How do you find the derivative of #tan(x+y)=x#?

1 Answer
Jun 6, 2015

Final Answer: #dy/dx={-x^2}/{1+x^2}#

Let #z =(x+y)#

#tan(x+y)=x \quad \rarr \quad tan(z)=x#

Take the derivative of each side with respect to x

#d/dx[tan(z)]=d/dx[x]#

#sec^2(z)dz/dx=1 \quad \larr \quad \text{(Chain Rule)}#

Now find what #dz/dx # is

#dz/dx=d/dx[x+y]=d/dx[x]+d/dx[y]=1+dy/dx#

substitute #z# and #dz/dx# into: #\quad sec^2(z)dz/dx=1# and get

#sec^2(x+y)(1+dy/dx)=1#

Solve for #dy/dx#

#dy/dx=cos^2(x+y)-1=-sin^2(x+y)#

I used the trig identity: #cos^2(z)-1=-sin^2(z)# in the last step.

Substitute #y# to get the answer purely in terms of #x#

#tan(x+y)=x \quad \rarr \quad y=arctan(x)-x#

#dy/dx=-sin^2(arctan(x))#

Answer can be simplified with some work
Let #theta=arctan(x) \implies tan(theta)=x/1=\text{opposite}/\text{adjacent}#

The above expression implies the triangle below
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Sub #arctan(x)=theta# into the #dy/dx# expression

#dy/dx=-sin^2(theta)=-(\text{opposite}/\text{hypotenuse})^2#

From the diagram we know #sin(theta)=x/\sqrt{1+x^2}#. So...

#dy/dx={-x^2}/{1+x^2}#