If $y = e^{x^2 \cos x} + (\cos x)^x$, then find $\frac{dy}{dx}$.

If y = ex^2 cos x + (cos x)x, then find (dy)/(dx).

Question

y = e^{x^2 \cos x} + (\cos x)^x

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2020Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★

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We differentiate a sum of two functions: the first is a standard exponential requiring the chain rule, and the second is a variable-exponent power handled by logarithmic differentiation. The derivative is $\frac{dy}{dx} = e^{x^2 \cos x} \cdot (2x \cos x - x^2 \sin x) + (\cos x)^x \left( \log(\cos x) - x \tan x \right)$ .

The problem gives $y = e^{x^2 \cos x} + (\cos x)^x$ and asks for $\frac{dy}{dx}$ . This is a sum of two very different-looking terms. The first term is an exponential function where the exponent itself is a product $x^2 \cos x$ — that’s a straightforward chain rule job. The second term, $(\cos x)^x$ , has the variable $x$ in both the base and the exponent. That’s the classic signal for logarithmic differentiation: you cannot apply the power rule or the exponential rule directly because neither the base nor the exponent is constant.

Let’s break it into two parts, differentiate each, and add.

1. Differentiate $e^{x^2 \cos x}$

Let $u = x^2 \cos x$ . Then the term is $e^u$ , and by the chain rule:

\frac{d}{dx} e^u = e^u \cdot \frac{du}{dx}.

Now find $\frac{du}{dx}$ using the product rule on $u = x^2 \cdot \cos x$ :

\frac{du}{dx} = (2x)(\cos x) + (x^2)(-\sin x) = 2x \cos x - x^2 \sin x.

So:

\frac{d}{dx} \left( e^{x^2 \cos x} \right) = e^{x^2 \cos x} \cdot (2x \cos x - x^2 \sin x).

Tip

Notice that the derivative of $\cos x$ is $-\sin x$ , so the sign in the second term is negative. A common slip is to forget that minus sign.

2. Differentiate $(\cos x)^x$

Let $v = (\cos x)^x$ . Since $x$ appears in both the base and the exponent, take natural logs on both sides:

\log v = x \log(\cos x).

Now differentiate implicitly with respect to $x$ :

\frac{1}{v} \cdot \frac{dv}{dx} = \frac{d}{dx} \big[ x \log(\cos x) \big].

The right side is a product: $x$ times $\log(\cos x)$ . Use the product rule:

$\frac{d}{dx} \big[ x \log(\cos x) \big] = (1) \cdot \log(\cos x) + x \cdot \frac{1}{\cos x} \cdot (-\sin x).$ …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

Showing the 12 most recent of 27 on this concept.

CBSE 2026Set 65/2/11 markMCQ
$e^{-x} + e^{-y} = 2$
›Reveal solutionSolution
To find $\frac{dy}{dx}$ 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 $\boxed{-e^{y-x}}$ .

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 $\frac{dy}{dx}$ . 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 $\frac{d}{dx}[g(y)] = g'(y) \cdot \frac{dy}{dx}$ . This $\frac{dy}{dx}$ 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 $\frac{d}{dx}$ to every term:

$\frac{d}{dx}(e^{-x}) + \frac{d}{dx}(e^{-y}) = \frac{d}{dx}(2)$

Evaluate each derivative.

For the first term, $\frac{d}{dx}(e^{-x})$ :

Using the chain rule, if $u = -x$ , then $\frac{du}{dx} = -1$ .

So, $\frac{d}{dx}(e^{-x}) = e^{-x} \cdot \frac{d}{dx}(-x) = e^{-x} \cdot (-1) = -e^{-x}$ .

For the second term, $\frac{d}{dx}(e^{-y})$ :

This is where implicit differentiation comes in. We treat $y$ as a function of $x$ .

Using the chain rule, if $v = -y$ , then $\frac{dv}{dx} = \frac{d}{dx}(-y) = -1 \cdot \frac{dy}{dx}$ .

