<blockquote>
<p>This is known as the Hotelling's Lemma. To do this, we assume that ,, are differentiable wrt ,,. What's the guarantee that such is the case with these variables?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>If you have only generic functions as  <span class="math-container">$\pi(p,v,w),k(p,v,w),l(p,v,w)$</span> , and you know nothing about them, you can't prove in any way that they are differentiable with respect <span class="math-container">$p, v$</span> and <span class="math-container">$w$</span>, but you have to <em>assume</em> that these derivatives exist.</p>
<p>The case is different if you have specific functions. Here you can resort to the definition of partial derivatives or to theorems about the derivatives.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Can we prove the differentiability using possibly the first principles or in some other way?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The link to Wikipedia you quoted gives the definitions of <strong>differentiability</strong> <strong>of a function</strong>, both for function from <span class="math-container">$\mathbb{R}$</span> to <span class="math-container">$\mathbb{R}$</span> and functions of several real variables (to <span class="math-container">$\mathbb{R^n}$</span>).</p>
<p>Here, we have to make a fundamental distinction, between <em>functions of one real variable</em> and functions of <em>several real variables.</em></p>
<p>For a <strong>function from <span class="math-container">$\mathbb{R}$</span> to <span class="math-container">$\mathbb{R}$</span></strong>, differentiability means the existence of the first derivative,  the  definition  of which is given by Wikipedia, that is the usual definition as the limit of the incremental ratio, and a function is differentiable if this limit exists (finite).</p>
<p>So, to check if a function is differentiable, you can use, as you know from basic mathematical analysis,  the definition, calculating that limit for your specific function, or proving that it doesn't existe or is not finite, or resorting to theorems about some specific function being differentiable, or to theorems as 'the sum of two differentiable functions is differentiable', or that the composition of two differentiable functions is differentiable, and so on.</p>
<p>Very different is the case of <strong>functions of several variables.</strong>
In the article of Wikipedia we have the definition of differentiability of a function of several variables, as the existence of the <strong>differential</strong> of the function (also called <em>total differential</em> or <em>total derivative</em>). The differential of a function is the <em>linear form</em> (also called <em>differential form</em>) defined by Wikipedia through a particular limit (this is too long to report here).</p>
<p>But differentiability in this sense is not the same concept as the existence of the partial derivatives, as your derivatives of the functions <span class="math-container">$\pi(p,v,w),k(p,v,w),l(p,v,w)$</span>. You, here, in the Hotelling Lemma, are considering not the differentiability in the sense of the existence of the  differential, but only of the partial derivatives.</p>
<p>In the case of several functions there is this, one can say crucial, distinction.
The existence of partial derivative and the existence of the differential are distinct, even if correlated, concepts.  For example, differentiability implies the existence of the derivative in <strong>all</strong> directions (not only partial derivatives), but the viceversa doesn’t hold.</p>
<p>The existence of the partial derivatives is not a notion equivalent to the differentiability of a function in one single variable, as, for instance, their existence in a point doesn't guarantee the continuity of the function in that point.</p>
<p>This is, instead, guaranteed by the existence of the differential, so that the actual generalization to several variables of the concept of differentiability in one variable is the differential.</p>
<p>One can see this from a <strong>geometrical point of view</strong>: while the existence of the derivative in point of a function of one variable guarantees the existence of the <em>tangent line</em> in that point, the existence of the differential in a point guarantees the existence of the <em>tangent plane</em> in that point.</p>
<p><strong>Practical conclusions</strong>: The differential is of course a very important concept from a theoretical point of view, but if you have to check the existence of partial derivatives of a function of several variables, you can forget the definition of  differential (differentiability in the sense described by Wikipedia) and look at the partial derivatives only.</p>
<p>As the partial derivatives are actually, by definition, derivatives of a function of <strong>one</strong> variable, you can apply to partial derivatives the same methods as for functions of one real variable.</p>
<p>I hope this short synthesis of a complex issue can be useful to you to contextualize  your problem and find your way in this subject.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-26T22:22:39.113Z
The answer completely ignores the fact that only the function $f$ is exogenously given; all other functions are derived from this function.
Michael Greinecker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-26T22:45:45.523Z
My answer is from a mathematical point of view, as the OP asked a mathematical explanation quoting the article of Wikipedia about diffentiuation. If one has informations about then functions involved, of course this information must be used . I referred to the question of the OP, where i Can't see any $f$ function.
BakerStreet
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-26T22:59:52.000Z
I didn't finish my comment, sorry. I said that I didn't see any assumption about $f$. If the other function are derived from $f$, the differentiability or not of these function can be established resorting, maybe,  to theorems about differentiability I referred to, it is obviuos, I said it. I don't see how this can change the question about differentiability, which was a general mathematical  question, not a specific question about Hotelling's Lemma.
BakerStreet
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-27T07:24:18.927Z
$\pi$ is defined in terms of $f$. $k$ and $l$ are inputs and the corresponding functions give the profit-maximizing input demands. The question is very much about Hotelling's lemma.
Michael Greinecker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-27T11:12:50.400Z
I know, but  the question, in my opinion, was about the concepts  in Wikipedia, the OP asked how to apply the 'first principles' defined here. An explanation  was necessary, I suppose the OP didn't study the subject  before, otherwise one doesn't refere to Wikipedia, but looks at textbooks. And the article of Wikipedia could be confusing, if one hasn't a previous knowledge of the subject, a correct knowledge of the concepts is necessary. Confusion between derivatives and differential is a serious mistake.  Later one can look at the applicaions, as Hotelling's Lemma. But it is just my opinion.
BakerStreet
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-26T17:15:59.617Z
2022-09-26T19:18:38.357Z
2022-09-26T19:18:38.357Z
BakerStreet
<p>Notation: Subscripts like <span class="math-container">$g_t$</span> denote partial derivatives <span class="math-container">$\frac{\partial g}{\partial t}$</span>.</p>
<p>If <span class="math-container">$\pi(p,v,w) = pf(k,l) - vk - wl$</span> where <span class="math-container">$\pi(p,v,w),k(p,v,w),l(p,v,w),p$</span> denote profit, capital, labour and price in a perfectly competitive market, then by the envelope theorem, we have <span class="math-container">$$\frac{\partial \pi}{\partial P} = q(p,v,w), \frac{\partial \pi}{\partial p} = -k(p,v,w), \frac{\partial \pi}{\partial p} = -l(p,v,w).$$</span></p>
<p>This is known as the Hotelling's lemma. To do this, we assume that <span class="math-container">$\pi, k, l$</span> are differentiable wrt <span class="math-container">$p,v,w$</span>. What's the guarantee that such is the case with these variables? Can we prove the differentiability using possibly the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differentiable_function#Differentiability_in_higher_dimensions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">first principles</a> or in some other way? I am curious when we can and when we can not apply these.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-24T17:38:06.527Z
@1muflon1 If you're reading this, then I would like to thank you for your answer to [this](https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/52843/how-tax-relates-with-utility-function) question. I don't know how to log back in, so here's a token of appreciation.
Bayes
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-24T18:12:17.633Z
You can't upvote their answer?
Giskard
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-24T19:00:14.837Z
@Giskard no, it says I need 15 reputation for that.
Bayes
<microeconomics>
Differentiability of variables in Hotelling's lemma
Bayes
# Differentiability of variables in Hotelling's lemma

