Implicit

Differentiation

11.7

Introduction
This Section introduces implicit dierentiation which is used to dierentiate functions expressed in
implicit form (where the variables are found together). Examples are x3 + xy + y 2 = 1, and
x2 y 2
+ 2 = 1 which represents an ellipse.
a2
b

Prerequisites
Before starting this Section you should . . .

be able to dierentiate standard functions

be competent in using the chain rule




Learning Outcomes




dierentiate functions expressed implicitly

On completion you should be able to . . .

HELM (2005):
Section 11.7: Implicit Dierentiation

51

1. Implicit and explicit functions

1
Equations such as y = x2 , y = , y = sin x are said to dene y explicitly as a function of x because
x
the variable y appears alone on one side of the equation.
The equation
yx + y + 1 = x
is not of the form y = f (x) but can be put into this form by simple algebra.

Task

Write y as the subject of

yx + y + 1 = x
Your solution

Answer
We have y(x + 1) = x 1 so
y=

x1
x+1

We say that y is dened implicitly as a function of x by means of yx + y + 1 = x, the actual function

being given explicitly as
x1
x+1
We note than an equation relating x and y can implicitly dene more than one function of x.
y=

For example, if we solve

x2 + y 2 = 1

we obtain y = 1 x2 so x2 + y 2 = 1 denes implicitly two functions

f2 (x) = 1 x2
f1 (x) = 1 x2

52

HELM (2005):
Workbook 11: Dierentiation

Task

Sketch the graphs of f1 (x) =

f2 (x) = 1 x2

1 x2

(The equation x2 + y 2 = 1 should give you the clue.)

Your solution

Answer
Since x2 + y 2 = 1 is the well-known equation of the circle with centre at the origin and radius 1, it
follows that the graphs of f1 (x) and f2 (x) are the upper and lower halves of this circle.
y

f1 (x) = + 1 x2

f2 (x) = 1 x2

Sometimes it is dicult or even impossible to solve an equation in x and y to obtain y explicitly in

terms of x.
Examples where explicit expressions for y cannot be obtained are
sin(xy) = y

x2 + sin y = 2y

2. Differentiation of implicit functions

Fortunately it is not necessary to obtain y in terms of x in order to dierentiate a function dened
implicitly.
Consider the simple equation
xy = 1
Here it is clearly possible to obtain y as the subject of this equation and hence obtain

HELM (2005):
Section 11.7: Implicit Dierentiation

dy
.
dx

53

Task

Express y explicitly in terms of x and nd

dy
for the case xy = 1.
dx

Your solution

Answer
We have immediately
y=

1
x

so

dy
1
= 2
dx
x

dy
which does not involve writing y explicitly in terms
dx
of x at the outset. We simply treat y as an (unspecied) function of x.
We now show an alternative way of obtaining

Hence if

xy = 1 we obtain

d
d
(xy) =
(1).
dx
dx
The right-hand side dierentiates to zero as 1 is a constant. On the left-hand side we must use the
product rule of dierentiation:
d
dy
dx
dy
(xy) = x + y
=x +y
dx
dx
dx
dx
Hence xy = 1 becomes, after dierentiation,
x

dy
+ y = 0 or
dx

dy
y
=
dx
x

In this case we can of course substitute y =

y=

1
to obtain
x

1
x2

as before.
The method used here is called implicit dierentiation and, apart from the nal step, it can be
applied even if y cannot be expressed explicitly in terms of x. Indeed, on occasions, it is easier to
dierentiate implicitly even if an explicit expression is possible.

54

HELM (2005):
Workbook 11: Dierentiation

Example 15
Obtain the derivative

dy
where
dx

x2 + y = 1 + y 3

Solution
We begin by dierentiating the left-hand side of the equation with respect to x to get:
dy
d 2
(x + y) = 2x + .
dx
dx
We now dierentiate the right-hand side of with respect to x. Using the chain (or function of a
function) rule to deal with the y 3 term:
dy
d
d
d
(1 + y 3 ) =
(1) + (y 3 ) = 0 + 3y 2
dx
dx
dx
dx
Now by equating the left-hand side and right-hand side derivatives, we have:
dy
dy
= 3y 2
dx
dx
dy
the subject of this equation:
We can make
dx
dy
2x
dy
dy
3y 2
= 2x which gives
= 2
dx
dx
dx
3y 1
2x +

dy
has to be expressed in terms of both x and y. This is quite usual if y cannot be
We note that
dx
obtained explicitly in terms of x. Now try this Task requiring implicit dierentiation.
Task

dy
if 2y = x2 + sin y
dx
Note that your answer will be in terms of both y and x.
Find

