 Implicit differentiation

Implicit differentiation differentiates an identity $F(x,y(x))=0$ along a differentiable branch and uses the chain rule to solve for its derivative:The partial derivatives $F_x,F_y$ treat $x,y$ as independent coordinates before evaluating on the branch. The implicit function theorem justifies the branch's local existence and regularity under its hypotheses; differentiating alone does not establish either. For the unit circle at $(3/5,4/5)$, this calculation yields the tangent line $y-4/5=-(3/4)(x-3/5)$.