"Just The Maths" Unit Number 10.5 Differentiation 5 (Implicit and Parametric Functions) by A.J.Hobson
"Just The Maths" Unit Number 10.5 Differentiation 5 (Implicit and Parametric Functions) by A.J.Hobson
UNIT NUMBER
10.5
DIFFERENTIATION 5
(Implicit and parametric functions)
by
A.J.Hobson
Some relationships between two variables x and y do not give y explicitly in terms of x (or
x explicitly in terms of y); but, nevertheless, it is implied that one of the two variables is
a function of the other. In the work which follows, we shall normally assume that y is a
function of x.
In this case, there is no apparent way of stating either variable explicitly in terms of the
dy
other; yet we may still wish to calculate dx or even dx
dy
.
Such relationships between x and y are said to be “implicit relationships” and, in the
technique of “implicit differentiation”, we simply differentiate each term in the relation-
ship with respect to the same variable without attempting to rearrange the formula.
EXAMPLES
dy
1. Determine an expression for dx
in the case when
x2 + y 2 = 16.
Solution
Treating y 2 as a function of a function, we have
dy
2x + 2y = 0.
dx
Hence,
dy −2x x
= =− .
dx 2y y
1
It is perfectly acceptable that the result is expressed in terms of both x and y; this will
normally happen.
dy
2. Determine an expression for dx
in the case when
x2 + 2xy 3 + y 5 = 4.
Solution
Treating y 3 and y 5 as functions of a function and using the Product Rule in the second
term on the left hand side,
" #
2 dy dy
2x + 2 x.3y + y .1 + 5y 4
3
= 0.
dx dx
On rearrangement,
h i dy
6xy 2 + 5y 4 = −(2x + 2y 3 ).
dx
Hence,
dy 2x + 2y 3
=− .
dx 6xy 2 + 5y 4
dy
3. Determine an expression for dx
in the case when
Solution
Differentiating throughout with respect to x and using both the Product Rule and the
Function of a Function Rule, we obtain
" #
2 2 dy 3 dy
x .3y + y .2x + 9 cos(5x − 7y). 5 − 7 = 0.
dx dx
On rearrangment,
h i dy h i
3x2 y 2 − 63 cos(5x − 7y) = − 2xy 3 + 45 cos(5x − 7y) .
dx
Thus,
dy 2xy 3 + 45 cos(5x − 7y)
=− 2 2 .
dx 3x y − 63 cos(5x − 7y)
2
10.5.2 PARAMETRIC FUNCTIONS
In general, we write
x = x(t) and y = y(t);
but, in theory, we can imagine that t could be expressed explicitly in terms of x; so, essen-
tially, y is a function of t, where t is a function of x. Hence, from the Function of a Function
Rule,
dy dy dt
= . .
dx dt dx
However, we are not given t explicitly in terms of x and it may not be practical to obtain it
in this form. Therefore, we write
dy dy dx
= / .
dx dt dt
This is the standard formula for differentiating y with respect to x from a pair of parametric
equations.
EXAMPLES
dy
1. Determine an expression for dx
in terms of t in the case when
Solution
dy dx
= 6 and = 6t.
dt dt
Hence,
dy 6 1
= = .
dx 6t t
3
dy
2. Determine an expression for dx
in terms of θ in the case when
Solution
dx dy
= 3sin2 θ. cos θ and = −3cos2 θ. sin θ.
dθ dθ
Hence,
dy −3cos2 θ. sin θ
= .
dx 3sin2 θ. cos θ
That is,
dy cos θ
=− = − cot θ.
dx sin θ
10.5.3 EXERCISES
dy
1. Determine an expression for dx
in the following cases:
(a)
x2 + y 2 = 10x;
(b)
x3 + y 3 − 3xy 2 = 8;
(c)
x4 + 2x2 y 2 + y 4 = x;
(d)
xey = cos y.
dy
2. Determine an expression for dx
in terms of the appropriate parameter in the following
cases:
(a)
x = 3 sin θ and y = 4 cos θ;
(b)
4
x = 4t and y = ;
t
4
(c)
1 1
x = (1 − t) 2 and y = (1 − t2 ) 2 .
1. (a)
dy 5−x
= ;
dx y
(b)
dy y 2 − x2
= 2 ;
dx y − 2xy
(c)
dy 1 − 4x3 − 4xy 2
= ;
dx 4 (x2 y + y 3 )
(d)
dy ey
=− y .
dx xe + sin y
2. (a)
dy 4
= − tan θ;
dx 3
(b)
dy 1
= − 2;
dx t
(c)
dy 2t
= 1 .
dx (1 + t) 2