Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

FURTHER IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

An implicit function such as 3𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 5𝑥 + 𝑦 = 2, may be differentiated term by term with

respect to 𝑥. This gives:
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
(3𝑥 2 ) + (𝑦 2 ) − (5𝑥) + (𝑦) = (2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

finding finding finding finding finding

the the the the the
derivative derivative derivative derivative derivative

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
i.e. 6𝑥 + 2𝑦 𝑑𝑥 − 5 + 1 𝑑𝑥 = 0

using equation (1) and standard derivatives.

𝑑𝑦
An expression for the derivative in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦 may be obtained by rearranging this latter
𝑑𝑥
equation. Thus:
𝑑𝑦
(2𝑦 + 1) = 5 − 6𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 5 −6𝑥
from which, =
𝑑𝑥 2𝑦 +1

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Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

PROBLEM (1).
𝑑𝑦
Given 2𝑦 2 − 5𝑥 4 − 2 − 7𝑦 3 = 0, determine 𝑑𝑥

SOLUTION (1).

Each term in turn is differentiated with respect to 𝑥:

Hence

2𝑦 2 − 5𝑥 4 − 2 − 7𝑦 3 = 0

finding finding finding finding finding

the the the the the
derivative derivative derivative derivative derivative

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
(2𝑦 2 ) − (5𝑥 4 ) − (2) − (7𝑦 3 ) = (0)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
i.e. 4𝑦 − 20𝑥 3 − 0 − 21𝑦 2 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Rearranging gives:
𝑑𝑦
(4𝑦 − 21𝑦 2 ) = 20𝑥 3
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 20𝑥 3 Answer.
i.e. 𝑑𝑥
= (4𝑦−21𝑦 2 )

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

PROBLEM (2).
𝑑𝑦
Determine the values of 𝑑𝑥 when 𝑥 = 4 given that 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25

SOLUTION 1 (2).
Differentiating each term in
2 2
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 25 turn with respect to 𝑥 gives:

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
(𝑥 2 ) + (𝑦 2 ) = (25)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
i.e. 2𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 2𝑥
Hence = −
𝑑𝑥 2𝑦

𝑑𝑦 𝑥
= −
𝑑𝑥 𝑦

Since 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25,

when 𝑥 = 4 𝑦 = √(25 − 42 )

= ±3

𝑥 = 4 and 𝑦 = ±3
𝑑𝑦 4
=−
𝑑𝑥 ±3

𝑑𝑦 4 Answer.
=±
𝑑𝑥 3

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25 is the equation of a circle

𝑟=5

center at the origin (0, 0)

radius = 5

At 𝑥 = 4, the two gradients are shown.

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

SOLUTION 2 (2).

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25

Using function of a function rule: Taking the

square root of
both sides
𝑦 2 = 25 − 𝑥 2

𝑦 = √(25 − 𝑥 2 )
1
𝑦 = (25 − 𝑥 2 )2

1
𝑑𝑦 1
= (25 − 𝑥 2 )−2 (−2𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑑𝑦 −2𝑥
= 1
𝑑𝑥
2(25 − 𝑥 2 )2

𝑑𝑦 −2𝑥
=
𝑑𝑥 2√25 − 𝑥 2

𝑑𝑦 𝑥
= −
𝑑𝑥 √(25 − 𝑥 2 )

when 𝑥 = 4
𝑑𝑦 4
=−
𝑑𝑥 √(25−4 2 )

𝑑𝑦 4 Answer.
=± same as the answer obtained in SOLUTION 1 (2).
𝑑𝑥 3

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

PROBLEM (3).
𝑑𝑦
a. Find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦 given 4𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 2 = 0
𝑑𝑦
b. Evaluate 𝑑𝑥 when 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦 = 2

SOLUTION (3).

a. Differentiating each term in turn with respect to 𝑥 gives:

Use product
4𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 2 = 0 rule

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
(4𝑥 2 ) + (2𝑥 𝑦 3 ) − (5𝑦 2 ) = (0)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
8𝑥 + [(2𝑥) (3𝑦 2 ) + (𝑦 3 )(2)] − 10𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
8𝑥 + 6𝑥 𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 3 − 10𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Rearranging gives:

𝑑𝑦
8𝑥 + 2𝑦 3 = (10𝑦 − 6𝑥 𝑦 2 )
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 8𝑥 + 2𝑦 3
=
𝑑𝑥 10𝑦 − 6𝑥 𝑦 2

𝑑𝑦 2 (4𝑥 + 𝑦 3 )
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑦 (5 − 3𝑥𝑦)

𝑑𝑦 2 (4𝑥 + 𝑦 3 )
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑦 (5 − 3𝑥𝑦)

𝑑𝑦 4𝑥 + 𝑦 3 Answer.
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑦(5 −3𝑥𝑦)

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

b. When 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦 = 2,

𝑑𝑦 4(1)+ (2)3
=
𝑑𝑥 2[5 − (3)(1)(2)]

12
=
−2

𝑑𝑦 Answer.
= −6
𝑑𝑥

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

PROBLEM (4).

Find the gradients of the tangents drawn to the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 3 at 𝑥 = 2

SOLUTION (4).
𝑑𝑦
The gradient of the tangent is given by
𝑑𝑥

Differentiating each term in turn with respect to 𝑥 gives:

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 3
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
(𝑥 2 ) + (𝑦 2 ) − (2𝑥) − (2𝑦) = (3)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 2 − 2 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Rearranging,

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2𝑦 − 2 − 2 + 2𝑥 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2𝑦 − 2 − 2 + 2𝑥 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2𝑦 − 2 = 2 − 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
(2𝑦 − 2) = 2 − 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥

from which

𝑑𝑦 2−2𝑥
=
𝑑𝑥 2𝑦 −2

𝑑𝑦 1−𝑥
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 −1

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

The value of 𝑦 when 𝑥 = 2 is determined from the original equation

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 3

(2)2 + 𝑦 2 − 2(2) − 2𝑦 = 3

4 + 𝑦 2 − 4 − 2𝑦 = 3

𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 − 3 = 0

Factorizing gives:

(𝑦 + 1)(𝑦 − 3) = 0
from which

𝑦1 = −1

𝑦2 = 3

When 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦1 = −1, When 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦2 = 3,

𝑑𝑦 1−𝑥 𝑑𝑦 1−𝑥
= =
𝑑𝑥 𝑦−1 𝑑𝑥 𝑦−1

1−2 1−2
= =
−1 − 1 3−1

−1 −1
= =
−2 2

𝑑𝑦 1 𝑑𝑦 1
= = −
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 2

𝟏
Hence the gradients of the tangents are ±
𝟐

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Differentiation of Implicit Functions

The circle having the given equation has its centre at (1, 1) and radius √5
and is shown in below with the two gradients of the tangents.

Engineering Department