BASIC CALCULUS – IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION (SECOND DERIVATIVE)

To this point we’ve done quite a few derivatives, but they have all been derivatives of functions
of the form . Unfortunately, not all the functions that we’re going to look at will fall
into this form.

Let’s have an example

Find the second derivative of

Before we start in finding the second derivative of this function, let me have a simple reminder.

When getting the derivative of in terms of ( ) that is equal to (1)( )

( ) , we do not need to write because it is just simply equal to 1.

Another example,

( ) , since what we see is just or

So if we need to find the derivative of in terms of ( ) we can write it as:

( )

Let’s proceed to our example:

( ) ( ) Note:

- using some algebra rules, we can get the first derivative or

- transpose on the right side

( )
- divide both sides by

- It can still simplify by dividing 2 and 2.

- This is the first derivative

To find the second derivative, we need to find the derivative of

It can be written as:

We will use quotient rule

( ) – Put the negative on the left because we will use it in final answer
 ( )
( ) – remember that and ( )

( ) – remember that

( )
( ) – remember that so we substitute the in

( )
( )

( )
- This is a complex fraction so we still need to simply it.

( )
( ) – To simplify this, multiply both sides by y over y

- We can take this as final answer but there is more simple answer than this.

Remember our given we may rewrite it as . So that we can

substitute to our final answer

Another example

Find the second derivative of

( ) ( )

( )

( )

( )
( )
( )

( )
( )

( )
( )

( )
( )

- can be written as
Find the second derivative of

[ ]
* +

[ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ]

[ ]

( ) ( )

( ) ( )
Activity
1. Find the second derivative of
2. Find the second derivative of

3. Find the second derivative of