2.

2 Implicit Differentiation and Higher Order Derivatives

2.2.1 Implicit Differentiation

In the previous section, most of the functions discussed are expressed in explicit form, that is, a
variable is explicitly written as a function of the other variable. For example, the function

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑚 and 𝑏 are constants is defined explicitly. However, some functions are
1
inferred by an equation. For example, the function 𝑦 = 3 is defined implicitly by the equation
√𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑥𝑦 3 = 1. To find 𝑑𝑥 for the equation 𝑥𝑦 3 = 1, we can simply solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥, then
differentiate as seen below.

Implicit Form Explicit Form Derivative

𝑥𝑦 3 = 1 1 𝑑𝑦 1 1 1
𝑦 = 3 = 𝑥 −1/3 = − 𝑥 −4 = − 1
√𝑥 𝑑𝑥 3
3𝑥 4

However, this strategy does not work for equations where one cannot express 𝑦 as a function
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
of 𝑥. Finding 𝑑𝑥 for such equations would require implicit differentiation. To find 𝑑𝑥 implicitly,
we differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to 𝑥. Note that when differentiating
terms involving 𝑦, we must apply the chain rule since it is assumed here that 𝑦 is a
differentiable function of 𝑥. To understand this, consider the following example.

Example 1. Differentiating with Respect to x

𝑑 5 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
(𝑥 ) = 5𝑥 4 (𝑥 + 2𝑦) = 1 + 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑
(𝑦 5 ) = 5𝑦 4 (2𝑥𝑦) = 2 (𝑥𝑦)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
= 2 [𝑥 (𝑦) + 𝑦 (𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 2 [𝑥 + 𝑦(1)]
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 2𝑥 + 2𝑦
𝑑𝑥
 𝒅𝒚
Steps in Finding 𝒅𝒙 Using Implicit Differentiation

1. Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to 𝑥.

2. Collect all terms with 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥 on the left side of the equation and move the rest of the
terms to the other side of the equation.
3. On the left side of the equation, factor out 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥.
4. Solve for 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥.

Example 2. Suppose that y is a differentiable function of the variable 𝑥. Find 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥.

a. (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 − (𝑥 − 𝑦)2 = 𝑥 4 + 𝑦 4
Solution. Differentiating both sides with respect to 𝑥, we have
𝐷𝑥 [(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 − (𝑥 − 𝑦)2 ] = 𝐷𝑥 [𝑥 4 + 𝑦 4 ]
𝑑𝑦
2(𝑥 + 𝑦)1 𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 + 𝑦) − 2(𝑥 − 𝑦)1 𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 − 𝑦) = 4𝑥 3 + 4𝑦 3
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2(𝑥 + 𝑦) (1 + ) − 2(𝑥 − 𝑦) (1 − ) = 4𝑥 3 + 4𝑦 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2(𝑥 + 𝑦) + 2(𝑥 + 𝑦) − 2(𝑥 − 𝑦) + 2(𝑥 − 𝑦) = 4𝑥 3 + 4𝑦 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2(𝑥 + 𝑦) + 2(𝑥 − 𝑦) − 4𝑦 3 = 4𝑥 3 − 2(𝑥 + 𝑦) + 2(𝑥 − 𝑦)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
[2(𝑥 + 𝑦) + 2(𝑥 − 𝑦) − 4𝑦 3 ] = 4𝑥 3 − 2(𝑥 + 𝑦) + 2(𝑥 − 𝑦)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
[2𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 4𝑦 3 ] = 4𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 2𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
[4𝑥 − 4𝑦 3 ] = 4𝑥 3 − 4𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 4𝑥 3 − 4𝑦
=
𝑑𝑥 4𝑥 − 4𝑦 3

b. 5𝑥 3 𝑦 − 7𝑥𝑦 2 = 3 + 7𝑦
Solution. Differentiating both sides with respect to 𝑥, we have
𝐷𝑥 (5𝑥 3 𝑦 − 7𝑥𝑦 2 ) = 𝐷𝑥 (3 + 7𝑦)
𝑑𝑦
(5𝑥 3 )𝐷𝑥 (𝑦) + 𝑦𝐷𝑥 (5𝑥 3 ) − [(7𝑥)𝐷𝑥 (𝑦 2 ) + 𝑦 2 𝐷𝑥 (7𝑥)] = 0 + 7
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
(5𝑥 3 ) + 𝑦(15𝑥 2 ) − (7𝑥) (2𝑦 ) − 𝑦 2 (7) = 7
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
5𝑥 3 + 15𝑥 2 𝑦 − 14𝑥𝑦 − 7𝑦 2 = 7
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
5𝑥 3 − 14𝑥𝑦 −7 = 7𝑦 2 − 15𝑥 2 𝑦
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
(5𝑥 3 − 14𝑥𝑦 − 7) = 7𝑦 2 − 15𝑥 2 𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 7𝑦 2 − 15𝑥 2 𝑦
= 3
𝑑𝑥 5𝑥 − 14𝑥𝑦 − 7

c. 𝑦 = tan(𝑥 + 𝑦)
Solution. Differentiating both sides with respect to 𝑥, we have
𝐷𝑥 (𝑦) = 𝐷𝑥 [tan(𝑥 + 𝑦)]
𝑑𝑦
= sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦) 𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 + 𝑦)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦) (1 + )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦) + sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
− sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦) = sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
[1 − sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)] = sec 2(𝑥 + 𝑦)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)
=
𝑑𝑥 1 − sec 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)

