If x and y are connected parametrically by the equation,

Question:

If $x$ and $y$ are connected parametrically by the equation, without eliminating the parameter, find $\frac{d y}{d x}$.

$x=a \cos \theta, y=b \cos \theta$

Solution:

The given equations are $x=a \cos \theta$ and $y=b \cos \theta$

Then, $\frac{d x}{d \theta}=\frac{d}{d \theta}(a \cos \theta)=a(-\sin \theta)=-a \sin \theta$

$\frac{d y}{d \theta}=\frac{d}{d \theta}(b \cos \theta)=b(-\sin \theta)=-b \sin \theta$

$\therefore \frac{d y}{d x}=\frac{\left(\frac{d y}{d \theta}\right)}{\left(\frac{d x}{d \theta}\right)}=\frac{-b \sin \theta}{-a \sin \theta}=\frac{b}{a}$

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