Q.If yx=ey−x, prove that dxdy=logy(1+logy)2.
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Implicit Differentiation
When y isn't alone
You can differentiate y=x2+3x term by term because y is written explicitly in terms of x. But an equation like x2+y2=25, or x3+y3=6xy, does not give y by itself — solving for y is messy or downright impossible.
Implicit differentiation finds dxdy without isolating y: treat y as an unknown function of x, differentiate the whole equation as it stands, then solve for dxdy.
The one key move: y is really y(x)
Wherever y appears, picture y(x) hiding inside. Differentiating a y-term therefore needs the chain rule, which tacks on a factor of dxdy:
dxd(y2)=2ydxdy.
That extra dxdy on every y-term is the whole trick.
The procedure
- Differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as y(x).
- Each time you differentiate a y-term, multiply by dxdy (chain rule); use the product rule on mixed terms such as xy.
- Gather all dxdy terms on one side, everything else on the other.
- Factor out dxdy and divide.
Worked example
For x2+y2=25:
2x+2ydxdy=0⇒dxdy=−yx.
The answer naturally contains both x and y — that is normal here. To get the slope at a point on the curve, substitute the coordinates after differentiating; there is no need to solve for y first. …
Concept: Implicit Differentiation — take logs to handle the variable exponent, then differentiate both sides with respect to x.
Take natural logarithms on both sides:
log(yx)=log(ey−x)⇒xlogy=y−x.
Differentiate implicitly with respect to x:
logy+x⋅y1dxdy=dxdy−1.
Collect terms with dxdy:
yxdxdy−dxdy=−1−logy⇒dxdy(yx−1)=−(1+logy).
From xlogy=y−x, we have x(1+logy)=y, so yx=1+logy1. Substitute: …
Use implicit differentiation after taking the natural logarithm of both sides. The key is to rewrite yx=ey−x as xlogy=y−x, then differentiate carefully, isolate dxdy, and simplify using the original relation to get dxdy=logy(1+logy)2.
We start with the equation
yx=ey−x.
The presence of x in the exponent of y and the exponential on the right makes direct differentiation messy. The natural move is to take the logarithm of both sides — this brings the exponent down and turns the product into a sum, making implicit differentiation straightforward.
Step 1: Take the natural logarithm of both sides.
Since y>0 (otherwise yx is not defined for real numbers), we can safely write:
log(yx)=log(ey−x).
Using logarithm properties:
xlogy=y−x.
This is now a simple implicit relation between x and y.
Step 2: Differentiate both sides with respect to x.
Remember that y is a function of x, so logy differentiates to y1⋅dxdy.
On the left, we have a product x⋅logy:
dxd[xlogy]=(1)⋅logy+x⋅y1dxdy=logy+yxdxdy.
On the right, y−x differentiates to:
dxd[y−x]=dxdy−1.
So the differentiated equation is:
logy+yxdxdy=dxdy−1.
Step 3: Collect terms with dxdy.
Bring dxdy terms to one side:
yxdxdy−dxdy=−1−logy.
Factor out dxdy:
dxdy(yx−1)=−(1+logy).
Thus:
dxdy=yx−1−(1+logy)=yx−y−(1+logy)=x−y−y(1+logy).
Step 4: Eliminate x using the original relation.
From xlogy=y−x, we can solve for x:
xlogy+x=y⇒x(logy+1)=y⇒x=1+logyy.
Substitute this into x−y: …
Method: Logarithmic Differentiation for an Implicit Relation with a Variable Exponent
Use this when the equation has a variable raised to a power that is also a variable (like yx), making direct differentiation impossible — neither the power rule (xn, constant exponent) nor the exponential rule (ax, constant base) applies on its own.
Steps
Step 1: Take the natural logarithm of both sides
For yx=ey−x:
log(yx)=log(ey−x)⇒xlogy=y−x
using log(ab)=bloga and log(ek)=k. This brings the exponent down and turns the equation into one built from products and sums, which standard differentiation rules can handle.
