Implicit Differentiation: Step-by-Step Method with Examples
How to find dy/dx when y isn’t isolated. A 4-step implicit differentiation method with circle, x³+y³=6xy and trig examples, plus tangent lines.
How to find dy/dx when y isn’t isolated. A 4-step implicit differentiation method with circle, x³+y³=6xy and trig examples, plus tangent lines.
The chain rule differentiates composite functions: d/dx f(g(x)) = f'(g(x))·g'(x). Clear steps, 8 worked examples and the most common mistakes.
The quotient rule: (u/v)’ = (u’v − uv’)/v². Learn the “low d-high minus high d-low” trick, worked examples and when to avoid the rule.
The product rule: (fg)’ = f’g + fg’. See why it works, a proof, worked examples with trig, exponentials and logs, and the triple product rule.
The power rule says d/dx xⁿ = n·xⁿ⁻¹. Learn when it applies, how to use it with roots, fractions and negative exponents, with 10 examples.
The derivative of cos²(x) is −2sin(x)cos(x) = −sin(2x). Two methods, plus sin²(x), cos(x²) and cos²(3x) worked examples.
The derivative of x^x is x^x(ln x + 1). Step-by-step logarithmic differentiation, why the power rule fails, and more examples.
The derivative of e^(2x) is 2e^(2x). Learn why with the chain rule, plus e^(kx), e^(x²), e^(−x) and x·e^(2x) examples.
The derivative of √x is 1/(2√x). See the power rule method, the limit proof, chain rule examples like √(x²+1), and common errors.
The derivative of arcsin(x) is 1/√(1−x²) for −1 < x < 1. Proof, chain rule examples, and the arccos version with its minus sign.