# show that mixed partials are equal

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• Jan 16th 2012, 08:34 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: show that mixed partials are equal
Are you saying that you do not know how to find a derivative of a polynomial? If you are taking a course with questions about partial derivatives, that would be very strange!

A general polynomial in x and y would be of the form, as Fernando Revilla said, $f(x,y)= \sum_{n\ge 0; m\ge 0} a_{mn}x^my^n$ with only a finite number of $a_{mn}$ non-zero.

Okay, what is $f_x$? What is $f_y$? Now differentiate $f_x$ with respect to y and $f_y$ with respect to x.
• Jan 16th 2012, 08:56 AM
mathrookie2012
Re: show that mixed partials are equal
I know how to take derivatives I'm just not use to the notation y'all are using
• Jan 16th 2012, 03:35 PM
HallsofIvy
Re: show that mixed partials are equal
It's pretty standard notation:
$f_x= \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}$
$f_y= \frac{\partial f}{\partial y}$

The notation $D_x$ and $D_y$ is also used but less commonly.
• Jan 16th 2012, 03:38 PM
mathrookie2012
Re: show that mixed partials are equal
I'm not familiar with the summation notation
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