Q.Find dxdy in the following: ax+by2=cosy
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.
The key idea is implicit differentiation — since y is not isolated, we differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x.
Step 1: Differentiate term by term:
dxd(ax)+dxd(by2)=dxd(cosy)
Step 2: Apply the chain rule to y-terms:
a+b⋅2ydxdy=−siny⋅dxdy
Step 3: Collect dxdy terms on one side:
2bydxdy+sinydxdy=−a
Step 4: Factor and solve:
dxdy(2by+siny)=−a⇒dxdy=2by+siny−a
The derivative is dxdy=−2by+sinya.
We treat y as a function of x and differentiate term-by-term using implicit differentiation. The result is dxdy=2by+siny−a.
The equation ax+by2=cosy mixes x and y in a way we cannot solve for y cleanly. That is exactly when implicit differentiation shines. Instead of isolating y first, we differentiate both sides with respect to x, remembering that y is a function of x — so every time we hit a y, we apply the chain rule and multiply by dxdy.
Let’s go step by step.
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Differentiate ax
The derivative of ax with respect to x is simply a.
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Differentiate by2
Here y is a function of x, so by the chain rule:
dxd(by2)=b⋅2y⋅dxdy=2bydxdy.
- Differentiate cosy Again, y is inside the cosine, so chain rule gives:
dxd(cosy)=−siny⋅dxdy.
- Put it together Differentiating both sides of ax+by2=cosy yields:
a+2bydxdy=−sinydxdy.
- Collect the dxdy terms Bring the term with dxdy from the right side to the left:
2bydxdy+sinydxdy=−a.
- Factor out dxdy
dxdy(2by+siny)=−a.
- Solve for dxdy Provided 2by+siny=0, we get:
dxdy=2by+siny−a.
A common mistake is forgetting the chain rule on by2 and writing 2by without dxdy, or forgetting the minus sign when differentiating cosy. Always check each term carefully.
If you ever get stuck, remember: implicit differentiation is just the chain rule applied to every y term. The derivative of y itself is dxdy, and everything else follows.
The derivative is dxdy=2by+siny−a.
Method: Implicit Differentiation with a Nonlinear y-Term and a Trig-of-y Term Together
Use this method when the equation mixes more than one type of y-dependence — for instance a squared term (y2) and a trigonometric term (cosy) both appearing, each requiring its own combination of the chain rule (and, for y2, also the power rule).
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate the polynomial-in-y term using the power rule plus the chain rule
For a term like by2, first apply the ordinary power rule as if y were x (giving 2y), then multiply by dxdy because y is secretly a function of x:
dxd(by2)=2bydxdy.
Step 2: Differentiate the trig-of-y term using its own derivative rule plus the chain rule
For cosy, apply the ordinary derivative of cosine (giving −siny), then multiply by dxdy for the same reason:
dxd(cosy)=−sinydxdy.
Step 3: Differentiate any pure-x or parameter terms normally, with no extra factor
Terms like ax (where a is just a constant parameter) differentiate exactly as in ordinary single-variable calculus, giving simply a — parameters are treated the same as any other constant.
Step 4 (Applying to this problem): Collect every dxdy term, factor, and divide
Gather every term carrying a dxdy factor (from both Steps 1 and 2, and from either side of the original equation) onto one side, factor dxdy out of the resulting bracket, and divide by that bracket to isolate dxdy — the same collecting-and-factoring procedure used for any implicit differentiation problem, just with more terms to track here.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Applying the power rule to by2 but forgetting the chain-rule factor dxdy
Why it's wrong: writing dxd(by2)=2by correctly does the power-rule part but stops short — since y is a function of x, an extra dxdy must be multiplied on, giving 2bydxdy. Correct approach: treat every y-term as requiring the power rule (or trig/exp rule) followed by a chain-rule multiplication, never one without the other.
Mistake 2: Losing the minus sign when differentiating cosy
Why it's wrong: dxdcosy=−sinydxdy, and the negative sign is easy to drop when attention is on remembering the chain-rule factor — students may correctly write sinydxdy but omit the leading minus. Correct approach: write out the full unmodified derivative rule for cosine (−sin) before attaching the chain-rule factor, rather than combining both steps mentally.
