Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Implicit Differentiation
Implicit differentiation is a technique used to differentiate equations where y is not explicitly solved for in terms of x. Instead of isolating y, we differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x, applying the chain rule when differentiating y. This allows us to find dy/dx in terms of both x and y, which is essential for solving equations that define y implicitly.
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First Derivative (dy/dx)
The first derivative, denoted as dy/dx, represents the rate of change of y with respect to x. It provides information about the slope of the tangent line to the curve defined by the equation at any point. In the context of implicit differentiation, finding dy/dx allows us to understand how y changes as x varies, which is crucial for further analysis, such as finding the second derivative.
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Second Derivative (d²y/dx²)
The second derivative, denoted as d²y/dx², measures the rate of change of the first derivative, indicating how the slope of the tangent line is changing. It provides insights into the concavity of the function and can reveal points of inflection. To find d²y/dx² using implicit differentiation, we differentiate dy/dx again, applying the product and chain rules, and express the result in terms of x and y.
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