2.2.2 Higher-Order Derivatives

If the function 𝑓 is differentiable, then its derivative 𝑓′ is called the first derivative of 𝑓.
If the function 𝑓′ is differentiable, then its derivative 𝑓′′ (read as 𝑓 double prime) is
called the second derivative of 𝑓. Also, the third derivative of 𝑓, denoted by 𝑓’’’ (read as
𝑓 triple prime), is the derivative of the function 𝑓′′, provided that 𝑓′′ exists. The 𝒏th
derivative of the function 𝑓, denoted by 𝑓 (𝑛) , is defined as the derivative of the
(𝑛 − 1)𝑠𝑡 derivative of 𝑓, provided that the latter exists.
 Given the function 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙). Leibniz Notation
First derivative of 𝑓 with respect to 𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
Second derivative of 𝑓 with respect to 𝑥 𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑
2
= ( )= [ (𝑦)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Third derivative of 𝑓 with respect to 𝑥 𝑑3 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑2𝑦
= ( )
𝑑𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑛th derivative of 𝑓 with respect to 𝑥 𝑑𝑛 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑 𝑛−1 𝑦
= ( )
𝑑𝑥 𝑛 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑛−1
Other notations of the 𝒏th derivative of 𝒇 with respect to 𝒙:
𝑑𝑛
[𝑓(𝑥)] and 𝐷𝑥𝑛 [𝑓(𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑛

1
Example 2. Find 𝑔′′′(𝑥) if 𝑔(𝑥) = .
√3𝑥+7

Solution. Note that 𝑔(𝑥) = (3𝑥 + 7)−1/2. Then

1 3
𝑔′ (𝑥) = − (3𝑥 + 7)−2 𝐷𝑥 (3𝑥 + 7)
2
1 3
= − (3𝑥 + 7)−2 (3)
2

3 3
= − (3𝑥 + 7)−2
2

3 3
𝑔′′ (𝑥) = 𝐷𝑥 [− (3𝑥 + 7)−2 ]
2
3 3 5
= − (− ) (3𝑥 + 7)−2 𝐷𝑥 (3𝑥 + 7)
2 2
9 5
= (3𝑥 + 7)−2 (3)
4
27 5
= (3𝑥 + 7)−2
4

Therefore,

27 5
𝑔′′′ (𝑥) = 𝐷𝑥 [ (3𝑥 + 7)−2 ]
4
 27 5 7
= (− ) (3𝑥 + 7)−2 𝐷𝑥 (3𝑥 + 7)
4 2
27 5 7
= (− ) (3𝑥 + 7)−2 (3)
4 2
405
𝑔′′′(𝑥) = −
8√(3𝑥 + 7)7

𝑑3
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟑. Find (2 sin 𝑥 + 3 cos 𝑥 − 𝑥 3 )
𝑑𝑥 3

Solution.

𝑑
(2 sin 𝑥 + 3 cos 𝑥 − 𝑥 3 ) = 2 cos 𝑥 − 3 sin 𝑥 − 3𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥

𝑑2 𝑑
2
(2 sin 𝑥 + 3 cos 𝑥 − 𝑥 3 ) = (2 cos 𝑥 − 3 sin 𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= −2 sin 𝑥 − 3 cos 𝑥 − 6𝑥

Therefore,

𝑑3 𝑑
3
(2 sin 𝑥 + 3 cos 𝑥 − 𝑥 3 ) = (−2 sin 𝑥 − 3 cos 𝑥 − 6𝑥) = −2 cos 𝑥 + 3 sin 𝑥 − 6
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑2𝑦 2𝑥
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟒. Given 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = 1, show that 2
= − 5.
𝑑𝑥 𝑦

Solution. Using implicit differentiation to find 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥 for the equation 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = 1, we

have 𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 ) = 𝐷𝑥 (1) implying that

𝑑𝑦
3𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 =0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
3𝑦 2 = −3𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 3𝑥 2 𝑥2
=− 2=− 2
𝑑𝑥 3𝑦 𝑦
 Thus,

𝑑𝑦
𝑑 𝑥2 𝑦 2 (2𝑥) − 𝑥 2 (2𝑦 )
𝑑𝑥
(− 2 ) = − 2 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 (𝑦 )

𝑥2
2𝑥𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 2 𝑦 ( )
𝑦2
=−
𝑦4

2𝑥 4
2𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦
=−
𝑦4

2𝑥𝑦 3 + 2𝑥 4
𝑦
=−
𝑦4

2𝑥(𝑦 3 + 𝑥 3 )
=− , note that 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = 1
𝑦5

2𝑥(1)
=−
𝑦5

𝑑2𝑦 2𝑥
2
=− 5
𝑑𝑥 𝑦

References:

Barnett R., Ziegler M., Byleen K. (2011). Calculus for Business, Economics, Life Sciences, and
Social Sciences (12 ed). Prentice Hall.

Canoy S., Benitez J., Buenavista R., Tubo B. (2014). A First Course in Analytic Geometry and
Calculus. CSM-DMS, MSU-IIT

Larson R., Edwards, B. (2013). Calculus of a Single Variable. Cengage Learning.