Module 4 - Implicit Functions

Implicit functions Problem 1. Differentiate the following func-

tions with respect to x:
When an equation can be written in the form y = f (x)
it is said to be an explicit function of x. Examples (a) 2y4 (b) sin 3t.
of explicit functions include
(a) Let u = 2y4 , then, by the function of a function
y = 2x 3 − 3x + 4, y = 2x ln x rule:
3ex du du dy d dy
and y = = × = (2y4 ) ×
cos x dx dy dx dy dx
dy
In these examples y may be differentiated with = 8y3
respect to x by using standard derivatives, the prod- dx
uct rule and the quotient rule of differentiation (b) Let u = sin 3t, then, by the function of a function
respectively. rule:
Sometimes with equations involving, say, y and x, du du dt d dt
it is impossible to make y the subject of the formula. = × = (sin 3t) ×
The equation is then called an implicit function dx dt dx dt dx
and examples of such functions include dt
= 3 cos 3t
y3 + 2x 2 = y2 − x and sin y = x 2 + 2xy. dx

Problem 2. Differentiate the following func-

A. Differentiating Implicit Functions tions with respect to x:
1
It is possible to differentiate an implicit function (a) 4 ln 5y (b) e3θ−2
5
by using the function of a function rule, which may
be stated as
(a) Let u = 4 ln 5y, then, by the function of a func-
du du dy tion rule:
= ×
dx dy dx du du dy d dy
= × = (4 ln 5y) ×
dx dy dx dy dx
Thus, to differentiate y3 with respect to x, the sub-
du 4 dy
stitution u = y3 is made, from which, = 3y2 . =
dy y dx
d 3 dy 1
Hence, (y ) = (3y2 ) × , by the function of a (b) Let u = e3θ−2 , then, by the function of a func-
dx dx 5
function rule. tion rule:
A simple rule for differentiating an implicit func-  
du du dθ d 1 3θ−2 dθ
tion is summarised as: = × = e ×
dx dθ dx dθ 5 dx

d d dy 3 3θ−2 dθ
[ f ( y)] = [ f ( y)] × (1) = e
dx dy dx 5 dx
  
Exercise 14. Differentiation of implicit d 3y
Problem 4. Find .
functions dx 2x

B. Differentiating Implicit
In the quotient rule of differentiation let u = 3y and
Functions containing Products v = 2x.
and Quotients   (2x) d (3y) − (3y) d (2x)
The product and quotient rules of differentiation d 3y dx dx
Thus =
must be applied when differentiating functions con- dx 2x (2x)2
taining products and quotients of two variables.  
dy
(2x) 3 − (3y)(2)
d 2 d d dx
For example, (x y) = (x 2 ) (y) + (y) (x 2 ), =
dx dx dx 4x 2
by the product rule dy
  6x − 6y  
dy dx 3 dy
= (x ) 1
2
+ y(2x), = = 2 x −y
dx 4x 2 2x dx
by using equation (1)
dy
= x2 + 2xy Problem 5. Differentiate z = x 2 + 3x cos 3y
dx with respect to y.

d
Problem 3. Determine (2x 3 y2 ).
dx

In the product rule of differentiation let u = 2x 3 and

v = y2 .
d d d
Thus (2x 3 y2 ) = (2x 3 ) (y2 ) + (y2 ) (2x 3 )
dx dx dx
 
dy
= (2x 3 ) 2y + (y2 )(6x 2 )
dx
dy
= 4x 3 y + 6x 2 y2
dx
 
dy
= 2x y 2x + 3y
2
dx
 dy
dz d d An expression for the derivative in terms of
= (x 2 ) + (3x cos 3y) dx
dy dy dy x and y may be obtained by rearranging this latter
   equation. Thus:
dx dx
= 2x + (3x)(−3 sin 3y) + ( cos 3y) 3
dy dy dy
(2y + 1) = 5 − 6x
dx dx dx
= 2x − 9x sin 3y + 3 cos 3y
dy dy dy 5 − 6x
from which, =
dx 2y + 1

Problem 6. Given 2y2 − 5x 4 − 2 − 7y3 = 0,

Exercise 15. Differentiating implicit dy
functions involving products and quotients determine .
dx

Each term in turn is differentiated with respect to x:

More Implicit Differentiation
d d d d
Hence (2y2 ) − (5x 4 ) − (2) − (7y3 )
An implicit function such as 3x 2 + y2 − 5x + y = 2, dx dx dx dx
may be differentiated term by term with respect to d
x. This gives: = (0)
dx
d d d d d dy dy
(3x 2 ) + (y2 ) − (5x) + (y) = (2) i.e. 4y − 20x 3 − 0 − 21y2 =0
dx dx dx dx dx dx dx
Rearranging gives:
dy dy
i.e. 6x + 2y − 5 + 1 = 0, dy
dx dx (4y − 21y2 ) = 20x 3
dx
using equation (1) and standard derivatives.
dy 20x3
i.e. =
dx (4y − 21y2 )

dy
Problem 7. Determine the values of when
dx
x = 4 given that x 2 + y2 = 25.

