First Derivative of x sin(y)=y cos(x)

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The discussion revolves around finding the first derivative of the equation x sin(y) = y cos(x). Participants clarify the need to differentiate with respect to either x or y, emphasizing the correct application of the product rule and chain rule. There is confusion regarding the interpretation of the problem, with suggestions that it likely asks for dy/dx rather than a general derivative. The process of isolating dy/dx and rearranging terms is outlined to simplify the solution. Ultimately, the participants conclude that the problem was simpler than initially perceived.
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Homework Statement


Find the first derivative for

x sin(y) = y cos(x)

The Attempt at a Solution


x sin(y) = y cos(x)

Product rule on each side:

x cos(y) + sin(y) = -y sin(x) + cos(x)

I'm not sure what to do after that or if if I was even doing it right to begin with.
 
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DollarBill said:

Homework Statement


Find the first derivative for

x sin(y) = y cos(x)

The Attempt at a Solution


x sin(y) = y cos(x)

Product rule on each side:

x cos(y) + sin(y) = -y sin(x) + cos(x)

I'm not sure what to do after that or if if I was even doing it right to begin with.
What are you differentiating with respect to- x or y? It must be one or the other. If you are differentiating with respect to x, then the derivative of sin(y) is NOT cos(y), it is, by the chain rule, cos(y)(dy/dx) and the derivative of y is NOT 1, it is dy/dx. If you are differentiating with respect to y, then the derivative of x is NOT 1, it is dx/dy, and the derivative of cos(x) is NOT -sin(x), it is -sin(x)(dx/dy).

Finally, what does the problem really say? I am sure that it does not say "Find the first derivative for x sin(y) = y cos(x)", that doesn't make sense. I suspect it said "Find the derivatvive of y if x sin(y)= y cos(x)" though I can't be sure.
 
This is all it says:

"Find the first derivative for
x sin(y) = y cos(x)"

It does have answer choices, but they don't have any equal signs in them. They don't say "dy/dx =" or "dx/dy =". Here are the answer choices:

A) Sin(x) - x sin(y) / y cos(x) - cos(y)

B) cos(x) - sin(y) / sin(x) - cos(y)

C) y sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x) - x cos(y)

D) sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x) + cos(y)

E) None of the above
 
I'm sure that they want you to find dy \over{dx} by implicit differentiation.
 
Working it out again for dy/dx:

dx/dx Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)dx/dx

dx/dx just goes to 1:
Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)

I'm pretty much where I was before except with a dy/dx on each side that would just cancel each other out.
 
The dy \over{dx}'s don't "cancel each other out". There are two terms on each side of your equation, and only one term per side has dy \over{dx} as a factor...Try isolating the terms with dy \over{dx} on one side of the equation, and the rest of the terms on the other.
 
Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx + y sin(x) / cos(x)= dy/dx

How would I get rid of the 2nd dy/dx? :confused:
 
Well seeing as there's no dy/dx in the answer, I tried to do the following:

dx/dx Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)dx/dx

dx/dx Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx

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


dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)dx/dx

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

-sin(y)/x cos(y) = y sin(x) / cos(x)

Cross multiply to get:

y sin(x)*x cos(y) / cos(x)*-sin(y)

But it's still not an answer choice
 
Let's start again from here:

DollarBill said:
Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)

dy \over{dx} is a variable, and it happens to be the variable you are trying to solve for in the above equation.

Start by moving the terms that have dy \over{dx} in them to one side of the equation and move the terms that don't have dy \over{dx} in them to the other side.

For example, if I had the equation Ax+sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}=By\frac{dy}{dx}-3cos(x), I would solve it as follows:

Step 1; isolate the terms with dy \over{dx}:

Ax+sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}=By\frac{dy}{dx}-3cos(x) \Rightarrow sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}-By\frac{dy}{dx}=-Ax-3cos(x)

Step 2; factor out a dy \over{dx}:

sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}-By\frac{dy}{dx}=-Ax-3cos(x) \Rightarrow \frac{dy}{dx}(sin(y)-By)=-Ax-3cos(x)

Step 3: divide by (sin(y)-By) and hence solve for dy \over{dx}:

\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{-Ax-3cos(x)}{(sin(y)-By)}

and so my answer would be \frac{-Ax-3cos(x)}{(sin(y)-By)}

Apply this method to your problem.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
y sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x)-x cos(y)

Wow, that was really easy. I was way over thinking that one

Thanks
 
  • #11
DollarBill said:
y sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x)-x cos(y)

Wow, that was really easy. I was way over thinking that one

Thanks

Yep :approve:
 

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