# Math Help - Evaluation of a partial derivative using the chain rule

1. ## [SOLVED] Evaluation of a partial derivative using the chain rule

I was solving a practice test for the GRE math subject test and I came across a problem which I thought was unsolvable. The solution provided in the back makes no sense to me, so I hope someone can shed some light on this situation.

Let f, g, and h be functions of two variables that are differentiable everywhere such that $z=f(x,y)$ where x and y in turn are functions of u and v. We know that
$x=g(u,v)$, $y=h(u,v)$ and that $g(0,1)=2$ and that $h(0,1)=1$. Let $P=(0,1)$ and $Q=(2,1)$. We are also given that

$\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\bigg|_Q = 11, \;\; \frac{\partial f}{\partial y}\bigg|_Q = -3, \;\; \frac{\partial g}{\partial u}\bigg|_P = 1, \;\; \frac{\partial h}{\partial u}\bigg|_P = -3, \;\; \frac{\partial g}{\partial v}\bigg|_P = \frac{\partial h}{\partial v}\bigg|_P = 2$

The object is to find $\frac{\partial z}{\partial v} \bigg|_P$.

Now note that the partial derivatives given are evaluated at different points, but the solution is not afraid to say that

$\frac{\partial z}{\partial v} \bigg|_P = \frac{\partial f}{\partial x} \bigg|_Q \frac{\partial x}{\partial v} \bigg|_P + \frac{\partial f}{\partial y} \bigg|_Q \frac{\partial y}{\partial v} \bigg|_P = (11)(2) + (-3)(2) = 16$

Now, it makes no sense to me that you can just pick and choose where you evaluate the partials involved in the chain rule... but that's what the solution does. Shouldn't they all be evaluated at P? Why is it allowed to evaluate some at Q and some at P? Does the solution somehow implicitly make use of $g(0,1)$ and $h(0,1)$ which are given?

Thank you for taking the time to read my question!

2. I answered my own question after some research...

When evaluating the partial derivatives the formula is

$\frac{\partial{z}}{\partial{v}} \bigg|_P = \frac{\partial{z}}{\partial{x}} \bigg|_{(x(P), y(P))} \frac{\partial{x}}{\partial{v}} \bigg|_P + \frac{\partial{z}}{\partial{y}} \bigg|_{(x(P),y(P))} \frac{\partial{y}}{\partial{v}} \bigg|_P$

so the solution did use the fact that $(x(P), y(P)) = Q$. Ugh.