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.
-
Differentiate ax
The derivative of ax with respect to x is simply a.
-
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 16 on this concept.
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.If y=sinx+y, then dy/dx = (A) 2y−1cosx (B) 1−2ycosx (C) cosx2y−1 (D) cosx1−2y
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdy=2y−1cosx.
Given y=sinx+y, square both sides: y2=sinx+y.
Differentiate implicitly w.r.t. x:
2ydxdy=cosx+dxdy⟹(2y−1)dxdy=cosx.
Hence dxdy=2y−1cosx.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — 2y−1cosx
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-M1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] If siny=x(cos(a+y)), then find dxdy when x=0
(A) 1 (B) sec a (C) cos a (D) −1›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate implicitly (easiest via x=siny/cos(a+y)); at x=0,y=0 the derivative reduces to cosa (option C).
Given siny=xcos(a+y). When x=0, siny=0⇒y=0.
Solve for x and differentiate with respect to y:
x=cos(a+y)siny
dydx=cos2(a+y)cosycos(a+y)−siny(−sin(a+y))=cos2(a+y)cosycos(a+y)+sinysin(a+y)
The numerator is cos((a+y)−y)=cosa, so
dydx=cos2(a+y)cosa⟹dxdy=cosacos2(a+y)
Evaluating at x=0,y=0:
dxdy=cosacos2a=cosa
✓Final answerdxdyx=0=cosa — option (C).
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] If x2+y2=t+t1 and x4+y4=t2+t21 then dxdy=
(A) 2yx (B) −xy (C) −2yx (D) xy›Reveal solutionSolution
The key is to notice that the given equations imply a simple relation between x and y: x2+y2=t+1/t and x4+y4=t2+1/t2 force x2y2=1. Differentiating implicitly gives dy/dx=−y/x, so the answer is (B).
We start with two parametric-looking equations in x,y,t:
x2+y2=t+t1,x4+y4=t2+t21.
The goal is to find dxdy without needing t explicitly — we want a direct relation between x and y.
1. Spot the algebraic structure
Notice that t2+1/t2 is the square of t+1/t minus 2:
(t+t1)2=t2+2+t21⇒t2+t21=(t+t1)2−2.
So the second equation becomes:
x4+y4=(x2+y2)2−2.
2. Expand and simplify
Expand (x2+y2)2:
(x2+y2)2=x4+2x2y2+y4.
Thus:
x4+y4=x4+2x2y2+y4−2.
Cancel x4+y4 from both sides, leaving:
0=2x2y2−2⇒x2y2=1.
TipThis is the hidden gem: the parameter t cancels completely, leaving a simple hyperbola-like relation x2y2=1, i.e. xy=±1.
3. Differentiate implicitly
From x2y2=1, differentiate both sides with respect to x:
dxd(x2y2)=dxd(1)=0.
Use the product rule (or treat as (x2)(y2)):
2x⋅y2+x2⋅2ydxdy=0.
Factor 2:
2xy2+2x2ydxdy=0.
Divide through by 2xy (valid since x=0,y=0 from x2y2=1):
1y+xdxdy=0⇒xdxdy=−y.
Thus:
dxdy=−xy.
4. Match with options
This matches option (B).
Watch outA common mistake is to forget the minus sign or to confuse dy/dx with dx/dy. Always check: if x2y2=1, then y=±1/x, so dy/dx=∓1/x2=−y/x indeed.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-E1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] If y=sinx+y then find dxdy at x=0,y=1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) −1›Reveal solutionSolution
The equation defines y implicitly; we differentiate both sides, substitute x=0,y=1, and solve for dxdy to get 0.
We are given y=sinx+y. This is not an explicit function y(x) in the usual sense because y appears on both sides. The key is to treat it as an implicit relation between x and y. We differentiate both sides with respect to x, remembering that y is a function of x, and then plug in the given point (x=0,y=1) to find the slope.