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-09-24)

Notation: Subscripts like $g\_t$ denote partial derivatives $\frac{\partial g}{\partial t}$.

If $\pi(p,v,w) = pf(k,l) - vk - wl$ where $\pi(p,v,w),k(p,v,w),l(p,v,w),p$ denote profit, capital, labour and price in a perfectly competitive market, then by the envelope theorem, we have $$\frac{\partial \pi}{\partial P} = q(p,v,w), \frac{\partial \pi}{\partial p} = -k(p,v,w), \frac{\partial \pi}{\partial p} = -l(p,v,w).$$

This is known as the Hotelling's lemma. To do this, we assume that $\pi, k, l$ are differentiable wrt $p,v,w$. What's the guarantee that such is the case with these variables? Can we prove the differentiability using possibly the [first principles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differentiable_function#Differentiability_in_higher_dimensions) or in some other way? I am curious when we can and when we can not apply these.

**Tags:** microeconomics

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @1muflon1 If you're reading this, then I would like to thank you for your answer to [this](https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/52843/how-tax-relates-with-utility-function) question. I don't know how to log back in, so here's a token of appreciation.  
> **username_1**: You can't upvote their answer?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 no, it says I need 15 reputation for that.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-09-26. Score: 2

> This is known as the Hotelling's Lemma. To do this, we assume that ,, are differentiable wrt ,,. What's the guarantee that such is the case with these variables?

