ypartial z$, $z$ is being held constant for the first one while $x$ is being held constant for the second one. So these derivatives are being computed under different "background assumptions", and it's not particularly reasonable to expect them to behave like fractions the way single-variable derivatives do.






      share|cite|improve this answer


























        up vote
        4
        down vote













        Here is a more symmetric explanation of this computation that hopefully makes the result less surprising. Since $F$ is constant on our surface, we have $$0=dF=F_xdx+F_ydy+F_zdz.$$
        Now, how does this relate to partial derivative like $fracpartial xpartial y$? That partial derivative is just the coefficient of $dy$ when we write $dx$ as a linear combination of $dy$ and $dz$. Solving the equation above, we have $$dx=-fracF_yF_xdy-fracF_zF_xdx.$$ So, $fracpartial xpartial y=-fracF_yF_x$. Intuitively, this makes sense: if $z$ is held constant and we vary $y$ in one direction, we need to vary $x$ in the direction that makes $F$ move in the opposite direction, to keep $F$ equal to $0$. So since $F_x$ and $F_y$ represent the directions that $F$ varies when we change $x$ and $y$, the minus sign comes from needing the changes in $F$ from $x$ and $y$ to cancel out.



        But now we see immediately where your surprising minus signs are coming from. If we compute $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z$ we would get $$left(-fracF_yF_xright)left(-fracF_zF_yright)=fracF_zF_x.$$ Since we lost our minus sign, this is the negative of $fracpartial xpartial z=-fracF_zF_x$. Using the same intuition as before, we are multiplying the change in $x$ needed to counteract a change in $y$ (and keep $F$ constant) by the change in $y$ needed to counteract a change in $z$. The two "counteracts" cancel each other out, and we end up with the change in $x$ needed to duplicate a change in $z$, rather than to counteract the change in $z$.



        Ultimately, the lesson here is that derivatives are not fractions, especially not partial derivatives. Ordinary derivatives often behave like fractions (because they are limits of fractions) via the chain rule. Partial derivatives do not (and the chain rule for them does not look like just multiplying fractions!), because as explained in J.G.'s answer they are extremely sensitive to what other variables are being held constant. In particular, in your partial derivatives $fracpartial xpartial y$ and $fracpartial ypartial z$, $z$ is being held constant for the first one while $x$ is being held constant for the second one. So these derivatives are being computed under different "background assumptions", and it's not particularly reasonable to expect them to behave like fractions the way single-variable derivatives do.






        share|cite|improve this answer
























          up vote
          4
          down vote










          up vote
          4
          down vote









          Here is a more symmetric explanation of this computation that hopefully makes the result less surprising. Since $F$ is constant on our surface, we have $$0=dF=F_xdx+F_ydy+F_zdz.$$
          Now, how does this relate to partial derivative like $fracpartial xpartial y$? That partial derivative is just the coefficient of $dy$ when we write $dx$ as a linear combination of $dy$ and $dz$. Solving the equation above, we have $$dx=-fracF_yF_xdy-fracF_zF_xdx.$$ So, $fracpartial xpartial y=-fracF_yF_x$. Intuitively, this makes sense: if $z$ is held constant and we vary $y$ in one direction, we need to vary $x$ in the direction that makes $F$ move in the opposite direction, to keep $F$ equal to $0$. So since $F_x$ and $F_y$ represent the directions that $F$ varies when we change $x$ and $y$, the minus sign comes from needing the changes in $F$ from $x$ and $y$ to cancel out.



          But now we see immediately where your surprising minus signs are coming from. If we compute $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z$ we would get $$left(-fracF_yF_xright)left(-fracF_zF_yright)=fracF_zF_x.$$ Since we lost our minus sign, this is the negative of $fracpartial xpartial z=-fracF_zF_x$. Using the same intuition as before, we are multiplying the change in $x$ needed to counteract a change in $y$ (and keep $F$ constant) by the change in $y$ needed to counteract a change in $z$. The two "counteracts" cancel each other out, and we end up with the change in $x$ needed to duplicate a change in $z$, rather than to counteract the change in $z$.



          Ultimately, the lesson here is that derivatives are not fractions, especially not partial derivatives. Ordinary derivatives often behave like fractions (because they are limits of fractions) via the chain rule. Partial derivatives do not (and the chain rule for them does not look like just multiplying fractions!), because as explained in J.G.'s answer they are extremely sensitive to what other variables are being held constant. In particular, in your partial derivatives $fracpartial xpartial y$ and $fracpartial ypartial z$, $z$ is being held constant for the first one while $x$ is being held constant for the second one. So these derivatives are being computed under different "background assumptions", and it's not particularly reasonable to expect them to behave like fractions the way single-variable derivatives do.






          share|cite|improve this answer














          Here is a more symmetric explanation of this computation that hopefully makes the result less surprising. Since $F$ is constant on our surface, we have $$0=dF=F_xdx+F_ydy+F_zdz.$$
          Now, how does this relate to partial derivative like $fracpartial xpartial y$? That partial derivative is just the coefficient of $dy$ when we write $dx$ as a linear combination of $dy$ and $dz$. Solving the equation above, we have $$dx=-fracF_yF_xdy-fracF_zF_xdx.$$ So, $fracpartial xpartial y=-fracF_yF_x$. Intuitively, this makes sense: if $z$ is held constant and we vary $y$ in one direction, we need to vary $x$ in the direction that makes $F$ move in the opposite direction, to keep $F$ equal to $0$. So since $F_x$ and $F_y$ represent the directions that $F$ varies when we change $x$ and $y$, the minus sign comes from needing the changes in $F$ from $x$ and $y$ to cancel out.



