On 2020-09-22 9:50 PM (-4), Bald Eagle wrote:
> [snip]
> 
> But when I take first PARTIAL derivatives, this does NOT require the product
> rule, and I should get both
> 
> Bdv = f'(v) * f(u) * c     _and_
> 
> Bdu = f(v) * f'(u) * c
> 
> and these are essentially tangents to the surface in the direction of u or v
> 
> 
> 
> When I take second partial derivatives, I should get
> 
> Bdvdv = f''(v) * f(u) * c,
> Bdvdu = f'(v) * f'(u) * c,
> Bdudv = f'(v) * f'(u) * c, and
> Bdudu = f(v) * f''(u) * c
> 
> the f''s indicate concave up or down along u or v (the change of the slope of
> the tangent while traveling in that direction), but I'm a wee bit lost about the
> meaning of the mixed partials (which are equivalent, right?) Are they how the
> slope of the tangent changes as it gets "slid sideways" along the orthogonal
> direction?

Get back to me in the spring of 1983, and I'll explain it all.

Post a reply to this message