HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES LESSON 4

IMPLICIT FUNCTIONS

*HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES*

The derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥, or simply 𝑦′, is at first derivative. The
derivative of the first derivative is called the second derivative and is written in the
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑3 𝑦 𝑑4 𝑦 𝑑𝑛 𝑦
form , 𝑦 ′ , 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) or 𝐷𝑥2 𝑦. Further differentiation, , , , . . . , 𝑒𝑡𝑐.
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥 𝑛

Example 1.

Find the second derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1.

Solution:

𝑦 = 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1
𝑦 ′ = 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1
𝑦 ′′ = 12𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 4

Example 2.

Find the third derivative of 𝑦 = 4𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2.

Solution:

𝑦 = 4𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2
𝑦 ′ = 12𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 1
𝑦 ′′ = 24𝑥 + 12
𝑦 ′′′ = 24

Example 3.
(𝑥+1)2
Find the second derivative of 𝑦 = .
𝑥−1

*DERIVATIVE OF IMPLICIT FUNCTIONS*

For the functions such as, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥𝑦, 𝑥√𝑦 = 9𝑥 + 𝑦 and (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 3𝑥𝑦, the values
of 𝑥 and 𝑦 are connected together in an equation. Finding for the derivative of 𝑦 with
respect to 𝑥, implicit differentiation can be applied. The 𝑦 is called the implicit
differentiation of 𝑥.

Example 1:

Find 𝑦′ of the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥𝑦.

Solution:

First differentiate each term of the equation.

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥𝑦
2𝑥𝑑𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 4(𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑥)
𝑥𝑑𝑥 + 𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 2𝑦𝑑𝑥
HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES LESSON 4
IMPLICIT FUNCTIONS

Then, combine the terms containing the same differential making the terms of 𝑑𝑦 on
the left side and the terms of 𝑑𝑥 on the right side of the equation, then factor out
terms.

𝑦𝑑𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑑𝑦 = 2𝑦𝑑𝑥 − 𝑥𝑑𝑥

(𝑦 − 2𝑥)𝑑𝑦 = (2𝑦 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
Divide both sides of the equation by the terms that will remain only on the left
𝑑𝑥
side and all the other terms on the other side.
1
[(𝑦 − 2𝑥)𝑑𝑦 = (2𝑦 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥]
(𝑦 − 2𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 2𝑦 − 𝑥
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 − 2𝑥
𝑑𝑦 2𝑦 − 𝑥
𝑦′ = =
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 − 2𝑥

Example 2:

Find 𝑦′ of the equation (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 3𝑥𝑦.