# Math Help - Differentiation

1. ## Differentiation

Hi!

Problem:

Find dz/dx when z(y, dy/dx) is given as follows

z = (dy/dx)

My attempt:

z = dy/dx

dz/dx = d2y/dx2

Question:

I do not know how to interpret the information regarding the function z, that z is given as z(y, dy/dx)?
Im hoping somone could help me by explaining how to go about this problem? Also the whole differentiation of a differentiation thing... hard to phrase myself correcly

Also how would I solve the differentiation if:

z = (y*dy/dx), here introducing the variable y aswell.

Thank you!
PS: I dont want a solved answer, preferably want some guidance and explanations!

2. ## Re: Differentiation

Hey EvianRoxth.

Hint: Use the chain rule for differentiation. If you have say z = (y*dy/dx) then use the fact that if y = uv, then y' = vu' + uv'.

Basically use the intuition of the differentiation results (chain rule, quotient, power rule, etc) and apply them as needed. If you have a function that is not well defined, then the intuition for the results becomes more important because it has more utility than trying to make sense of something that is more abstract.

Once you let the math be intuition, the seemingly harder and abstract problems will make more sense in this context.