The total derivative gives the overall dependency of y on x3.
Write y = f(x1, x2) = x1*x2, with x1 and x2 depends on x3 through the equation x1+x2+x3=1
Then dy/dx3 = əf/əx1 * əx1/əx3 + əf/əx2 * əx2/əx3
Now əf/əx1 = x2 and əf/əx2 = x1, and əx1/əx3 = -1, əx2/əx3 = -1.
Therefore dy/dx3 = –x1 – x2 = x3-1
So a19840’s answer is correct.
[此贴子已经被作者于2009-6-12 5:49:26编辑过]