Calculus III - Applications of Partial Derivatives

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Chapter 14 : Applications of Partial Derivatives

In this chapter we will take a look at a several applications of partial derivatives. Most of the applications will be extensions to applications to ordinary derivatives that we saw back in Calculus I. For instance, we will be looking at finding the absolute and relative extrema of a function and we will also be looking at optimization. Both (all three?) of these subjects were major applications back in Calculus I. They will, however, be a little more work here because we now have more than one variable.

Here is a list of the topics in this chapter.

Tangent Planes and Linear Approximations – In this section formally define just what a tangent plane to a surface is and how we use partial derivatives to find the equations of tangent planes to surfaces that can be written as \(z=f(x,y)\). We will also see how tangent planes can be thought of as a linear approximation to the surface at a given point.

Gradient Vector, Tangent Planes and Normal Lines – In this section discuss how the gradient vector can be used to find tangent planes to a much more general function than in the previous section. We will also define the normal line and discuss how the gradient vector can be used to find the equation of the normal line.

Relative Minimums and Maximums – In this section we will define critical points for functions of two variables and discuss a method for determining if they are relative minimums, relative maximums or saddle points (i.e. neither a relative minimum or relative maximum).

Absolute Minimums and Maximums – In this section we will how to find the absolute extrema of a function of two variables when the independent variables are only allowed to come from a region that is bounded (i.e. no part of the region goes out to infinity) and closed (i.e. all of the points on the boundary are valid points that can be used in the process).

Lagrange Multipliers – In this section we’ll see discuss how to use the method of Lagrange Multipliers to find the absolute minimums and maximums of functions of two or three variables in which the independent variables are subject to one or more constraints. We also give a brief justification for how/why the method works.