Exercise · ZW-MULTIVARIABLE-CHAIN-RULE-001 · ★☆☆ Basic

Let \(z=x^2y\) with \(x=t\), \(y=t^2\). Compute \(\dfrac{dz}{dt}\) at \(t=1\).

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. \(4\)

Explanation

\(\frac{dz}{dt}=2xy\cdot1+x^2\cdot2t\). At \(t=1\) (\(x=y=1\)): \(2+2=4\). It matches differentiating \(z=t^4\).

Study Multivariable calculus in ZWMath →

Review the concept: Chain rule in several variables

The chain rule for \(z=f(x,y)\), with \(x=x(t)\) and \(y=y(t)\), gives the derivative of the composition as the sum of what each intermediate variable contributes: its partial of \(f\) times its own derivative.

\[\frac{dz}{dt}=\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\frac{dx}{dt}+\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}\frac{dy}{dt}\]

More practice problems: chain rule in several variables

ZW-MULTIVARIABLE-CHAIN-RULE-002 →