- Rewrite the equation to avoid the square root for easier differentiation. Square both sides:
y2=sinx+y
This is valid because y=⋯ implies y≥0, and at (0,1) it's fine.
- Differentiate implicitly with respect to x:
dxd(y2)=dxd(sinx)+dxd(y)
Using the chain rule on y2 gives 2ydxdy, and dxd(sinx)=cosx, and dxd(y)=dxdy.
So:
2ydxdy=cosx+dxdy
- Solve for dxdy algebraically. Bring terms involving dxdy to one side:
2ydxdy−dxdy=cosx
Factor out dxdy:
dxdy(2y−1)=cosx
Hence:
dxdy=2y−1cosx
- Substitute the given values x=0, y=1:
dxdy(0,1)=2(1)−1cos0=2−11=11=1
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that y is a function of x when differentiating the y inside the square root. If you differentiate sinx+y directly, you must apply the chain rule to the y term as well — but the implicit method above avoids that pitfall cleanly.
TipThe step of squaring both sides is safe here because the original equation defines y as the positive square root, so y≥0. At the point (0,1), this holds, and the squared equation is equivalent locally.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
- COMEDK 2022Set 20221 markMCQQ.If the tangent to the curve xy+ax+by=0 at (1, 1) is inclined at an angle tan−12 with X-axis, then (A) a=1,b=2 (B) a=1,b=−2 (C) a=−1,b=2 (D) a=−1,b=−2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Check: curve xy + x - 2y = 0 through (1,1): 1 + 1 - 2 = 0. Slope = -(1+1)/(1-2) = -2/-1 = 2. Correct.
Concept: Implicit differentiation + slope of tangent = tan(theta).
Curve: xy + ax + by = 0 passes through (1,1):
1*1 + a(1) + b(1) = 0 => a + b = -1 ... (i)
Differentiate implicitly:
y + x y' + a + b y' = 0
y'(x + b) = -(y + a)
y' = -(y + a)/(x + b)
At (1,1): y' = -(1 + a)/(1 + b)
The tangent is inclined at angle arctan(2), so slope = 2:
-(1 + a)/(1 + b) = 2
From (i), b = -1 - a, so 1 + b = -a. Substituting:
-(1 + a)/(-a) = 2 => (1 + a)/a = 2 => 1 + a = 2a => a = 1
then b = -1 - 1 = -2
Check: curve xy + x - 2y = 0 through (1,1): 1 + 1 - 2 = 0. Slope = -(1+1)/(1-2) = -2/-1 = 2. Correct.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B) — a=1,b=−2
ANSWER: B
- KCET 2020Set A-11 markMCQQ.If (xe)y=ex, then dxdy is (A) (1+logx)2logx (B) (1+logx)21 (C) (1+logx)logx (D) x(y−1)ex
›Reveal solutionSolution
Logarithmic differentiation: take log of both sides to free y from the exponent, solve for y explicitly, then differentiate.
Step 1 — Take natural logarithms (why: y sits in an exponent, and log brings it down).
(xe)y=ex⟹ylog(xe)=xloge=x.
Step 2 — Simplify log(xe).
log(xe)=logx+loge=logx+1.
So
y(1+logx)=x⟹y=1+logxx.
Step 3 — Differentiate with the quotient rule.
With u=x,v=1+logx, we have u′=1 and v′=x1:
dxdy=v2vu′−uv′=(1+logx)2(1+logx)(1)−x⋅x1.
Step 4 — Simplify.
dxdy=(1+logx)21+logx−1=(1+logx)2logx.
Check at x=1: then y=1/(1+0)=1 and the formula gives dxdy=0. Implicitly, y(1+logx)=x differentiates to y′(1+logx)+y/x=1; at x=1,y=1: y′(1)+1=1⇒y′=0. ✓ Consistent.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — (1+logx)2logx.
