Q.If y=eacos−1x, −1≤x≤1, show that (1−x2)dx2d2y−xdxdy−a2y=0.
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The Chain Rule: Why It Makes Sense
Imagine you're assembling a toy. First you put part A into part B, then you put that combined piece into part C. The final toy's position depends on how you moved A, which then affected B, which then affected C. That's exactly what the chain rule captures — how a change in the first variable ripples through a sequence of functions to affect the final output.
Let's make this concrete. Suppose you have a function f that depends on g, and g itself depends on x:
y=f(g(x))
You want to know: if x changes by a tiny amount, how much does y change? The answer isn't just f′(g(x)) — because g(x) itself changes when x changes. You have to multiply the two rates:
- How fast does g change with respect to x? That's g′(x).
- How fast does f change with respect to its input g? That's f′(g(x)).
The total effect is the product:
dxdy=f′(g(x))⋅g′(x)
In Leibniz notation, this looks even more natural: dxdy=dudy⋅dxdu, where u=g(x). The du's "cancel" like fractions — though this is just a helpful memory aid, not a rigorous proof.
The Precise Statement
Chain Rule (single variable): If g is differentiable at x and f is differentiable at g(x), then the composite function h(x)=f(g(x)) is differentiable at x, and
h′(x)=f′(g(x))⋅g′(x)
That's it. One multiplication. But the power is enormous — it lets you differentiate almost any nested function.
A Simple Example
Differentiate h(x)=sin(3x2).
Here f(u)=sinu and g(x)=3x2. Then:
- f′(u)=cosu, so f′(g(x))=cos(3x2)
- g′(x)=6x
Multiply: h′(x)=cos(3x2)⋅6x=6xcos(3x2)
The most common mistake is forgetting to multiply by the inner derivative. Students often write dxdsin(3x2)=cos(3x2) and stop — that's wrong. The chain rule demands you also multiply by 6x.
Why It's Called a "Chain"
Think of a chain of links: x→g→f. Each link has its own rate of change. To find the total rate from x to f, you multiply the rates of each link. If you had three functions — say h(x)=f(g(k(x))) — you'd multiply three derivatives: …
Idea: differentiate y=eacos−1x once to relate y′ to y, then differentiate again and substitute.
First derivative (chain rule, dxdcos−1x=−1−x21):
dxdy=eacos−1x⋅a⋅(−1−x21)=−1−x2ay.
So 1−x2dxdy=−ay. Square: (1−x2)(dxdy)2=a2y2.
Differentiate this w.r.t. x: …
Differentiating y=eacos−1x gives 1−x2y′=−ay; squaring and differentiating once more yields (1−x2)y′′−xy′−a2y=0.
Because y is an exponential of cos−1x, its first derivative comes out proportional to y itself. Squaring removes the square root cleanly, and one more differentiation produces the required second-order relation.
Step 1 — first derivative
With u=acos−1x and y=eu, the chain rule gives
dxdy=eacos−1x⋅a⋅(−1−x21)=−1−x2ay.
Rearrange to clear the root:
1−x2dxdy=−ay.
Step 2 — square to remove the root
(1−x2)(dxdy)2=a2y2.
Step 3 — differentiate both sides with respect to x
Left side (product rule on (1−x2) and (y′)2):
−2x(dxdy)2+(1−x2)⋅2dxdydx2d2y.
Right side:
a2⋅2ydxdy.
So
−2x(dxdy)2+2(1−x2)dxdydx2d2y=2a2ydxdy.
Step 4 — cancel the common factor …
Method: Proving an ODE for y=ea⋅g(x) by Squaring to Remove a Root
When the first derivative of an exponential-of-inverse-trig function comes out proportional to y but divided by a square root, squaring both sides before differentiating again avoids having to differentiate a square root directly.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate once using the chain rule
For y=eacos−1x: y1=y⋅a⋅(−1−x21), i.e. 1−x2y1=−ay.
Step 2: Square both sides to eliminate the square root
(1−x2)y12=a2y2.
Step 3: Differentiate this polynomial-style equation implicitly with respect to x …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Attempting to differentiate the square-root form of y1 directly instead of squaring first.
Why it's wrong: differentiating −1−x2ay directly requires the quotient rule combined with the chain rule on a square root — technically possible but far more error-prone than clearing the root first. Correct approach: square both sides of the first-derivative relation before differentiating again, exactly as with the logarithmic-argument ODE method.
