PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) be a function of two independent variables 𝑥 and 𝑦. The first-order partial derivative of
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥 (treating 𝑦 as constant) is denoted by
𝜕𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝜕𝑓
, , 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) or 𝑓𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
and is defined as
𝜕𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ, 𝑦) − 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
= 𝑓𝑥 = lim
𝜕𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ
provided that the limit exists.

Similarly, the first-order partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑦 (treating 𝑥 as constant) is denoted
by
𝜕𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝜕𝑓
, , 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦) or 𝑓𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
and is defined as
𝜕𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑘) − 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
= 𝑓𝑦 = lim
𝜕𝑦 𝑘→0 𝑘
provided that the limit exists.

Example 1: Find the first-order partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5, with

respect to 𝑥, and with respect to 𝑦.
𝜕𝑓
Solution: To illustrate the solution, we will highlight all constants in red. Since we will first be finding 𝜕𝑥,
we will treat 𝑦 as a constant. We first re-write the function as

𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5.

Hence, we have
𝜕𝑓 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝜕𝑥
= 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥 3 ) + 𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 (1) + 2𝑦 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥) − 2 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥) − 3𝑦 𝜕𝑥 (1) + 5 𝜕𝑥 (1)

= 3𝑥 2 + 0 + 2𝑦 − 2 − 0 + 0

= 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 − 2.
𝜕𝑓
Similarly, since we are now looking 𝜕𝑦, we will treat 𝑥 as a constant and re-write the function as

𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5.

Thus, we now have

 𝜕𝑓 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑥3 (1) + (𝑦 2 ) + 2𝑥 (𝑦) − 2𝑥 (1) − 3 (𝑦) +5 (1)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

= 0 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 0 − 3 + 0
= 2𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 3.

𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
Example 2: Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 2𝑥 2 𝑦 − 4𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 5𝑥𝑦 2 . Find 𝜕𝑥
and 𝜕𝑦.

Solution: In this solution, we will skip the part of rewriting the function. Instead, we immediately find
the partial derivatives, keeping in mind that that we hold the other variable constant.
𝜕𝑓
= 2𝑦(2𝑥) − 4𝑦 2 (2𝑥) + 5𝑦 2 (1)
𝜕𝑥

= 4𝑥𝑦 − 8𝑥𝑦 2 + 5𝑦 2 .
𝜕𝑓
= 2𝑥 2 (1) − 4𝑥 2 (2𝑦) + 5𝑥(2𝑦)
𝜕𝑦

= 2𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 2 𝑦 + 10𝑥𝑦.

When given a function with three variables, say 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) we can find the partial derivatives with
respect to 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧 by treating 𝑦 and 𝑧, 𝑥 and 𝑧, and 𝑥 and 𝑦 as constants.

Example 3: Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = −2𝑥 3 𝑦 4 𝑧 5 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 3 𝑧 2 + 5𝑦 4 𝑧 4. Find all three first-order partial

derivatives.

Solution:
𝜕𝑓
= −2𝑦 4 𝑧 5 (3𝑥 2 ) + 3𝑦 2 (2𝑥) − 4𝑧 2 (3𝑥 2 ) + 5𝑦 4 𝑧 4 (0)
𝜕𝑥

= −6𝑥 2 𝑦 4 𝑧 5 + 6𝑥𝑦 2 − 12𝑥 2 𝑧 2 .

𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑦
= −2𝑥 3 𝑧 5 (4𝑦 3 ) + 3𝑥 2 (2𝑦) − 4𝑥 3 𝑧 2 (0) + 5𝑧 4 (4𝑦 3 )

= −8𝑥 3 𝑦 3 𝑧 5 + 6𝑦𝑥 2 + 20𝑦 3 𝑧 4 .

𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑧
= −2𝑥 3 𝑦 4 (5𝑧 4 ) + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 (0) − 4𝑥 3 (2𝑧) + 5𝑦 4 (4𝑧 3 )

= −10𝑥 3 𝑦 4 𝑧 4 − 8𝑥 3 𝑧 + 20𝑦 4 𝑧 3 .
2
Example 4: Find all the first-order partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = −2𝑥 −2 + 𝑦 2 𝑧1/3 .
3

Solution:
1
𝜕𝑓 2
𝜕𝑥
= −2(−2𝑥 −3 ) + 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 3 (0)
= −4𝑥 −3 .
 𝜕𝑓 2 1
= −2𝑥 −2 (0) + 𝑧 3 (2𝑦)
𝜕𝑦 3
1
4
= 3 𝑦𝑧 3 .
2
𝜕𝑓 2 1
𝜕𝑦
= −2𝑥 −2 (0) + 3 𝑦 2 (3 𝑧 −3 )
2
2
= 𝑦 2 𝑧 −3 .
9

Example 5: If 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = (2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 + 2𝑦) (3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ), find 𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 and 𝑓𝑧 .

