Help with an implicit differentiation problem [Calculus I]

Find the slope of the curve xy^3 + (x^5 y^2) = -4 at (-1, 2)

A. 3/2

B. 2/3

C. 3/2

D. 3/4

Shouldn’t the answer be 7/4?

d/dx [ xy^3 +( x^5 y^2 )] = d/dx [-4]

y^3 + ( 3xy^2 )(dy/dx) + ( 5x^4 y^2 ) + ( 2x^5 y )(dy/dx) = 0

dy/dx [xy (3y + 2x^4 )] = –y^2 ( y + ( 5x^4 )

dy/dx = [–y^2 ( y + (5x^4 )] / [xy ( 3y + 2x^4 )]

dy/dx = – [y ( y + 5x^4 )] / [x ( 3y + 2x^4 )]

dy/dx|x = -1 = – [2 ( 2 + 5(-1)^4 )] / [-( 3(2) + 2(-1)^4 )]

dy/dx|x = -1 = – 14 / – 8

dy/dx|x = -1 = 7 / 4

Edit: Removed an extra y after 5x^4 in –y^2 (y + ( 5x^4 ) from lines 3 and 4 after

Shouldn’t the answer be 7/4?

Lines 5-8 were already calculated without the extra y, so it did not factor into the final answer. Problem still unsolved.

Posted Dec 6, 2018, 1:24 AM UTC · edited

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