Help with Derivative and Tangent Line Problem

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The discussion focuses on solving two calculus problems involving derivatives and tangent lines. The first problem requires finding the derivative of the implicit function x^6 + y^6 = 18xy, with the correct derivative expressed as dy/dx = (18y - 6x^5) / (6y^5 - 18x). The second problem involves verifying the point (1, 0) on the curve y = πsin(πx - y) and finding the tangent line, which necessitates implicit differentiation. The correct approach involves differentiating both sides and solving for the slope of the tangent line at the specified point. The importance of distinguishing between the derivative and the tangent line equation is emphasized throughout the discussion.
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First Problem

Homework Statement



Find the derivative of x^6+y^6=18xy

Homework Equations



Find derivative

The Attempt at a Solution



6x^5+6y^6=18*(dy/dx)

Second Problem

Homework Statement



Verify that (1,0) is on the following curve and find the tangent line and normal line to the curve point. y=pisin(pix-y)

Homework Equations



Tangent line derivative

The Attempt at a Solution



tangent line = pi^2cos(pix-y)
 
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Find the derivative of x^6+y^6=18xy

6x^5+6y^6=18*(dy/dx)

?

No really...

This is an implicit function, basically it's a curve on the xy plane.

I'd do like this
f_x = 6x^5-18y
f_y = 6y^5-18x

\frac{dy}{dx} = -\frac{6x^5-18y}{6y^5-18x}
 
As Quinzio said, you don't differentiate an equation, you differentiate a function.

Quinzio assumed you really meant "differentiate y with respect to x where y is defined by this equation". Given that same equation, it could as well have been "differentiate x with respect to y."

An equivalent way to do it is this:
x^6+ y^6= 18xy
Differentiating both sides, with respect to x,
6x^5+ 6y^5 y'= 18y+ 18xy' where I have written the derivative of y itself, with respect to x, as y' and have used the chain rule to differentiate y^6 with respect to x.
Then we have (6y^5- 18x)y'= 18y- 6x^5 so that y'= (18y- 6x^5)/(6y^5- 18x) which is exactly what Quinzio has.

You have several mistakes. You have "6y^6" rather than "6y^5" which may be a typo. More importantly, you did multiply by dy/dx and so did not solve for dy/dx.

As for the tangent problem, you did not do the first part, "verify that (1, 0) is on the curve" but I assume you were able to do that and are just not asking about it.

Far, far, far more important is that your answer is not even the equation of a line! You do understand, I hope, that the "tangent line" to any curve is, first, a line?

With y= \pi sin(\pi x- y) you need to differentiate y with respect to x. Again, that means "implicit differentiation" because y is an "implicit" function of x (i.e. is not just "y= f(x)"). Differentiating both sides with respect to x, y'= \pi sin(\pi x- y)(1- y'). I have used the chain rule to do that: writing u= \pi x- y, gives y= \pi sin(u) so that, differentiating with respect to x, y'= \pi cos(u) (du/dx) and, since u= \pix- y, du/dx= \pi- y'[/itex].

Solve that for y'. And, remember that the derivative is not "the tangent line". It is only the slope of the tangent line. Once you have found y', as a function of x and y, evaluate it at x= 1, y= 0 to find the slope of the tangent line, a number.

You can write the equation of the line in "slope, intercept" form, y= mx+ b, or "slope, point" form, y= m(x- x_0)+ y_0.
 
so for the function y=pisin(pix-y)

y prime = picos(pix-y)*pi

which equals pi^2cos(pix-y)
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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