Implicit differentiation, whats going wrong?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the process of implicit differentiation, specifically focusing on the second derivative of a function defined by the equation x4 + y4 = 16. Participants are attempting to reconcile their results with a provided answer in a textbook, exploring the steps involved in deriving the second derivative.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about their result for the second derivative, which does not match the textbook answer, and seeks assistance in identifying where they went wrong.
  • Another participant provides their own derivation of the second derivative using the quotient rule, questioning the presence of y'' in the original expression provided by the first participant.
  • There is a suggestion to replace y' with its expression in terms of x and y, leading to a reformulation of the second derivative.
  • Participants discuss the simplification of the expression using the original equation x4 + y4 = 16 to arrive at a final form for the second derivative.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct approach to deriving the second derivative, with differing interpretations of the steps involved and the resulting expressions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the correct manipulation of the expressions.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of missing assumptions and potential misunderstandings regarding the application of the quotient rule and the treatment of y'' in the differentiation process. The dependence on the original equation for simplification is also noted.

luckyducky87
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Implicit differentiation, what's going wrong!?

Hey people can someone point out to me please where I'm going wrong with part B of this question, can't get it to look the answer in the book, d2y/dx2 = -3(x^6/y^7)- 3(x^2/y^3).

My answer is listed below under part B section, but i can't manipulate it to look like the above answer :S, any help/tips greatly appreaciated cheers,

5. Implicit Differentiation. If x^4 + y^4 = 16, use the following steps to find y''.

(a) Use implicit differentiation to find y',

dy/dx = -x^(3)/y^(3) - too easy

(b) Use the quotient or product rule to differentiate the expression for y' from part (a). Express your answer in terms of x and y only.

d^2/dx^2= ((-x^(3))/(-3y^(4)))*y''-(3x^(2))/(y^(3))

(c) Use the fact that x and y must satisfy x4 +y4 = 16 to simplify your answer to part

(b) to the following expression

d2y/dx2 = -48(x2/y7).
 
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The answer is d2y/dx2= -(3x^6/y^7) -(3x^2/y^3), cannot manipulate dy/dx = -x^3/y^3 to look like it though, any help or tips appreciated thanks,

lucky.
 


luckyducky87 said:
Hey people can someone point out to me please where I'm going wrong with part B of this question, can't get it to look the answer in the book, d2y/dx2 = -3(x^6/y^7)- 3(x^2/y^3).

My answer is listed below under part B section, but i can't manipulate it to look like the above answer :S, any help/tips greatly appreaciated cheers,

5. Implicit Differentiation. If x^4 + y^4 = 16, use the following steps to find y''.

(a) Use implicit differentiation to find y',

dy/dx = -x^(3)/y^(3) - too easy
Okay

(b) Use the quotient or product rule to differentiate the expression for y' from part (a). Express your answer in terms of x and y only.

d^2/dx^2= ((-x^(3))/(-3y^(4)))*y''-(3x^(2))/(y^(3))
I have no idea how you got that. In particular, I don't see how you got a y'' on the right when there was no y' on the right to begin with.

[tex]\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}= \frac{-3x^2y^3- (-x^3)(3y^2)y'}{y^6}[/itex]<br /> by the quotient rule. Now, to "express your answer in terms of x and y only", replace that y' with [itex]-x^3/y^3[/itex]:<br /> [tex]\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}= \frac{-3x^2y^3+ 3x^3y^2(-x^3/y^3)}{y^6}[/tex]<br /> [tex]= \frac{-3x^2y^3- 3x^6y^{-1}}{y^6}= -3x^2\frac{y^4+ x^4}{y^7}[/itex]<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> (c) Use the fact that x and y must satisfy x4 +y4 = 16 to simplify your answer to part<br /> <br /> (b) to the following expression<br /> <br /> d2y/dx2 = -48(x2/y7). </div> </div> </blockquote> [tex]-3x^2\frac{y^4+ x^4}{y^7}[/tex]<br /> becomes<br /> [tex]-3x^2\frac{16}{y^7}[/tex][/tex][/tex]
 
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Thanks, appreciate the help,

Lucky
 

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