3.6 Implicit Differentiation and Related Rates

Example 1

Assume that [latex]y[/latex] is a function of [latex]x[/latex] . Calculate

1. We need the chain rule since y is a function of x:[latex]\frac{d}{dx}(y^3)=3y^2\frac{d}{dx}(y)=3y^2y'[/latex]

2. We need to use the product rule and the Chain Rule:[latex]\frac{d}{d x}\left(x^{3} y^{2}\right)=x^{3} \frac{d}{d x}\left(y^{2}\right)+y^{2} \frac{d}{d x}\left(x^{3}\right)=x^{3} 2 y \frac{d y}{d x}+y^{2} 3 x^{2}=2 x^{3} 2 y y^{\prime}+3 y^{2} x^{2}[/latex]

3. We know[latex]\frac{d}{dx}\ln\left(x\right)=\frac1{x},[/latex] so we use that and the Chain Rule:[latex]\frac{d}{dx}\ln\left(y\right)=\frac1{y}\cdot y'[/latex]

IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

To determine [latex]y '[/latex] , differentiate each side of the defining equation, treating [latex]y[/latex]
as a function of [latex]x[/latex] , and then algebraically solve for [latex]y '[/latex] .

Example 2

Find the slope of the tangent line to the circle [latex]x^2 + y^2 = 25[/latex] at the point [latex](3,4)[/latex] using implicit differentiation.

Long description: The equation is given as x^2+y^2=25. A tangent line is shown which decreases from left to right and is tangent to the circle at the point (3, 4).
We differentiate each side of the equation [latex]x2 + y2 = 25[/latex] and then solve for [latex]y'[/latex]

[latex]\frac{d}{dx}(x^2+y^2)=\frac{d}{dx}(25)[/latex]

[latex]2x+2yy'=0[/latex]

Solving for [latex]y',[/latex] we have [latex]y'=-\frac{2s}{2y}=\frac{x}{y}[/latex] and, at the point [latex](3,4),[/latex]

[latex]y' = – 3/4.[/latex]

Example 3

Suppose the border of a town is roughly circular, and the radius of that circle has been increasing at a rate of 0.1 miles each year. Find how fast the area of the town has been increasing when the radius is 5 miles.

We could get an approximate answer by calculating the area of the circle when the radius is 5 miles [latex]( A = πr^2 = π(5 \;miles)2 ≈ 78.6 \;miles^2 )[/latex] and 1 year later when the radius is 0.1 feet larger than before [latex]( A = \pi r^2 = \pi(5.1 \;miles)^2 ≈ 81.7 \;\text{miles}^2 )[/latex] and then finding
$$\frac{\triangle Area}{\triangle time} = \frac{(81.7 \;\text{mi}^2 – 78.6 \;\text{mi}^2 )}{(1 \;year)} =
\frac{3.1 \;\text{mi}^2}{\text{yr}}.$$
This approximate answer represents the average change in area during the 1 year period when the radius increased from 5 miles to 5.1 miles, and would correspond to the secant slope on the area graph.

To find the exact answer, though, we need derivatives. In this case both radius and area are functions of time:

We know how fast the radius is changing, which is a statement about the derivative:
[latex]\frac{dr}{dt}=0.1\frac{mile}{year}.[/latex] We also know that r = 5 at our moment of interest.

We are looking for how fast the area is increasing, which is [latex]\frac{dA}{dt}.[/latex]

Now we need an equation relating our variables, which is the area equation: [latex]A=\pi r^2.[/latex]

Taking the derivative of both sides of that equation with respect to t, we can use implicit differentiation:

$$\frac{d}{dt}(A)=\frac{d}{dt}(\pi r^2)$$

$$\frac{dA}{dt}=\pi 2r\frac{dr}{dt}$$

Plugging in the values we know for [latex]r[/latex] and [latex]\frac{dr}{dt}[/latex],

$$\frac{dA}{dt}=\pi 2(5\;miles)(.1\frac{miles}{year})=3.14\frac{miles^2}{year}$$

The area of the town is increasing by 3.14 square miles per year when the radius is 5 miles.

Related Rates

When working with a related rates problem,

1. Identify the quantities that are changing, and assign them variables
2. Find an equation that relates those quantities
3. Differentiate both sides of that equation with respect to time
4. Plug in any known values for the variables or rates of change
5. Solve for the desired rate.

Example 4

An oil tanker develops a leak and the oil slick is expanding in a circular pattern.  The radius of the circle is increasing at a constant rate of 10 feet per second.  When the radius of the oil slick is 20 feet, at what rate is the total area of the oil slick changing?

The quantities changing are the radius and area of the circle, both of which are increasing as a function of time.

We can use a formula from geometry for the area of a circle as the starting point.

[latex]A = π r^2[/latex]

Now, we differentiate both sides of this equation with respect to time.   Notice that π is a constant.
[latex]\frac{dA}{dt}=2\pi\;\frac{dr}{dt}[/latex]

We know that the rate of change of the radius as a function is time is known to be 10 feet per section so replace dr/dt with 10.
[latex]\frac{dA}{dt}=2\pi\;\frac{dr}{dt}=2\pi\;(10)=20\pi[/latex]

Thus we conclude that the area of the oil slick is increasing by 20π which is approximately 62.83 square feet per second.

Example 5

A company has determined the demand curve for their product is [latex]q=\sqrt{5000-p^2}[/latex] , where [latex]p[/latex] is the price in dollars, and [latex]q[/latex] is the quantity in millions. If weather conditions are driving the price up $2 a week, find the rate at which demand is changing when the price is $40.

The quantities changing are [latex]p[/latex] and [latex]q,[/latex] and we assume they are both functions of time, [latex]t[/latex], in weeks. We already have an equation relating the quantities, so we can implicitly differentiate it.

[latex]\frac{d}{dt}(q)=\frac{d}{dt}(\sqrt{5000-p^2})[/latex]

[latex]\frac{d}{dt}(q)=\frac{d}{dt}(5000-p^2)^\frac12[/latex]

[latex]\frac{dq}{dt}=\frac12(5000-p^2)^{-\frac12} \frac{d}{dt}(5000-p^2)[/latex]

[latex]\frac{dq}{dt}=\frac12(5000-p^2)^{-\frac12} (-2p\frac{dp}{dt})[/latex]

Using the given information, we know the price is increasing by $2 per week when the price is $40, giving [latex]\frac{dp}{dt}=2[/latex] when [latex]p=40.[/latex] Plugging in these values,

[latex]\frac{dq}{dt}=\frac12(5000-40^2)^{-\frac12} (-2\cdot 40\cdot 2)\approx -1.37[/latex]

Demand is falling by 1.37 million items per week.