I need some help with implicit differentiaiton.

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The discussion revolves around solving the equation x^4 + y^2 + y - 3 = 0 using implicit differentiation. The user correctly computes dy/dx as -4x^3/(2y + 1) and finds dy/dx at the point (1,1) to be -4/3. However, confusion arises in part c when attempting to solve for y using the quadratic formula, leading to a mismatch in results. Participants emphasize the importance of proper use of parentheses in mathematical expressions and request a clear step-by-step solution for part c. The conversation highlights the need for clarity in mathematical notation to avoid errors in calculations.
KFSKSS
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Hello. My problem is as follows: Suppose x^4+y^2+y-3=0. a) Compute dy/dx by implicit differentiation. b) What is dy/dx when x=1 and y=1? c) Solve for y in terms of x (by the quadratic formula) and compute dy/dx directly. Compare with your answer in part a).
I solved a) and b). a)=-4x^3/2y+1, and b)=-4/3. I'm stuck at c). This is what I've been doing: Using the quadratic formula to solve for y in x^4+y^2+y-3=0 gives y=(-1±√-4x^4+13)/2. Then applying the chain rule in the result of y gives -(4x^3)/√-4x^4+13. But it must give the same as a)= -4x^3/2y+1. Where am I failing at? How can I solve it?
Thank you for your time.
 
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KFSKSS said:
Hello. My problem is as follows: Suppose x^4+y^2+y-3=0. a) Compute dy/dx by implicit differentiation. b) What is dy/dx when x=1 and y=1? c) Solve for y in terms of x (by the quadratic formula) and compute dy/dx directly. Compare with your answer in part a).
I solved a) and b). a)=-4x^3/2y+1, and b)=-4/3. I'm stuck at c). This is what I've been doing: Using the quadratic formula to solve for y in x^4+y^2+y-3=0 gives y=(-1±√-4x^4+13)/2. Then applying the chain rule in the result of y gives -(4x^3)/√-4x^4+13. But it must give the same as a)= -4x^3/2y+1. Where am I failing at? How can I solve it?
Thank you for your time.

No: your solution for (a) is incorrect. You write
$$y' = -4 \frac{x^3}{2} y + 1,$$
but I get something quite different---unless, of course, you forgot to use parentheses!
 
Ray Vickson said:
No: your solution for (a) is incorrect. You write
$$y' = -4 \frac{x^3}{2} y + 1,$$
but I get something quite different---unless, of course, you forgot to use parentheses!
Sorry I must have written it wrong. a)=(-4x^3)/2y+1. a) and b) are both correct since the book gives that answer too.
 
KFSKSS said:
Sorry I must have written it wrong. a)=(-4x^3)/2y+1. a) and b) are both correct since the book gives that answer too.
Your answer for a is also wrong, again due to missing parentheses.

What you wrote is ##\frac{-4x^3}{2} y + 1##, according to the precedence rules of PEMDAS.
What you probably meant is almost certainly ##\frac{-4x^3}{2y + 1} ##

If you don't use LaTeX as I did, then what you wrote should have been -4x^3/(2y + 1), with parentheses around the two terms of the denominator. You could have parentheses around the numerator, but they aren't necessary.

LaTeX isn't hard to learn. We have a tutorial here: https://www.physicsforums.com/help/latexhelp/
 
Mark44 said:
Your answer for a is also wrong, again due to missing parentheses.

What you wrote is ##\frac{-4x^3}{2} y + 1##, according to the precedence rules of PEMDAS.
What you probably meant is almost certainly ##\frac{-4x^3}{2y + 1} ##

If you don't use LaTeX as I did, then what you wrote should have been -4x^3/(2y + 1), with parentheses around the two terms of the denominator. You could have parentheses around the numerator, but they aren't necessary.

LaTeX isn't hard to learn. We have a tutorial here: https://www.physicsforums.com/help/latexhelp/
Okay, thanks Mark44. I typed it wrong twice. I meant what you typed. Now, HOW CAN I SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
 
You have told us what you meant, or rather you have told us that Mark has told us what you mean by solution (a ),

Now tell please in readable fashion what is your solution c including the steps getting there. Is that reasonable?
 
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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