Q.Find dxdy in the following: 2x+3y=sinx
Concept understanding — Implicit Differentiation
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.
The classic mistake is dropping the dxdy factor — writing dxd(y2)=2y treats y as if it were x. If a term contains y and you are differentiating with respect to x, the chain rule always applies.
Implicit differentiation is not a new rule; it is the chain rule used systematically whenever y is tangled up with x.
Implicit differentiation is a named subtopic of the NCERT Class 12 Continuity and Differentiability chapter and shows up regularly in CBSE board 'find dy/dx' questions involving equations like x² + y² = 25 that can't easily be solved for y. Students searching 'implicit differentiation class 12 examples' or preparing this technique for JEE Main will recognize this as simply the chain rule applied systematically to every y-term.
Concept: Implicit Differentiation — differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x, then solve for dxdy.
Differentiate term by term:
dxd(2x)+dxd(3y)=dxd(sinx)
This gives:
2+3dxdy=cosx
Isolate dxdy:
3dxdy=cosx−2
dxdy=3cosx−2
The derivative is dxdy=3cosx−2.
We treat y as a function of x and differentiate both sides term-by-term. Using implicit differentiation, the derivative is dxdy=3cosx−2.
This is a straightforward implicit differentiation problem. The equation 2x+3y=sinx already has y mixed with x, but we can still differentiate both sides with respect to x — the key is to remember that y is a function of x, so when we differentiate 3y, we use the chain rule.
Let’s walk through it.
-
Differentiate every term on both sides with respect to x.
- The derivative of 2x is 2.
- The derivative of 3y is 3⋅dxdy (because y depends on x, we multiply by dxdy).
- The derivative of sinx is cosx.
So we get:
2+3dxdy=cosx
- Isolate dxdy. Subtract 2 from both sides:
3dxdy=cosx−2
- Divide by 3:
dxdy=3cosx−2
That’s it. No extra manipulation needed because the equation is linear in y.
A common mistake is to forget the chain rule on 3y and write 3 instead of 3dxdy. Always ask: “Is y a function of x?” If yes, differentiate y as dxdy.
In this case, you could also solve for y explicitly: y=3sinx−2x, then differentiate directly. You’ll get the same result. Implicit differentiation is just a shortcut that avoids solving for y first — here it’s barely faster, but the method is essential for equations where y can’t be isolated.
The derivative is dxdy=3cosx−2.
Method: Implicit Differentiation for an Equation Linear in y
Use this method whenever y appears in an equation only to the first power — never squared, never inside a trig/exponential function, and never multiplied by x. This is the simplest case of implicit differentiation.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate every term on both sides of the equation with respect to x
Treat y as an unknown function of x, not as an independent variable — this matters even though y appears "by itself" here.
Step 2: Apply the chain rule to the y-term
Because y=y(x), differentiating a term like ky (a constant times y) gives k⋅dxdy, not just k. This single extra factor is the whole difference between implicit and explicit differentiation.
Step 3: Differentiate every x-only term using ordinary rules
Terms containing only x (no y) differentiate exactly as in single-variable calculus — no extra chain-rule factor is needed for these.
Step 4 (Applying to this problem): Isolate dxdy algebraically
Since y appears only linearly, dxdy shows up in exactly one term after differentiating. Move every other term to the opposite side of the equation, then divide by the constant coefficient in front of dxdy to solve for it directly.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Differentiating 3y as 3 instead of 3dxdy
Why it's wrong: because y looks like a "plain variable," it's tempting to differentiate it the same way as a constant times x — but y is secretly a function of x, so the chain rule adds the factor dxdy that must not be dropped. Correct approach: whenever a term contains y, always ask "am I differentiating with respect to x or y?" — since the answer is x, every y picks up a dxdy.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to isolate dxdy by dividing by its full coefficient
Why it's wrong: after differentiating, the equation reads 2+3dxdy=cosx; leaving the answer as 3dxdy=cosx−2 without the final division by 3 is an incomplete answer, not a wrong method — but it costs marks since the question asks for dxdy itself. Correct approach: always finish by dividing through by the coefficient so dxdy stands alone.
