Implicit differentiation homework

In summary, to find the turning points of y^3 + 3xy^2 - x^3 = 3, we need to set dy/dx = 0 and solve for x and y using the equations dy/dx = (x^2 - y^2)/(y^2 + 2xy) and y^3 + 3xy^2 - x^3 = 3.
  • #1
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Question:

Find the co ords of the turning points of y^3 + 3xy^2 - x^3 = 3

Attempt:

(differentiate w.r.t. x)
d/dx(y^3 + 3xy^2 - x^3) = d3/dx

3y^2(dy/dx) + 3(2xy(dy/dx) + y^2) - 3x^2 = 0

(divide through by 3)

y^2(dy/dx) + 2xy(dy/dx) = x^2 - y^2

(take dy/dx as a comon factor)

dy/dx(y^2 + 2xy) = x^2 - y^2

dy/dx = (x^2 - y^2)/(y^2 + 2xy)

now to find turning points, you set dy/dx = 0
but with explicit differentiation, there's only one variable, but there's 2 here, so I am stuck :/
 
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  • #2
"Turning points" must occur where dy/dx= 0 (though not all such points are turning points.

If dy/dx = (x^2 - y^2)/(y^2 + 2xy) and y^3 + 3xy^2 - x^3 = 3, can you solve those two equations for x and y?
 

What is implicit differentiation?

Implicit differentiation is a mathematical technique used to find the derivative of a function that is not explicitly defined in terms of its independent variable. It is particularly useful for finding the derivative of equations that cannot be easily solved for the variable in question.

Why is implicit differentiation important?

Implicit differentiation allows us to find the derivative of functions that are not easily solvable using traditional methods. This is particularly useful in real-world applications where equations are often defined implicitly rather than explicitly.

How do you perform implicit differentiation?

The process of implicit differentiation involves differentiating both sides of an equation with respect to the variable in question, while treating the other variables as constants. This results in an equation involving the derivative of the dependent variable and the derivative of the independent variable.

What is the chain rule and how does it relate to implicit differentiation?

The chain rule is a fundamental rule in calculus that allows us to find the derivative of composite functions. It is often used in conjunction with implicit differentiation, as the dependent variable in an implicitly defined function may be a composite of multiple variables.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using implicit differentiation?

One common mistake when using implicit differentiation is forgetting to apply the chain rule when necessary. It is also important to remember to differentiate each term on both sides of the equation separately. It is also important to be careful when dealing with inverse trigonometric functions, as their derivatives can be easily confused.

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