So, $\frac{d}{dx}(e^{-y}) = e^{-y} \cdot \frac{d}{dx}(-y) = e^{-y} \cdot \left(-\frac{dy}{dx}\right) = -e^{-y} \frac{dy}{dx}$ .

Watch out

A common mistake is to forget the $\frac{dy}{dx}$ term when differentiating expressions involving $y$ with respect to $x$ . Remember, $y$ is a function of $x$ .

For the right-hand side, $\frac{d}{dx}(2)$ : …
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CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQ
$y = \sqrt{\sin x + \sqrt{\sin x + \sqrt{\sin x + \ldots}}}$
(a) $\frac{1}{2y-1}$
(b) $\frac{\cos x}{2y-1}$
(c) $\frac{\sin x}{2y-1}$
(d) $\frac{2y-1}{\cos x}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{\cos x}{2y-1}$ .

The infinite nested radical satisfies $y = \sqrt{\sin x + y}$ , so

$y^2 = \sin x + y.$

Differentiate both sides implicitly with respect to $x$ :

$2y\frac{dy}{dx} = \cos x + \frac{dy}{dx}.$

Collect $\frac{dy}{dx}$ : …

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CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQ
$x^n + y^n = a^n$
(a) $-\frac{x^{n-1}}{y^{n-1}}$
(b) $\frac{x^{n-1}}{y^{n-1}}$
(c) $-\frac{y^{n-1}}{x^{n-1}}$
(d) $nx^{n-1}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

$\frac{dy}{dx} = -\frac{x^{n-1}}{y^{n-1}}$ .

Differentiate $x^n + y^n = a^n$ implicitly ( $a$ constant):

$n x^{n-1} + n y^{n-1}\frac{dy}{dx} = 0.$

Solve: …

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CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$2x + 3y = \sin y$
(a) $\frac{3}{\sin y - 2}$
(b) $\frac{2}{\cos y - 3}$
(c) $\frac{\cos y + 3}{2}$
(d) $\frac{2}{\cos y}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Differentiate both sides with respect to $x$ , treating $y$ as a function of $x$ , then solve for $dy/dx$ .

$2x+3y=\sin y$

Differentiating: $2 + 3\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \cos y\,\dfrac{dy}{dx}$

$2 = \dfrac{dy}{dx}(\cos y - 3)$

…

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CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 mark
$\dfrac{dy}{dx}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Differentiate both sides of $2x+3y=\sin y$ with respect to $x$ (using the chain rule for the $y$ -terms), then collect $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ on one side.

Given: $2x + 3y = \sin y$

Differentiate both sides w.r.t. $x$ :

$\frac{d}{dx}(2x) + \frac{d}{dx}(3y) = \frac{d}{dx}(\sin y)$

$2 + 3\frac{dy}{dx} = \cos y \cdot \frac{dy}{dx}$

Collect all $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ terms on one side: …

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CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$x^2+y^2=2$
(a) $\dfrac{1-2x}{2y}$
(b) $\dfrac{2y}{1-2x}$
(c) $-\dfrac{x}{y}$
(d) $-\dfrac{y}{x}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Differentiate $x^2+y^2=2$ implicitly with respect to $x$ , treating $y$ as a function of $x$ .

$\dfrac{d}{dx}(x^2+y^2)=\dfrac{d}{dx}(2)$

$2x+2y\dfrac{dy}{dx}=0$ …

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CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 mark
$\dfrac{dy}{dx}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Differentiate both sides with respect to $x$ , treating $y$ as a function of $x$ .

