
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.