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Worked solution

Practise reciprocal and trigonometric derivative ratios

Find dy/dxdy/dx in terms of t for (a) x=4tx=4t, y=1−1/ty=1-1/t; (b) x=4cos⁡tx=4\cos t, y=3sin⁡ty=3\sin t.

CJC · Lecture · Self-Practice 1

(a) Divide the reciprocal derivative by 4

dy/dt=1/t2dy/dt=1/t^2, dx/dt=4dx/dt=4, so dy/dx=1/(4t2)dy/dx=1/(4t^2), t≠0t\ne0.

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(b) Divide sine and cosine rates

dy/dt=3cos⁡tdy/dt=3\cos t, dx/dt=−4sin⁡tdx/dt=-4\sin t, so dy/dx=−3cos⁡t/(4sin⁡t)=−34cot⁡tdy/dx=-3\cos t/(4\sin t)=-\tfrac34\cot t, wherever sin⁡t≠0\sin t\ne0. At the remaining ellipse endpoints use vertical-tangent analysis rather than dividing by zero.

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Common mistakes

The derivative of minus 1/t is plus 1/t²; the derivative of cos t is minus sin t.

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