Implicit function

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In mathematics, an implicit equation is a relation of the form R(x1,..., xn) = 0, where R is a function of several variables (often a polynomial). For example, the implicit equation of the unit circle is  x^2 +y^2-1 = 0.

An implicit function is a function that is defined implicitly by an implicit equation, by associating one of the variables (the value) with the others (the arguments).[1]:204–206 Thus, an implicit function for the unit circle might be defined implicitly by  x^2 +[f(x)]^2-1 = 0.. This implicit equation defines f as a function of x only if -1 ≤ x ≤ 1 and one considers only non-negative (or non-positive) values for the values of the function.

The implicit function theorem provides conditions under which a relation defines an implicit function.


Inverse functions[edit]

A common type of implicit function is an inverse function. If f is a function, then the inverse function of f, called f−1, is the function giving a solution of the equation


for y in terms of x. This solution is

 y = f^{-1}(x).

Intuitively, an inverse function is obtained from f by interchanging the roles of the dependent and independent variables. Stated another way, the inverse function gives the solution for y of the equation

R(x,y) = x-f(y) = 0. \,


  1. The natural logarithm ln(x) gives the solution y = ln(x) of the equation xey = 0 or equivalently of x = ey. Here f(y) = ey and f−1(x) = ln(x).
  2. The product log is an implicit function giving the solution for y of the equation xy ey = 0.

Algebraic functions[edit]

Main article: Algebraic function

An algebraic function is a function that satisfies a polynomial equation whose coefficients are themselves polynomials. For example, an algebraic function in one variable x gives a solution for y of an equation

a_n(x)y^n+a_{n-1}(x)y^{n-1}+\cdots+a_0(x)=0 \,

where the coefficients ai(x) are polynomial functions of x. Algebraic functions play an important role in mathematical analysis and algebraic geometry. A simple example of an algebraic function is given by the unit circle equation:

x^2+y^2-1=0. \,

Solving for y gives an explicit solution:

y=\pm\sqrt{1-x^2}. \,

But even without specifying this explicit solution, it is possible to refer to the implicit solution of the unit circle equation.

While explicit solutions can be found for equations that are quadratic, cubic, and quartic in y, the same is not in general true for quintic and higher degree equations, such as

 y^5 + 2y^4 -7y^3 + 3y^2 -6y - x = 0. \,

Nevertheless, one can still refer to the implicit solution y = g(x) involving the multi-valued implicit function g.


Not every equation R(x, y) = 0 implies a graph of a single-valued function, the circle equation being one prominent example. Another example is an implicit function given by xC(y) = 0 where C is a cubic polynomial having a "hump" in its graph. Thus, for an implicit function to be a true (single-valued) function it might be necessary to use just part of the graph. An implicit function can sometimes be successfully defined as a true function only after "zooming in" on some part of the x-axis and "cutting away" some unwanted function branches. Then an equation expressing y as an implicit function of the other variable(s) can be written.

The defining equation R(x, y) = 0 can also have other pathologies. For example, the equation x = 0 does not imply a function f(x) giving solutions for y at all; it is a vertical line. In order to avoid a problem like this, various constraints are frequently imposed on the allowable sorts of equations or on the domain. The implicit function theorem provides a uniform way of handling these sorts of pathologies.

Implicit differentiation[edit]

In calculus, a method called implicit differentiation makes use of the chain rule to differentiate implicitly defined functions.

As explained in the introduction, y can be given as a function of x implicitly rather than explicitly. When we have an equation R(x, y) = 0, we may be able to solve it for y and then differentiate. However, sometimes it is simpler to differentiate R(x, y) with respect to x and y and then solve for dy/dx.


1. Consider for example

y + x + 5 = 0 \,

This function normally can be manipulated by using algebra to change this equation to one expressing y in terms of an explicit function:

y = -x - 5 \, ,

where the right side is the explicit function whose output value is y. Differentiation then gives dy/dx = −1. Alternatively, one can totally differentiate the original equation:

\frac{dy}{dx} + \frac{dx}{dx} + \frac{d}{dx}(5) = 0;
\frac{dy}{dx} + 1 = 0.

Solving for dy/dx gives:

\frac{dy}{dx} = -1,

the same answer as obtained previously.

