Lesson 11

Higher Order and Implicit

Differentiation
OBJECTIVES:

•to define higher derivatives;

•to apply the knowledge of higher derivatives and
implicit differentiation in proving relations;
•to find the higher derivative of algebraic functions;
and
•to determine the derivative of algebraic functions
implicitly under the specified conditions.
 HIGHER
DERIVATIVES
The derivative f’ of a function f is itself a function
and hence may have a derivative of its own. If f’ is
differentiable, then its derivative is denoted by f”
and is called the second derivative of f. As long as
we have differentiability, we can continue the
process of differentiating to obtain the third,
fourth, fifth, and even higher derivatives of f.
These successive derivatives are denoted by
f ' , f ' '  ( f ' )' , f ' ' '  ( f ' ' )' , f 4  ( f ' ' ' )' , f 5  ( f 4 )' ,......
• Other common notations for higher derivatives are the
following:
first dy d
, y ' , f ' ( x ), f ( x ), Dx f ( x )
derivative: dx dx
2 2
second derivative: d y d 2
2
, y ' ' , f ' ' ( x), 2 f ( x), D x f ( x)
dx dx
n n
d y n n d n
n derivative:
th
n
, y , f ( x ), n
f ( x ), D x f ( x)
dx dx
The symbols
dy d 2 y d n y
, 2 , n are called Leibniz notations.
dx dx dx
EXAMPLE
S:
1. Find all the derivatives of the function.
y  6 x 5  5 x 4  2 x 3  3 x 2  10 x  5

SOLUTIO
N:
y'  30 x 4  20 x 3  6 x 2  6 x  10
y"  120 x 3  60 x 2  12 x  6
y'''  360 x 2  120 x  12
y  4   720 x  120
y  5   720
y6   0
 2 4
y  x  5  x  4x
4

x 1
SOLUTIO
N: y'  4 x 3  2 x 3  16 x 5
y"  12 x 2  6 x 4  80 x 6

when x=1;
y"  12 1  6  1  80  1
2 4 6

 12  6  80
y"  98
 d2y x
3. Find of y 
dx 2 1 x

SOLUTIO
N: dy  1  x  1  x  1 1  x  x 1
  
dx 1  x 2
 1  x 1  x 2
2

d 2 y  1  x   0   1 2 1  x   1  2 1  x 
2
 
dx 2  1  x 4 1  x 4
d2y 2

dx 2
1  x 3
 IMPLICIT
DIFFERENTIATION
FUNCTIONS DEFINED EXPLICITLY AND
IMPLICITLY
There are two ways to define functions, implicitly and
explicitly. Most of the equations we have dealt with have
been explicit equations, such as y = 2x-3, so that we can
write y = f(x) where f(x) = 2x-3. But the equation 2x-y = 3
describes the same function. This second equation is an
implicit definition of y as a function of x. As there is no
real distinction between the appearance of x or y in the
second form, this equation is also an implicit definition
of x as a function of y.
An implicit function is a function in which the
dependent variable has not been given "explicitly" in
terms of the independent variable. To give a function f
 explicitly is to provide a prescription for determining
the output value of the function y in terms of
the input value x: y = f(x). By contrast, the function
is implicit if the value of y is obtained
from x by solving an equation of the form: R(x,y) = 0.
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

• In general, it is not necessary to solve an equation

for y in terms of x in order to differentiate the
functions defined implicitly by the equation.

• To find the derivative of functions defined

implicitly we use implicit differentiation.
 Steps in Implicit Differentiation

1. Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect

to x.
dy
2. Collect all the terms with on one side of the
dx
equation.
dy
3. Factor out .
dx

dy
4. Solve for dx .
EXAMPLE
: 1. Find y' and y' ' of x 2  4 y 2  4 by implicit differenti ation.

Solution:
x2  4 y2  4 Find y' '
Take the derivative of 1  y - xy'  x
y' '   2

 then replace y' 
each term implicitly, 4  y  4y
2 x  8 yy'  0  x  4 y2  x2
y  x 
8 yy'  2 x 1  4y   1  4y
y"  
Solve for y' , 4 y2 4 y2

y' 
2x 1 4 y 2  x2  x2  4 y 2
y"   
 
8y 4 4 y3 16 y 3
x but x 2  4 y 2  4
y' 
4y 4 1
y"  
16 y 3 4 y 3
2. Show that if x y  1, then y' '  x' '  4

Solution:
dy  y
Differenti ate the given then substitute 
dx x
equation x y  1 wrt x.  y
dy
x   y
d2y y y
x  y  1  0   x  
dx dx 2 x2 x2
dy dy  y d2y 2y
x  y     this is y"
dx dx x dx 2 x 2

Different iate again wrt x

 dy   dy 
x      y  1  x    y
d2y  dx   dx 
 
dx 2 x2 x2
 dx dx  x
Now find in x y  1. then substitute 
dy dy y
dx  x
x 1  y 0 y     x
dy
2
d x  y  x x
 
dx dx  x dy 2 y2 y2
y  x  
dy dy y d 2 x 2x
  this is x"
dy 2 y 2

Differentiate again wrt y.

dx Therefore ,
y(  )    x 1 
2
d x dy 2 y 2x 4
 y"  x"   
dy 2 y2 x 2 y 2 xy
 dx  y"  x"  4 since xy  1
2
y     x
d x
  dy 
dy 2 y2