Step 2: Differentiate implicitly with respect to x
The left side, xlogy, is a product of x and logy (where logy needs the chain rule since y=y(x)):
dxd(xlogy)=logy+x⋅y1dxdy
The right side differentiates directly:
dxd(y−x)=dxdy−1
Step 3: Collect dxdy terms and factor
logy+yxdxdy=dxdy−1⇒dxdy(yx−1)=−(1+logy)
Step 4: Use the original relation to eliminate x …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Trying to differentiate yx directly without taking logs
yx has both a variable base and a variable exponent, so neither the power rule nor the exponential rule alone applies. Students who skip logarithmic differentiation often apply the wrong rule (treating it like xn or like ax) and get a completely incorrect derivative. Why it's wrong: only after taking log of both sides does yx=ey−x become the tractable equation xlogy=y−x. Correct approach: always take logs first whenever both the base and the exponent involve the variable.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the chain rule on logy
When differentiating xlogy via the product rule, a frequent slip is writing dxd(logy)=y1 instead of y1dxdy. Why it's wrong: y depends on x, so logy needs the chain rule just like any other y-term. Correct approach: always attach dxdy to the derivative of logy. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 50 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=logyx, then dxdy= ______ (A) xlogy1 (B) x(1+logy)logy (C) x(1+logy)1 (D) 1+logy1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewriting y=logyx as ylny=lnx and differentiating implicitly gives dxdy=x(1+logy)1.
Concept and Intuition
logyx means "logarithm of x to base y", i.e. lnylnx. So the given relation y=logyx really means y=lnylnx, or equivalently ylny=lnx — a cleaner form to differentiate implicitly, since it avoids a quotient with y in both places.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=logyx=lnylnx⇒ylny=lnx.
- Differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x:
dxd(ylny)=dxd(lnx)
- LHS (product rule): dxdylny+y⋅y1dxdy=dxdy(lny+1).
- RHS: x1.
- So dxdy(lny+1)=x1⇒dxdy=x(1+lny)1=x(1+logy)1. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.If y=(logxsinx)x, then dxdy= (A) y[logcosxxsinx+log(logsinx)+logx1−log(logx)] (B) y[logsinxxcosx−log(logsinx)+logx1+log(logx)] (C) y[logsinxxcotx+log(logsinx)−logx1−log(logx)] (D) y[logsinxxcotx−log(logsinx)+logx1−logx]
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a logarithmic-differentiation problem with a function-of-a-function base; careful chain-rule bookkeeping on u=logx(sinx) gives option (C).
Concept and Intuition
When both the base and the exponent are functions of x (here the base is itself logx(sinx)), the standard technique is logarithmic differentiation: take ln of both sides to turn the power into a product, then differentiate using the product and chain rules.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=logx(sinx)=lnxlnsinx, so y=ux.
- Take logs: lny=xlnu.
- Differentiate: yy′=lnu+x⋅uu′.
- Compute u′: with u=lnxlnsinx,
u′=(lnx)2cotx⋅lnx−lnsinx⋅x1.
- Then
uu′=(lnx)2cotx⋅lnx−xlnsinx⋅lnsinxlnx=lnsinxcotx−xlnx1.
- So x⋅uu′=lnsinxxcotx−lnx1.
- And lnu=ln(lnsinx)−ln(lnx).
- Combine:
yy′=ln(lnsinx)−ln(lnx)+lnsinxxcotx−lnx1,
so …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-AN1 markMCQQ.If log(1+x2−x)=y(1+x2), then (1+x2)dxdy+xy= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Implicit differentiation of log(1+x2−x)=y1+x2, using (1+x2−x)(1+x2+x)=1, collapses directly to the requested combination. Answer: −1.
Concept and Intuition
Writing s=1+x2 turns the relation into log(s−x)=ys, a compact form whose derivative — after using the identity s2−x2=1 — telescopes into exactly the expression (1+x2)y′+xy asked for.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let s=1+x2; then s′=sx and s2−x2=1⇒(s−x)(s+x)=1⇒s−x1=s+x.
- Given: log(s−x)=ys. Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x: s−xs′−1=y′s+ys′ …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-10-05-FN1 markMCQQ.If yyy⋅⋅⋅∞=log{x+log{x+⋯}}, then dxdy at x=e2−2, y=2 equals _____ (A) 22(e2−1)log2 (B) 22(e2−1)1−log2 (C) e2−12(1−log2) (D) 2(e2−1)log2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both sides define the same implicit quantity u via a self-referential equation; differentiate each side's defining equation implicitly and combine using the chain rule. The answer is (B).
Concept and Intuition
The infinite power tower yyy⋯=u satisfies the self-consistency equation u=yu (the tower "regenerates" itself). Likewise the infinite nested logarithm log{x+log{x+⋯}}=u satisfies u=log(x+u). Since the problem states these two quantities are equal (both equal to the same u), u is implicitly a common function linking x and y; differentiating each defining relation gives du/dy and du/dx, and the chain rule combines them into dy/dx.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Verify u=2 at the given point. Nested log: u=log(x+u) at x=e2−2: try u=2: log(e2−2+2)=log(e2)=2 ✓. Tower: u=yu at y=2: try u=2: (2)2=2 ✓. Both consistent with u=2.
- Differentiate the tower relation u=yu w.r.t. y. Take log: logu=ulogy. Differentiate: u1dydu=dydulogy+yu ⇒(u1−logy)dydu=yu⇒dydu=y(1−ulogy)u2. At y=2, u=2: dydu=2(1−2log2)4=2(1−ln2)4=1−ln222. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.If xxyy=ee, then (dx2d2y)(e,e)= (A) e1(dxdy)(e,e) (B) (dxdy)(e,e)+e1 (C) (dxdy)(e,e)−e1 (D) e(dxdy)(e,e)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Logarithmic differentiation of xxyy=ee twice, evaluated at (e,e), shows the second derivative equals e1 times the first derivative there.
Concept and Intuition
Expressions like xx are best handled by taking logs first (since log(xx)=xlogx is much easier to differentiate than xx directly). Implicit differentiation then relates y′ and y′′ through the resulting equation.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Take log: xlogx+ylogy=log(ee)=e (a constant).
- Differentiate w.r.t. x: (logx+1)+(logy+1)y′=0.
- Solve: y′=−logy+1logx+1. At (e,e): loge=1, so y′=−22=−1.
- Differentiate the relation (logx+1)+(logy+1)y′=0 again w.r.t. x: x1+y(y′)2+(logy+1)y′′=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-24-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=(tanx)sinx, then dxdy= (A) (tanx)sinx{secx+(cosx)(log(tanx))} (B) (sinx)tanx{secx+(cosx)(log(tanx))} (C) (tanx)sinx{secx−(cosx)(log(tanx))} (D) (sinx)tanx{secx−(cosx)(log(tanx))}
›Reveal solutionSolution
Logarithmic differentiation of y=(tanx)sinx gives y′=(tanx)sinx{secx+cosxlog(tanx)}.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever both the base and the exponent are functions of x (here base tanx, exponent sinx), take natural log of both sides first — this converts the power into a product, which is easy to differentiate using the product rule.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=(tanx)sinx. Take log: logy=sinx⋅log(tanx).
- Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x using the product rule on the right: y1dxdy=cosx⋅log(tanx)+sinx⋅tanx1⋅sec2x.
- Simplify the second term: sinx⋅tanxsec2x=sinx⋅cos2x1⋅sinxcosx=cosx1=secx.
- So y1dxdy=cosxlog(tanx)+secx. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.If x2+y2=t−t1 and x4+y4=t2+t21, then dxdy= (A) xy (B) x2y2 (C) xy (D) −xy
›Reveal solutionSolution
Eliminating the parameter t between the two given equations produces the direct relation x2y2=−1 between x and y, whose implicit derivative is −y/x.
Concept and Intuition
When x and y are both linked to a parameter t through two equations, differentiating each with respect to t separately (and dividing) works, but it is often faster — and here it is exact — to first eliminate t algebraically to get a direct x–y relation, then differentiate that implicitly in the ordinary way.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Square the first equation: (x2+y2)2=(t−t1)2=t2−2+t21, i.e. x4+2x2y2+y4=t2+t21−2.
- The second equation says x4+y4=t2+t21. Substitute this in: (t2+t21)+2x2y2=t2+t21−2.
- This forces 2x2y2=−2⇒x2y2=−1 — a t-free relation directly linking x and y. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.If x−xy+y−xy=1, then dxdy= (A) −x−x2y−y2 (B) −1−x21−y2 (C) −1−x1−y (D) −x+yx−y
›Reveal solutionSolution
Squaring the constraint reveals that it forces x+y=1 identically, so dxdy=−1 throughout; matching this against the options singles out −x−x2y−y2, since it equals −1 for every point satisfying y=1−x.
