Zaymiey

📐 Mathematics  ·  Continuity and Differentiability  ·  JEE

If x<sup>y</sup> = y<sup>x</sup>, find dy/dx using implicit and logarithmic differentiation.

Answer: dy/dx = y(y - x ln y)/(x(x - y ln x)).

  • A dy/dx = y(y - x ln y)/(x(x - y ln x))
  • B dy/dx = y/x, obtained by treating the exponents as if they cancelled directly
  • C dy/dx = x/y, obtained by inverting the y/x ratio without full log differentiation
  • D dy/dx = ln(y/x), mistakenly equating the derivative with the log of the ratio

Correct answer: A. dy/dx = y(y - x ln y)/(x(x - y ln x))

Explanation: Taking ln: y ln x = x ln y. Differentiating implicitly: (dy/dx)ln x + y/x = ln y + x(1/y)(dy/dx). Solving for dy/dx gives dy/dx = y(y - x ln y) / (x(x - y ln x)).

f(x) = |x|: Continuous but NOT Differentiable at 0x=0 (sharp "kink")LHD = -1RHD = +1LHD ≠ RHD at the kink → not differentiable, even though the curve has no gap (continuous)

f(x)=|x| is perfectly continuous at x=0 (no break, no jump), but the curve has a sharp corner there: approaching from the left gives slope -1 and from the right gives slope +1 - since these one-sided derivatives disagree, the function is not differentiable at that point.

Concept context

When a function has no breaks (continuity) and when it has a well-defined slope (differentiability), plus rules for differentiating implicit, inverse trig, exponential, log, and parametric functions.

Read the full Continuity and Differentiability notes →