Password to move on: _____________________________________

Unit 1 Video 10: Derivatives of Parametrically Defined Functions

Recall: Parametrically Defined Functions

Parametrically defined functions are functions whose x- and y-values are not related to each other,
but related to a parameter . This means parametrically defined functions will have two parts:
_____________________ and _____________________

The derivative of a parametrically defined function still gives you the slope of the tangent line to the

curve, so it will still be called . Since x and y are not directly related, we will need to use some algebra

to get .

() =____________________ and () = ________________________, so it follows that

= ___________________________________________________________________________

Derivative of a Parametrically Defined Function

Let a function be parametrically defined by () and (), then

= ___________________________

Example 1: When does the parametrically defined function () = 3 2 6 and () = have vertical
and horizontal tangents?
The second derivative of a parametrically defined function is a little more complicated than the first
2
derivative. Since is defined in terms of , the second derivative is not 2 . Instead

2
( ) = ________________________. In order to get 2 we must divide by ______________________.

Doing so gives us this simplification: _______________________________________________________.

The Second Derivative of an Implicitly Defined Function

Let a function be defined parametrically by () and (), then

2
= ______________________________________________
2
note: you do not need to remember where this formula comes from, just remember it.

2
Example 2: Find 2 for the function defined parametrically by () = 2 5 and () = 2 sin