I have a written assignment in which one specific word problem is confusing me greatly. I just recently learned implicit differentiation but haven't gotten much into depth with it. The question is as follows:
"Each time we use implicit differentiation, we are able to rewrite the resulting equation in the form:
for some expressions f and g.
Explain why this can always be done; that is, why doesn’t the chain rule ever produce a term like:
I really am not grasping the form of the initial equation given let alone the logic behind what it is asking. I don't want anyone to give me the answer to the problem, but any help in understanding what it is actually asking, the concepts behind the question and the thought process required to answer the question would be of great help.
The "inner" function is , and the "outer" function is .
So using the chain rule, if and we let , then
So whenever you want to differentiate a function of y, since y is the inner function, you are always going to get as a factor because of the chain rule.