Implicit Differentiation and coordinates

In summary, the problem is to find the coordinates of a point in the first quadrant where the tangent line to the curve x^3-xy+y^3=0 is parallel to the x-axis. To do this, we need to find the values of x and y that satisfy both the equation of the curve and the derivative of the curve, which is equal to 0. This results in two equations in two unknowns, which can be solved to find the coordinates of the desired point.
  • #1
Kar91102
1
0

Homework Statement


Find the coordinates of the point in the first quadrant at which the tangent line to the curve x3-xy+y3=0 is parallel to the x-axis.

SO:
x= +
y= +
mtan=0

Homework Equations



[tex]\frac{dy}{dx}=m_{tan}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



[tex]\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{y-3x^{2}}{3y^{2}-x}=0[/tex]

After I get the derivative, I have no clue what to do.
 
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  • #2
you have two equations two variables so solve for one of the variables
 
  • #3
For the derivative to equal zero x and y must satisfy y-3x^2=0, right? But x and y must also be on the curve so x^3-xy+y^3=0. That's two equations in two unknowns. Solve them.
 
  • #4
You now have two equations to solve for x and y. Oh, and here's a simplification:
a fraction is 0 only when its numerator is 0.

Blast! I walked away from the computer and Dick got in ahead of me!
 

1. What is implicit differentiation?

Implicit differentiation is a mathematical technique used to find the derivative of an equation that cannot be easily solved for a specific variable. It involves treating the dependent variable as a function of the independent variable and using the chain rule to find the derivative.

2. How is implicit differentiation different from explicit differentiation?

Explicit differentiation is used to find the derivative of a function that is written explicitly in terms of the independent variable. Implicit differentiation, on the other hand, is used to find the derivative of a function that is not written explicitly in terms of the independent variable, but rather in the form of an equation.

3. What are the steps for performing implicit differentiation?

The steps for performing implicit differentiation are as follows:

  1. Identify the dependent variable and treat it as a function of the independent variable.
  2. Use the chain rule to find the derivative of the dependent variable.
  3. Differentiate each term in the equation with respect to the independent variable.
  4. Solve the resulting equation for the derivative of the dependent variable.

4. How is implicit differentiation applied in real-life situations?

Implicit differentiation can be applied in various real-life situations, such as in physics to find the velocity and acceleration of an object, in economics to find the marginal cost and revenue of a business, and in engineering to find the rate of change of a system.

5. How are coordinates used in implicit differentiation?

Coordinates are used in implicit differentiation to represent the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The coordinates of a point on a curve can be used to find the slope of the tangent line at that point, which is the derivative of the function at that point.

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