Using implicit differentiation we can treat relations which are not quite functions like they were functions. In particular, we can find the slopes of lines tangent to curves which are not graphs of functions.
1. Sec on 2.6
Implicit Differen a on
V63.0121.011: Calculus I
Professor Ma hew Leingang
New York University
February 28, 2011
.
2. Music Selection
“The Curse of Curves”
by Cute is What We
Aim For
3. Announcements
Quiz 2 in recita on this
week. Covers §§1.5, 1.6,
2.1, 2.2
Midterm next week.
Covers §§1.1–2.5
4. Objectives
Use implicit differenta on
to find the deriva ve of a
func on defined
implicitly.
5. Outline
The big idea, by example
Examples
Basic Examples
Ver cal and Horizontal Tangents
Orthogonal Trajectories
Chemistry
The power rule for ra onal powers
6. Motivating Example
Problem y
Find the slope of the line
which is tangent to the
curve . x
x2 + y2 = 1
at the point (3/5, −4/5).
7. Motivating Example
Problem y
Find the slope of the line
which is tangent to the
curve . x
x2 + y2 = 1
at the point (3/5, −4/5).
8. Motivating Example
Problem y
Find the slope of the line
which is tangent to the
curve . x
x2 + y2 = 1
at the point (3/5, −4/5).
10. Motivating Example, Solution
Solu on (Explicit)
Isolate: √ y
y = 1 − x =⇒ y = − 1 − x2 .
2 2
(Why the −?)
Differen ate: . x
dy −2x x
=− √ =√
dx 2 1 − x2 1 − x2
11. Motivating Example, Solution
Solu on (Explicit)
Isolate: √ y
y = 1 − x =⇒ y = − 1 − x2 .
2 2
(Why the −?)
Differen ate: . x
dy −2x x
=− √ =√
dx 2 1 − x2 1 − x2
Evaluate:
dy 3/5 3/5 3
=√ = = .
dx x=3/5 1 − (3/5)2 4/5 4
12. Motivating Example, Solution
Solu on (Explicit)
Isolate: √ y
y = 1 − x =⇒ y = − 1 − x2 .
2 2
(Why the −?)
Differen ate: . x
dy −2x x
=− √ =√
dx 2 1 − x2 1 − x2
Evaluate:
dy 3/5 3/5 3
=√ = = .
dx x=3/5 1 − (3/5)2 4/5 4
13. Motivating Example, Solution
Solu on (Explicit)
Isolate: √ y
y = 1 − x =⇒ y = − 1 − x2 .
2 2
(Why the −?)
Differen ate: . x
dy −2x x
=− √ =√
dx 2 1 − x2 1 − x2
Evaluate:
dy 3/5 3/5 3
=√ = = .
dx x=3/5 1 − (3/5)2 4/5 4
14. Motivating 2Example, another way
2
We know that x + y = 1 does not define y as a func on of x, but
suppose it did.
Suppose we had y = f(x), so that
x2 + (f(x))2 = 1
15. Motivating 2Example, another way
2
We know that x + y = 1 does not define y as a func on of x, but
suppose it did.
Suppose we had y = f(x), so that
x2 + (f(x))2 = 1
We could differen ate this equa on to get
2x + 2f(x) · f′ (x) = 0
16. Motivating 2Example, another way
2
We know that x + y = 1 does not define y as a func on of x, but
suppose it did.
Suppose we had y = f(x), so that
x2 + (f(x))2 = 1
We could differen ate this equa on to get
2x + 2f(x) · f′ (x) = 0
We could then solve to get
x
f′ (x) = −
f(x)
17. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
18. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
19. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
looks like a func on
20. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
21. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
22. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
looks like a func on
. x
23. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
24. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
25. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
. x
does not look like a
func on, but that’s
OK—there are only
two points like this
26. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
So f(x) is defined “locally”,
almost everywhere and is . x
differen able
looks like a func on
27. Yes, we can!
The beau ful fact (i.e., deep theorem) is that this works!
y
“Near” most points on the curve
x2 + y2 = 1, the curve resembles
the graph of a func on.