          But now we see immediately where your surprising minus signs are coming from. If we compute $fracpartial xpartial yfracpartial ypartial z$ we would get $$left(-fracF_yF_xright)left(-fracF_zF_yright)=fracF_zF_x.$$ Since we lost our minus sign, this is the negative of $fracpartial xpartial z=-fracF_zF_x$. Using the same intuition as before, we are multiplying the change in $x$ needed to counteract a change in $y$ (and keep $F$ constant) by the change in $y$ needed to counteract a change in $z$. The two "counteracts" cancel each other out, and we end up with the change in $x$ needed to duplicate a change in $z$, rather than to counteract the change in $z$.



          Ultimately, the lesson here is that derivatives are not fractions, especially not partial derivatives. Ordinary derivatives often behave like fractions (because they are limits of fractions) via the chain rule. Partial derivatives do not (and the chain rule for them does not look like just multiplying fractions!), because as explained in J.G.'s answer they are extremely sensitive to what other variables are being held constant. In particular, in your partial derivatives $fracpartial xpartial y$ and $fracpartial ypartial z$, $z$ is being held constant for the first one while $x$ is being held constant for the second one. So these derivatives are being computed under different "background assumptions", and it's not particularly reasonable to expect them to behave like fractions the way single-variable derivatives do.







          share|cite|improve this answer














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          edited Aug 10 at 22:26

























          answered Aug 10 at 22:07









          Eric Wofsey

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              up vote
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              Partial derivatives are only defined once you specify what's held constant. Partial derivatives' product only allows chain-rule style cancellations if they're defined with the same thing(s) assumed constant. For example, if $x,,y,,z$ were non-constant differentiable functions of $w$, you'd have $(fracpartial xpartial y)_w(fracpartial ypartial z)_w(fracpartial zpartial x)_w=+1$, where the subscript indicates the constant-$w$ condition. The result you're trying to understand is radically different; it's $(fracpartial xpartial y)_z(fracpartial ypartial z)_x(fracpartial zpartial x)_y=-1$, with a condition $f(x,,y,,z)=0$ existing and no fourth variable involved.



              As a simple example of why the choice of what to hold constant matters, compare $2$-dimensional Cartesian and polar coordinates. Holding $y$ constant, $x^2=r^2-y^2$ implies $2x(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=2r$ so $(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=fracrx$; holding $theta$ constant, $x=rcostheta$ implies $(fracpartial xpartial r)_theta=costheta=fracxr$.






              share|cite|improve this answer
























                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Partial derivatives are only defined once you specify what's held constant. Partial derivatives' product only allows chain-rule style cancellations if they're defined with the same thing(s) assumed constant. For example, if $x,,y,,z$ were non-constant differentiable functions of $w$, you'd have $(fracpartial xpartial y)_w(fracpartial ypartial z)_w(fracpartial zpartial x)_w=+1$, where the subscript indicates the constant-$w$ condition. The result you're trying to understand is radically different; it's $(fracpartial xpartial y)_z(fracpartial ypartial z)_x(fracpartial zpartial x)_y=-1$, with a condition $f(x,,y,,z)=0$ existing and no fourth variable involved.



                As a simple example of why the choice of what to hold constant matters, compare $2$-dimensional Cartesian and polar coordinates. Holding $y$ constant, $x^2=r^2-y^2$ implies $2x(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=2r$ so $(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=fracrx$; holding $theta$ constant, $x=rcostheta$ implies $(fracpartial xpartial r)_theta=costheta=fracxr$.






                share|cite|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote









                  Partial derivatives are only defined once you specify what's held constant. Partial derivatives' product only allows chain-rule style cancellations if they're defined with the same thing(s) assumed constant. For example, if $x,,y,,z$ were non-constant differentiable functions of $w$, you'd have $(fracpartial xpartial y)_w(fracpartial ypartial z)_w(fracpartial zpartial x)_w=+1$, where the subscript indicates the constant-$w$ condition. The result you're trying to understand is radically different; it's $(fracpartial xpartial y)_z(fracpartial ypartial z)_x(fracpartial zpartial x)_y=-1$, with a condition $f(x,,y,,z)=0$ existing and no fourth variable involved.



                  As a simple example of why the choice of what to hold constant matters, compare $2$-dimensional Cartesian and polar coordinates. Holding $y$ constant, $x^2=r^2-y^2$ implies $2x(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=2r$ so $(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=fracrx$; holding $theta$ constant, $x=rcostheta$ implies $(fracpartial xpartial r)_theta=costheta=fracxr$.






                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  Partial derivatives are only defined once you specify what's held constant. Partial derivatives' product only allows chain-rule style cancellations if they're defined with the same thing(s) assumed constant. For example, if $x,,y,,z$ were non-constant differentiable functions of $w$, you'd have $(fracpartial xpartial y)_w(fracpartial ypartial z)_w(fracpartial zpartial x)_w=+1$, where the subscript indicates the constant-$w$ condition. The result you're trying to understand is radically different; it's $(fracpartial xpartial y)_z(fracpartial ypartial z)_x(fracpartial zpartial x)_y=-1$, with a condition $f(x,,y,,z)=0$ existing and no fourth variable involved.



                  As a simple example of why the choice of what to hold constant matters, compare $2$-dimensional Cartesian and polar coordinates. Holding $y$ constant, $x^2=r^2-y^2$ implies $2x(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=2r$ so $(fracpartial xpartial r)_y=fracrx$; holding $theta$ constant, $x=rcostheta$ implies $(fracpartial xpartial r)_theta=costheta=fracxr$.







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                  answered Aug 10 at 21:57









                  J.G.

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