ANSWER: A
- KCET 2022Set C-41 markMCQQ.If x=eθsinθ, y=eθcosθ where θ is a parameter, then dxdy at (1, 1) is equal to (A) 21 (B) −21 (C) −41 (D) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use dxdy=dx/dθdy/dθ; at the point (1,1) we have sinθ=cosθ, which kills the numerator, so the derivative is 0.
Step 1 — Why parametric differentiation
Both x and y are given in terms of a third variable θ, not of each other. The chain rule then gives
dxdy=dx/dθdy/dθ(dθdx=0)
Step 2 — Differentiate each with the product rule
x=eθsinθ⇒dθdx=eθsinθ+eθcosθ=eθ(sinθ+cosθ)
y=eθcosθ⇒dθdy=eθcosθ−eθsinθ=eθ(cosθ−sinθ)
Step 3 — Form the ratio
dxdy=eθ(sinθ+cosθ)eθ(cosθ−sinθ)=cosθ+sinθcosθ−sinθ
The factor eθ (never zero) cancels — this is the whole point of taking eθ common.
Step 4 — Impose the condition of the point (1,1)
At that point x=y, so
eθsinθ=eθcosθ⇒sinθ=cosθ
We do not need the actual value of θ — only this relation. Substituting it into Step 3:
dxdy=cosθ+sinθcosθ−sinθ=2cosθ0=0
(The denominator cosθ+sinθ=2cosθ=0, since cosθ=0 would force sinθ=0 too, impossible.)
Step 5 — Interpret
dxdy=0 means the tangent to the curve at (1,1) is horizontal.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — 0.
ANSWER: D
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-M1 markMCQQ.The slope of the tangent to the curve, y=x2−xy at (1,21) is (A) 34 (B) 32 (C) 43 (D) 23
›Reveal solutionSolution
Implicit differentiation of y=x2−xy gives a slope of 3/4 at the point (1,21).
Differentiate y=x2−xy with respect to x (product rule on xy):
dxdy=2x−(y+xdxdy).
Collect the derivative terms:
dxdy+xdxdy=2x−y⇒dxdy(1+x)=2x−y⇒dxdy=1+x2x−y.
Substitute x=1, y=21:
dxdy=1+12(1)−21=223=43.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — 43
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.The equation of normal to the curve y=(1+x)y+sin−1(sin2x) at x=0 is (A) x+y=1 (B) x−y=1 (C) x+y=−1 (D) x−y=−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Step 3 - the normal. Slope of tangent m = 1 -> slope of normal = -1/m = -1. Normal through (0, 1): y - 1 = -1 (x - 0) y - 1 = -x x + y = 1
Concept: Equation of the normal - find the point, find dy/dx (implicit differentiation), then normal slope = -1/(dy/dx).
Curve: y = (1 + x)^y + sin^(-1)(sin^2 x)
Step 1 - the point at x = 0:
y = (1 + 0)^y + sin^(-1)(sin^2 0) = 1 + sin^(-1)(0) = 1 + 0 = 1
So the point is (0, 1).
Step 2 - differentiate.
Let u = (1 + x)^y. Then log u = y log(1 + x), and
(1/u) du/dx = y' log(1 + x) + y/(1 + x)
du/dx = (1 + x)^y [ y' log(1 + x) + y/(1 + x) ]
At x = 0, y = 1: (1+0)^1 = 1, log(1) = 0, so du/dx | 0 = 1 * [ y'(0) + 1/1 ] = 1.
(The y' log(1+x) term vanishes because log 1 = 0.)
For the second term, v = sin^(-1)(sin^2 x):
dv/dx = (2 sin x cos x) / sqrt(1 - sin^4 x)
At x = 0: sin 0 = 0, so dv/dx | 0 = 0.
Therefore y'(0) = du/dx + dv/dx = 1 + 0 = 1.
Step 3 - the normal.
Slope of tangent m = 1 -> slope of normal = -1/m = -1.
