First, we compute dxdy by implicit differentiation. Differentiating both sides of the given equation with respect to x while treating y as a function of x, we see that
6y2dxdy+2ydxdy−5y4dxdy=4x3−6x2+2x. Removing a factor of dxdy from the lefthand side and dividing to solve for dxdy, we have
dxdy=6y2+2y−5y44x3−6x2+2x=y(−5y3+6y+2)2x(2x2−3x+1). The tangent line is potentially horizontal where the numerator of dxdy is zero and potentially vertical where dxdy is zero. Solving 2x(2x2−3x+1)=0, we see that
2x(2x−1)(x−1)=0
so the numerator is zero at x=0,0.5,1. The denominator is zero where y(−5y3+6y+2)=0. Using technology to estimate where −5y3+6y+2=0, we see the denominator is zero at y=0 and y≈−0.856,−0.379,1.235.
Next, we need to find the coordinates of these points where potential horizontal or vertical tangent lines occur. First, we consider the potential horizontal tangent line locations. When x=0, 2y3+y2−y5=x4−2x3+x2=0, and thus we know y2(2y+1−y3)=0, from which it follows that y=0, y=−1 or y≈−0.618,1.618. This leads to four points to consider: (0,0), (0,−1), (0,−0.618), and (0,1.618). It is apparent from the graph shown below that the tangent line at (0,0) is not horizontal (here both the numerator and denominator of dxdy are zero), but at each of the other three points, the tangent line is horizontal.
We now reason similarly for the other x-values where the numerator is zero. At x=1, 2y3+y2−y5=14−2⋅13+12=0, and here again y=0, y=−1 or y≈−0.618,1.618. This leads to four potential points where the tangent line is horizontal: (1,0), (1,−1), (1,−0.618), and (1,1.618). At (1,0), there's not a horizontal tangent line, but at each of the others there is, as seen in the figure. Similar reasoning when x=0.5 shows that 2y3+y2−y5=0.54−2⋅0.53+0.52=0.625, from which we find that y≈−1.0493,0.2104,1.6139, and thus the three points (0.5,−1.0493), (0.5,0.2104), (0.5,1.6139).
Returning to where the denominator is zero (y=0 and y≈−0.856,−0.379,1.235), we now determine points where the tangent line is vertical. Is is apparent from the figure below that there are no vertical tangent lines when y=0 or y≈−0.856, so there are two values to pursue: y≈−0.379,1.235.
When y≈−0.379, it follows that 2(−0.379)3+(−0.379)2−(−0.379)5=x4−2x3+x2, so
x4−2x3+x2=0.0426
from which we find that x≈−0.1756,0.2912,0.7088,1.1756. The figure confirms that there are vertical tangent lines at (−0.1756,−0.379), (0.2912,−0.379), (0.7088,−0.379), and (1.1756,−0.379)
Lastly, when y≈1.235, it follows 2(1.235)3+(1.235)2−(1.235)5=x4−2x3+x2, so
x4−2x3+x2=2.4195
and thus via technology, x≈−0.8437,1.8437. This leads to two additional points at which the tangent line is vertical: (−0.8437,1.235) and (1.8437,1.235).
All of our above work is summarized in the following figure.
