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Thread: Implicit differentiation

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    Implicit differentiation

    Question is: Find dy/dx in both cases:

    a) e^xy = 5

    b) sin2xcosy = 3

    Please help!

  2. #2
    vbuggy krtxmrtz's Avatar
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    Re: Implicit differentiation

    In the first case, if you define:

    f(x,y) = exy then, f = 5 and df = 0 (df is the differential). Using the symbol dp meaning 'partial derivative' then:

    df = (dp/dx) dx + (dp/dy) dy

    from which,

    dy/dx = -(dp/dx) / (dp/dy) = -yexy/xexy = -y/x

    In the second case you do just the same thing:

    f = sin2xcosy

    dy/dx = -(dp/dx) / (dp/dy) = -(2cos2xcosy) / (-sin2xsiny) = 2 / (tan2xtany)

    By the way, the latter function can't be right or, rather, has no complying point (x,y) for both the sine and cosine vary from -1 to 1 so a product of a sine and a cosine can't be equal to 3.
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    Re: Implicit differentiation

    That seems to make confusing sense. So are you saying dy/dx of e^xy =- y/x?

    The sin and cos one makes sense.

    Thank you for your help by the way.

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    vbuggy krtxmrtz's Avatar
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    Re: Implicit differentiation

    Quote Originally Posted by Cadbury
    That seems to make confusing sense. So are you saying dy/dx of e^xy =- y/x?
    ...
    That's right.

    From exy = 5 you get:

    xy = ln(5)
    y = ln(5) / x

    and dy/dx = -ln(5) / x2

    i.e. dy/dx = -y/x
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    Addicted Member Glaysher's Avatar
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    Re: Implicit differentiation

    Quote Originally Posted by Cadbury
    Question is: Find dy/dx in both cases:

    a) e^xy = 5

    b) sin2xcosy = 3

    Please help!
    a)

    Make t = xy then dt/dx = y + x dy/dx

    And et differentiates to et

    Then d/dx(exy) = et(y + x dy/dx) = exy(y + x dy/dx)

    5 differentiates to 0 so we get:

    exy(y + x dy/dx) = 0

    y + x dy/dx = 0

    x dy/dx = -y

    dy/dx = -y/x
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    Addicted Member Glaysher's Avatar
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    Re: Implicit differentiation

    Quote Originally Posted by Cadbury
    Question is: Find dy/dx in both cases:

    a) e^xy = 5

    b) sin2xcosy = 3

    Please help!
    b)

    By product rule

    d/dx(sin 2x cos y) = 2 cos 2x cos y - sin 2x sin y dy/dx

    3 differentiates to zero so

    2 cos 2x cos y - sin 2x sin y dy/dx = 0

    sin 2x sin y dy/dx = 2 cos 2x cos y

    dy/dx = (2 cos 2x cos y)/(sin 2x sin y) = 2 cot 2x cot y
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