Your solution

Answer
We have, on dierentiating both sides of the equation with respect to x and using the chain rule
on the sin y term:
d 2
dy
dy
d
d
(2y) =
(x ) + (sin y) i.e. 2
= 2x + cos y
dx
dx
dx
dx
dx
HELM (2005):
Section 11.7: Implicit Dierentiation

leading to

dy
2x
=
.
dx
2 cos y
55

We sometimes need to obtain the second derivative

d2 y
for a function dened implicitly.
dx2

Example 16

dy
d2 y
and 2 at the point (4, 2) on the curve dened by the equation
dx
dx
2
x xy y 2 2y = 0

Obtain

Solution
dy
by dierentiating the equation implicitly and then evaluate it at (4, 2).
dx
dy
dy
dy
2
=0
2x x y 2y
dx
dx
dx
2x y
dy
=
dx
x + 2y + 2

Firstly we obtain
We have
from which
so at (4, 2)

(1)
(2)

dy
6
3
=
= .
dx
10
5

To obtain the second derivative

We simplify (1) rst:

d2 y
it is easier to use (1) than (2) because the latter is a quotient.
dx2

dy
=0
dx
We will have to use the product rule to dierentiate the third term here.
2x y (x + 2y + 2)

(3)

Hence dierentiating (3) with respect to x:

2

dy dy
d2 y
dy
(x + 2y + 2) 2 (1 + 2 )
=0
dx
dx
dx dx

or

2

d2 y
(x + 2y + 2) 2 = 0
(4)
dx

2
dy
Note carefully that the third term here,
, is the square of the rst derivative. It should not
dx
d2 y
be confused with the second derivative denoted by 2 .
dx
3
3
9
d2 y
dy
= we obtain from (4): 2 2( ) 2( ) (4 + 4 + 2) 2 = 0
Finally, at (4, 2) where
dx
5
5
25
dx
1
d2 y
at (4, 2).
=
from which
2
dx
125
dy
22 2
dx

56

dy
dx

HELM (2005):
Workbook 11: Dierentiation

Task

This Task involves nding a formula for the curvature of a bent beam. When a
horizontal beam is acted on by forces which bend it, then each small segment of
the beam will be slightly curved and can be regarded as an arc of a circle. The
radius R of that circle is called the radius of curvature of the beam at the point
concerned. If the shape of the beam is described by an equation of the form
y = f (x) then there is a formula for the radius of curvature R which involves only
dy
d2 y
the rst and second derivatives
and 2 .
dx
dx
Find that equation as follows.
Start with the equation of a circle in the simple implicit form
x2 + y 2 = R 2
and perform implicit dierentiation twice. Now use the result of the rst implicit
dierentiation to nd a simple expression for the quantity 1 + (dy/dx)2 in terms of
R and y; this can then be used to simplify the result of the second dierentiation,
1
dy
d2 y
and will lead to a formula for
(called the curvature) in terms of
and 2 .
R
dx
dx
Your solution

HELM (2005):
Section 11.7: Implicit Dierentiation

57

Answer
Dierentiating: x2 + y 2 = R2 gives:
2x + 2y

dy
=0
dx

Dierentiating again:

(1)


2+2

dy
dx

2
+ 2y

d2 y
=0
dx2

(2)

From (1)

2

2
x2
y 2 + x2
R
dy
x
dy
=1+ 2 =
=
(3)
=
1+
2
dx
y
dx
y
y
y

2
2
dy
R
So 1 +
=
.
dx
y

2

2 


3
R
dy
R2
1
d2 y
R
Thus (2) becomes
2
+ 2y
= 3 =
=0

2
2
y
dx
dx
y
R
y



3
d2 y
1 R
so
=

(4)
dx2
R y


R
1
the subject and substituting for
from (3) gives the result:
Rearranging (4) to make
R
y
d2 y
1
dx2
= 


2 3/2
R
dy
1+
dx
The equation usually found in textbooks omits the minus sign but the sign indicates whether the
circle is above or below the curve, as you will see by sketching a few examples. When the gradient is
dy
small (as for a slightly deected horizontal beam), i.e.
is small, the denominator in the equation
dx
for (1/R) is close to 1, and so the second derivative alone is often used to estimate the radius of
curvature in the theory of bending beams.

58

HELM (2005):
Workbook 11: Dierentiation