# What exactly does $\frac{dx}{dy}$ mean?

I asked 3 professors at my university and none gave me a clear cut answer, but instead merely told me qualities of this notation. Here is what I understand so far from what they told me:

1)Treat the top variable as as variable when finding the derivative
2)Treat the bottom variable as a constant when finding derivative
3)It it said "Find x with respect to y", but what exactly does that mean? What does it mean for something to be in respect to something else?

It seems like $\frac{dx}{dy}$ notation changes according to values in the problem. For instance, If $y = x^3 + 2x$ and $\frac{dx}{dt} = 5$, find $\frac{dy}{dt}$ when $x=2$. Why do the values of $\frac{dx}{dy}$ change in this problem and how do I solve this?

• dx/dy = d/dy (x) – limits Feb 27 '18 at 3:11

$\frac{d}{dx}$, $\frac{d}{dt}$, $\frac{d}{dy}$, etc. are all linear differential operators. They specifically mean "differentiate the thing that comes after with respect to whatever the variable on the bottom is." The notation is sometimes problematic, because it is easy to abuse.

When we write something like $\frac{dx}{dt}$, what we're really saying is "differentiate $x$ with respect to $t$." This statement is, of course, meaningless unless $x$ has some dependence on $t$.

For instance, let's say that $x = at^2+bt+c$. Then, $\frac{dx}{dt}$ is basically saying "differentiate $at^2+bt+c$ with respect to $t$. But since that polynomial is equal to $x$, let's just write it as $\frac{dx}{dt}$."

When we apply $\frac{d}{dt}$ to $x$, we're not multiplying by some quantity $\frac{d}{dt}$. In fact, $\frac{d}{dt}$ is not a quantity at all, but rather an operation. The way we write it is tricky, because it can be confusing.

For more details on why we write it in this way, see the excellent answer here: https://math.stackexchange.com/a/21209/31475

• What does it mean though for 'something to be in respect to something else'? – chopper draw lion4 Mar 5 '14 at 17:49
• It doesn't mean for something to be in respect to something else. That phrase is inseparable from the rest of the sentence. We are "differentiating with respect to a variable." To understand this, we must first understand what a function is; specifically, that a function maps a domain to a range. Differentiation is the process by which we quantify the amount that the function changes as a result of changes in its input. When we abstract this to variables, we have independent variables and dependent variables. The independent variable represents values in the function's domain. – Emily Mar 5 '14 at 17:53
• So when we say "differentiate $y$ with respect to $x$", we're saying "describe the change of the dependent variable $y$ due to an associated change of the independent variable $x$." – Emily Mar 5 '14 at 17:54
• That is the best description of that I have ever read. Thanks! – chopper draw lion4 Mar 5 '14 at 18:32
• "This statement is, of course, meaningless unless $x$ has some dependence on $t$"... well, if $x$ has no dependence on $t$, I reckon $\frac{dx}{dt}$ is quite meaningful and easily computed :) – Miguel Sep 26 '15 at 15:35

$\frac{d}{dx}y(x)$ denotes how $y$ varies according to $x$, and viceversa. It is only a metter of notation, even though there's a lot more to know.

Moreover, in your last example: $$\frac{dx}{dt}=5\Rightarrow x(t)=5t+x(0).$$ So: $$\frac{dy}{dt}=\frac{dy}{dx}\cdot\frac{dx}{dt}=(3\cdot 2^2+2)\cdot 5.$$

The existing answers are great, but I thought I could add to the question. Sometimes we use $\frac{dx}{dy}$ in (differential) equations as quantities. As in $\frac{dx}{dy}$ represents "$x$ having been differentiated with respect to $y$." It's like saying $+$ is a defined operator (known as adding or addition), that can operate on $a$ and $b$. So the operation is $+$ and we can write $a+b$ to be a quantity; namely, the quantity of $a$ having been added to $b$.

Similarly, $\frac{d}{dy}$ is an operator. $\frac{d}{dy}(x)$ means to perform the operation of $\frac{d}{dy}$ onto $x$. Specifically, $\frac{d}{dy}(x)$ means "differentiate $x$ with respect to the variable $y$."

So in the end, $\frac{dx}{dy}$ represents the quantity of $x$ having been differentiated with respect to $y$. This is why textbooks often say "find $\frac{dx}{dy}$", because we wish to find what $x$ is upon differentiating it with respect to the variable $y$.

I see it as: $\frac{dx}{dy}$ is the end result of $x$ that underwent differentiation, and $\frac{d}{dy}$ is the actual operator, much like how $+$ is an operator.

Here is an example:

Let $y=x^2.$ Then you want to find the derivative of $y$ with respect to $x$. Which means, you want to find $\frac{dy}{dx}$. In another form, $\frac{d}{dx}(x^2)$. Since $y=x^2$, then $\frac{d}{dx}(x^2)=\frac{d}{dx}(y)=\frac{dy}{dx}.$ Its a simplification of notation in a general sense.