Differential calculus

30
Differentiation of implicit functions

30.1 Implicit functions Problem 1. Differentiate the following func-

tions with respect to x:
When an equation can be written in the form y = f (x)
it is said to be an explicit function of x. Examples (a) 2y4 (b) sin 3t.
of explicit functions include
(a) Let u = 2y4 , then, by the function of a function
y = 2x 3 − 3x + 4, y = 2x ln x rule:
3ex du du dy d dy
and y = = × = (2y4 ) ×
cos x dx dy dx dy dx
dy
In these examples y may be differentiated with = 8y3
respect to x by using standard derivatives, the prod- dx
uct rule and the quotient rule of differentiation (b) Let u = sin 3t, then, by the function of a function
respectively. rule:
Sometimes with equations involving, say, y and x, du du dt d dt
it is impossible to make y the subject of the formula. = × = (sin 3t) ×
The equation is then called an implicit function dx dt dx dt dx
and examples of such functions include dt
= 3 cos 3t
y3 + 2x 2 = y2 − x and sin y = x 2 + 2xy. dx
G
Problem 2. Differentiate the following func-
30.2 Differentiating implicit functions tions with respect to x:
1
It is possible to differentiate an implicit function (a) 4 ln 5y (b) e3θ−2
5
by using the function of a function rule, which may
be stated as
(a) Let u = 4 ln 5y, then, by the function of a func-
du du dy tion rule:
= ×
dx dy dx du du dy d dy
= × = (4 ln 5y) ×
dx dy dx dy dx
Thus, to differentiate y3 with respect to x, the sub-
du 4 dy
stitution u = y3 is made, from which, = 3y2 . =
dy y dx
d 3 dy 1
Hence, (y ) = (3y2 ) × , by the function of a (b) Let u = e3θ−2 , then, by the function of a func-
dx dx 5
function rule. tion rule:
A simple rule for differentiating an implicit func-  
du du dθ d 1 3θ−2 dθ
tion is summarised as: = × = e ×
dx dθ dx dθ 5 dx

d d dy 3 3θ−2 dθ
[ f ( y)] = [ f ( y)] × (1) = e
dx dy dx 5 dx
320 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

d 2 d d
For example, (x y) = (x 2 ) (y) + (y) (x 2 ),
Now try the following exercise. dx dx dx
by the product rule
Exercise 130 Further problems on differen-  
dy
tiating implicit functions = (x ) 1
2
+ y(2x),
dx
In Problems 1 and 2 differentiate the given func- by using equation (1)
tions with respect to x.
dy
√ = x2 + 2xy
1. (a) 3y5 (b) 2 cos 4θ (c) k dx
⎡ ⎤
dy dθ
⎢ (a) 15y dx (b) −8 sin 4θ dx ⎥
4
d
⎢ ⎥ Problem 3. Determine (2x 3 y2 ).
⎣ 1 dk ⎦ dx
(c) √
2 k dx
5 3 In the product rule of differentiation let u = 2x 3 and
2. (a) ln 3t (b) e2y+1 (c) 2 tan 3y v = y2 .
2 4
⎡ 5 dt 3 dy ⎤ d d d
(a) (b) e2y+1 Thus (2x 3 y2 ) = (2x 3 ) (y2 ) + (y2 ) (2x 3 )
⎢ 2t dx 2 dx ⎥ dx dx dx
⎣ ⎦  
dy dy
(c) 6 sec2 3y = (2x 3 ) 2y + (y2 )(6x 2 )
dx dx
3. Differentiate the following with respect to y: dy
√ 2 = 4x 3 y + 6x 2 y2
(a) 3 sin 2θ (b) 4 x 3 (c) t dx
⎡ e ⎤  
dθ √ dx dy
= 2x y 2x + 3y
2
⎢ (a) 6 cos 2θ (b) 6 x
⎢ dy dy ⎥
⎥
dx
⎣ −2 dt ⎦
(c) t
e dy  
d 3y
4. Differentiate the following with respect to u: Problem 4. Find .
dx 2x
2 2
(a) (b) 3 sec 2θ (c) √
(3x + 1) y
⎡ ⎤ In the quotient rule of differentiation let u = 3y and
−6 dx v = 2x.
(a)
⎢ (3x + 1)2 du ⎥
⎢ ⎥   (2x) d (3y) − (3y) d (2x)
⎢ dθ ⎥ d 3y
⎢ (b) 6 sec 2θ tan 2θ ⎥ = dx dx
⎢ du ⎥ Thus
⎢ ⎥ dx 2x (2x)2
⎣ −1 dy ⎦  
(c)  dy
y du
3 (2x) 3 − (3y)(2)
dx
=
4x 2
dy  
6x − 6y 3 dy
30.3 Differentiating implicit = dx = 2 x −y
functions containing products 4x 2 2x dx
and quotients
The product and quotient rules of differentiation Problem 5. Differentiate z = x 2 + 3x cos 3y
must be applied when differentiating functions con- with respect to y.
taining products and quotients of two variables.
 DIFFERENTIATION OF IMPLICIT FUNCTIONS 321

