Another partial derivatives question

Question

I think this is a common question in applied math but I find no occurrence of it in MSE.

$$u=u(x), v=v(x)$$

$$f=f(u(x),v(x))$$

1) $u$ and $v$ are both functions of the variable $x$. If $u$ varies, then that must be because of some variation in $x$, which in turn means that $v$ must also have varied. Is my logic correct thus far?

2) If (1) is correct, then there can be no variation in $u$ without a variation in $v$. A partial derivative of $f$, say $\frac{\partial f}{\partial u}$ would imply that $v$ is constant while $u$ varies. Isn't that a mathematical contradiction?

Thanks

Answer 1

It is the notation that is confusing. In this situation, you actually have two different functions of the same name $f$. To make the matter clearer, I'll give one of them a different name:

$$ g(x) = f(u(x), v(x)). $$

Then you know that $f:\mathbb R^2 \to \mathbb R$ but $g:\mathbb R \to \mathbb R$. They are different functions.

Usually, the notation $\frac{\partial f}{\partial u}$ refers to the derivative of $f$ with respect to the first variable if you usually put $u$ in the first variable like this: $f(u, v)$. The notation $\frac{df}{dx}$ implies that $u(x)$ and $v(x)$ are provided, and it is simply $g'$.

Answer 2

(1) is not correct - let $u(x) = x$, and $v(x) = 1$. Then $u$ changes any time $x$ does, but $v$ never changes. In general, $u$ changing implies nothing about how $v$ changes.