Calculus (1) (Math 105)

4.1 Implicit Differentiation

Page 1 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

4.1 Implicit Differentiation
Explicit Function

Implicit Relation

Implicit Differentiation

Page 2 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

4.1 Implicit Differentiation
Explicit Function

Definition 1:

An explicit function is one in which the dependent variable can be written

explicitly )‫ (بشكل صريح‬in terms of the independent variable.

The general form of an explicit function )‫ (دالة صريحة‬is given by the form

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

Example:
𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 + cos 𝑥

Implicit Relation

Definition 2:

When an equation defines a relation between the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦 and the
dependent variable is not explicitly isolated on either side of the equation then the
equation becomes an implicit relation )‫(عالقة ضمنية‬.
The general form of an implicit relation is given by the form

𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 0

Example:
𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 𝑥 2𝑦 − 2𝑦 = 0

• We begin with an example involving familiar equations that we can solve for 𝑦
𝑑𝑦
as a function of 𝑥 to calculate in the usual way.
𝑑𝑥

Example 1

𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 if 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑥.

Solution

Page 3 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

The equation

𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑥 (1)

defines 𝑦 as a function of 𝑥 since it can be rewritten as

𝑥−1
𝑦=
𝑥+1

We say that (1) defines 𝑦 implicitly as a function of 𝑥, the function being

𝑥−1
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥+1

Therefore,

𝑑𝑦 (1)(𝑥 + 1) − (𝑥 − 1)(1) 2
= =
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 + 1)2 (𝑥 + 1)2

• Although it was easy in the Example above to solve the equation (1) for 𝑦 in
terms of 𝑥, it is difficult or impossible to do this for some equations.

For example, the equation

𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = 3𝑥𝑦

can be solved for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥, but the resulting formulas are too complicated to
be practical.

• Other equations, such as sin (𝑥𝑦) = 𝑦, cannot be solved for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.

• Thus, even though an equation may define one or more functions of 𝑥, it may
not be possible or practical to find explicit formulas for those functions.
• Fortunately, we can find the derivative for these types of equations using a
method called implicit differentiation.

Page 4 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Implicit Differentiation

• In general, it is not necessary to solve an equation for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥 in order to

differentiate the functions defined implicitly by the equation.
• To illustrate this, let us consider the equation in the previous example

𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑥.

We find the derivative explicitly as

𝑑𝑦 2
= .
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 + 1)2

• Another way to obtain this derivative is to differentiate both sides of the equation
• 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑥
• before solving for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥, treating 𝑦 as a (temporarily unspecified)
differentiable function of 𝑥.

Differentiate both sides of the equation

𝑦𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑥

with respect to 𝑥, treating 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) as a differentiable function of 𝑥 :

𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1 = 𝑥

𝑑 𝑑
[𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1] = [𝑥 ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
[𝑥𝑦] + [𝑦 ] + [ 1] = [𝑥 ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
(𝑦 [𝑥] + 𝑥 [𝑦]) + [𝑦 ] + [ 1] = [𝑥 ]
⏟ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Apply the chain Rule

(1)𝑦 + 𝑥 (1)𝑦 ′ + (1)𝑦 ′ + 0 = 1

𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 ′ = 1

Page 5 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Now solve the last equation for 𝑦 ′

𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 ′ = 1 − 𝑦

𝑦 ′ (𝑥 + 1) = 1 − 𝑦

1−𝑦
𝑦′ = (2)
𝑥+1

𝑥−1
Now, substitute 𝑦 = 𝑥+1 into (2), we obtain

𝑥−1
1−𝑥+1 2
𝑦′ = = .
𝑥+1 (𝑥 + 1)2

We can see that both methods yield the same result.

This method of obtaining derivatives is called implicit differentiation.

Steps for finding the derivative using the Implicit Differentiation Method:

Step1: Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to the independent
variable (usually 𝑥 ).

Remember to treat 𝑦 as a function of 𝑥 (i.e., 𝑦(𝑥) ) and apply the chain rule when
differentiating terms involving 𝑦.

Step2: Apply the chain rule when differentiating 𝑦 terms.

𝑑𝑦
For example, the derivative of 𝑦 2 with respect to 𝑥 is 2𝑦 𝑑𝑥 .

𝑑𝑦
Step3: Collect all terms involving 𝑑𝑥 on one side of the equation.