dy
dz d d An expression for the derivative in terms of
= (x 2 ) + (3x cos 3y) dx
dy dy dy x and y may be obtained by rearranging this latter
   equation. Thus:
dx dx
= 2x + (3x)(−3 sin 3y) + ( cos 3y) 3
dy dy dy
(2y + 1) = 5 − 6x
dx dx dx
= 2x − 9x sin 3y + 3 cos 3y
dy dy dy 5 − 6x
from which, =
dx 2y + 1
Now try the following exercise.
Problem 6. Given 2y2 − 5x 4 − 2 − 7y3 = 0,
Exercise 131 Further problems on differen- dy
tiating implicit functions involving products determine .
and quotients dx

d Each term in turn is differentiated with respect to x:

1. Determine (3x 2 y3 )
dx   
dy d d d d
3xy2 3x + 2y Hence (2y2 ) − (5x 4 ) − (2) − (7y3 )
dx dx dx dx dx
     d
d 2y 2 dy = (0)
2. Find x −y dx
dx 5x 5x 2 dx
dy dy
     i.e. 4y − 20x 3 − 0 − 21y2 =0
d 3u 3 dv dx dx
3. Determine v − u
du 4v 4v2 du Rearranging gives:
√ dz dy
4. Given z = 3 y cos 3x find (4y − 21y2 ) = 20x 3
dx G
   dx 
cos 3x dy √ dy 20x3
3 √ − 9 y sin 3x i.e. =
2 y dx dx (4y − 21y2 )
dz
5. Determine given z = 2x 3 ln y
dy    dy
Problem 7. Determine the values of when
2 x dx
2x + 3 ln y dx
y dy x = 4 given that x 2 + y2 = 25.

Differentiating each term in turn with respect to x

gives:
30.4 Further implicit differentiation
d 2 d d
(x ) + (y2 ) = (25)
An implicit function such as 3x 2 + y2 − 5x + y = 2, dx dx dx
may be differentiated term by term with respect to dy
x. This gives: i.e. 2x + 2y =0
dx
d d d d d dy 2x x
(3x 2 ) + (y2 ) − (5x) + (y) = (2) Hence =− =−
dx dx dx dx dx dx 2y y

dy dy Since x 2 + y2 = 25, when x = 4, y = (25 − 42 ) = ±3
i.e. 6x + 2y − 5 + 1 = 0,
dx dx dy 4 4
Thus when x = 4 and y = ±3, =− =±
using equation (1) and standard derivatives. dx ±3 3
322 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

x 2 + y2 = 25 is the equation of a circle, centre at Rearranging gives:

the origin and radius 5, as shown in Fig. 30.1. At dy
x = 4, the two gradients are shown. 8x + 2y3 = (10y − 6xy2 )
dx
y dy 8x + 2y3 4x + y3
and = =
5
Gradient dx 10y − 6xy2 y(5 − 3xy)
= − 43
x2 + y2 = 25 (b) When x = 1 and y = 2,
3
dy 4(1) + (2)3 12
= = = −6
−5 0 4 5 x
dx 2[5 − (3)(1)(2)] −2

−3
Gradient Problem 9. Find the gradients of the tangents
−5 = 43
drawn to the circle x 2 + y2 − 2x − 2y = 3 at
x = 2.

