Math 161 Calculus I

Reading Outlines

You should answer these questions as you read the text.

Section 3.7

1. What is implicit differentiation, and under what circumstances might we want to use it?
2. The chain rule is used when implicitly differentiating equations. In Example 3, how is it used? Try explaining the use of the chain rule by writing y = y(x). By writing it this way, we are writing out y as the function of x that it is.
3. In Example 4, both the chain rule and the product rule are used. Explain each step of the calculation carefully.
4. What is a disadvantage of using implicit differentiation?
5. Explain the difference between the graph of a function and the graph of an equation.