Implicit Dierentiation

by Sultan Sial

July 16, 2010

Readings and exercises

Strang 4.2

Implicit functions
A function of the form y = f (x) is called an explicit function of y . Other forms are called implicit.

Example
y = sin(x2 + x + 1) is an explicit function of x. sin(x) + sin( y ) = 1 denes y implicitly as a function of x.

Exercise
In Wolfram Alpha try: plot sin(x)+sin(y)=1

Implicit dierentiation
Implicit dierentiation follows from the chain rule. If we dierentiate f ( y (x)) then
d f ( y) = dx

f ( y ) y (x)
2

by the chain rule.

Example
Consider an implicitly dened function sin(x) + sin( y ) = 1 We want the tangent line at ( /2, 0). Dierentiate both sides of the equation,
d sin(x) = cos(x) dx d sin( y ) = cos( y ) dx

y (x) So,

and the derivative of a constant is 0. impicit dierentiation gives us cos(x) + cos( y ) y (x) = 0 At ( /2, 0) this is cos( /2) + cos(0) y = 0
3

y = 0

So, the tangent line is the horizontal line y = 0 which is the x-axis.

Example
Consider the ellipse
(x + y )2 22

(x y )2 32

=1

We want the equation of the tangent line at the point (1,1). Implicit dierentiation gives 2
(x + y ) 22

(1 + y ) + 2

(x y ) 32

( 1 y ) = 0

At (1,1) we have 2
(1 + 1) 22

(1 + y ) + 2

(1 1) 32

( 1 y ) = 0

(1 + y ) = 0

y = 1

The line with slope -1 that goes through (1,1) is y=2x

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