First Derivative of x sin(y)=y cos(x)

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the first derivative of the equation x sin(y) = y cos(x), which is situated in the context of implicit differentiation. Participants are exploring the differentiation of both sides of the equation with respect to either variable.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the product rule and question the correct variable with respect to which differentiation is being performed. There is confusion regarding the treatment of derivatives and the implications of implicit differentiation.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on isolating terms involving dy/dx and factoring them out, while others express uncertainty about the steps taken. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the problem statement and the answer choices provided.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem statement lacks clarity regarding whether it explicitly asks for dy/dx or dx/dy, and there is mention of answer choices that do not include equal signs, which adds to the confusion.

DollarBill
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Homework Statement


Find the first derivative for

x sin(y) = y cos(x)

The Attempt at a Solution


x sin(y) = y cos(x)

Product rule on each side:

x cos(y) + sin(y) = -y sin(x) + cos(x)

I'm not sure what to do after that or if if I was even doing it right to begin with.
 
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DollarBill said:

Homework Statement


Find the first derivative for

x sin(y) = y cos(x)

The Attempt at a Solution


x sin(y) = y cos(x)

Product rule on each side:

x cos(y) + sin(y) = -y sin(x) + cos(x)

I'm not sure what to do after that or if if I was even doing it right to begin with.
What are you differentiating with respect to- x or y? It must be one or the other. If you are differentiating with respect to x, then the derivative of sin(y) is NOT cos(y), it is, by the chain rule, cos(y)(dy/dx) and the derivative of y is NOT 1, it is dy/dx. If you are differentiating with respect to y, then the derivative of x is NOT 1, it is dx/dy, and the derivative of cos(x) is NOT -sin(x), it is -sin(x)(dx/dy).

Finally, what does the problem really say? I am sure that it does not say "Find the first derivative for x sin(y) = y cos(x)", that doesn't make sense. I suspect it said "Find the derivatvive of y if x sin(y)= y cos(x)" though I can't be sure.
 
This is all it says:

"Find the first derivative for
x sin(y) = y cos(x)"

It does have answer choices, but they don't have any equal signs in them. They don't say "dy/dx =" or "dx/dy =". Here are the answer choices:

A) Sin(x) - x sin(y) / y cos(x) - cos(y)

B) cos(x) - sin(y) / sin(x) - cos(y)

C) y sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x) - x cos(y)

D) sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x) + cos(y)

E) None of the above
 
I'm sure that they want you to find [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex] by implicit differentiation.
 
Working it out again for dy/dx:

dx/dx Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)dx/dx

dx/dx just goes to 1:
Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)

I'm pretty much where I was before except with a dy/dx on each side that would just cancel each other out.
 
The [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex]'s don't "cancel each other out". There are two terms on each side of your equation, and only one term per side has [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex] as a factor...Try isolating the terms with [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex] on one side of the equation, and the rest of the terms on the other.
 
Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx + y sin(x) / cos(x)= dy/dx

How would I get rid of the 2nd dy/dx? :confused:
 
Well seeing as there's no dy/dx in the answer, I tried to do the following:

dx/dx Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)dx/dx

dx/dx Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx

dy/dx = -sin(y)/x cos(y)


dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)dx/dx

dy/dx=y sin(x) / cos(x)

-sin(y)/x cos(y) = y sin(x) / cos(x)

Cross multiply to get:

y sin(x)*x cos(y) / cos(x)*-sin(y)

But it's still not an answer choice
 
Let's start again from here:

DollarBill said:
Sin(y) + x cos(y)dy/dx = dy/dx cos(x) - y sin(x)

[itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex] is a variable, and it happens to be the variable you are trying to solve for in the above equation.

Start by moving the terms that have [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex] in them to one side of the equation and move the terms that don't have [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex] in them to the other side.

For example, if I had the equation [itex]Ax+sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}=By\frac{dy}{dx}-3cos(x)[/itex], I would solve it as follows:

Step 1; isolate the terms with [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex]:

[tex]Ax+sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}=By\frac{dy}{dx}-3cos(x) \Rightarrow sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}-By\frac{dy}{dx}=-Ax-3cos(x)[/tex]

Step 2; factor out a [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex]:

[tex]sin(y) \frac{dy}{dx}-By\frac{dy}{dx}=-Ax-3cos(x) \Rightarrow \frac{dy}{dx}(sin(y)-By)=-Ax-3cos(x)[/tex]

Step 3: divide by [itex](sin(y)-By)[/itex] and hence solve for [itex]dy \over{dx}[/itex]:

[tex]\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{-Ax-3cos(x)}{(sin(y)-By)}[/tex]

and so my answer would be [tex]\frac{-Ax-3cos(x)}{(sin(y)-By)}[/tex]

Apply this method to your problem.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
y sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x)-x cos(y)

Wow, that was really easy. I was way over thinking that one

Thanks
 
  • #11
DollarBill said:
y sin(x) + sin(y) / cos(x)-x cos(y)

Wow, that was really easy. I was way over thinking that one

Thanks

Yep :approve:
 

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