So f(x) is defined “locally”,
almost everywhere and is . x
differen able
The chain rule then applies for
this local choice.
looks like a func on
28. Motivating Example, again, with Leibniz notation
Problem
Find the slope of the line which is tangent to the curve x2 + y2 = 1 at
the point (3/5, −4/5).
29. Motivating Example, again, with Leibniz notation
Problem
Find the slope of the line which is tangent to the curve x2 + y2 = 1 at
the point (3/5, −4/5).
Solu on
dy
Differen ate: 2x + 2y =0
dx
30. Motivating Example, again, with Leibniz notation
Problem
Find the slope of the line which is tangent to the curve x2 + y2 = 1 at
the point (3/5, −4/5).
Solu on
dy
Differen ate: 2x + 2y = 0
dx
Remember y is assumed to be a func on of x!
31. Motivating Example, again, with Leibniz notation
Problem
Find the slope of the line which is tangent to the curve x2 + y2 = 1 at
the point (3/5, −4/5).
Solu on
dy
Differen ate: 2x + 2y = 0
dx
Remember y is assumed to be a func on of x!
dy x
Isolate: =− .
dx y
32. Motivating Example, again, with Leibniz notation
Problem
Find the slope of the line which is tangent to the curve x2 + y2 = 1 at
the point (3/5, −4/5).
Solu on
dy
Differen ate: 2x + 2y = 0
dx
Remember y is assumed to be a func on of x!
dy x dy 3/5 3
Isolate: = − . Then evaluate: = = .
dx y dx ( 3 ,− 4 ) 4/5 4
5 5
33. Summary
If a rela on is given between x and y which isn’t a func on:
“Most of the me”, i.e., “at
most places” y can be y
assumed to be a func on of x
we may differen ate the
rela on as is . x
dy
Solving for does give the
dx
slope of the tangent line to
the curve at a point on the
curve.
34. Outline
The big idea, by example
Examples
Basic Examples
Ver cal and Horizontal Tangents
Orthogonal Trajectories
Chemistry
The power rule for ra onal powers
39. Yet Another Example
Example
Find y′ if y5 + x2 y3 = 1 + y sin(x2 ).
Solu on
Differen a ng implicitly:
5y4 y′ + (2x)y3 + x2 (3y2 y′ ) = y′ sin(x2 ) + y cos(x2 )(2x)
40. Yet Another Example
Example
Find y′ if y5 + x2 y3 = 1 + y sin(x2 ).
Solu on
Differen a ng implicitly:
5y4 y′ + (2x)y3 + x2 (3y2 y′ ) = y′ sin(x2 ) + y cos(x2 )(2x)
Collect all terms with y′ on one side and all terms without y′ on the
other:
5y4 y′ + 3x2 y2 y′ − sin(x2 )y′ = −2xy3 + 2xy cos(x2 )
41. Yet Another Example
Example
Find y′ if y5 + x2 y3 = 1 + y sin(x2 ).
Solu on
Collect all terms with y′ on one side and all terms without y′ on the
other:
5y4 y′ + 3x2 y2 y′ − sin(x2 )y′ = −2xy3 + 2xy cos(x2 )
2xy(cos x2 − y2 )
′
Now factor and divide: y = 4
5y + 3x2 y2 − sin x2
42. Finding tangents with implicit differentitiation
Example
Find the equa on of the line
tangent to the curve
.
y2 = x2 (x + 1) = x3 + x2
at the point (3, −6).
43. Solution
Solu on
dy 2 dy 3x2 + 2x
Differen ate: 2y = 3x + 2x, so = , and
dx dx 2y
dy 3 · 32 + 2 · 3 33 11
= =− =− .
dx (3,−6) 2(−6) 12 4
44. Solution
Solu on
dy 2 dy 3x2 + 2x
Differen ate: 2y = 3x + 2x, so = , and
dx dx 2y
dy 3 · 32 + 2 · 3 33 11
= =− =− .
dx (3,−6) 2(−6) 12 4
11
Thus the equa on of the tangent line is y + 6 = − (x − 3).
