Implicit Differentiation - Partner Activity (solutions)

This is a collaborative and challenging activity to practice finding derivatives by implicit differentiation. All of the equations are selected to be solved for y to get the form y= f(x). Functions included are polynomial, rational, including radicals, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and inverse trigonometric.

Activity Directions: Partners work through 8 sections (or less if preferred). Each section contains one equation in two variables x and y. Partner A solve it for y and then differentiate the function y=f(x) directly to find the derivative of y(x). Partner B deals with the same equation using implicit differentiation to find the derivative of y. When partners are ready, they check that their derivatives are the same. In the next section, Partner A will use implicit differentiation while Partner B applies differentiation directly. Once the work is completed, partners compare their derivatives again. Partners are supposed to get the same answers in each section.

This activity can be used once more like that - next time partners can practice the same examples exchanging their roles – Partner A takes the position of Partner B and Partner B takes the position of Partner A. In such a way each partner will solve each of the problems using two solution techniques.