Differential and Integral Calculus
37
Higher-Order Derivatives
The
second derivative
of
a
function
y
=
f(x), denoted f"(x) or dzy/dx2 is the
derivative of f'(x) and the
third derivative,
f"'(x) is the derivative of f"(x).
Geometrically, in terms of f(x): if f"(x)
0
then f(x) is concave upwardly, if f"(x)
<
0 then f(x) is concave downwardly.
Partial Derivatives
If u
=
f(x,y,
.
.
.)
is a function of two
or
more variables, the
partial derivative
of u with respect to x, fx(x,y,
.
.
.)
or &/ax, may be formed by assuming x to
be the independent variable and holding (y,
. .
.)
as constants. In a similar
manner, fy(x,y,
. .
.)
or au/ay may be formed by holding (x,
. .
.)
as constants.
Second-order partial derivatives of f(x,y) are denoted by the manner of their
formation as fm,
f,
(equal to f,,),
f,
or as a2u/ax2, a2u/axay, a2u/ay2, and the
higher-order partia! derivatives are likewise formed.
Implicit functions,
i.e., f(x,y)
=
0,
may be solved by the formula
at the point in question.
Maxima and Minima
A
critical point
on a curve
y
=
f(x) is a point where
y'
=
0,
that is, where the
tangent to the curve is horizontal. A critical value of x, therefore, is a value
such that f'(x)
=
0.
All roots of the equation f'(x)
=
0
are critical values of x,
and the corresponding values of
y
are the critical values of the function.
A function f(x) has a
relative maximum
at x
=
a if f(x)
<
f(a) for all values of
x (except a) in some open interval containing a and a
relative minimum
at x
=
b
if f(x)
>
f(b) for all
x
(except b) in the interval containing b. At the relative
maximum a of f(x), f'(a)
=
0,
i.e., slope
=
0,
and f"(a)
<
0, Le., the curve is
downwardly concave at this point, and at the relative minimum b, f'(b)
=
0 and
f"(b)
>
0
(upward concavity). In Figure
1-32,
A,
B,
C,
and
D
are critical points
Figure
1-32.
Maxima and minima.