2. An example of an implicit function, for which implicit differentiation might be easier than attempting to use explicit differentiation, is

 x^4 + 2y^2 = 8 \,

In order to differentiate this explicitly with respect to x, one would have to obtain (via algebra)

y = f(x) =  \pm\sqrt{\frac{8 - x^4}{2}},

and then differentiate this function. This creates two derivatives: one for y > 0 and another for y < 0.

One might find it substantially easier to implicitly differentiate the original function:

4x^3 + 4y\frac{dy}{dx} = 0,


\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{-4x^3}{4y} = \frac{-x^3}{y}

3. Sometimes standard explicit differentiation cannot be used and, in order to obtain the derivative, implicit differentiation must be employed. An example of such a case is the equation


It is impossible to express y explicitly as a function of x and therefore dy/dx cannot be found by explicit differentiation. Using the implicit method, dy/dx can be expressed:

5y^4\frac{dy}{dx} - \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dx}{dx}

where dx/dx = 1. Factoring out dy/dx shows that

\frac{dy}{dx}(5y^4 - 1) = 1

which yields the final answer


which is defined for y \ne \pm\frac{1}{\sqrt[4]{5}}.

Formula for two variables[edit]

"The Implicit Function Theorem states that if F is defined on an open disk containing (a, b), where F(a, b) = 0, Fy(a, b) ≠ 0, and Fx and Fy are continuous on the disk, then the equation F(x, y) = 0 defines y as a function of x near the point (a, b) and the derivative of this function is given by"[2]:§ 11.5

\frac{dy}{dx} = -\frac{\partial F / \partial x}{\partial F / \partial y} = -\frac {F_x}{F_y},

where Fx and Fy indicate the derivatives of F with respect to x and y.

The above formula comes from using the generalized chain rule to obtain the total derivative—with respect to x—of both sides of F(x, y) = 0:

\frac{\partial F}{\partial x} \frac{dx}{dx} + \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} \frac{dy}{dx} = 0,

and hence

\frac{\partial F}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} \frac{dy}{dx} =0.

Implicit function theorem[edit]

The unit circle can be defined implicitly as the set of points (x,y) satisfying x^2 + y^2=1. Around point A, y can be expressed as a function y(x), specifically g_1(x)=\sqrt{1-x^2}. No such function exists around point B, where the tangent space is vertical.

It can be shown that if R(x, y) is given by a smooth submanifold M in R2, and (a, b) is a point of this submanifold such that the tangent space there is not vertical, (that is, R/∂y ≠ 0), then M in some small enough neighbourhood of (a, b) is given by a parametrization (x, f(x)) where f is a smooth function.

In less technical language, implicit functions exist and can be differentiated, unless the tangent to the supposed graph would be vertical. In the standard case where we are given an equation

R(x,y) = 0

the condition on R can be checked by means of partial derivatives.[2]:§ 11.5

In algebraic geometry[edit]

Consider a relation of the form R(x1,..., xn) = 0, where R is a multivariable polynomial. The set of the values of the variables that satisfy this relation is called an implicit curve if n = 2 and an implicit surface if n=3. The implicit equations are the basis of algebraic geometry, whose basic subjects of study are the simultaneous solutions of several implicit equations whose left-hand sides are polynomials. These sets of simultaneous solutions are called affine algebraic sets.

In differential equations[edit]

The solutions of differential equations generally appear expressed by an implicit function.[3]

Applications in economics[edit]

Marginal rate of substitution[edit]

In economics, when the level set R(x, y) = 0 is an indifference curve for the quantities x and y consumed of two goods, the absolute value of the implicit derivative dy/dx is interpreted as the marginal rate of substitution of the two goods: how much more of y one must receive in order to be indifferent to a loss of 1 unit of x.


Often in economic theory, some function such as a utility function or a profit function is to be maximized with respect to a choice variable x even though the objective function has not been restricted to any specific functional form. The implicit function theorem guarantees that the first-order condition of the optimization defines an implicit function for the optimal value x* of the choice variable x. Moreover, the influence of the problem's parameters on x* can be expressed as total derivatives found using total differentiation.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Chiang, Alpha C. (1984). Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics (Third ed.). McGraw-Hill. 
  2. ^ a b Stewart, James (1998). Calculus Concepts And Contexts. Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. ISBN 0-534-34330-9. 
  3. ^ Kaplan. Advanced Calculus.