Normal through (0, 1):
y - 1 = -1 (x - 0)
y - 1 = -x
x + y = 1
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — x+y=1
ANSWER: A
- KCET 2021Set A-11 markMCQQ.For constant a, dxd(xx+xa+ax+aa) is (A) xx(1+logx)+axa−1 (B) xx(1+logx)+axa−1+axloga (C) xx(1+logx)+aa(1+logx) (D) xx(1+logx)+aa(1+loga)+axa−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate each term separately using the appropriate rule — power rule, exponential rule, and the special logarithmic differentiation for xx. The derivative is xx(1+logx)+axa−1+axloga, which matches option (B).
The key is to recognise that a is a constant, so xa and ax are standard forms, while xx requires logarithmic differentiation. The term aa is just a constant and differentiates to zero.
- Differentiate xx Write y=xx. Take logs: logy=xlogx. Differentiate both sides:
y1dxdy=logx+x⋅x1=logx+1
So dxdy=y(1+logx)=xx(1+logx).
- Differentiate xa Here a is a constant exponent. Use the power rule:
dxdxa=axa−1
- Differentiate ax Here a is a constant base. Use the exponential rule:
dxdax=axloga
-
Differentiate aa
Since a is constant, aa is a constant number. Its derivative is zero.
-
Add all the derivatives
dxd(xx+xa+ax+aa)=xx(1+logx)+axa−1+axloga+0
Watch outA common mistake is to treat xx as x⋅xx−1 (like a power rule) or as xxlogx (like an exponential rule). Neither works — xx has the variable in both base and exponent, so logarithmic differentiation is necessary.
TipNotice that aa is a red herring — it's constant, so it contributes nothing. Many students waste time trying to differentiate it.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.The curve y−exy+x=0 has a vertical tangent at the point (A) (e, 0) (B) (1, 1) (C) (1, 0) (D) (0, 1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Vertical tangent occurs where xexy=1; the point (1,0) satisfies both the curve and this condition.
Curve: y−exy+x=0. Differentiate implicitly:
dxdy−exy(y+xdxdy)+1=0.
Collect terms:
dxdy(1−xexy)=yexy−1⇒dxdy=1−xexyyexy−1.
A vertical tangent requires the denominator =0: xexy=1 (with numerator =0).
Test (1,0): on curve? 0−e0+1=0−1+1=0 ✓. Condition: 1⋅e0=1 ✓, and numerator =0−1=−1=0. Vertical tangent confirmed.
(Point (0,1) is also on the curve but gives xexy=0, a horizontal tangent; (e,0) and (1,1) are not on the curve.)
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — (1, 0)
- KCET 2020Set A-11 markMCQQ.If the curves 2x=y2 and 2xy=K intersect perpendicularly, then the value of K2 is (A) 4 (B) 22 (C) 2 (D) 8
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate each curve implicitly to get its slope at the common point, impose m1m2=−1, and solve for the intersection — then read off K.
Step 1 — Slope of the parabola 2x=y2.
Differentiate implicitly w.r.t. x:
2=2ydxdy⟹m1=dxdy=y1.
Step 2 — Slope of the hyperbola 2xy=K.
Differentiate implicitly (product rule):
2(y+xdxdy)=0⟹m2=dxdy=−xy.
Step 3 — Impose orthogonality (why: two curves cut at right angles ⟺ the product of their tangent slopes at the common point is −1).
m1m2=−1⟹(y1)(−xy)=−1⟹−x1=−1⟹x=1.
Step 4 — Find y at that point, from the parabola.
y2=2x=2⟹y=±2.
Step 5 — Get K and then K2.
The point (1,±2) must also lie on 2xy=K:
K=2(1)(±2)=±22⟹K2=(22)2=4×2=8.
The question asks for K2 precisely because K itself is sign-ambiguous, while K2=8 is unique.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — 8.
ANSWER: D
🎓Unlock everything free for 14 days
- ✓Full step-by-step solutions
- ✓Concept-first explanations
- ✓Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- ✓PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.