Mistake 2: Sign error on dxdcos−1x=−1−x21. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 23 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=Tan−1x2−1+Sinh−1x2−1, x>1, then dxdy= (A) xx2−11 (B) xx2−1x+1 (C) x2x2−1x+1 (D) x2−1x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both inverse-function derivatives share the same inner derivative
u′=x/x2−1; the 1+u2 under Tan−1 and 1+u2 under
Sinh−1 both simplify beautifully because u2=x2−1, so 1+u2=x2.
Concept and Intuition
Both Tan−1 and Sinh−1 have derivative formulas built around
1+u2 (as 1+u21 and 1+u21 respectively). Here
u=x2−1 makes 1+u2=x2 exactly, a clean perfect square — this is why
the two inverse functions are paired together in the problem, since they
combine so tidily.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=x2−1. Then u′=x2−1x and 1+u2=1+(x2−1)=x2.
- dxdTan−1u=1+u2u′=x2x/x2−1=xx2−11.
- dxdSinh−1u=1+u2u′=x2x/x2−1=xx/x2−1=x2−11 (since x>1 means x2=x, not ∣x∣ ambiguity). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.If y=Sec−1(2x1+x2) and x>1, then dxdy= (A) 1+x21 (B) 1+x22 (C) −1+x21 (D) −1+x22
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating the inverse secant of a rational expression using the chain rule and careful algebraic simplification gives dxdy=1+x22.
Concept and Intuition
For y=Sec−1(u), the derivative formula is dxdy=∣u∣u2−11⋅dxdu. Here u=2x1+x2 is positive for x>1, so we can drop the absolute value and just carefully simplify the algebra — the key insight is recognizing that u2−1 factors as a perfect square-like expression involving (x2−1)2, which simplifies the square root beautifully.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=2x1+x2. Compute dxdu using the quotient rule: u′=(2x)22x(2x)−(1+x2)(2)=4x24x2−2−2x2=4x22x2−2=2x2x2−1.
- Compute u2−1: u2−1=4x2(1+x2)2−4x2=4x2(1+x2−2x)(1+x2+2x)=4x2(x−1)2(x+1)2.
- So u2−1=2∣x∣∣x−1∣∣x+1∣=2∣x∣∣x2−1∣. For x>1: x2−1>0 and x>0, so u2−1=2xx2−1.
- For x>1, u=2x1+x2>0, so ∣u∣=u=2x1+x2. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=tanh−11+x1−x, then dxdy= (A) −21−x21 (B) −2x1−x21 (C) 1+x22 (D) 2x1+x21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating tanh−1u via the chain rule and simplifying u(1+x)=1−x2 gives dy/dx=−2x1−x21.
Concept and Intuition
tanh−1z=21log1−z1+z has derivative 1−z21, exactly like a standard log-based inverse function. Here z=u(x) is itself a composite square-root expression, so the chain rule applies twice; the algebra simplifies nicely because u2 is a simple rational function of x.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=1+x1−x, so y=tanh−1u and dudy=1−u21.
- u2=1+x1−x⇒1−u2=1−1+x1−x=1+x(1+x)−(1−x)=1+x2x.
- Differentiate u2=1+x1−x w.r.t. x: 2udxdu=(1+x)2−(1+x)−(1−x)=(1+x)2−2⇒dxdu=u(1+x)2−1.
- By the chain rule: dxdy=dudy⋅dxdu=2x1+x⋅(u(1+x)2−1)=2xu(1+x)−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-27-FN1 markMCQQ.If x=2cosec−1t and y=2sec−1t, ∣t∣≥1 then dxdy= (A) yx (B) xy (C) −xy (D) −yx
›Reveal solutionSolution
The identity cosec−1t+sec−1t=π/2 lets both x and y be written as exponentials of a single parameter u, so dy/dx follows from parametric differentiation. Answer: −xy.
Concept and Intuition
When x and y are both given as functions of a common (possibly hidden) parameter — here through the complementary inverse trig identity — the cleanest path is to introduce that parameter explicitly and use dxdy=dx/dudy/du, rather than trying to eliminate t directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- For ∣t∣≥1, the standard identity cosec−1t+sec−1t=2π holds.
- Let u=cosec−1t. Then sec−1t=2π−u.
- x=2u=2u/2, and y=2π/2−u=2(π/2−u)/2=2π/4−u/2.