Showing the 12 most recent of 50 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-FN1 markMCQQ.If 3sinxy+4cosxy=5, then dxdy is equal to ____ (A) 3cosxy−4sinxy3sinxy+4cosxy (B) 4cosxy−3sinxy3cosxy+4sinxy (C) x−y (D) yx
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since 3sinθ+4cosθ has maximum value exactly 5 (as 32+42=5), equating it to 5 forces xy to be a fixed constant, so implicit differentiation of xy=c gives dy/dx=−y/x.
Concept and Intuition
asinθ+bcosθ always has amplitude a2+b2 — here 9+16=5. So the equation 3sin(xy)+4cos(xy)=5 isn't a "generic" implicit curve; it can only be satisfied when the expression sits exactly at its maximum, which happens at one specific angle. That pins xy to a single constant value, turning a trigonometric-looking implicit relation into the much simpler xy=const.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Note 32+42=25=52, so 3sinθ+4cosθ has maximum value 5, attained only when θ equals the specific angle ϕ=tan−1(3/4) (mod 2π).
- The given equation demands 3sin(xy)+4cos(xy)=5, i.e. the maximum — so xy=ϕ is fixed, a constant independent of which point on the curve we pick.
- Differentiate xy=constant implicitly: dxd(xy)=0⇒y+xdxdy=0.
- Solve: dxdy=−xy.
Common Mistakes
- Differentiating the trig terms directly (product/chain rule on sin(xy),cos(xy)) without noticing the amplitude equals the RHS, missing the much simpler xy=const shortcut and getting stuck in messy algebra.
- Sign error in the implicit derivative of xy.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — x−y.
ANSWER: C
- 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.
- Since tan2α is a constant (does not depend on x), dxdy=tan2α=cos2αsin2α.
Common Mistakes
- Jumping straight into implicit differentiation of the original messy relation instead of spotting the perfect square — much harder and error-prone.
- Forgetting that y=xtan2α makes this literally a line through the origin, so the derivative is just its slope.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — cos2αsin2α.
ANSWER: C
- 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.
- Since cosy=sinx, we have siny=1−cos2y=1−sin2x=cosx (matching branch/sign consistent with the original equation).
- So cosx=−cosx⋅dxdy⇒dxdy=−1.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to differentiate the square-root terms directly instead of first simplifying the relation — this leads to messy, error-prone algebra.
- Losing track of sign consistency between siny and cosx when converting one to the other.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — −1.
ANSWER: C
- 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.
- Substitute: dxdy=−2⋅2π−23(1)=−π−23=2−π3.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to differentiate tan and cot directly instead of first converting to a purely algebraic relation between e3x and e2y — this makes implicit differentiation much messier and error-prone.
- Sign slip when flipping −π−23 to 2−π3 (they are equal, but must match the option's form).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — 2−π3.
ANSWER: A
- 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.
- Multiply by y=(tanx)sinx: dxdy=(tanx)sinx{secx+cosxlog(tanx)}.
Common Mistakes
- Sign error on the second term (writing −cosxlog(tanx) instead of +), which would incorrectly point to option (C).
- Forgetting to multiply back by y at the end and leaving the answer as just y′/y.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — (tanx)sinx{secx+(cosx)(log(tanx))}.
ANSWER: A
- 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
y′=y[logsinxxcotx+log(logsinx)−logx1−log(logx)],
which is exactly option (C).
Common Mistakes
- Sign errors when differentiating ln(lnx) vs 1/lnx terms — easy to drop or flip a minus sign.
- Forgetting the quotient rule inside u′ (treating lnsinx and lnx as independent rather than a ratio).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — y[logsinxxcotx+log(logsinx)−logx1−log(logx)].
