Derivatives of some common functional forms ax d example: dr (3x)=6x k/x)=k/x, k=cons tant example: ( 3/x) d (a)=a Ina, a= cons tant example,a (32)=3In3 dx (e) Partial derivatives When a function has more than one arguments and we want to look at the change with respect to one of the arguments only we use partial derivatives(denoted witha). In the calculation of marginal product of the factor labor in the short run, remember we used this notation. In the short run we were looking at the returns to factor labor keeping the other argument of the production function fixed i. e capital. Similar logic applies when we calculated the own price elasticity of demand since we kept all other determinants of demand viz. prices of other goods, income, tastes etc fixed. In other words the partial derivative of the function with respect to a certain argument say x, measures the change in the value of the function when keeping y fixed(where y is the other argument or arguments) variable x is varied by a very small amount If f is a function that varies with x and y then we write the function as f(x, y). Now if we have to look at the derivative with respect to x only we denote it as aF(x, y)/ax and if we want to look at the derivative when only y changes we denote it as aF(x, y)/ay. In taking these two derivatives the other argument (in first case y and in second case x)are to be treated as constants. The formulas of the total derivatives listed above go through same F(x,y)=6x+5y+12xy+10x2y e:a(xy)=6+12y+10y3+2x=6+12y+20y2x aF(xy=5+12x+10x2*3y2=5+12x+30xyDerivatives of some common functional forms x x x x x x a a e e dx d dx d example a a a a cons t dx d x x dx d x x dx d example k x k x k cons t dx d x x dx d example x ax dx d = = = = = − = = − = = = − ( ) : (3 ) 3 ln 3 ( ) ln , tan (ln ) 1/ 3 : (3/ ) ( / ) / , tan : (3 ) 6 ( ) 2 2 2 1 Partial Derivatives When a function has more than one arguments and we want to look at the change with respect to one of the arguments only we use partial derivatives (denoted with ∂ ). In the calculation of marginal product of the factor labor in the short run, remember we used this notation. In the short run we were looking at the returns to factor labor keeping the other argument of the production function fixed i.e. capital. Similar logic applies when we calculated the own price elasticity of demand since we kept all other determinants of demand viz. prices of other goods, income, tastes etc fixed. In other words the partial derivative of the function with respect to a certain argument say x, measures the change in the value of the function when keeping y fixed (where y is the other argument or arguments) variable x is varied by a very small amount. If F is a function that varies with x and y then we write the function as F(x,y). Now if we have to look at the derivative with respect to x only we denote it as ∂F( and if we x, y)/ ∂x want to look at the derivative when only y changes we denote it as ∂F( . In x, y)/ ∂y taking these two derivatives the other argument (in first case y and in second case x) are to be treated as constants. The formulas of the total derivatives listed above go through same. Example: 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 3 5 12 10 *3 5 12 30 ( , ) 6 12 10 * 2 6 12 20 ( , ) ( , ) 6 5 12 10 x x y x x y y F x y y y x y y x x F x y F x y x y xy x y = + + = + + ∂ ∂ = + + = + + ∂ ∂ = + + +