Exercise · ZW-MULTIVARIABLE-CHAIN-RULE-005 · ★★☆ Intermediate

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

Choose one option.

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  • B. \(2\)

Explanation

\(\frac{dz}{dt}=\frac{2x\cdot1+2y\cdot2}{x^2+y^2}\). At \(t=1\): \(\frac{2+8}{1+4}=2\). (Check: \(z=\ln5+2\ln t\).)

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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

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