ANSWER: C
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-27-FN1 markMCQQ.If (a+2bcosx)(a−2bcosy)=a2−b2 where a>b>0, then at (4π,4π), dxdy= (A) a−ba+b (B) a+ba−b (C) a+2ba−2b (D) 2a−b2a+b
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expand the product, simplify by dividing by the common factor b, then implicitly differentiate and evaluate at x=y=π/4. Answer: a+ba−b.
Concept and Intuition
The given relation looks intimidating as a product, but expanding it cancels the a2 on both sides (since the RHS is a2−b2) and leaves a much simpler equation relating cosx,cosy, and cosxcosy. From there it's routine implicit differentiation; the special evaluation point x=y=π/4 is chosen because sin and cos coincide there, which cancels neatly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Expand: a2−a2bcosy+a2bcosx−2b2cosxcosy=a2−b2.
- Cancel a2 from both sides: 2ab(cosx−cosy)−2b2cosxcosy=−b2.
- Divide through by b (nonzero): 2a(cosx−cosy)−2bcosxcosy+b=0.
- Differentiate implicitly w.r.t. x (treat y=y(x)):
2a(−sinx+siny⋅y′)−2b(−sinxcosy−cosxsiny⋅y′)=0.
- Group y′ terms: y′(2asiny+2bcosxsiny)=2asinx−2bsinxcosy.
- So y′=siny(2a+2bcosx)sinx(2a−2bcosy).
- At x=y=4π: sinx=siny=cosx=cosy=21. Substitute:
y′=21(2a+22b)21(2a−22b)=2a+2b2a−2b=a+ba−b.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to expand the product first and instead trying to implicitly differentiate the product form directly, which is far more error-prone.
- Sign slips when differentiating cosxcosy as a product (needs the product rule with y′ attached only to the cosy factor).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B) — a+ba−b.
ANSWER: B
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQQ.If x2+y2+siny=4, then the value of dx2d2y at x=−2 is (A) −30 (B) −34 (C) −32 (D) −18
›Reveal solutionSolution
Implicit differentiation of x2+y2+siny=4 twice, using y(−2)=0 and y′(−2)=4, gives y′′(−2)=−34.
Concept and Intuition
For an implicitly-defined curve, we differentiate the whole equation with respect to x (treating y as a function of x and applying the chain rule to every y-term), solve for y′, then differentiate the resulting equation again to get y′′. The key first step is always finding the actual point (x0,y0) on the curve, since y′ and y′′ are evaluated there.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find y at x=−2: substituting x=−2 into x2+y2+siny=4: 4+y2+siny=4⇒y2+siny=0. Clearly y=0 satisfies this (and is the relevant branch), so y(−2)=0.
- First derivative: differentiate x2+y2+siny=4 w.r.t. x:
2x+2yy′+cosy⋅y′=0⟹y′(2y+cosy)=−2x⟹y′=2y+cosy−2x.
At (x,y)=(−2,0): y′=2(0)+cos0−2(−2)=14=4.
3. Second derivative: differentiate 2x+2yy′+cosy⋅y′=0 again w.r.t. x, using the product rule on both 2yy′ and cosy⋅y′:
2+2(y′)2+2yy′′−siny(y′)2+cosyy′′=0.
- Substitute x=−2, y=0, y′=4:
2+2(4)2+2(0)y′′−sin(0)(4)2+cos(0)y′′=0
2+32+0−0+y′′=0⟹y′′=−34.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to find the actual point (x0,y0) first — y′ and y′′ formulas need numeric y, not just x.
- Missing a term when differentiating 2yy′ a second time (it needs the product rule: 2(y′)2+2yy′′).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B) — −34.
ANSWER: B
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.If x2+y2+siny=4, then the value of dx2d2y at the point (−2,0) is (A) -34 (B) -32 (C) 34 (D) 32
›Reveal solutionSolution
Implicit differentiation twice on x2+y2+siny=4 gives y′′=−34 at (−2,0).
