What exactly is a partial derivative? I have a basic idea of a derivative i.e, I know that dy/dx is rate of change of y with respect to x and that it represents the slope of a curve
Thanks!
In: Mathematics
The partial derivative is the same, but instead of a curve, you have a 3D surface. Now, to calculate a derivative, you need a trace or slice through the surface reducing it to a line.
If you have a function f(x,y), then the partial with respect to x at (a,b) is the slope of the line where x=a. Similarly, the partial with respect to y at (a,b) is the slope of the line where y=b.
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