Q.Find dxdy in the following: sin2y+cosxy=κ
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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. …
The key idea is implicit differentiation — since y is not isolated, differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x, then solve for dxdy.
Step 1: Differentiate sin2y using the chain rule:
dxd(sin2y)=2siny⋅cosy⋅dxdy=sin2y⋅dxdy.
Step 2: Differentiate cos(xy) using the chain rule and product rule:
dxd(cosxy)=−sin(xy)⋅dxd(xy)=−sin(xy)(y+xdxdy).
Step 3: The derivative of the constant κ is 0. So: …
This problem uses implicit differentiation because y is not isolated. Differentiate term-by-term with respect to x, treat y as a function of x, then solve for dxdy. The final result is dxdy=2sinycosy−xsin(xy)ysin(xy).
We are given sin2y+cos(xy)=κ, where κ is a constant. The equation mixes x and y in a way that cannot be solved for y in elementary terms — so we use implicit differentiation.
The core idea: treat y as an unknown function of x, i.e. y=y(x). Then every time we differentiate a term containing y, we apply the chain rule: the derivative of f(y) with respect to x is f′(y)⋅dxdy. The constant κ differentiates to zero.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Differentiate sin2y Write sin2y=(siny)2. By the chain rule:
dxd(sin2y)=2siny⋅dxd(siny)=2siny⋅(cosy⋅dxdy)=2sinycosy⋅dxdy.
So the first term contributes 2sinycosy⋅dxdy.
- Differentiate cos(xy) Here xy is a product of x and y(x), so we need the product rule inside the chain rule. Let u=xy. Then dxdcosu=−sinu⋅dxdu. Now dxdu=dxd(xy)=1⋅y+x⋅dxdy (product rule). So
dxdcos(xy)=−sin(xy)⋅(y+xdxdy).
-
Differentiate the constant κ
dxd(κ)=0.
-
Assemble the differentiated equation
Putting it all together:
2sinycosy⋅dxdy−sin(xy)(y+xdxdy)=0.
- Collect terms with dxdy Expand the second term:
2sinycosy⋅dxdy−ysin(xy)−xsin(xy)⋅dxdy=0.
Group the dxdy terms:
(2sinycosy−xsin(xy))dxdy−ysin(xy)=0. …
Method: Implicit Differentiation Through a Trig Function of a Product
Use this when y (or a product like xy) sits inside a trigonometric function — the chain rule then has to be applied twice: once for the outer trig function, once for what's inside it.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate a trig function of y alone using the chain rule once
For f(y) where f is a trig function, dxdf(y)=f′(y)⋅dxdy. For sin2y=(siny)2, this means
dxd(sin2y)=2sinycosy⋅dxdy.
Step 2: For a trig function of a product like xy, apply the chain rule to the outer function first
dxdcos(xy)=−sin(xy)⋅dxd(xy).
Do not stop here — dxd(xy) itself is not yet computed.
Step 3: Now apply the product rule to what's inside
dxd(xy)=y+xdxdy.
Substituting back gives the full derivative of the outer trig function — two layers of the chain/product rule stacked together.
Step 4: Differentiate the constant, collect, and solve …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting the product rule inside the chain rule for cos(xy)
A frequent slip is writing dxdcos(xy)=−sin(xy)⋅y, stopping after applying the outer chain rule but never differentiating the product xy itself. Why it's wrong: the argument of cos is xy, not just y, so its own derivative — y+xdxdy via the product rule — must multiply the −sin(xy) factor. Correct approach: always ask "what is the derivative of what's inside the trig function?" as a separate sub-step before finishing the chain rule.
Mistake 2: Dropping the dxdy factor on sin2y …
Showing the 12 most recent of 50 on this concept.
- 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 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. …
- 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: …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.If x2tan−1xy−y2tan−1yx=k, then (dxdy)(1,1)= (A) 0 (B) π/4 (C) 1 (D) π/2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Implicit differentiation of x2tan−1(y/x)−y2tan−1(x/y)=k evaluated at (1,1) gives dy/dx=1.
Concept and Intuition
Differentiate both terms using product and chain rules, being careful with the derivatives of tan−1(y/x) and tan−1(x/y) with respect to x (treating y as a function of x).
Step-by-Step Solution
- dxd[x2tan−1xy]=2xtan−1xy+x2⋅x2+y2y′x−y.
- dxd[y2tan−1yx]=2yy′tan−1yx+y2⋅x2+y2y−xy′.
- Setting derivative of LHS =0 and evaluating at (1,1), where tan−1(1)=π/4 for both terms: 2⋅4π+2y′−1−2y′⋅4π−21−y′=0. …
- 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 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-2025-05-21-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-2025-05-24-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′: …
- 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-2021-08-24-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-2021-08-19-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′ …
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