# Math Help - Implicit differentiation - not defined?

1. ## Implicit differentiation - not defined?

I have the problem:

Find the linear approximation about (-1,1) to the implicit function given by the relation: 2xy-x8+y2=-2

My problem is that trying implicit differentiation, I always get a slope which is not defined, because the denumerator is always (x+y) and therefore 0.

Did I do an error doing my calculation? If my calculation was right, can I answer that the tangent line is not defined at (-1,1)?

2. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

No, there is no error. You can, however, say that the "linear approximation" is the vertical line x= -1.

Another way of looking at it is to treat this as an implicitly defining x as a function of y. Then, differentiating both sides with respect to y you would get x'= 0. That gives x= 0(y-1)- 1 or, again, x= -1.

3. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Hm, I always used the formula:

x-x0= x'/y' (x-x0)

In that case for this example I get:
y-1=0*(x+1)
so
y=1

what was my mistake? Did I use the wrong formula in order to get the tangent line?

4. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

the tangent line is x = -1

5. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Originally Posted by infernalmich
Hm, I always used the formula:

x-x0= x'/y' (x-x0)
What do x' and y' mean here? (And surely, you don't mean $x- x_0$ on both sides?)

In that case for this example I get:
y-1=0*(x+1)
so
y=1

what was my mistake? Did I use the wrong formula in order to get the tangent line?
I can't answer that until I know what you mean by x' and y'. Normally, I would interpret them as derivatives, but with respect to what variables? If x and y were given as functions of some other variable, and x' and y' were the derivatives with respect to that third variable, the tangent line would be given by $y- y_0= (y'/x')(x- x_0)$ where the slope is the reciprocal of what you give.

6. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

The function in my example is given implicitly:
2xy-x8+y2=-2
find the tangent line at the point: (-1,1) - I refer to this points as x0 and y0

hence y'(x)=- (af/ax) / (af/ay)
so y=y0-y'(x) (x-x0)

In this case y=1-0
so y=1

____

Trying to do the same with:
x=x0-x'(y)(y-y0)
x=-1- 0*(y-1)

now my stupid question:
Why is x=-1 the tangent line and not y=1?

7. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Originally Posted by infernalmich
The function in my example is given implicitly:
2xy-x8+y2=-2
find the tangent line at the point: (-1,1) - I refer to this points as x0 and y0

now my stupid question:
Why is x=-1 the tangent line and not y=1?
first, $2xy-x^8+y^2=-2$ is not a function ... why?

second, all points on a vertical line have the same x-value, hence, the equation of the vertical line passing thru the point (-1,1) is x = -1

fyi, all points on a horizontal line have the same y-value , hence the equation of a horizontal line would be y = a constant.

8. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Now I try with a second one:

Find the linear approximation at (1,-1) for the implicit function y(x) given by the following relation:
2x3y3-3x2y3=5

af/ax=-5
af/ay=10

than I can calculate:
y=y0-(-2)(x-x0)
y=-1+2*(x-1)
y=2x+2
0,5y=x

and for x:
x=1-(-0,5)(y--1))
x=0,5y

am I right?

9. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Originally Posted by infernalmich
Find the linear approximation at (1,-1) for the implicit function y(x) given by the following relation:
2x3y3-3x2y3=5
the point $(1,-1)$ is not on the curve $2x^3y^3 - 3x^2y^3 = 5$

did you copy the problem correctly?

10. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

no I didn't, sorry.

The correct problem is:
2x3y2-3x2y3=5

11. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Originally Posted by infernalmich
no I didn't, sorry.

The correct problem is:
2x3y2-3x2y3=5
I get ...

$\color{red}{y + 1 = \frac{12}{13}(x - 1)}$

12. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Oh I understood my error. I messed up one of the - signs :-)

Thank you!

13. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

I have another question. Could someone check this for me please:

find the tangent line to the equation:

y2+e2x+xln(y)=4 through (0,2)

First I take the derivatives:

fy(x,y)=2e2+y2+ln(y)
fx[SUB](x,y)[/SUB=2y*e2x+x/y

through the point (0,2) I have:
fy=ln(2)+2
fx=4

so my tangent line is:
y-2=-(ln(2)+2)/4*x
y=x/2-ln(2)+2

Is this true? I really hope so, because I am trying this examples since 2 hours :-)

14. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

Originally Posted by infernalmich
I have another question. Could someone check this for me please:

find the tangent line to the equation:

y2+e2x+xln(y)=4 through (0,2)

First I take the derivatives:

fy(x,y)=2e2+y2+ln(y)

fx(x,y)=2y*e2x+x/y
No, fx= 2e2x+ ln(y).

through the point (0,2) I have:
fy=ln(2)+2
fx=4
No fy(0, 2)= 4 and fx(0, 2)= 2+ ln(2). You have "x" and "y" reversed.

so my tangent line is:
y-2=-(ln(2)+2)/4*x
Oddly enough, you have again mixed up "x" and "y" so that this is correct!

y=x/2-ln(2)+2
This, however, is not correct. You should have -((ln(2)+ 2)/4)x+ 2. The x is not just multiplied by the "2/4".

Is this true? I really hope so, because I am trying this examples since 2 hours :-)
You really need to review basic differentiation rules and algebra.

15. ## Re: Implicit differentiation - not defined?

I have another question:

Find all values for which the tangent line of the following equation is horizontal:
$2x^2+xy+y^2-4=-2$

first I get the derivatives with respect to x and y:
af/ax=4x+y
af/ay=x+2y

Than I use implicit differentiation: - (4x+y)/(x+2y)

As I remember, if the numerator is 0 the tangent line is horizontal, so the tangent line is horiziontal for y=4x or x=y/4 - if I would be asked for the vertical tangent line than the denumerator would have to be 0.

Is this true?