How do I solve for y' in implicit differentiation problems?

In summary, the conversation is about finding the derivative of y with respect to x, given the equation Sin(xy) = Sinx Siny. The person suggests using the chain rule and product rule to differentiate the left and right sides, respectively. They rearrange the equation to isolate y' on one side, but they make a mistake in the second term on the right side by not using the chain rule when taking the derivative of cos(y). The correct equation is cos(xy)(y+xy') = cosx siny + -sin(y)y'.
  • #1
phantomcow2
52
0

Homework Statement



Find derivative of y with respect to x.

Sin(xy) = Sinx Siny


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Use chain rule (product rule for inner function) to differentiate the left. Use product rule to differentiate the right and I get the following:

cos(xy)(y+xy') = (cosx siny) + (cosy' sinx)

distribute the cos(xy) on the left to get:
ycos(xy) + xy'cos(xy) = (cosx siny) + (cosy' sinx)

Rearrange to get y' on one side, everything else on the other.

ycos(xy) - cosx siny = -xy'cos(xy) + cosy' sinx

Now what? I don't understand how I'd solve for y' from here. Inverse cosine?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
phantomcow2 said:
cos(xy)(y+xy') = (cosx siny) + (cosy' sinx)

OOOOHHH, so close! You got the left side correct, and you got the first term on the right side correct. But you got the second term wrong. When you take the derivative of [itex]\cos(y)[/itex] with respect to [itex]x[/itex] you have to use the chain rule.
 
  • #3
You have an error here:
cos(xy)(y+xy') = (cosx siny) + (cosy' sinx)
d/dx(cos(y)) isn't cos(y')
 

FAQ: How do I solve for y' in implicit differentiation problems?

What is implicit differentiation?

Implicit differentiation is a mathematical technique used to find the derivative of a function that is expressed implicitly, meaning that it is not explicitly in terms of one independent variable. This is useful when the function is too complex to solve for one variable directly.

How is implicit differentiation different from explicit differentiation?

The main difference between implicit and explicit differentiation is the form of the function. Explicit differentiation involves finding the derivative of a function that is written explicitly in terms of a single independent variable, while implicit differentiation involves finding the derivative of a function that is written implicitly in terms of multiple variables.

When is implicit differentiation used?

Implicit differentiation is often used in situations where the independent and dependent variables are not explicitly written in terms of each other. It is commonly used in physics, engineering, and economics to solve for rates of change and optimization problems.

What are the steps for performing implicit differentiation?

The steps for performing implicit differentiation are as follows:

  1. Write the given function in the form of y = f(x).
  2. Take the derivative of both sides of the equation with respect to x.
  3. Apply the chain rule to any terms that involve y.
  4. Solve for dy/dx, which represents the derivative of the function.

Are there any limitations to using implicit differentiation?

Yes, there are limitations to using implicit differentiation. This method can only be used when the dependent variable is written in terms of the independent variable. It also cannot be used to find the derivative of a function that is not differentiable, such as those with sharp corners or discontinuities. Additionally, implicit differentiation may result in a more complex derivative compared to explicit differentiation, making it more difficult to interpret and use in further calculations.

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
8K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Back
Top