Implicit Differentiation: Finding the Derivative of sin(xy)

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In summary, the conversation is about a person struggling with a problem involving implicit differentiation and seeking help. They discuss the solution and the use of the chain rule to arrive at the correct answer.
  • #1
kevinnn
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Homework Statement


I'm working on implicit differentiation and there is one part of the problem I'm having trouble with so I just pulled it out.
d/dx[6+sin(xy)]


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


They get the answer of this to be sin(xy) [(x) dy/dx+y] How do they get that? Here is what I get and how I arrive at it.
d/dx[6+sin(xy)]= d/dx[sin(xy)]= cos(xy) [d/dy (xy) ][dy/dx]= xcos(xy)dy/dx I believe the x comes out because we are evaluating the derivative of y at x, so the y is one but the x comes out, is that the right idea? Thanks.

-Kevin
 
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  • #2
kevinnn said:
They get the answer of this to be sin(xy) [(x) dy/dx+y]
Are you sure its sin, and not cos?

kevinnn said:
d/dx[6+sin(xy)]= d/dx[sin(xy)]= cos(xy) [d/dy (xy) ][dy/dx]
Where did the d/dy come from? I guess you must have rewritten d/dx as dy/dx d/dy, using the chain rule. That seems unnecessary, since it's not easier to apply d/dy to xy than to apply d/dx to it.
 
  • #3
Yes sorry it is cos(xy)
Yes, I was using the chain rule. So if apply d/dx to it then the answer for that part would be y correct?
 
  • #4
kevinnn said:

Homework Statement


I'm working on implicit differentiation and there is one part of the problem I'm having trouble with so I just pulled it out.
d/dx[6+sin(xy)]

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


They get the answer of this to be [STRIKE]sin[/STRIKE] cos(xy) [(x) dy/dx+y] How do they get that? Here is what I get and how I arrive at it.
d/dx[6+sin(xy)]= d/dx[sin(xy)]= cos(xy) [d/dy (xy) ][dy/dx]= xcos(xy)dy/dx I believe the x comes out because we are evaluating the derivative of y at x, so the y is one but the x comes out, is that the right idea? Thanks.

-Kevin
You should have

[itex]\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}(\sin(xy))=\cos(xy)\frac{d}{dx}(xy)\ .[/itex]

Now, what is [itex]\displaystyle \ \ \frac{d}{dx}(xy)\ ?[/itex]
 
  • #5
Upon working through the problem again from the start I was able to solve it. I guess I was just tired when I first attempted it. Thanks for the help!
 

FAQ: Implicit Differentiation: Finding the Derivative of sin(xy)

What is a derivative?

A derivative is a mathematical concept that represents the rate of change of a function with respect to its independent variable. It measures how much a function changes as its input changes.

Why is it important to calculate derivatives?

Derivatives are important in many areas of science and engineering because they help us understand how different quantities change over time or in relation to each other. They are also used to find maximum and minimum values of functions, which is useful for optimization problems.

How do I calculate a derivative?

To calculate a derivative, you can use the basic rules of differentiation, such as the power rule, product rule, quotient rule, and chain rule. These rules allow you to find the derivative of a function with respect to its independent variable.

What is the difference between a derivative and an integral?

A derivative and an integral are inverse operations of each other. While a derivative measures the rate of change of a function, an integral measures the accumulation of that function over a given interval. In simpler terms, a derivative is like a slope while an integral is like the area under a curve.

Can I use derivatives in real-life applications?

Yes, derivatives are used in various real-life applications such as physics, economics, and engineering. For example, derivatives are used to calculate the speed and acceleration of moving objects, the rate of change of stock prices, and the efficiency of a chemical reaction.

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