Table of contents
- 0. Functions7h 52m
- Introduction to Functions16m
- Piecewise Functions10m
- Properties of Functions9m
- Common Functions1h 8m
- Transformations5m
- Combining Functions27m
- Exponent rules32m
- Exponential Functions28m
- Logarithmic Functions24m
- Properties of Logarithms34m
- Exponential & Logarithmic Equations35m
- Introduction to Trigonometric Functions38m
- Graphs of Trigonometric Functions44m
- Trigonometric Identities47m
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions48m
- 1. Limits and Continuity2h 2m
- 2. Intro to Derivatives1h 33m
- 3. Techniques of Differentiation3h 18m
- 4. Applications of Derivatives2h 38m
- 5. Graphical Applications of Derivatives6h 2m
- 6. Derivatives of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 37m
- 7. Antiderivatives & Indefinite Integrals1h 26m
- 8. Definite Integrals4h 44m
- 9. Graphical Applications of Integrals2h 27m
- 10. Physics Applications of Integrals 2h 22m
4. Applications of Derivatives
Implicit Differentiation
Problem 3.47
Textbook Question
In Exercises 43–50, find by implicit differentiation.
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√xy = 1

1
Start by identifying the given equation: \( \sqrt{xy} = 1 \). This equation involves a square root, which can be rewritten for differentiation purposes.
Rewrite the equation to remove the square root: \( xy = 1^2 \) or simply \( xy = 1 \).
Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to \( x \). Remember that \( y \) is a function of \( x \), so you'll need to use the product rule and implicit differentiation.
Apply the product rule to the left side: \( \frac{d}{dx}(xy) = x \frac{dy}{dx} + y \). The right side differentiates to zero since it's a constant: \( \frac{d}{dx}(1) = 0 \).
Set the differentiated equation equal to zero: \( x \frac{dy}{dx} + y = 0 \). Solve for \( \frac{dy}{dx} \) to find the derivative of \( y \) with respect to \( x \).

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Implicit Differentiation
Implicit differentiation is a technique used to differentiate equations where the dependent and independent variables are not explicitly separated. Instead of solving for one variable in terms of the other, we differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to the independent variable, applying the chain rule as necessary. This method is particularly useful for equations that are difficult or impossible to rearrange.
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Chain Rule
The chain rule is a fundamental principle in calculus that allows us to differentiate composite functions. It states that if a function y is defined as a function of u, which in turn is a function of x, then the derivative of y with respect to x can be found by multiplying the derivative of y with respect to u by the derivative of u with respect to x. This rule is essential when dealing with implicit differentiation, as it helps manage the derivatives of nested functions.
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Product Rule
The product rule is a formula used to find the derivative of the product of two functions. It states that if u and v are functions of x, then the derivative of their product uv is given by u'v + uv'. This rule is particularly relevant in implicit differentiation when dealing with equations that involve products of variables, such as √xy, where both x and y are functions of the same variable.
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