Concept and Intuition
Rather than blindly grinding through implicit differentiation of two square roots, it pays to first understand the curve itself. Squaring x−xy+y−xy=1 carefully (using s=x+y,p=xy) collapses to a perfect square equalling zero, revealing that the relation is nothing but the straight line x+y=1. Once we know that, dxdy=−1 is immediate, and we just need to find which option reduces to −1 on this line.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Square the given equation:
x(1−y)+y(1−x)+2xy(1−x)(1−y)=1
x+y−2xy+2xy(1−x)(1−y)=1
- Let s=x+y, p=xy. Then:
2p(1−x)(1−y)=1−s+2p
Note (1−x)(1−y)=1−s+p. Squaring again:
4p(1−s+p)=(1−s+2p)2
Let q=1−s. Expanding both sides: LHS =4pq+4p2; RHS =q2+4pq+4p2. So 0=q2, i.e. q=0, i.e. s=1.
3. Hence x+y=1 is forced — the given relation is the line y=1−x (restricted to the domain where the square roots are real, 0≤x,y≤1).
4. Differentiating y=1−x directly: dxdy=−1.
5. Check which option gives −1 identically along y=1−x:
- (A): y−y2=y(1−y). Substituting y=1−x: y(1−y)=(1−x)⋅x=x−x2. So the ratio is exactly 1, and −1=−1 for every x. ✓ …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.m is the slope of a tangent to the curve ey=1+x2 at x=1 then m= (A) log22 (B) log2 (C) 2 (D) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Implicit differentiation of ey=1+x2 gives slope 2x/(1+x2), which is 1 at x=1.
Concept and Intuition
This is a straightforward implicit differentiation: differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x, then substitute the known relation back in to eliminate ey.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Differentiate ey=1+x2 with respect to x: eydxdy=2x.
- So dxdy=ey2x=1+x22x (substituting ey=1+x2 from the original equation). …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-FN1 markMCQQ.If y=x+x+x+⋯∞, then dxdy= (A) y1 (B) x1 (C) 2x−11 (D) 2y−11
›Reveal solutionSolution
The infinite nested radical satisfies y2=x+y (self-similarity), which is then differentiated implicitly.
Concept and Intuition
An infinitely repeating nested expression under a radical satisfies a self-referential equation: the whole expression y equals the same structure with x+y under the first radical (since removing the outermost layer just reproduces y again).
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=x+x+x+⋯=x+y (the inner infinite tail is again y).
- Square both sides: y2=x+y.
- Differentiate implicitly with respect to x: 2ydxdy=1+dxdy.
- Collect: dxdy(2y−1)=1⇒dxdy=2y−11. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.If xycos4α+yxsin4α=2sin2α⋅cos2α, then dxdy= (A) sin3αcosα (B) sin2αcos2α (C) cos2αsin2α (D) sinαcos3α
›Reveal solutionSolution
The given relation is secretly a perfect square in disguise; it forces y=xtan2α, so dy/dx=tan2α.
Concept and Intuition
Rather than differentiating implicitly right away, it pays to recognise the algebraic structure first. Multiplying by xy converts the equation into a quadratic in x and y that factors as a perfect square, revealing y/x is actually a constant (independent of x), which makes the derivative trivial.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start from xycos4α+yxsin4α=2sin2αcos2α.
- Multiply both sides by xy: y2cos4α+x2sin4α=2xysin2αcos2α.
- Rearrange: y2cos4α−2xysin2αcos2α+x2sin4α=0.
- This is (ycos2α−xsin2α)2=0, so ycos2α=xsin2α, i.e. y=xtan2α. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.If sinxcosy−cosysinx=0, then dxdy= (A) tanx (B) 1 (C) −1 (D) −cotx
›Reveal solutionSolution
The given relation simplifies to sinx=cosy; implicit differentiation of this simpler relation gives dxdy=−1.
Concept and Intuition
Many implicit-differentiation problems hide a much simpler relation inside a more complicated-looking equation. Recognizing that both sides share a common factor of sinxcosy lets us cancel down to something we can differentiate directly, instead of differentiating the square-root expression term by term.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start with sinxcosy−cosysinx=0, i.e. sinxcosy=cosysinx.
- Divide both sides by sinxcosy (both taken positive for the relevant domain):
sinxsinx=cosycosy⇒sinx=cosy.
- Squaring, sinx=cosy.
- Differentiate both sides with respect to x: cosx=−sinydxdy. …
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