Mistake 3: Confusing the constant parameters a and b with variables to be solved for
Why it's wrong: since a and b are fixed parameters (not the unknowns), differentiating ax should simply give a — some students mistakenly try to isolate or manipulate a and b as if they were additional unknowns alongside dxdy. Correct approach: treat a and b exactly like ordinary numeric constants throughout the differentiation and algebra.
Showing the 12 most recent of 27 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set 65/2/11 markMCQQ.If e−x+e−y=2, then dxdy is (A) ex−y (B) ey−x (C) −ex−y (D) −ey−x
›Reveal solutionSolution
To find dxdy for an implicitly defined function, we differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x, treating y as a function of x and applying the chain rule. The result is −ey−x.
When an equation relates x and y but does not explicitly express y as a function of x (like y=f(x)), we use a technique called implicit differentiation to find dxdy. The core idea is that even though y isn't isolated, it is still a function of x.
This means that when we differentiate a term involving y with respect to x, we must apply the chain rule. For example, if we differentiate g(y) with respect to x, we get dxd[g(y)]=g′(y)⋅dxdy. This dxdy term is crucial and often the source of errors if overlooked.
Let's apply this to the given equation.
- Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x. The given equation is e−x+e−y=2. We apply the derivative operator dxd to every term:
dxd(e−x)+dxd(e−y)=dxd(2)
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Evaluate each derivative.
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For the first term, dxd(e−x):
Using the chain rule, if u=−x, then dxdu=−1.
So, dxd(e−x)=e−x⋅dxd(−x)=e−x⋅(−1)=−e−x.
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For the second term, dxd(e−y):
This is where implicit differentiation comes in. We treat y as a function of x.
Using the chain rule, if v=−y, then dxdv=dxd(−y)=−1⋅dxdy.
So, dxd(e−y)=e−y⋅dxd(−y)=e−y⋅(−dxdy)=−e−ydxdy.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget the dxdy term when differentiating expressions involving y with respect to x. Remember, y is a function of x.
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For the right-hand side, dxd(2):
The derivative of a constant is always 0.
-
-
Substitute the derivatives back into the equation.
Combining the results from Step 2, we get:
−e−x−e−ydxdy=0
- Isolate dxdy. We want to solve for dxdy. First, move the −e−x term to the right side:
−e−ydxdy=e−x
Now, divide both sides by $-e^{-y}$:dxdy=−e−ye−x
- Simplify the expression. Using the exponent rule an1=a−n (or a−n=an1), we can rewrite e−y in the denominator as ey in the numerator:
dxdy=−e−xey
Finally, using the exponent rule $a^m a^n = a^{m+n}$:dxdy=−ey−x
This matches option (D).
✓Final answerThe derivative dxdy is −ey−x.
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.If y=sinx+sinx+sinx+… then dxdy=(a) 2y−11(b) 2y−1cosx(c) 2y−1sinx(d) cosx2y−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdy=2y−1cosx.
The infinite nested radical satisfies y=sinx+y, so
y2=sinx+y.
Differentiate both sides implicitly with respect to x:
2ydxdy=cosx+dxdy.
Collect dxdy:
(2y−1)dxdy=cosx⇒dxdy=2y−1cosx.
✓Final answer(b) 2y−1cosx.
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.If xn+yn=an then dxdy=(a) −yn−1xn−1(b) yn−1xn−1(c) −xn−1yn−1(d) nxn−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdy=−yn−1xn−1.
Differentiate xn+yn=an implicitly (a constant):
nxn−1+nyn−1dxdy=0.
Solve:
dxdy=−nyn−1nxn−1=−yn−1xn−1.
✓Final answer(a) −yn−1xn−1.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If 2x+3y=siny, then dxdy is equal to(a) siny−23(b) cosy−32(c) 2cosy+3(d) cosy2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x, then solve for dy/dx.
2x+3y=siny
Differentiating: 2+3dxdy=cosydxdy
2=dxdy(cosy−3)
dxdy=cosy−32
✓Final answerThe correct option is (b) cosy−32.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find dxdy for the following : 2x+3y=siny
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate both sides of 2x+3y=siny with respect to x (using the chain rule for the y-terms), then collect dxdy on one side.
