SOLUTION: Find dy/dx by implicit differentiation. tan(x/y)=x+y

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: Find dy/dx by implicit differentiation. tan(x/y)=x+y      Log On


   



Question 1050892: Find dy/dx by implicit differentiation.
tan(x/y)=x+y

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Implicit differentiation is done when the derivative y' is to
be found from an equation involving y which cannot be or has 
not been, solved for y.

The important thing to remember is that although the derivative
of x is 1, the derivative of y is y', not 1, and we always must
remember to use the chain rule.

tan%28x%2Fy%29%22%22=%22%22x%2By

We will need these formulas:

(1)  d%28x%29%2Fdx%22%22=%22%221

(2)  d%28y%29%2Fdx%22%22=%22%22%22y%27%22

(3)  expr%28+d%28tan%28u%29%5E%22%22%29%2Fdx%29%22%22=%22%22sec%5E2%28u%29expr%28du%2Fdx%29

(4)  d%28u%2Fv%29%2Fdx%22%22=%22%22%28v%2A%22u%27%22-u%2A%22v%27%22%29%2Fv%5E2 

tan%28x%2Fy%29%22%22=%22%22x%2By

We use (3) to differentiate the left side, and for the 
chain rule, we use (4). On the right we use (1) and (2): 

sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Aexpr%28%28y%2A1-x%2A%22y%27%22%29%2Fy%5E2%29%22%22=%22%221%2B%22y%27%22

All that's left is to solve for y':

Drop the *1 by the y:

sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Aexpr%28%28y-x%2A%22y%27%22%29%2Fy%5E2%29%22%22=%22%221%2B%22y%27%22

Multiply both sides by y² to clear the fraction:

sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2A%28y-x%2A%22y%27%22%29%22%22=%22%22y%5E2%2By%5E2%2A%22y%27%22

Distribute sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29 into the parentheses (y-x*y') on the left

sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ay-sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ax%2A%22y%27%22%22%22=%22%22y%5E2%2By%5E2%2A%22y%27%22

Get all the terms that contain y' on the right and 
get other terms on the right:

sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ay-y%5E2%22%22=%22%22sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ax%2A%22y%27%22%2By%5E2%2A%22y%27%22

Factor out y' on the right

sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ay-y%5E2%22%22=%22%22%28sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ax%2By%5E2%29%22y%27%22

Divide both sides by sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ax%2By%5E2

%28sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ay-y%5E2%29%2F%28sec%5E2%28x%2Fy%29%2Ax%2By%5E2%29%22%22=%22%22%22y%27%22

Edwin