- Differentiate w.r.t. u: dudx=2u/2ln2⋅21=2xln2.
- dudy=2π/4−u/2ln2⋅(−21)=−2yln2. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=coshx+coshx, then dxdy= (A) 4y(y2+coshx)sinhx(2y2+2coshx+1) (B) 4y(y2−coshx)sinhx(2y2−2coshx−1) (C) 4ycoshxsinhx(1−2coshx) (D) 4ycoshxsinhx(1+2coshx)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Square both sides to remove the outer root, differentiate implicitly, then
tidy the resulting fraction — the answer comes out directly in terms of y
and coshx, matching option (D).
Concept and Intuition
When y is defined as a nested square root, it's usually easier to square first
(y2= the inside) and differentiate implicitly rather than applying the chain
rule twice directly to the nested radical — this avoids stacking two
2⋅1 factors and keeps the algebra manageable.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=coshx+coshx ⇒ y2=coshx+coshx.
- Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x: 2ydxdy=sinhx+2coshx1⋅sinhx=sinhx(1+2coshx1).
- Combine the bracket over a common denominator: 1+2coshx1=2coshx2coshx+1.
- So 2yy′=2coshxsinhx(2coshx+1). …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-08-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=sin(2tan−1(1+x1−x)), x=cos2θ, then dxdy= (A) 1−x2x (B) −cot2θ (C) tan2θ (D) 21−x2−x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting x=cos2θ collapses the arctan expression to θ itself, turning this into a simple parametric-derivative problem.
Concept and Intuition
1+cos2θ1−cos2θ=2cos2θ2sin2θ=∣tanθ∣, and 2tan−1(tanθ)=2θ (for θ in the principal range), so y=sin2θ directly — the whole problem becomes parametric differentiation with parameter θ.
Step-by-Step Solution
- 1+cos2θ1−cos2θ=2cos2θ2sin2θ=tan2θ⇒⋯=tanθ.
- tan−1(tanθ)=θ⇒y=sin(2θ).
- Parametrically, x=cos2θ, y=sin2θ: dθdx=−2sin2θ, dθdy=2cos2θ. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=Sech−1(9x2+109), then dxdy= (A) (9x2+10)2+81−18x (B) (9x2+10)2−81−18x (C) (9x2+19)(9x2+1)18x (D) (9x2+19)(9x2+1)18x(9x2+10)
›Reveal solutionSolution
A chain-rule differentiation of an inverse hyperbolic function, where (9x2+10)2−81 factors as a difference of squares into (9x2+1)(9x2+19).
Concept and Intuition
For y=sech−1u, the standard derivative is dudy=u1−u2−1 (for 0<u<1). The chain rule then just needs du/dx, and the algebra simplifies neatly because (9x2+10)2−92 is a difference of squares.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=9x2+109. Then dxdu=9⋅(9x2+10)2−18x=(9x2+10)2−162x.
- 1−u2=1−(9x2+10)281=(9x2+10)2(9x2+10)2−81.
- Factor as a difference of squares: (9x2+10)2−92=(9x2+10−9)(9x2+10+9)=(9x2+1)(9x2+19).
- So 1−u2=9x2+10(9x2+1)(9x2+19).
- u1−u2=9x2+109⋅9x2+10(9x2+1)(9x2+19)=(9x2+10)29(9x2+1)(9x2+19). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.If x=Sinh−1t+log(t2+1) and y=Tan−1t+log∣t∣, then dxdy= (A) 2t+t4+t2t2+t+1 (B) 2t+t2+1t2+t+1 (C) 2t2+t4+t2t2+t+1 (D) 2+1+t2t2+t+1
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests parametric differentiation (dxdy=dx/dtdy/dt) with inverse-hyperbolic and inverse-trig terms; the answer is option (C).
Concept and Intuition
When both x and y are given in terms of a parameter t, we find dy/dx as the ratio of the two derivatives with respect to t, using dtdSinh−1t=1+t21 and dtdTan−1t=1+t21.
Step-by-Step Solution
- dtdx=1+t21+t2+12t (since dtdlog(t2+1)=t2+12t).
- dtdy=1+t21+t1=t(1+t2)t+(1+t2)=t(1+t2)t2+t+1.
