Solving Implicit Equations for y in Terms of x

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on solving implicit equations for y in terms of x, specifically the equations y² + yx = 1 and y³ + yx = 1. The solutions can be derived using the quadratic formula for the first equation and the cubic formula for the second. Participants emphasize that while these equations may appear complex, they can be tackled using fundamental arithmetic rules. Resources such as WolframAlpha provide step-by-step solutions for these types of problems.

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  • Understanding of implicit functions
  • Familiarity with the quadratic formula
  • Knowledge of the cubic formula
  • Basic arithmetic operations
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  • Study the quadratic formula in depth
  • Learn the cubic formula and its applications
  • Explore implicit differentiation techniques
  • Utilize WolframAlpha for solving complex equations
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Students in AP Calculus, mathematics enthusiasts, and anyone looking to enhance their skills in solving implicit equations.

Fuz
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How do you go about solving implicit equations for y in terms of x that look like these?

y2 + yx = 1

and

y3 + yx = 1

or even more complicated implicit equations.

I'm taking AP Calculus AB this year and am just curious how this is done.

Here are the solutions from Wolframalpha:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=y^2+%2B+yx+%3D+1
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=y^3+%2B+xy+%3D+1
 
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You just need to play with the function until you find an answer. Use the usual rules of arithmetic. You aren't going to encounter any situations in AP Calculus where you would need to solve a hugely complex implicit function for y.
 
Can you show me the steps for one of them? I've already tried solving them myself, but got nowhere.
 
Fuz said:
Can you show me the steps for one of them? I've already tried solving them myself, but got nowhere.

By solve I assume you mean to express the implicit function in the form y=f(x). Well, for the first you can use the quadratic formula or complete the square (it's basically equivalent) and for the second you'll need to use the cubic formula.
 

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