Q.Find dxdy, if y=xtanx+2x2+1.
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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 (logarithmic differentiation for variable exponent)
We have
y=xtanx+2x2+1.
Step 1 – Differentiate the second term:
dxd(2x2+1)=21⋅2x2+11⋅2x=2x2+1x.
Step 2 – For u=xtanx, take logu=tanx⋅logx. Differentiate:
u1dxdu=sec2x⋅logx+tanx⋅x1.
Step 3 – Multiply by u:
dxdu=xtanx(sec2xlogx+xtanx). …
Use logarithmic differentiation for the variable-exponent term xtanx and the power rule for the algebraic term 2x2+1. The derivative is dxdy=xtanx(sec2xlogx+xtanx)+2x2+1x.
The problem asks for dxdy of a sum of two very different-looking functions: xtanx (where both base and exponent are variable) and 2x2+1 (a straightforward algebraic expression). The second term is easy; the first needs a special technique.
Why can’t we just use the power rule or the exponential rule directly?
The power rule dxdxn=nxn−1 assumes the exponent is constant. The exponential rule dxdax=axloga assumes the base is constant. Here, both base and exponent depend on x — so neither rule applies. The standard trick is logarithmic differentiation: take the natural log of both sides, use log properties to bring the exponent down, differentiate implicitly, then solve for the derivative.
Let’s work through it.
- Separate the sum. Write y=u+v, where
u=xtanx,v=2x2+1.
Then dxdy=dxdu+dxdv.
- Differentiate v first (the easy part).
v=21(x2+1)1/2.
Using the chain rule:
dxdv=21⋅21(x2+1)−1/2⋅2x=2x2+1x.
Keep this aside.
- Now handle u=xtanx with logarithmic differentiation. Take the natural log of both sides:
logu=log(xtanx)=tanx⋅logx.
This is valid because x>0 (so logx is defined), which is the domain we assume.
- Differentiate implicitly with respect to x. On the left: dxd(logu)=u1⋅dxdu. On the right: dxd(tanx⋅logx) — use the product rule.
dxd(tanx)=sec2x,dxd(logx)=x1.
So
u1dxdu=sec2x⋅logx+tanx⋅x1.
- Solve for dxdu. Multiply both sides by u: …
Method: Logarithmic Differentiation for [f(x)]g(x) Combined With the Sum Rule
Use this method when y is a sum of several terms, one of which has the form [f(x)]g(x) — both a variable base and a variable exponent — which neither the power rule nor the exponential rule can differentiate on its own.
Steps
Step 1: Split the sum and handle ordinary terms directly
Write y=u+v+… so that dxdy is the sum of the individual derivatives. Differentiate any algebraic or radical terms using the chain/power rule as normal — these don't need logarithms.
Step 2: Take the natural log of the variable-base, variable-exponent term alone
For u=[f(x)]g(x), take logu=g(x)logf(x), turning the troublesome exponent into an ordinary product. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Trying to differentiate xtanx with the ordinary power rule
Why it's wrong: The power rule dxdxn=nxn−1 only works for a constant exponent; here both the base x and the exponent tanx vary with x, so applying the power rule (or the exponential rule axloga, which needs a constant base) gives a meaningless result. Correct approach: whenever both base and exponent depend on x, take logarithms of both sides first — logarithmic differentiation is the only route.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the u1 factor when differentiating logu
Why it's wrong: After writing logu=tanxlogx, differentiating the left side gives u1dxdu, not just dxdu; skipping the u1 (and then forgetting to multiply back by u=xtanx at the end) leaves the derivative of the wrong quantity. Correct approach: always finish by multiplying both sides by u to isolate dxdu.
Mistake 3: Product-rule error on tanx⋅logx …
Showing the 12 most recent of 50 on this concept.
- 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 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 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.If Tan−1x2+Tan−1y2=2π, then (dxdy)(−1,2)= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 21 (D) −21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Reducing to y2=x−2 gives dxdy=−x3y1, which at (−1,2) equals 21.
Concept and Intuition
If Tan−1a+Tan−1b=2π with a,b>0, then Tan−1b=2π−Tan−1a=Cot−1a, so b=a1. Applying this to a=x2, b=y2 collapses the relation into an algebraic one.
Step-by-Step Solution
- From Tan−1x2+Tan−1y2=2π we get y2=x21=x−2.
- Differentiate: 2ydxdy=−2x−3.
- Hence dxdy=−x3y1. …
- 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 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 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 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. …
- 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-2021-08-23-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 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 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 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.If tan(e3x)=cot(e2y), then at x=0, dxdy= (A) 2−π3 (B) 32−π (C) π−23 (D) 3π−2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite cot as a shifted tan to turn the equation into an algebraic (exponential) relation between x and y, then implicitly differentiate and evaluate at x=0. Answer: 2−π3.
Concept and Intuition
tanθ1=tanθ2 implies θ1=θ2+nπ for integer n; taking n=0 (the principal relation intended here) converts the trig equation into a clean equation between the exponential expressions, which we can differentiate implicitly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Use the identity cotθ=tan(2π−θ) with θ=e2y: cot(e2y)=tan(2π−e2y).
- Given tan(e3x)=cot(e2y)=tan(2π−e2y), equate arguments (principal branch): e3x=2π−e2y.
- Rearrange: e3x+e2y=2π.
- Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x: 3e3x+2e2ydxdy=0.
- Solve: dxdy=−2e2y3e3x.
- At x=0: e3x=e0=1. From step 3, 1+e2y=2π⇒e2y=2π−1=2π−2. …
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