MA 210 LECTURE (4)

Parametric Functions

Generally, when 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑡) and 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑡) , then 𝑥 and 𝑦 are called parametric
functions of the parameter 𝑡. Further, 𝑥 and 𝑦 are given as functions over an interval
of 𝑡 values, thus the set of points (𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥(𝑡), 𝑦(𝑡)) define a parametric curve.
𝑑𝑦
We can find by
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑𝑥 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
i) Finding (𝑥) = and (𝑦) =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
ii) Then divide by , i.e.
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦⁄
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑑𝑥⁄ , if ≠0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Examples
𝑑𝑦
Find for the following functions:
𝑑𝑥

𝑥 = 𝑎(𝜃 + sin 𝜃) 𝑑𝑦 𝜃
i) { , hence show that reduces to tan ( 2)
𝑦 = 𝑎(1 − cos 𝜃) 𝑑𝑥

Solution
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎(1 + cos 𝜃) , = 𝑎 sin 𝜃
𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑑𝑦 asin 𝜃 sin 𝜃
= =
𝑑𝑥 𝑎(1+cos 𝜃) 1+cos 𝜃

Think box
We know that:
𝜃 𝜃
sin 𝜃 = sin ( + )
2 2
𝜃 𝜃 𝜃 𝜃
= sin 2 cos 2 + sin 2 cos 2 ⟹ compound identities

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 𝜃 𝜃
= 2 sin 2 cos 2
𝜃 𝜃
cos 𝜃 = cos (2 + 2)
𝜃 𝜃 𝜃 𝜃
= cos 2 ∙ cos 2 − sin 2 ∙ sin 2 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑡 tan 𝑡
𝜃 𝜃
= cos 2 2 − sin2 2 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑡 sin 𝑡
𝜃 𝜃
= cos2 2 − (1 − cos2 2)
𝜃
= 2 cos 2 2 − 1

Thus
𝜃 𝜃
𝑑𝑦 sin 𝜃 2 sin cos
2 2
= = 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 1−cos 𝜃 1+2 cos2 −1
2

𝜃 𝜃
2 sin cos
2 2
= 𝜃
2 cos2
2

𝜃
= tan ( ) shown.
2

Note the following identities:

𝑑 1
a) (cos −1 𝑥) = −
𝑑𝑥 √1−𝑥 2

𝑑 1
b) (sin−1 𝑥) =
𝑑𝑥 √1−𝑥 2

𝑑 1
c) (tan−1 𝑥) =
𝑑𝑥 1+𝑥 2

𝑥 = 𝑎 cos 2 𝑡
(ii) {
𝑦 = 𝑎 sin2 𝑡

1
𝑥=
𝑡+1
(iii) { 2
𝑡
𝑦=( )
𝑡+1

2
 cos2 𝑡
𝑥=
√cos 2𝑡
(iv) {
−1 1
𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( )
√1+𝑡 2

𝑥 = 𝑎(cos 𝑡 + 𝑡 sin 𝑡)
(v) {
𝑦 = 𝑎(sin 𝑡 − tcos 𝑡)

𝑥 = 𝑎(𝑡 − sin 𝑡)
(vi) {
𝑦 = 𝑎(1 − cos 𝑡)

𝜋
at 𝑡 =
2

(vii) prove that the function 𝑦 represented by the equation

𝑥 = 2𝑡 + 3𝑡 2
{
𝑦 = 𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 3
Satisfies the equation

𝑑𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 3
𝑦 = ( ) + 2( )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Solution
(vi)
𝑑𝑦⁄
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑦
= 𝑑𝑥 , provide ≠0
𝑑𝑥 ⁄𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑡=𝜋
2
𝜋
𝑑𝑦 asin 𝑡 sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑦 sin
2
= = . Thus 𝜋 = 𝜋 =1
𝑑𝑥 𝑎(1−cos 𝑡) (1−cos 𝑡) 𝑑𝑥 𝑡= 1−cos
2 2

(viii)
𝑡
𝑥 = acos 𝑡 + ln tan ( ) 𝑑𝑦
{ 2 (𝐴𝑛𝑠:
𝑑𝑥
= tan 𝑡
𝑦 = asin 𝑡

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Successive Differentiation

● When the function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is differentiable w.r.t.𝑥, we get

𝑑𝑦
or 𝑓 ′ (𝑥).
𝑑𝑥

● If the expression is differentiated again, we get

𝑑2𝑦
or 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 2

Which is the second derivative of 𝑦 w.r.t.𝑥

N.B.
2
𝑑 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 2
𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 𝑑𝑥2 = 𝑑𝑥 (𝑑𝑥) = 𝑦′′ = 𝐷 𝑓(𝑥)

By successive differentiation, further higher derivatives such as

𝑑3𝑦 𝑑4𝑦
and may be obtained.
𝑑𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 4

Examples:
𝑑2𝑦
a) If 𝑦 = 2 cos 2 𝑥 , find
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝑦
= −2(2 cos 𝑥 sin 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
= −4 cos 𝑥 sin 𝑥
𝑑2𝑦
= −4[cos 𝑥(cos 𝑥) + sin 𝑥 (− sin 𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 2
−4(cos 2 𝑥 − sin2 𝑥).
4(sin2 𝑥 − cos 2 𝑥)
b) Given 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 , show that

𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
+6 + 9𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

c) 𝑦 = 𝑒 sin 𝑥 ln 𝑥

d) If 𝑦 = sin(sin−1 𝑥) , show that (1 − 𝑥 2 )𝑦 ′′ − 𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 = 0

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 𝑑2𝑦
e) find as a function of 𝑦
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑥 = 𝑡 − 𝑡2
i) {
𝑦 = 𝑡 − 𝑡3

1 1
ii) + =1
√𝑥 √𝑦

Solutions:
b)
𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑑𝑥 = 2(𝑥 ∙ −3𝑒−3𝑥 + 𝑒−3𝑥 ∙ 1)
= 2𝑒 −3𝑥 − 6𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥
𝑑2𝑦
= −6𝑒 −3𝑥 − 6(𝑥 ∙ −3𝑒 −3𝑥 + 𝑒 −3𝑥 ∙ 1)
𝑑𝑥 2
= −6𝑒 −3𝑥 + 18𝑒 −3𝑥 𝑥 − 6𝑒 −3𝑥
= 18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 − 12𝑒 −3𝑥

𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Therefore; +6 + 9𝑦 will be;
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 − 12𝑒 −3𝑥 + 6(2𝑒 −3𝑥 − 6𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 ) + 9(2𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 )
18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 − 12𝑒 −3𝑥 +12𝑒 −3𝑥 − 36𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 + 18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 = 0 shown.

d) 𝑦 = sin(sin−1 𝑥)
𝑑𝑦 1 cos(sin−1 𝑥)
= 2
∙ cos(sin−1 𝑥) =
𝑑𝑥 √1−𝑥 √1−𝑥 2

1 𝑥
(√1−𝑥 2 )( −sin(sin−1 𝑥)−cos(sin−1 𝑥)(− ))
𝑑2 𝑦 √1−𝑥2 √1−𝑥2
= 2
𝑑𝑥 2 (√1−𝑥 2 )

𝑥 cos(sin−1 𝑥)
− 𝑠𝑖𝑛(sin−1 𝑥)
√1−𝑥2
=
1−𝑥 2

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Therefore;

(1 − 𝑥 2 )𝑦 ′′ − 𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 = 0 will be;
𝑥 cos(sin−1 𝑥)
− 𝑠𝑖𝑛(sin−1 𝑥)
√1−𝑥2 cos(sin−1 𝑥)
(1 − 𝑥 2 ) −𝑥[ ] + sin(sin−1 𝑥) = 0
1−𝑥2 √1−𝑥 2

[ ]
Shown

Exercise

i) Given that 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑒 2𝑥 , show that

𝑦 ′′ − 4𝑦 ′ + 4𝑦 = 0
ii) If 𝑎𝑥 2 + 2ℎ𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 2 = 1, show that

𝑑2 𝑦 ℎ2 −𝑎𝑏
=
𝑑𝑥 2 (ℎ𝑥+𝑏𝑦)3

N.B
If a function is given parametrically, then
𝑑𝑦⁄
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑑𝑥 (⋆), where ≠ 0.
𝑑𝑥 ⁄𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
To compute the second derivative, we simply replace 𝑦 in (⋆), by
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑𝑦
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 ( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
= ( )= 𝑑𝑥⁄
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡

Note that

𝑑2 𝑦⁄
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑡 2
≠ 2
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑 𝑥⁄
𝑑𝑡 2

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 𝑑 𝑑2 𝑦
𝑑3 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑2 𝑦 (
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥2
)
= ( )= 𝑑𝑥⁄
𝑑𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑡

Example

𝑑2 𝑦
Find as a function of 𝑦
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑥 = 𝑡 − 𝑡2
i) {
𝑦 = 𝑡 − 𝑡3

Solution:

𝑑𝑦⁄
𝑑𝑡 1−3𝑡 2
i) 𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 =
⁄𝑑𝑡 1−2𝑡

ii) Differentiate 𝑦 ′ w.r.t.𝑡

𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑 1−3𝑡2 6𝑡 2 −6𝑡+2
( )= ( )= (1−2𝑡)2
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 1−2𝑡

𝑑 𝑑𝑦
𝑑2 𝑦 ( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 6𝑡 2 −6𝑡+2 1
iii) = 𝑑𝑥⁄ =[ ] ∙
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑡 (1−2𝑡) 2 (1−2𝑡)

6𝑡2 −6𝑡+2
= (1−2𝑡)3

Exercise:
𝑑2 𝑦
Find for:
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑥 = 𝑎(cos 𝑡 + 𝑡 sin 𝑡) 1
{ Ans:
𝑦 = 𝑎(sin 𝑡 − tcos 𝑡) 𝑎𝑡 cos3 𝑡

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