Differentiating each term in turn with respect to x

gives:
d 2 d d
(x ) + (y2 ) = (25)
dx dx dx
dy
i.e. 2x + 2y =0
dx
dy 2x x
Hence =− =−
dx 2y y

Since x 2 + y2 = 25, when x = 4, y = (25 − 42 ) = ±3
dy 4 4
Thus when x = 4 and y = ±3, =− =±
dx ±3 3
 x2 + y2 = 25 is the equation of a circle, centre at Rearranging gives:
the origin and radius 5, as shown in Fig. 19. At x dy
= 4, the two gradients are shown. 8x + 2y3 = (10y − 6xy2 )
dx
y dy 8x + 2y3 4x + y3
and = =
5
Gradient dx 10y − 6xy2 y(5 − 3xy)
= − 43
x 2 + y 2 = 25 (b) When x = 1 and y = 2,
3
dy 4(1) + (2)3 12
= = = −6
−5 0 4 5 x
dx 2[5 − (3)(1)(2)] −2

−3
Gradient Problem 9. Find the gradients of the tangents
−5 = 43
drawn to the circle x 2 + y2 − 2x − 2y = 3 at
x = 2.

Figure 19 dy
The gradient of the tangent is given by
Above, x 2 + y2 = 25 was differentiated implicitly; dx
actually, the equation could be transposed to Differentiating each term in turn with respect to x

y = (25 − x 2 ) and differentiated using the function gives:
of a function rule. This gives d 2 d d d d
−1
(x ) + (y2 ) − (2x) − (2y) = (3)
dy 1 x dx dx dx dx dx
= (25 − x 2 ) 2 (−2x) = −
dx 2 (25 − x 2 ) dy dy
i.e. 2x + 2y −2−2 =0
dy 4 4 dx dx
and when x = 4, = − =± as dy
dx (25 − 42 ) 3 Hence = 2 − 2x,
(2y − 2)
obtained above. dx
dy 2 − 2x 1−x
from which = =
Problem 8. dx 2y − 2 y−1
dy The value of y when x = 2 is determined from the
(a) Find in terms of x and y given original equation
dx
4x + 2xy3 − 5y2 = 0.
2
dy Hence (2)2 + y2 − 2(2) − 2y = 3
(b) Evaluate when x = 1 and y = 2.
dx i.e. 4 + y2 − 4 − 2y = 3
or y2 − 2y − 3 = 0
(a) Differentiating each term in turn with respect to
x gives: Factorising gives: (y + 1)(y − 3) = 0, from which
y = −1 or y = 3
d d d d
(4x 2 ) + (2xy3 ) − (5y2 ) = (0) When x = 2 and y = −1,
dx dx dx dx
dy 1−x 1−2 −1 1
= = = =
    dx y−1 −1 − 1 −2 2
2 dy
i.e. 8x + (2x) 3y + (y )(2)
3
dx When x = 2 and y = 3,
dy dy 1−2 −1
− 10y=0 = =
dx dx 3−1 2
dy dy 1
i.e. 8x + 6xy2 + 2y3 − 10y =0 Hence the gradients of the tangents are ±
dx dx 2
 y
Gradient Exercise 16. Implicit differentiation
4 = − 12

x 2+ y 2− 2x −2y = 3 3

2
r=√
5
1

0 1 2 4 x

−1
Gradient
−2 = 12

Figure 20

The circle having the given equation has its centre

√
at (1, 1) and radius and is shown. in Fig. 20 with
the two gradients of the tangents.

Problem 10. Pressure p and volume v of a gas

are related by the law pvγ = k, where γ and k
are constants. Show that the rate of change of
dp p dv
pressure = −γ
dt v dt

k
Since pvγ = k, then p = = kv−γ
vγ
dp dp dv
= ×
dt dv dt
by the function of a function rule
dp d
= (kv−γ )
dv dv
−γk
= −γkv−γ−1 =
vγ+1
dp −γk dv
= γ+1 ×
dt v dt

Since k = pvγ ,
dp −γ(pvγ ) dv −γpvγ dv
= =
dt vγ+1 dt vγ v1 dt
dp p dv
i.e. = −γ
dt v dt