# partial derivative with respect to itself

Given some state function $$f(x,y,z)=0$$ I want to prove the reciprocity relationship $$\left(\dfrac{\partial x}{\partial y}\right)_z=\dfrac{1}{\left(\dfrac{\partial y}{\partial x}\right)_z}$$

I know how to do this the standard way (implicit function theorem, $f$ is exactly differentiable, etc.) but I've recently seen someone employ a somewhat trivial method of demonstrating this and I can't help but feel they've done something smelly but I lack the background to make a determination.

Beginning with the assumption that $z$ is held constant,

$$\dfrac{\partial x}{\partial y}=\dfrac{\partial x}{\partial y}\cdot\dfrac{\partial x}{\partial x}=\dfrac{\partial x}{\partial y}\cdot\dfrac{1}{\dfrac{\partial x}{\partial x}}=\dfrac{1}{\dfrac{\partial y}{\partial x}}$$

Is this valid? More importantly, how is $\frac{\partial x}{\partial x}$ to be interpreted? In physics we treat derivatives and partials like fractions and do algebraic operations on them all the time. What are the problems with this sort of treatment?