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 3.8.7
Textbook Question
5–8. Calculate dy/dx using implicit differentiation.
sin y+2 = x

1
Start by understanding the equation: \( \sin y + 2 = x \). We need to find \( \frac{dy}{dx} \) using implicit differentiation.
Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to \( x \). Remember that \( y \) is a function of \( x \), so when differentiating \( \sin y \), use the chain rule.
The derivative of \( \sin y \) with respect to \( x \) is \( \cos y \cdot \frac{dy}{dx} \). The derivative of the constant 2 is 0, and the derivative of \( x \) is 1.
Set up the equation from the differentiation: \( \cos y \cdot \frac{dy}{dx} = 1 \).
Solve for \( \frac{dy}{dx} \) by isolating it: \( \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{1}{\cos y} \). This is the expression for the derivative using implicit differentiation.

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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 find the derivative of a function that is not explicitly solved for one variable in terms of another. Instead of isolating y, we differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x, applying the chain rule when differentiating terms involving y. This method is particularly useful when dealing with equations where y cannot be easily expressed as a function of x.
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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 is essential in implicit differentiation when differentiating terms involving y.
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Trigonometric Derivatives
Trigonometric derivatives refer to the derivatives of trigonometric functions, which are essential in calculus. For example, the derivative of sin(y) with respect to x is cos(y) * (dy/dx) due to the chain rule. Understanding these derivatives is crucial when differentiating equations that involve trigonometric functions, as they help in simplifying the expressions and finding the required derivatives.
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