4
45. Finding tangents with implicit differentitiation
Example
Find the equa on of the line
tangent to the curve
.
y2 = x2 (x + 1) = x3 + x2
at the point (3, −6).
46. Recall: Line equation forms
slope-intercept form
y = mx + b
where the slope is m and (0, b) is on the line.
point-slope form
y − y0 = m(x − x0 )
where the slope is m and (x0 , y0 ) is on the line.
47. Horizontal Tangent Lines
Example
Find the horizontal tangent lines to the same curve: y2 = x3 + x2
48. Horizontal Tangent Lines
Example
Find the horizontal tangent lines to the same curve: y2 = x3 + x2
Solu on
We have to solve these two equa ons:
y2 = x3 + x2 [(x, y) is on the curve]
3x2 + 2x
= 0 [tangent line is horizontal]
2y
49. Solution, continued
Solving the second equa on gives
3x2 + 2x
= 0 =⇒ 3x2 + 2x = 0 =⇒ x(3x + 2) = 0
2y
(as long as y ̸= 0). So x = 0 or 3x + 2 = 0.
50. Solution, continued
Solving the second equa on gives
3x2 + 2x
= 0 =⇒ 3x2 + 2x = 0 =⇒ x(3x + 2) = 0
2y
(as long as y ̸= 0). So x = 0 or 3x + 2 = 0.
51. Solution, continued
Solving the second equa on gives
3x2 + 2x
= 0 =⇒ 3x2 + 2x = 0 =⇒ x(3x + 2) = 0
2y
(as long as y ̸= 0). So x = 0 or 3x + 2 = 0.
Subs tu ng x = 0 into the first equa on gives
y2 = 03 + 02 = 0 =⇒ y = 0
which we’ve disallowed. So no horizontal tangents down that
road.
52. Solution, continued
Subs tu ng x = −2/3 into the first equa on gives
( )3 ( )2
2 2 4
y = −
2
+ − =
3 3 27
√
4 2
=⇒ y = ± =± √ ,
27 3 3
so there are two horizontal tangents.
56. Example
Find the ver cal tangent lines to the same curve: y2 = x3 + x2
Solu on
dx
Tangent lines are ver cal when = 0.
dy
57. Example
Find the ver cal tangent lines to the same curve: y2 = x3 + x2
Solu on
dx
Tangent lines are ver cal when = 0.
dy
Differen a ng x implicitly as a func on of y gives
dx dx dx 2y
2y = 3x2 + 2x , so = 2 (no ce this is the
dy dy dy 3x + 2x
reciprocal of dy/dx).
58. Example
Find the ver cal tangent lines to the same curve: y2 = x3 + x2
Solu on
dx
Tangent lines are ver cal when = 0.
dy
Differen a ng x implicitly as a func on of y gives
dx dx dx 2y
2y = 3x2 + 2x , so = 2 (no ce this is the
dy dy dy 3x + 2x
reciprocal of dy/dx).
We must solve y2 = x3 + x2 [(x, y) is on the curve] and
2y
= 0 [tangent line is ver cal]
3x2 + 2x
59. Solution, continued
Solving the second equa on gives
2y
= 0 =⇒ 2y = 0 =⇒ y = 0
3x2 + 2x
(as long as 3x2 + 2x ̸= 0).
60. Solution, continued
Solving the second equa on gives
2y
= 0 =⇒ 2y = 0 =⇒ y = 0
3x2 + 2x
(as long as 3x2 + 2x ̸= 0).
Subs tu ng y = 0 into the first equa on gives
0 = x3 + x2 = x2 (x + 1)
So x = 0 or x = −1.
61. Solution, continued
Solving the second equa on gives
2y
= 0 =⇒ 2y = 0 =⇒ y = 0
3x2 + 2x
(as long as 3x2 + 2x ̸= 0).
Subs tu ng y = 0 into the first equa on gives
0 = x3 + x2 = x2 (x + 1)
So x = 0 or x = −1.
x = 0 is not allowed by the first equa on, but x = −1 is.
68. Orthogonal Families of Curves
y
xy = 1
xy y =
= 2
x
3
xy = c
x2 − y2 = k . x
− 1
= −
2
xy y =
x
69. Orthogonal Families of Curves
y
xy = 1
xy y =
= 2
x
3
xy = c
x2 − y2 = k . x
= − 1
xy = −
− 2
xy y =
3
x
70. Orthogonal Families of Curves
y
xy = 1
xy y =
= 2
x
3
x2 − y2 = 1
xy = c
x2 − y2 = k . x
= − 1
xy = −
− 2
xy y =
3
x
71. Orthogonal Families of Curves
y
xy = 1
xy y =
= 2
x
3
x2 − y2 = 2
x −y =1
xy = c
x2 − y2 = k . x
2
= − 1
xy = −
− 2
xy y =
3
2
x
72. xy = c
x2 − y2 = k
2 2
x2 − y2 = 3
x2 − y2 = 2
x −y =1
x
.
y
xy y = x
xy = −
= − 1 xy y =
− 2
xy = 1
3 = 2
3
x
Orthogonal Families of Curves
73. Orthogonal Families of Curves
y
xy = 1
xy y =
= 2
x
3
x2 − y2 = 3
x2 − y2 = 2
x −y =1
xy = c
x2 − y2 = k . x
2
= − 1
xy = −
− 2
x2 − y2 = −1
xy y =
3
2
x
74. Orthogonal Families of Curves
y
xy = 1
xy y =
= 2
x
3
x2 − y2 = 3
x2 − y2 = 2
x −y =1
xy = c
x2 − y2 = k . x
2
= − 1
xy = −
− 2
x2 − y2 = −1
xy y =
3
2
x2 − y2 = −2
x
75. Orthogonal Families of Curves
y
xy = 1
xy y =
= 2
x
3
x2 − y2 = 3
x2 − y2 = 2
x −y =1
xy = c
x2 − y2 = k . x
2
= − 1
xy = −
− 2
x2 − y2 = −1
xy y =
3
2
x2 − y2 = −2
x2 − y2 = −3
x
76. Examples
Example
Show that the families of curves xy = c, x2 − y2 = k are orthogonal,
that is, they intersect at right angles.
Solu on
y
In the first curve, y + xy′ = 0 =⇒ y′ = −
x
77. Examples
Example
Show that the families of curves xy = c, x2 − y2 = k are orthogonal,
that is, they intersect at right angles.
Solu on
y
In the first curve, y + xy′ = 0 =⇒ y′ = −
x
′ ′ x
In the second curve, 2x − 2yy = 0 =⇒ y =
y
78. Examples
Example
Show that the families of curves xy = c, x2 − y2 = k are orthogonal,
that is, they intersect at right angles.
Solu on
y
In the first curve, y + xy′ = 0 =⇒ y′ = −
x
′ ′ x
In the second curve, 2x − 2yy = 0 =⇒ y =
y
The product is −1, so the tangent lines are perpendicular
wherever they intersect.
79. Ideal gases
The ideal gas law relates
temperature, pressure, and
volume of a gas:
PV = nRT
(R is a constant, n is the
amount of gas in moles)
.
Image credit: Sco Beale / Laughing Squid
81. Compressibility
Defini on
The isothermic compressibility of a fluid is defined by
dV 1
β=−
dP V
Approximately we have
∆V dV ∆V
≈ = −βV =⇒ ≈ −β∆P
∆P dP V
The smaller the β, the “harder” the fluid.
82. Compressibility of an ideal gas
Example
Find the isothermic compressibility of an ideal gas.
83. Compressibility of an ideal gas
Example
Find the isothermic compressibility of an ideal gas.
Solu on
If PV = k (n is constant for our purposes, T is constant because of the
word isothermic, and R really is constant), then
dP dV dV V
·V+P = 0 =⇒ =−
dP dP dP P
1 dV 1
So β = − · = . Compressibility and pressure are inversely
V dP P
related.
84. Nonideal gasses
Not that there’s anything wrong with that
Example
H.
