Implicit Functions: How Can Derivatives Be Calculated?

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In summary, the implicit function theorem allows us to solve for the derivative of an implicitly defined function in terms of the partial derivatives of the defining function.
  • #1
mathmari
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Hey! :eek:

Let $y(x)$ be defined implicitly by $G(x,y(x))=0$, where $G$ is a given two-variable function. Show that if $y(x)$ and $G$ are differentiable, then $$\frac{dy}{dx}=-\frac{\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{x}}}{\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}}} , \text{ if } \frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}} \neq 0$$
First of all, what does it mean that $y(x)$ is defined implicitly by $G(x,y(x))=0$ ?? (Wondering) I have done the following:

Let $f(x)=x$. Then $G(x,y(x))=G(f(x), y(x))=H(x)$.

We have that $G(x,y(x))=0 \Rightarrow H(x)=0$.

$H(x)=0 \Rightarrow \frac{H(x)}{dx}=0$

From the chain rule we have the following:

$$\frac{H(x)}{dx}=\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{f}}\frac{df}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}}\frac{dy}{dx} \\ \Rightarrow 0=\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{x}}\frac{dx}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}}\frac{dy}{dx} \\ \Rightarrow 0=\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{x}}+\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}}\frac{dy}{dx} \\ \Rightarrow \frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}}\frac{dy}{dx}=-\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{x}} \\ \overset{ \text{ if } \frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}}\ \neq 0 }{\Longrightarrow }\frac{dy}{dx}=-\frac{\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{x}}}{\frac{\partial{G}}{\partial{y}}}$$

Is this correct ?? Could I improve something ?? Is the substitution $f(x)=x$ necessary?? (Wondering)



Then I have to find a similar formula if $y_1$, $y_2$ are defined implicitly by $$G_1(x, y_1(x), y_2(x))=0 \\ G_2(x, y_1(x), y_2(x))=0$$

I have the following:

From the chain we have the following:

$$\frac{dG_1}{dx}=\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} \frac{dx}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx} \Rightarrow 0=\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx}$$

Similar, we get $$0=\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx}$$

Is it correct so far??

How could I continue ?? (Wondering)
 
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  • #2
We have that $$0=\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx} \Rightarrow \frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}= -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx} \ \ \ \ (*) \\ 0=\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx} \Rightarrow \frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx}=-\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} -\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx} \\ \Rightarrow \frac{dy_2}{dx}=-\frac{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}}{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}}} \\ (*) \Rightarrow \frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}= -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}}{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}}} \Rightarrow \frac{dy_1}{dx}=\frac{ -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}}{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}}}}{\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}}}$$

Is this correct?? Could I improve something?? Could we write the last equality in a simplified way?? (Wondering)
 
  • #3
mathmari said:
We have that $${\color{red}0=\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx}} \Rightarrow \frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}= -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx} \ \ \ \ (*) \\ {\color{green}0=\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}+\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx}} \Rightarrow \frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{dy_2}{dx}=-\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} -\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx} \\ \Rightarrow \frac{dy_2}{dx}=-\frac{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}}{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}}} \\ (*) \Rightarrow \frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}= -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}}{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}}} \Rightarrow \frac{dy_1}{dx}=\frac{ -\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}} \frac{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{x}} +\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_1}} \frac{dy_1}{dx}}{\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}}}}{\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_1}}}$$

Is this correct?? Could I improve something?? Could we write the last equality in a simplified way?? (Wondering)
The equations are correct. The elaborate notation obscures the fact that these are simply a pair of simultaneous equations for $\frac{dy_1}{dx}$ and $\frac{dy_2}{dx}$. So multiply the red equation by $\frac{\partial{G_2}}{\partial{y_2}}$, multiply the green equation by $\frac{\partial{G_1}}{\partial{y_2}}$, then subtract. The terms involving $\frac{dy_2}{dx}$ will cancel, and you will be left with a formula for $\frac{dy_1}{dx}$ in terms of the partial derivatives of $G_1$ and $G_2$.
 

Related to Implicit Functions: How Can Derivatives Be Calculated?

1. What is an implicit function?

An implicit function is a mathematical equation that cannot be easily solved for one variable in terms of the other. In other words, it does not have a clear, explicit form like y = f(x). Instead, it is represented as a relation between the variables, such as x^2 + y^2 = 25.

2. How is the derivative of an implicit function calculated?

The derivative of an implicit function is calculated using implicit differentiation. This involves treating both variables as functions and using the chain rule to differentiate each term. The resulting expression will be the derivative of the implicit function.

3. What is the significance of the derivative of an implicit function?

The derivative of an implicit function represents the rate of change of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variable. It can also be used to find critical points and determine the concavity of the curve.

4. Can implicit functions have more than one derivative?

Yes, implicit functions can have multiple derivatives. Just like explicit functions, they can have first, second, and higher-order derivatives. These derivatives can be found by repeatedly applying the implicit differentiation process.

5. How are implicit functions used in real-world applications?

Implicit functions are used in many real-world applications, such as physics, economics, and engineering. They are particularly useful in situations where the relationship between variables is not easily expressed in an explicit form. For example, implicit functions are used to model the relationship between pressure and temperature in thermodynamics.

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