If you have only generic functions as $\pi(p,v,w),k(p,v,w),l(p,v,w)$ , and you know nothing about them, you can't prove in any way that they are differentiable with respect $p, v$ and $w$, but you have to *assume* that these derivatives exist.

The case is different if you have specific functions. Here you can resort to the definition of partial derivatives or to theorems about the derivatives.

> Can we prove the differentiability using possibly the first principles or in some other way?

The link to Wikipedia you quoted gives the definitions of **differentiability** **of a function**, both for function from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}$ and functions of several real variables (to $\mathbb{R^n}$).

Here, we have to make a fundamental distinction, between *functions of one real variable* and functions of *several real variables.*

For a **function from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}$**, differentiability means the existence of the first derivative, the definition of which is given by Wikipedia, that is the usual definition as the limit of the incremental ratio, and a function is differentiable if this limit exists (finite).

So, to check if a function is differentiable, you can use, as you know from basic mathematical analysis, the definition, calculating that limit for your specific function, or proving that it doesn't existe or is not finite, or resorting to theorems about some specific function being differentiable, or to theorems as 'the sum of two differentiable functions is differentiable', or that the composition of two differentiable functions is differentiable, and so on.

Very different is the case of **functions of several variables.**
In the article of Wikipedia we have the definition of differentiability of a function of several variables, as the existence of the **differential** of the function (also called *total differential* or *total derivative*). The differential of a function is the *linear form* (also called *differential form*) defined by Wikipedia through a particular limit (this is too long to report here).

But differentiability in this sense is not the same concept as the existence of the partial derivatives, as your derivatives of the functions $\pi(p,v,w),k(p,v,w),l(p,v,w)$. You, here, in the Hotelling Lemma, are considering not the differentiability in the sense of the existence of the differential, but only of the partial derivatives.

In the case of several functions there is this, one can say crucial, distinction.
The existence of partial derivative and the existence of the differential are distinct, even if correlated, concepts. For example, differentiability implies the existence of the derivative in **all** directions (not only partial derivatives), but the viceversa doesn’t hold.

The existence of the partial derivatives is not a notion equivalent to the differentiability of a function in one single variable, as, for instance, their existence in a point doesn't guarantee the continuity of the function in that point.

This is, instead, guaranteed by the existence of the differential, so that the actual generalization to several variables of the concept of differentiability in one variable is the differential.

One can see this from a **geometrical point of view**: while the existence of the derivative in point of a function of one variable guarantees the existence of the *tangent line* in that point, the existence of the differential in a point guarantees the existence of the *tangent plane* in that point.

**Practical conclusions**: The differential is of course a very important concept from a theoretical point of view, but if you have to check the existence of partial derivatives of a function of several variables, you can forget the definition of differential (differentiability in the sense described by Wikipedia) and look at the partial derivatives only.

As the partial derivatives are actually, by definition, derivatives of a function of **one** variable, you can apply to partial derivatives the same methods as for functions of one real variable.

I hope this short synthesis of a complex issue can be useful to you to contextualize your problem and find your way in this subject.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: The answer completely ignores the fact that only the function $f$ is exogenously given; all other functions are derived from this function.  
> **username_2**: My answer is from a mathematical point of view, as the OP asked a mathematical explanation quoting the article of Wikipedia about diffentiuation. If one has informations about then functions involved, of course this information must be used . I referred to the question of the OP, where i Can't see any $f$ function.  
> **username_2**: I didn't finish my comment, sorry. I said that I didn't see any assumption about $f$. If the other function are derived from $f$, the differentiability or not of these function can be established resorting, maybe,  to theorems about differentiability I referred to, it is obviuos, I said it. I don't see how this can change the question about differentiability, which was a general mathematical  question, not a specific question about Hotelling's Lemma.  
> **username_3**: $\pi$ is defined in terms of $f$. $k$ and $l$ are inputs and the corresponding functions give the profit-maximizing input demands. The question is very much about Hotelling's lemma.  
> **username_2**: I know, but  the question, in my opinion, was about the concepts  in Wikipedia, the OP asked how to apply the 'first principles' defined here. An explanation  was necessary, I suppose the OP didn't study the subject  before, otherwise one doesn't refere to Wikipedia, but looks at textbooks. And the article of Wikipedia could be confusing, if one hasn't a previous knowledge of the subject, a correct knowledge of the concepts is necessary. Confusion between derivatives and differential is a serious mistake.  Later one can look at the applicaions, as Hotelling's Lemma. But it is just my opinion.  

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