Concept and Intuition
For an implicitly defined curve, differentiate the whole equation with respect to x once to get y′ in terms of x,y, then differentiate that resulting equation again (product/chain rule carefully) to isolate y′′, finally substituting the numeric point.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Differentiate x2+y2+siny=4 w.r.t. x:
2x+2yy′+cosyy′=0⇒y′(2y+cosy)=−2x⇒y′=2y+cosy−2x
- At (−2,0): y′=2(0)+cos0−2(−2)=14=4.
- Differentiate the equation 2x+2yy′+cosyy′=0 again w.r.t. x:
2+2(y′)2+2yy′′−siny(y′)2+cosyy′′=0
2+[2−siny](y′)2+(2y+cosy)y′′=0
- At the point: y=0, y′=4, siny=0, cosy=1, so 2y+cosy=1:
2+(2−0)(16)+1⋅y′′=0⇒2+32+y′′=0⇒y′′=−34
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the −siny(y′)2 term that comes from differentiating cosyy′ (product + chain rule).
- Substituting the point before fully simplifying the second-derivative equation, causing arithmetic slips.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — -34.
ANSWER: A
- 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.
- Differentiate x2y2=−1 implicitly w.r.t. x: 2xy2+x2⋅2ydxdy=0.
- Divide through by 2xy (nonzero): y+xdxdy=0.
- So dxdy=−xy.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to differentiate both original equations w.r.t. t and eliminate dt directly — doable but far more error-prone than first eliminating t algebraically.
- Sign slip in the final division step, giving +y/x instead of −y/x.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — −xy.
ANSWER: D
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.If x2y−xy2+x3−y3=0, then dxdy at the point (1,1) is (A) 1 (B) 0 (C) −1 (D) Does not exist
›Reveal solutionSolution
Implicit differentiation of a symmetric cubic curve, evaluated at the point (1,1).
Concept and Intuition
When a curve is given implicitly (not solved for y), differentiate every term with respect to x, treating y as a function of x and applying the product rule wherever x and y appear together. Collecting all the y′ terms on one side isolates the slope as a ratio of two expressions in x,y.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Differentiate term by term: dxd(x2y)=2xy+x2y′; dxd(xy2)=y2+2xyy′; dxd(x3)=3x2; dxd(y3)=3y2y′.
- So 2xy+x2y′−y2−2xyy′+3x2−3y2y′=0.
- Collect y′ terms: y′(x2−2xy−3y2)=−(2xy−y2+3x2), i.e. y′=x2−2xy−3y2−(2xy−y2+3x2)=x2−2xy−3y2y2−2xy−3x2.
- At (1,1): numerator =1−2−3=−4; denominator =1−2−3=−4.
- y′=−4−4=1.
Common Mistakes
- Sign slips when moving terms across the equation before isolating y′.
- Forgetting the product rule on the mixed term −xy2 (it needs both a y2 contribution and a 2xyy′ contribution).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — 1.
ANSWER: A
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.If x2+y2=t+t1 and x4+y4=t2+t21, then x3ydxdy= (A) -1 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The two given relations force x2y2=1 (i.e. xy is constant), from which x3ydy/dx=−1.
Concept and Intuition
Rather than solving for x,y in terms of t explicitly, combine the two given equations algebraically (square the first, subtract the second) to eliminate t entirely and land on a simple constant-product relation between x and y.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Square the first relation: (x2+y2)2=(t+t1)2=t2+2+t21, i.e.
x4+2x2y2+y4=t2+2+t21
- The second given relation is x4+y4=t2+t21.
- Subtract: 2x2y2=(t2+2+t21)−(t2+t21)=2, so x2y2=1.
- This means xy=±1, a constant independent of t. Differentiate xy=const implicitly:
xdxdy+y=0⇒dxdy=−xy
- Then x3ydxdy=x3y(−xy)=−x2y2=−1 (using step 3).
Common Mistakes
- Trying to solve for x,y individually in terms of t (unnecessarily complicated) instead of eliminating t algebraically.
- Sign error when substituting dy/dx=−y/x.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — -1.
ANSWER: A
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