Given: 2x+3y=siny
Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x:
dxd(2x)+dxd(3y)=dxd(siny)
2+3dxdy=cosy⋅dxdy
Collect all dxdy terms on one side:
3dxdy−cosydxdy=−2
dxdy(3−cosy)=−2
dxdy=3−cosy−2=cosy−32
✓Final answerdxdy=cosy−32=3−cosy−2
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If x2+y2=2, then dxdy is equal to -(a) 2y1−2x(b) 1−2x2y(c) −yx(d) −xy
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate x2+y2=2 implicitly with respect to x, treating y as a function of x.
dxd(x2+y2)=dxd(2)
2x+2ydxdy=0
dxdy=−yx
✓Final answerThe correct option is (c) −yx.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find dxdy, if ax+by2=cosy. OR Find the integral ∫xlogxdx.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x.
Start from ax+by2=cosy and differentiate w.r.t. x:
dxd(ax)+dxd(by2)=dxd(cosy)
a+2bydxdy=−sinydxdy.
Gather the dxdy terms:
2bydxdy+sinydxdy=−a
dxdy(2by+siny)=−a.
Hence
dxdy=2by+siny−a.
✓Final answerdxdy=2by+siny−a
Alternative (Or):
Substitute t=logx so dt=xdx.
For I=∫xlogxdx, let t=logx, so dt=x1dx. Then
I=∫tdt=2t2+C=2(logx)2+C.
✓Final answer∫xlogxdx=2(logx)2+C
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of dy/dx at (4, 1) of y³ − √x = 5 is ......................(a) 5/4(b) 1/12(c) 1/24(d) 1/3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate the implicit relation y3−x=5 term by term with respect to x, then substitute the point (4,1).
Given: y3−x=5
Step 1 — differentiate implicitly w.r.t. x:
3y2dxdy−2x1=0
Step 2 — solve for dy/dx:
dxdy=2x⋅3y21=6y2x1
Step 3 — substitute x=4,y=1: 4=2, y2=1
dxdy=6(1)(2)1=121
✓Final answerdxdy(4,1)=121 (Option b).
- CBSE 2024Set D1 markMCQQ.If y=sinx+sinx+sinx+… to ∞ then dxdy=(a) 2y−1sinx(b) y−1cosx(c) 2y−1cosx(d) 2y−11
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdy=2y−1cosx.
The infinite nested radical satisfies y=sinx+y because the expression inside the outer root repeats. Square both sides:
y2=sinx+y.
Differentiate implicitly with respect to x:
2ydxdy=cosx+dxdy.
Collect the dxdy terms:
dxdy(2y−1)=cosx⇒dxdy=2y−1cosx.
✓Final answer(C) 2y−1cosx.
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If 2x+8y=sinx, then dxdy is:(a) 8sinx−2(b) 8cosx−2(c) 2cosx+2(d) 3cosx+2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate both sides of 2x+8y=sinx implicitly with respect to x and isolate dxdy.
2x+8y=sinx
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. x:
2+8dxdy=cosx
8dxdy=cosx−2
dxdy=8cosx−2
✓Final answer(b) 8cosx−2
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find dxdy for the following : 2x+3y=siny
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate both sides with respect to x (implicit differentiation) and solve for dxdy.
Given 2x+3y=siny. Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x:
dxd(2x)+dxd(3y)=dxd(siny)
2+3dxdy=cosydxdy.
Collect the dxdy terms:
2=cosydxdy−3dxdy=(cosy−3)dxdy.
Therefore
dxdy=cosy−32.
✓Final answerdxdy=cosy−32
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.If y=ex+y2, then find dxdy.
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is an implicit relation; differentiate both sides with respect to x and collect the dxdy terms.
Given y=ex+y2.
Differentiate both sides with respect to x:
dxdy=ex+2ydxdy
Collect the dxdy terms on one side:
dxdy−2ydxdy=ex
dxdy(1−2y)=ex
dxdy=1−2yex
✓Final answerdxdy=1−2yex.
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