How Do You Calculate the Second Derivative of an Implicit Function?

In summary, the student attempted to find the second derivative of 3(x^2)y+y+x=x^5 but was unable to do so. They then attempted to find the second derivative by implicit differentiation but were also unable to do so. They finally obtained the second derivative by solving for y'' in terms of x only.
  • #1
menco
43
0

Homework Statement


Find the second derivative of 3(x^2)y+y+x=x^5


Homework Equations


Find the first derivative using implicit differentiation.
Find the second by using quotient rule.


The Attempt at a Solution


So I found the first derivative to be

dy/dx = 5(x^4)-6xy-1 / 3(x^2)+1

I get very lost after this trying to find the second derivative using the quotient rule as there is the y variable still in the equation. Any help please?
 
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  • #2
menco said:

The Attempt at a Solution


So I found the first derivative to be

dy/dx = (5(x^4)-6xy-1) / (3(x^2)+1)

I get very lost after this trying to find the second derivative using the quotient rule as there is the y variable still in the equation. Any help please?

The equation for y' is wrong without parentheses.
Isolate y from the first equation 3(x^2)y+y+x=x^5 and sub into y'.

ehild
 
  • #3
Put u = 5(x^4)-6xy-1, then get du/dx using implicit differentiation and put v= 3(x^2)+1 and get dv/dx.

Then just put it into your formula for the quotient rule. But in du/dx you will have a term with dy/dx in it (which you know from the first derivative).
 
  • #4
Finding du/dx I get 20(x^3)-6x(dy/dx)-6y and dv/dx I get 6x. Is that correct?

This is what I tried earlier but got very lost trying to sub in dy/dx
 
Last edited:
  • #5
menco said:
Finding du/dx I get 20(x^3)-6x(dy/dx)-6y and dv/dx I get 6x. Is that correct?

This is what I tried earlier but got very lost trying to sub in dy/dx

It is correct now.:smile:

Show your further work.

ehild
 
  • #6
so then using the quotient rule

dy/dx = (v(du/dx)-u(dv/dx))/(v^2)

= ((3(x^2)+1)*(20(x^3)-(6x((5(x^4)-6xy-1)) / (3(x^2)+1))-6y) - (5(x^4)-6xy-1)* (6x)) / ((3(x^2)+1)^2)

sorry it looks very confusing like that if I knew how to make an image i would.

My calculator gives a result of (2(10(x^3)+27(x^2)(y)+6x-3y) / (3(x^2)+1)^2)
and I have not been able to get close to that answer.
 
  • #7
factoring the above I get a result of

(-60(x^5)+20(x^3)+72(x^2)(y)+12x-6y) / ((3x^2+1)^2)

or

(2(-30(x^5)+10(x^3)+36(x^2)(y)+6x-3y)) / ((3x^2+1)^2)
 
  • #8
Finding y' by implicit diferentiation is a good idea and I see no reason not to do the same for the second derivative.

[itex]3x^2y+y+x=x^5[/itex] so
[itex]6xy+ 3x^2y'+ y'+ 1= 5x^4[/itex]

Differentiating, implicitely, again,
[itex]6y+ 6xy'+ 6xy'+ 3x^2y''+ y''= 20x^3[/itex]
[itex]6y+ 12xy'+ (3x^2+ 1)y''= 20x^3[/itex]

You can solve
[itex]3x^2y+y+x=x^5[/itex]
for [itex]y= \frac{x^5- x}{3x^2+ 1}[/itex] and
[itex]6xy+ 3x^2y'+ y'+ 1= 5x^4[/itex]
for [itex]y'= \frac{5x^4- 6xy+ 1}{3x^2+ 1}[/itex]
and put those into [itex]y''= \frac{20x^3- 12xy'- 6y}{3x^2+ 1}[/itex]
if you like but my experience is that you seldom have to solve for y'' in terms of x only.
 

FAQ: How Do You Calculate the Second Derivative of an Implicit Function?

What is the purpose of finding the second derivative?

The second derivative gives us information about the rate of change of the rate of change of a function. It helps us understand the curvature of a function, whether it is concave up or down, and whether it is increasing or decreasing at a given point.

How do you find the second derivative?

To find the second derivative, you can use the power rule, product rule, quotient rule, or chain rule, depending on the given function. You can also use a graphing calculator or computer software to calculate the second derivative.

What is the notation for the second derivative?

The second derivative is denoted by d2y/dx2 or y''.

What does a positive or negative second derivative indicate?

A positive second derivative means that the function is concave up and increasing, while a negative second derivative means that the function is concave down and decreasing. A zero second derivative indicates a point of inflection.

How does the second derivative relate to the first derivative?

The first derivative gives us information about the slope of a function, while the second derivative gives us information about the slope of the first derivative. In other words, the second derivative is the rate of change of the rate of change of a function, or the derivative of the first derivative.

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