- Write dtdx over common denominator 1+t2: dtdx=1+t21+t2+2t. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=sec−1(2x2−11) and g(x)=tan−1(x1+x2−1), then the derivative of f(x) with respect to g(x) is (A) 41−x21+x2 (B) 41+x21−x2 (C) −1+x24(1−x2) (D) −1−x24(1+x2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify both f and g using standard inverse-trig substitutions, then take the ratio of derivatives. Answer: dgdf=−1−x24(1+x2).
Concept and Intuition
dgdf means dg/dxdf/dx. Both f and g are compositions of inverse trig functions that simplify beautifully with the right substitution (x=cosθ-type for f, x=tanθ for g), turning ugly inverse-trig expressions into simple linear multiples of tan−1x or cos−1x.
Step-by-Step Solution
- f(x)=sec−1(2x2−11)=cos−1(2x2−1) since sec−1(1/u)=cos−1u.
- For x∈(0,1), write x=cosθ: then 2x2−1=2cos2θ−1=cos2θ, so f=cos−1(cos2θ)=2θ=2cos−1x.
- f′(x)=2⋅(−1−x21)=−1−x22.
- For g: put x=tanθ, so 1+x2=secθ. Then x1+x2−1=tanθsecθ−1=sinθ1−cosθ=tan(2θ).
- So g(x)=tan−1(tan2θ)=2θ=21tan−1x. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.If u=sin(yx), x=et and y=t2, then t6(dtdu)2÷e2t(t−2)2= (A) 2u (B) u2 (C) 1−u2 (D) cosu
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating u=sin(x/y) with x=et,y=t2 and simplifying the given combination leaves exactly cos2(x/y)=1−u2.
Concept and Intuition
Compute du/dt via the chain rule, then see how the algebraic combination in the question is designed to cancel everything except cos2(x/y).
Step-by-Step Solution
- yx=t2et. dtd(t2et)=t4ett2−et⋅2t=t3et(t−2).
- dtdu=cos(yx)⋅t3et(t−2).
- (dtdu)2=cos2(yx)⋅t6e2t(t−2)2. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=sin(sinx) and y′′+f(x)⋅y′+g(x)⋅y=0, then f(x)⋅g(x)= ______ (A) 21sin(2x) (B) 21cos(2x) (C) sin(2x) (D) cos(2x)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests forming the second-order ODE satisfied by y=sin(sinx) by eliminating trig functions in favor of y and y′. The answer is f(x)g(x)=21sin2x.
Concept and Intuition
The idea is to differentiate y twice, then rewrite the resulting expression purely in terms of y and y′ (using the fact that y′ itself contains cos(sinx)), so that we can read off f(x) and g(x) by matching coefficients.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=sin(sinx)⇒y′=cosxcos(sinx).
- y′′=−sinxcos(sinx)+cosx⋅(−sin(sinx))cosx=−sinxcos(sinx)−cos2xsin(sinx).
- From step 1, cos(sinx)=cosxy′, so −sinxcos(sinx)=−sinx⋅cosxy′=−tanxy′.
- Also sin(sinx)=y, so the second term is −cos2xy.
- Hence y′′=−tanxy′−cos2xy, i.e. y′′+tanxy′+cos2xy=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.If x=secθ−cosθ and y=secnθ−cosnθ, then (x2+4)(dxdy)2= ______ (A) n(y+4) (B) n2(y2+4) (C) n(y+2) (D) n2(y2+2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests parametric differentiation combined with a clever algebraic identity that avoids messy trig simplification. The answer is n2(y2+4).
Concept and Intuition
Both x and y are given as functions of the same parameter θ, so we should find dx/dθ and dy/dθ separately and divide. The trick that makes this tractable is spotting that secθcosθ=1, which makes expressions like (secθ−cosθ)2+4 collapse into a perfect square (secθ+cosθ)2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- x=secθ−cosθ, so x2+4=sec2θ−2+cos2θ+4=sec2θ+cos2θ+2=(secθ+cosθ)2 (using secθcosθ=1).
- Similarly, since secnθ⋅cosnθ=1, we get y2+4=(secnθ+cosnθ)2.
- Differentiate x: dθdx=secθtanθ+sinθ=tanθ(cosθ1⋅cosθ+tanθsinθ); simplifying carefully gives dθdx=tanθ(secθ+cosθ).
- Differentiate y: dθdy=nsecn−1θsecθtanθ+ncosn−1θsinθ=ntanθ(secnθ+cosnθ). …
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