Start from $ax+by^2=\cos y$ and differentiate w.r.t. $x$ :

$\frac{d}{dx}(ax)+\frac{d}{dx}(by^2)=\frac{d}{dx}(\cos y)$

$a+2by\frac{dy}{dx}=-\sin y\frac{dy}{dx}.$

Gather the $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ terms:

$2by\frac{dy}{dx}+\sin y\frac{dy}{dx}=-a$

$\frac{dy}{dx}\big(2by+\sin y\big)=-a.$

Hence

$\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{-a}{2by+\sin y}.$

…

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CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. The value of dy/dx at (4, 1) of y³ - \sqrtx = 5 is ......................$
(a) 5/4
(b) 1/12
(c) 1/24
(d) 1/3
›Reveal solutionSolution

Differentiate the implicit relation $y^3 - \sqrt{x} = 5$ term by term with respect to $x$ , then substitute the point $(4, 1)$ .

Given: $y^3 - \sqrt{x} = 5$

Step 1 — differentiate implicitly w.r.t. $x$ :

$3y^2 \frac{dy}{dx} - \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}} = 0$

Step 2 — solve for $dy/dx$ :

$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}\cdot 3y^2} = \frac{1}{6y^2\sqrt{x}}$

…

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CBSE 2024Set D1 markMCQ
$y = \sqrt{\sin x + \sqrt{\sin x + \sqrt{\sin x + \ldots \text{ to } \infty}}}$
(a) $\frac{\sin x}{2y - 1}$
(b) $\frac{\cos x}{y - 1}$
(c) $\frac{\cos x}{2y - 1}$
(d) $\frac{1}{2y - 1}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{\cos x}{2y - 1}$ .

The infinite nested radical satisfies $y = \sqrt{\sin x + y}$ because the expression inside the outer root repeats. Square both sides:

$y^2 = \sin x + y.$

Differentiate implicitly with respect to $x$ :

$2y\frac{dy}{dx} = \cos x + \frac{dy}{dx}.$ …

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CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$2x + 8y = \sin x$
(a) $\dfrac{\sin x - 2}{8}$
(b) $\dfrac{\cos x - 2}{8}$
(c) $\dfrac{\cos x + 2}{2}$
(d) $\dfrac{\cos x + 2}{3}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Differentiate both sides of $2x+8y=\sin x$ implicitly with respect to $x$ and isolate $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ .

$2x + 8y = \sin x$

Differentiating both sides w.r.t. $x$ :

$2 + 8\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \cos x$

…

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CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 mark
$\dfrac{dy}{dx}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Differentiate both sides with respect to $x$ (implicit differentiation) and solve for $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ .

Given $2x + 3y = \sin y$ . Differentiate both sides w.r.t. $x$ :

$\dfrac{d}{dx}(2x) + \dfrac{d}{dx}(3y) = \dfrac{d}{dx}(\sin y)$

$2 + 3\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \cos y\,\dfrac{dy}{dx}.$

Collect the $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ terms: …

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CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 mark
$y = e^x + y^2$
›Reveal solutionSolution

This is an implicit relation; differentiate both sides with respect to x and collect the $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ terms.

Given $y = e^x + y^2$ .

Differentiate both sides with respect to $x$ :

$\dfrac{dy}{dx} = e^x + 2y\dfrac{dy}{dx}$

Collect the $\dfrac{dy}{dx}$ terms on one side: …

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Q.If $y = e^{x^2 \cos x} + (\cos x)^x$ , then find $\frac{dy}{dx}$ .

Concept understanding — Implicit Differentiation

Implicit Differentiation

When $y$ isn't alone

The one key move: $y$ is really $y(x)$

The procedure

Worked example

1. Differentiate $e^{x^2 \cos x}$

2. Differentiate $(\cos x)^x$

Q.If y=ex2cos⁡x+(cos⁡x)xy = e^{x^2 \cos x} + (\cos x)^xy=ex2cosx+(cosx)x, then find dydx\frac{dy}{dx}dxdy​.

1. Differentiate ex2cos⁡xe^{x^2 \cos x}ex2cosx

2. Differentiate (cos⁡x)x(\cos x)^x(cosx)x

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Q.If $y = e^{x^2 \cos x} + (\cos x)^x$ , then find $\frac{dy}{dx}$ .

1. Differentiate $e^{x^2 \cos x}$

2. Differentiate $(\cos x)^x$

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