Solution: The product rule will be applied in this situation. Thus,

𝑓𝑥 = [2𝑦 3 (4𝑥 3 ) − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 (0) + 2𝑦(0)] (3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + (2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 +

2𝑦)[3𝑧 4 (3𝑥 2 ) + 3𝑦𝑧 3 (2𝑥)]

= (8𝑥 3 𝑦 3 )(3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + (2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 + 2𝑦)( 9𝑥 2 𝑧 4 + 6𝑥𝑦𝑧 3 )

= 24𝑥 6 𝑦 3 𝑧 4 + 24𝑥 5 𝑦 4 𝑧 3 + 18𝑥 6 𝑦 3 𝑧 4 + 12𝑥 5 𝑦 4 𝑧 3 − 45𝑥 2 𝑦 5 𝑧 7 − 30𝑥𝑦 6 𝑧 6 + 18𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 4 +

12𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 3

= 42𝑥 6 𝑦 3 𝑧 4 + 36𝑥 5 𝑦 4 𝑧 3 − 45𝑥 2 𝑦 5 𝑧 7 − 30𝑥𝑦 6 𝑧 6 + 18𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 4 + 12𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 3 .

𝑓𝑦 = [2𝑥 4 (3𝑦 2 ) − 5𝑧 3 (5𝑦 4 ) + 2(1)] (3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + (2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 +

2𝑦)[3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 (0) + 3𝑥 2 𝑧 3 (1)]

= (6𝑥 4 𝑦 2 − 25𝑦 4 𝑧 3 + 2)(3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + (2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 + 2𝑦)(3𝑥 2 𝑧 3 )

= 18𝑥 7 𝑦 2 𝑧 4 + 18𝑥 6 𝑦 3 𝑧 3 − 75𝑥 3 𝑦 4 𝑧 7 − 75𝑥 2 𝑦 5 𝑧 6 + 6𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 6𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 + 6𝑥 6 𝑦 3 𝑧 3 −

15𝑥 2 𝑦 5 𝑧 6 + 6𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3

= 18𝑥 7 𝑦 2 𝑧 4 + 24𝑥 6 𝑦 3 𝑧 3 − 75𝑥 3 𝑦 4 𝑧 7 − 90𝑥 2 𝑦 5 𝑧 6 + 6𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 12𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 .

𝑓𝑧 = [2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 (0) − 5𝑦 5 (3𝑧 2 ) + 2𝑦(0)](3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + (2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 +

2𝑦) [3𝑥 3 (4𝑧 3 ) + 3𝑥 2 𝑦(3𝑧 2 )]

= −15𝑦 5 𝑧 2 (3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 ) + (2𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 5 𝑧 3 + 2𝑦)(12𝑥 3 𝑧 3 + 9𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 2 )

= −45𝑥 3 𝑦 5 𝑧 6 − 45𝑥 2 𝑦 6 𝑧 5 + 24𝑥 7 𝑦 3 𝑧 3 − 60𝑥 3 𝑦 5 𝑧 6 + 24𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧 3 + 18𝑥 4 𝑦 4 𝑧 2 −

45𝑥 2 𝑦 6 𝑧 5 + 18𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 2

= −105𝑥 3 𝑦 5 𝑧 6 − 90𝑥 2 𝑦 6 𝑧 5 + 24𝑥 7 𝑦 3 𝑧 3 + 24𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧 3 + 18𝑥 4 𝑦 4 𝑧 2 + 18𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 2.

3
Example 6. Find 𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 and 𝑓𝑧 when 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = √2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧.

Solution: We employ the chain rule for each partial derivative. We first rewrite our function as
1
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧)3 .
Hence,
2
1
𝑓𝑥 = 3 (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧)−3 [2(2𝑥) − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 (0) + 4𝑦 2 𝑧(4𝑥 3 )]
 2
1
= (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧)−3 (4𝑥 + 16𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧).
3

2
1
𝑓𝑦 = 3 (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧)−3 [2𝑥 2 (0) − 3𝑧 −2 (3𝑦 2 ) + 4𝑥 4 𝑧(2𝑦)]
2
1
= 3 (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧)−3 (−9𝑦 2 𝑧 −2 + 8𝑥 4 𝑦𝑧).

2
1
𝑓𝑧 = 3 (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧)−3 [2𝑥 2 (0) − 3𝑦 3 (−2𝑧 −3 ) + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 (1)]
2
1
= 3 (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 3 𝑧 −2 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧)−3 (6𝑦 3 𝑧 −3 + 4𝑥 4 𝑦 2 ).

Second-Order Partial Differentiation

Just as with functions on a single variable, we can find second order partial derivative. However, the
variable for which the partial derivative is being calculated still needs to be specified. Then, the other
variable(s) will be again treated as constant.

Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) be a function on two variables. We have seen that

𝜕𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝜕𝑓
, , 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) or 𝑓𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
and
𝜕𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝜕𝑓
, , 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦) or 𝑓𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
denote the first order partial derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥 and 𝑦, respectively.

Then, the second-order partial derivative of 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥 is denoted by

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
(𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦)), (𝑓𝑥 ), or 𝑓𝑥𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2
and is defined on the point (𝑎, 𝑏) as

𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑓𝑥 (𝑎 + ℎ, 𝑏) − 𝑓𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏)
[ 2
] = 𝑓𝑥𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏) = lim ,
𝜕𝑥 (𝑎,𝑏)
ℎ→0 ℎ

provided the limit exists.

Similarly, the second-order partial derivative of 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑦 is denoted by

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
(𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦)) , (𝑓𝑦 ), or 𝑓𝑦𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2
and is defined on the point (𝑎, 𝑏) as

𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑓𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏 + 𝑘) − 𝑓𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏)

[ 2
] = 𝑓𝑦𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏) = lim ,
𝜕𝑦 (𝑎,𝑏)
𝑘→0 𝑘
provided the limit exists.

Meanwhile, the second-order partial derivative of 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑦 is denoted by

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
(𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦)), (𝑓 ), or 𝑓𝑦𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑥 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥
and is defined on the point (𝑎, 𝑏) as

𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑓𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏 + 𝑘) − 𝑓𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏)

[ ] = 𝑓𝑦𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏) = lim ,
𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 (𝑎,𝑏) 𝑘→0 𝑘

provided the limit exists.

Similarly, the second-order partial derivative of 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦) with respect to 𝑥 is denoted by

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
(𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦)) , (𝑓𝑦 ), or 𝑓𝑥𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
and is defined on the point (𝑎, 𝑏) as

𝜕 2 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑓𝑦 (𝑎 + ℎ, 𝑏) − 𝑓𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏)
[ ] = 𝑓𝑥𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏) = lim ,
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 (𝑎,𝑏) ℎ→0 ℎ

provided the limit exists.

In summary, for a function of two variables, there are four second-order partial derivatives namely,
𝑓𝑥𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦𝑦 , 𝑓𝑦𝑥 and 𝑓𝑥𝑦 .

Example 7: From Example 1, we had 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5 and so the first-order

partial derivatives were 𝑓𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 − 2 and 𝑓𝑦 = 2𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 3.

Then, second-order partial derivatives are:

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 𝜕𝑥 (3𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 − 2) = 3 𝜕𝑥 (𝑥 2 ) + 2𝑦 𝜕𝑥 (1) − 2 𝜕𝑥 (1)
= 3(2𝑥) + 2𝑦(0) − 2(0)
= 6𝑥.

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 𝜕𝑦 (2𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 3) = 2 𝜕𝑦 (𝑦) + 2𝑥 𝜕𝑦 (1) − 3 𝜕𝑦 (1)
= 2(1) + 2𝑥(0) − 3(0)
= 2.

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑦𝑥 = 𝜕𝑦 (3𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 − 2) = 3𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 (1) + 2 𝜕𝑦 (𝑦) − 2 𝜕𝑦 (1)
= 3𝑥 2 (0) + 2(1) − 2(0)
= 2.
 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑥𝑦 = (2𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 3) = 2𝑦 (1) + 2 (𝑥) − 3 (1)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
= 2𝑦(0) + 2(1) − 3(0)
= 2.

Example 8: Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 4𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 −1 𝑦 2 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 −2. Find all second-order partial derivatives.

Solution: To be able to find the second-order partial derivatives, we first need to find the first-order
partial derivatives.

𝑓𝑥 = 4𝑦 2 (3𝑥 2 ) − 2𝑦 2 (−𝑥 −2 ) + 3𝑦 −2 (2𝑥) = 12𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 −2 𝑦 2 + 6𝑥𝑦 −2.

𝑓𝑦 = 4𝑥 3 (2𝑦) − 2𝑥 −1 (2𝑦) + 3𝑥 2 (−2𝑦 −3 ) = 8𝑥 3 𝑦 − 4𝑥 −1 𝑦 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦 −3 .

Thus, we can now find the second-order partial derivatives.

𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 12𝑦 2 (2𝑥) + 2𝑦 2 (−2𝑥 −3 ) + 6𝑦 −2 (1) = 24𝑥𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 −3 𝑦 2 + 6𝑦 −2.

𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 8𝑥 3 (1) − 4𝑥 −1 (1) − 6𝑥 2 (−3𝑦 −4 ) = 8𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 −1 + 18𝑥 2 𝑦 −4 .