𝑑𝑦
Step4: Solve for by isolating it, which gives you the derivative of 𝑦 with respect
𝑑𝑥

to 𝑥.

Page 6 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

 𝑑𝑦
For convenience, use 𝑦 ′ notation instead of when applying the implicit
𝑑𝑥

differentiation method.

Note that:

In the examples and exercises, it is always assumed that the given equation
𝑑𝑦
determines 𝑦 implicitly as a differentiable function of 𝑥 so that 𝑑𝑥 exists.

Example 2

Find 𝑦′ if 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 + sin 𝑥𝑦

Solution

We differentiate the equation implicitly.

𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 + sin 𝑥𝑦

𝑑 2 𝑑 2 𝑑
(𝑦 ) = (𝑥 ) + (sin 𝑥𝑦)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑
2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 2𝑥 + (cos 𝑥𝑦) (𝑥𝑦)
𝑑𝑥

2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 2𝑥 + (cos 𝑥𝑦)(𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 ′ )

2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 2𝑥 + (cos 𝑥𝑦)(𝑦) + (cos 𝑥𝑦)(𝑥𝑦 ′ )

2𝑦𝑦′ − (cos 𝑥𝑦)(𝑥𝑦′) = 2𝑥 + (cos 𝑥𝑦)𝑦

(2𝑦 − 𝑥cos 𝑥𝑦)𝑦′ = 2𝑥 + 𝑦cos 𝑥𝑦

2𝑥 + 𝑦cos 𝑥𝑦
𝑦′ =
2𝑦 − 𝑥cos 𝑥𝑦

Page 7 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Checkpoint 1

Use implicit differentiation to find 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥 if

(a) 5𝑦 2 + sin 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 . (b)

Answer:
𝑑𝑦 2𝑥
(a) 𝑑𝑥 = 10𝑦+cos 𝑦

Solution

Page 8 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Example 3

Find the slopes of the tangent lines to the curve 𝑦 2 − 𝑥 + 1 = 0 at the points (2, −1)
and (2,1).

Solution

Differentiating implicitly yields

𝑑 2 𝑑
[ 𝑦 − 𝑥 + 1] = [0]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 2 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
[𝑦 ] − [𝑥] + [1] = [0]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2𝑦𝑦′ − 1 = 0
1
𝑦′ =
2𝑦

At (2, −1) we have 𝑦 = −1, and at (2,1) we have 𝑦 = 1, so the slopes of the tangent

lines to the curve at those points are (See the Figure below)

1 1
𝑦′| 𝑥=2 = − and 𝑦 ′ |𝑥=2 = .
𝑦=−1 2 𝑦=1 2

Page 9 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Checkpoint 2

3 3
(a) Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = 3𝑥𝑦 at the points (2 , 2).
(b) At what point(s) in the first quadrant is the tangent line to the curve 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 =
3𝑥𝑦 horizontal?

Answer:
(a) 𝑚𝑡𝑎𝑛 = −1

(b) At the point (21/3 , 22/3 ) ≈ (1.26,1.59).

Solution

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Derivatives of Higher Order

Implicit differentiation can also be used to find higher derivatives.

Example 4

Find 𝑑 2 𝑦/𝑑𝑥 2 if 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑦 2 = 8.

Solution

To start, we differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to 𝑥 in order to find

𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥.

𝑑 𝑑
(2𝑥 3 − 3𝑦 2 ) = (8)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

6𝑥 2 − 6𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0

′
𝑥2
𝑦 = , when 𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑦

We now apply the Quotient Rule to find 𝑦 ′′ .

′′
𝑑 𝑥2 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ 2𝑥 𝑥 2 ′
𝑦 = ( )= = − ⋅𝑦
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑦2 𝑦 𝑦2

𝑥2
Finally, we substitute 𝑦 ′ = to express 𝑦 ′′ in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦.
𝑦

′′
2𝑥 𝑥 2 𝑥 2 2𝑥 𝑥 4
𝑦 = − ( )= − , when 𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑦 𝑦2 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦3

Page 12 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Checkpoint 3

Use implicit differentiation to find 𝑑 2 𝑦/𝑑𝑥 2 if 4𝑥 2 − 2𝑦 2 = 9

Answer:
9
𝑦′′ = − 3
𝑦

Solution

Page 13 of 13 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi