Differential Calculus

Grinshpan

Implicit equations: an example

The equation x2 − xy + y 2 = 3 describes an ellipse.

dy
Let’s find out what the derivative is by implicit differentiation:
dx
2x − (y + xy 0 ) + 2yy 0 = 0
(−x + 2y)y 0 = y − 2x
y − 2x 2x − y
y0 = =
2y − x x − 2y
2
dy
We may as well find the second derivative 2 .
dx
Here is one way:
 0
00 2x − y
y =
x − 2y
(2 − y 0 )(x − 2y) − (2x − y)(1 − 2y 0 )
=
(x − 2y)2
xy 0 − y
=3
(x − 2y)2
x 2x−y
x−2y
−y
=3
(x − 2y)2
2x2 − yx − xy + 2y 2
=3
(x − 2y)3
x2 − xy + y 2
=6
(x − 2y)3
18
=
(x − 2y)3