𝑓𝑦𝑥 = 12𝑥 2 (2𝑦) + 2𝑥 −2 (2𝑦) + 6𝑥(−2𝑦 −3 ) = 24𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑥 −2 𝑦 − 12𝑥𝑦 −3 .

𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 8𝑦(3𝑥 2 ) − 4𝑦(−𝑥 −2 ) − 6𝑦 −3 (2𝑥) = 24𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑥 −2 𝑦 − 12𝑥𝑦 −3 .

We can also find the second-order partial derivatives for a function in three variables. Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) be a
function in three variables. Then, 𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 , and 𝑓𝑧 are the first-order partial derivatives. The second-order
partial derivatives are
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = (𝑓 ) 𝑓𝑦𝑥 = (𝑓 ) 𝑓𝑧𝑦 = (𝑓 )
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝑦

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 𝜕𝑦 (𝑓𝑦 ) 𝑓𝑧𝑥 = 𝜕𝑧 (𝑓𝑥 ) 𝑓𝑥𝑧 = 𝜕𝑥 (𝑓𝑧 )

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
𝑓𝑧𝑧 = 𝜕𝑧 (𝑓𝑧 ) 𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 𝜕𝑥 (𝑓𝑦 ) 𝑓𝑦𝑧 = 𝜕𝑦 (𝑓𝑧 )

Example 9: Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 3𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 4 + 4𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 4 𝑧 2 − 8𝑦 3 𝑧 3. Find all second-order partial

derivatives.

Solution: To be able to find the second-order partial derivatives, we first need to find the first-order
partial derivatives.

𝑓𝑥 = 3𝑦 2 𝑧 4 (3𝑥 2 ) + 4𝑦 2 (2𝑥) − 2𝑧 2 (4𝑥 3 ) − 8𝑦 3 𝑧 3 (0)

= 9𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 4 + 8𝑥𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 3 𝑧 2 .
𝑓𝑦 = 3𝑥 3 𝑧 4 (2𝑦) + 4𝑥 2 (2𝑦) − 2𝑥 4 𝑧 2 (0) − 8𝑧 3 (3𝑦 2 )
= 6𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧 4 + 8𝑥 2 𝑦 − 24𝑦 2 𝑧 3.
𝑓𝑧 = 3𝑥 3 𝑦 2 (4𝑧 3 ) + 4𝑥 2 𝑦 2 (0) − 2𝑥 4 (2𝑧) − 8𝑦 3 (3𝑧 2 )
= 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 3 − 4𝑥 4 𝑧 − 24𝑦 3 𝑧 2.
Hence, the second-partial derivatives are
𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 9𝑦 2 𝑧 4 (2𝑥) + 8𝑦 2 (1) − 8𝑧 2 (3𝑥 2 )
= 18𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 4 + 8𝑦 2 − 24𝑥 2 𝑧 2 .

𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 6𝑥 3 𝑧 4 (1) + 8𝑥 2 (1) − 24𝑧 3 (2𝑦)

= 6𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 8𝑥 2 − 48𝑦𝑧 3 .

𝑓𝑧𝑧 = 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 (3𝑧 2 ) − 4𝑥 4 (1) − 24𝑦 3 (2𝑧)

= 36𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 − 4𝑥 4 − 48𝑦 3 𝑧.
𝑓𝑦𝑥 = 9𝑥 2 𝑧 4 (2𝑦) + 8𝑥(2𝑦) − 8𝑥 3 𝑧 2 (0)
= 18𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 4 + 16𝑥𝑦.

𝑓𝑧𝑥 = 9𝑥 2 𝑦 2 (4𝑧 3 ) + 8𝑥𝑦 2 (0) − 8𝑥 3 (2𝑧)

= 36𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 3 − 16𝑥 3 𝑧.

𝑓𝑥𝑦 = 6𝑥 3 𝑧 4 (1) + 8𝑥 2 (1) − 24𝑧 3 (2𝑦)

= 6𝑥 3 𝑧 4 + 8𝑥 2 − 48𝑦𝑧 3 .

𝑓𝑧𝑦 = 6𝑥 3 𝑦(4𝑧 3 ) + 8𝑥 2 𝑦(0) − 24𝑦 2 (3𝑧 2 )

= 24𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧 3 − 72𝑦 2 𝑧 2 .

𝑓𝑥𝑧 = 12𝑦 2 𝑧 3 (3𝑥 2 ) − 4𝑧(4𝑥 3 ) − 24𝑦 3 𝑧 2 (0)

= 36𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 3 − 16𝑥 3 𝑧.

𝑓𝑦𝑧 = 12𝑥 3 𝑧 3 (2𝑦) − 4𝑥 4 𝑧(0) − 24𝑧 2 (3𝑦 2 )

= 24𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧 3 − 72𝑦 2 𝑧 2 .