Figure 30.1 dy
The gradient of the tangent is given by
Above, x 2 + y2 = 25 was differentiated implicitly; dx
actually, the equation could be transposed to Differentiating each term in turn with respect to x

y = (25 − x 2 ) and differentiated using the function gives:
of a function rule. This gives d 2 d d d d
−1
(x ) + (y2 ) − (2x) − (2y) = (3)
dy 1 x dx dx dx dx dx
= (25 − x 2 ) 2 (−2x) = −
dx 2 (25 − x 2 ) dy dy
i.e. 2x + 2y −2−2 =0
dy 4 4 dx dx
and when x = 4, = − =± as dy
dx (25 − 42 ) 3 Hence = 2 − 2x,
(2y − 2)
obtained above. dx
dy 2 − 2x 1−x
from which = =
Problem 8. dx 2y − 2 y−1
dy The value of y when x = 2 is determined from the
(a) Find in terms of x and y given original equation
dx
4x + 2xy3 − 5y2 = 0.
2
dy Hence (2)2 + y2 − 2(2) − 2y = 3
(b) Evaluate when x = 1 and y = 2.
dx i.e. 4 + y2 − 4 − 2y = 3
or y2 − 2y − 3 = 0
(a) Differentiating each term in turn with respect to
x gives: Factorising gives: (y + 1)(y − 3) = 0, from which
y = −1 or y = 3
d d d d
(4x 2 ) + (2xy3 ) − (5y2 ) = (0) When x = 2 and y = −1,
dx dx dx dx
dy 1−x 1−2 −1 1
= = = =
    dx y−1 −1 − 1 −2 2
2 dy
i.e. 8x + (2x) 3y + (y )(2)
3
dx When x = 2 and y = 3,
dy dy 1−2 −1
=0
− 10y = =
dx dx 3−1 2
dy dy 1
i.e. 8x + 6xy2 + 2y3 − 10y =0 Hence the gradients of the tangents are ±
dx dx 2
 DIFFERENTIATION OF IMPLICIT FUNCTIONS 323

y
Gradient Now try the following exercise.
4 = − 12

x 2+ y 2− 2x −2y = 3 3 Exercise 132 Further problems on implicit

differentiation
dy
2 In Problems 1 and 2 determine
dx
r=√
5  
2x + 4
1 1. x 2 + y2 + 4x − 3y + 1 = 0
3 − 2y
0 1 2 4
 
x 3
2. 2y3 − y + 3x − 2 = 0
−1 1 − 6y2
Gradient
−2 = 12 dy
3. Given x 2 + y2 = 9 evaluate when
√ dx  √ 
x = 5 and y = 2 − 25
Figure 30.2
dy
The circle having√ the given equation has its centre at In Problems 4 to 7, determine
dx
(1, 1) and radius 5 (see Chapter 14) and is shown  
in Fig. 30.2 with the two gradients of the tangents. −(x + sin 4y)
4. x 2 + 2x sin 4y = 0
4x cos 4y
Problem 10. Pressure p and volume v of a gas  
4x − y
are related by the law pvγ = k, where γ and k 5. 3y2 + 2xy − 4x 2 = 0
are constants. Show that the rate of change of 3y + x
dp p dv  
pressure = −γ x(4y + 9x) G
dt v dt 6. 2x 2 y + 3x 3 = sin y
cos y − 2x 2
k  
Since pvγ = k, then p = = kv−γ 1 − 2 ln y
vγ 7. 3y + 2x ln y = y4 + x
3 + (2x/y) − 4y3
dp dp dv
= × 5 dy
dt dv dt 8. If 3x 2 + 2x 2 y3 − y2 = 0 evaluate when
4 dx
by the function of a function rule 1
x = and y = 1 [5]
dp d 2
= (kv−γ )
dv dv 9. Determine the gradients of the tangents
−γk
= −γkv−γ−1 = drawn to the circle x 2 + y2 = 16 at the point
vγ+1 where x = 2. Give the answer correct to 4
dp −γk dv significant figures [±0.5774]
= γ+1 ×
dt v dt
10. Find the gradients of the tangents drawn to
Since k = pv , γ x 2 y2
the ellipse + = 2 at the point where
dp −γ(pvγ ) dv −γpvγ dv 4 9
= = x=2 [±1.5]
dt vγ+1 dt vγ v1 dt
dp p dv 11. Determine the gradient of the curve
i.e. = −γ 3xy + y2 = −2 at the point (1,−2) [−6]
dt v dt