The van der Waals equa on makes
fewer simplifica ons:
. .
Oxygen H
( ) H.
n2 .
P + a 2 (V − nb) = nRT, Oxygen Hydrogen bonds
V H.
where a is a measure of a rac on . .
Oxygen H
between par cles of the gas, and b a
measure of par cle size. H.
85. Nonideal gasses
Not that there’s anything wrong with that
Example
The van der Waals equa on makes
fewer simplifica ons:
( )
n2 .
P + a 2 (V − nb) = nRT,
V
where a is a measure of a rac on
between par cles of the gas, and b a
measure of par cle size.
86. Compressibility of a van der Waals gas
Differen a ng the van der Waals equa on by trea ng V as a
func on of P gives
( ) ( )
an2 dV 2an2 dV
P+ 2 + (V − bn) 1 − 3 = 0,
V dP V dP
87. Compressibility of a van der Waals gas
Differen a ng the van der Waals equa on by trea ng V as a
func on of P gives
( ) ( )
an2 dV 2an2 dV
P+ 2 + (V − bn) 1 − 3 = 0,
V dP V dP
so
1 dV V2 (V − nb)
β=− =
V dP 2abn3 − an2 V + PV3
90. Nonideal compressibility,
continued
1 dV V2 (V − nb)
β=− =
V dP 2abn3 − an2 V + PV3
Ques on
What if a = b = 0?
dβ
Without taking the deriva ve, what is the sign of ?
db
91. Nonideal compressibility,
continued
1 dV V2 (V − nb)
β=− =
V dP 2abn3 − an2 V + PV3
Ques on
What if a = b = 0?
dβ
Without taking the deriva ve, what is the sign of ?
db
dβ
Without taking the deriva ve, what is the sign of ?
da
92. Nasty derivatives
Answer
We get the old (ideal) compressibility
We have
( )
dβ nV3 an2 + PV2
= −( )2 < 0
db PV3 + an2 (2bn − V)
dβ n2 (bn − V)(2bn − V)V2
We have =( ) > 0 (as long as
da 3
PV + an 2 (2bn − V) 2
V > 2nb, and it’s probably true that V ≫ 2nb).
93. Outline
The big idea, by example
Examples
Basic Examples
Ver cal and Horizontal Tangents
Orthogonal Trajectories
Chemistry
The power rule for ra onal powers
95. Using implicit differentiation to
find derivatives
Example
dy √
Find if y = x.
dx
Solu on
√
If y = x, then
y2 = x,
so
dy dy 1 1
2y = 1 =⇒ = = √ .
dx dx 2y 2 x
96. The power rule for rational powers
Theorem
p
If y = xp/q , where p and q are integers, then y′ = xp/q−1 .
q
97. The power rule for rational powers
Theorem
p
If y = xp/q , where p and q are integers, then y′ = xp/q−1 .
q
Proof.
First, raise both sides to the qth power:
y = xp/q =⇒ yq = xp
98. The power rule for rational powers
Theorem
p
If y = xp/q , where p and q are integers, then y′ = xp/q−1 .
q
Proof.
First, raise both sides to the qth power:
y = xp/q =⇒ yq = xp
Now, differen ate implicitly:
q−1 dy dy p xp−1
qy = px p−1
=⇒ = ·
dx dx q yq−1
99. The power rule for rational powers
Theorem
p
If y = xp/q , where p and q are integers, then y′ = xp/q−1 .
q
Proof.
Now, differen ate implicitly:
q−1 dy dy p xp−1
qy = px p−1
=⇒ = ·
dx dx q yq−1
100. The power rule for rational powers
Theorem
p
If y = xp/q , where p and q are integers, then y′ = xp/q−1 .
q
Proof.
Simplify: yq−1 = x(p/q)(q−1) = xp−p/q so
xp−1 xp−1
q−1
= p−p/q = xp−1−(p−p/q) = xp/q−1
y x
101. Summary
Using implicit differen a on we can treat rela ons which are
not quite func ons like they were func ons.
In par cular, we can find the slopes of lines tangent to curves
which are not graphs of func ons.