Using a table of

derivatives
In this unit we construct a Table of Derivatives of commonly occurring functions. This is done
using the knowledge gained in previous units on differentiation from first principles.
Rules, known as linearity rules, for constant multiples of functions, and for the sum/difference
of two functions are also given and illustrated with examples.
Finally, the table is extended further by making use of the chain rule for differentiating a function
of a function.

In order to master the techniques explained here it is vital that you undertake plenty of practice
exercises so that they become second nature.

After reading this text, and/or viewing the video tutorial on this topic, you should be able to:

• construct and use a table of derivatives of commonly occurring functions

Contents
1. Introduction 2
2. A Table of Derivatives 2
3. The constant multiplier rule 2
4. The addition and subtraction rules 3
5. Further extensions to the Table 4

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1. Introduction
Other units have explained how to differentiate all the common functions, such as xn , cos x,
sin x, ex , ln x and so on. Usually this has been done from first principles. In this unit we pull
all these results together and construct a table of standard derivatives which you can consult as
the need arises.

2. A Table of Derivatives
Commonly occurring functions and their derivatives are given in the Table below.

df
function f (x) derivative or f ′ (x)
dx
c 0 c is any constant
x 1
2x 2
xn nxn−1 n is any real number
sin x cos x
cos x − sin x
ex ex
1
ln x
x

We can make this table more useful by extending the range of functions it includes. We can do
this using rules, known as linearity rules: these are the constant multiplier rule and the
addition rule.

3. The constant multiplier rule

Suppose we have a function f (x) and multiply it by a constant, c say. The derivative of this is
given by the following rule:
d df
(c f (x)) = c
dx dx
In other words, we simply differentiate the function and multiply the result by the constant c.
Examples
dy d
If y = 2 sin x then = 2 (sin x) = 2 cos x.
dx dx

dy d
If y = −5 sin x then = −5 (sin x) = −5 cos x.
dx dx

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Proof from first principles of the constant multiplier rule
Consider the function g(x) = cf (x) where c is a constant.
Using the definition of the derivative of g(x) we have

g(x + δx) − g(x)

g ′(x) = lim
δx→0 δx
c f (x + δx) − c f (x)
= lim
δx→0 δx
c(f (x + δx) − f (x))
= lim
δx→0 δx
The constant c is unaffected by the limiting process and so can be taken outside the limit:

f (x + δx) − f (x)
g ′ (x) = c lim
δx→0 δx
But the term following the c on the right hand side is just the definition of the derivative of
f (x). So we have
df
g ′ (x) = c = c f ′ (x)
dx

Key Point
The constant multiplier rule:
d df
(c f (x)) = c
dx dx

Exercise 1

Find the derivative of each of the following:

a) 5x4 b) 12x c) 4x−2 d) 8 cos x e) −3 cos x

f) 2ex g) 3 ln x h) −7ex i) −2 sin x j) −4 ln x

4. The addition and subtraction rules

The first of these rules enables us to differentiate the sum of two functions, e.g. f (x) + g(x).
The rule states that to differentiate this sum we simply differentiate each term separately and
then add the results:
d df dg
(f (x) + g(x)) = +
dx dx dx

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Similarly, if we have the difference of two functions:

d df dg
(f (x) − g(x)) = −
dx dx dx

Key Point
Sum and difference rules:
d df dg
(f (x) ± g(x)) = ±
dx dx dx

These rules can be added to the Table given on Page 2.

Example
Suppose we wish to differentiate y = 2x3 − 6 cos x.
We differentiate each term separately, and make use of the constant multiplier rule:

d d d
2x3 − 6 cos x = (2x3 ) − (6 cos x)


dx dx dx
d 3 d
= 2 (x ) − 6 (cos x)
dx dx
2
= 2(3x ) − 6(− sin x)
= 6x2 + 6 sin x

5. Further extensions to the Table

In this section we extend the Table by looking at functions of the form sin mx, cos mx, emx and
ln mx.
Example
dy
.
Suppose we wish to differentiate y = sin mx in order to find
dx
We begin by making the substitution u = mx. This simplifies the original function to give
y = sin u.
dy
To find we use a rule (called the chain rule, or the function of a function rule) which states
dx
dy dy du
= ×
dx du dx
This rule is dealt with at length in another unit. For now we will simply quote and use it.
dy dy
We need to calculate : since y = sin u it follows that = cos u.
du du
du du
We also need to calculate : since u = mx it follows that = m because m is a constant.
dx dx
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Substituting into the chain rule we find
dy dy du
= ×
dx du dx
= cos u × m
= m cos u
= m cos mx
since u = mx.
dy
We have shown that if y = sin mx then = m cos mx.
dx
dy
In a similar way it is straightforward to show that if y = cos mx then = −m sin mx.
dx
Example
Suppose we wish to differentiate y = emx .
Again, we substitute u = mx so that y = eu . We then use the chain rule:
dy dy
We need to calculate : since y = eu it follows that = eu .
du du
du du
We also need to calculate : since u = mx it follows that = m because m is a constant.
dx dx
Substituting into the chain rule we find
dy dy du
= ×
dx du dx
= eu × m
= meu
= memx
since u = mx.
dy
We have shown that if y = emx then = memx .
dx
Example
Suppose we wish to differentiate y = ln mx.
Again, we substitute u = mx so that y = ln u. We then use the chain rule:
dy dy 1
We need to calculate : since y = ln u it follows that = .
du du u
du du
We also need to calculate : since u = mx it follows that = m because m is a constant.
dx dx
Substituting into the chain rule we find
dy dy du
= ×
dx du dx
1
= ×m
u
1
= m
mx
1
=
x
dy 1
We have shown that if y = ln mx for constant m, then = .
dx x

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This result could also have been obtained by using the laws of logarithms to rewrite y = ln mx
as y = ln m + ln x. Then we could differentiate this sum, term by term. The first term has
derivative zero. This is because the the logarithm of a constant is still a constant and so its
derivative is zero. The derivative of the second term is simply x1 .
Example
Suppose we wish to differentiate y = ln(ax + b) where a and b are constants.
This time we substitute u = ax + b so that y = ln u. We then use the chain rule:
dy dy 1
We need to calculate : since y = ln u it follows that = .
du du u
du du
We also need to calculate : since u = ax + b it follows that = a because a and b are
dx dx
constants.

Substituting into the chain rule we find

dy dy du
= ×
dx du dx
1
= ×a
u
a
=
u
a
=
ax + b

since u = ax + b.
dy a
We have shown that if y = ln(ax + b) for constants a and b, then = .
dx ax + b

The results we have generated in the preceding sections can be added to the table of derivatives
given on page 2 to produce a more complete and thereby more useful table:

df
function f (x) derivative or f ′ (x)
dx
c 0 c is any constant
x 1
2x 2
xn nxn−1 n is any real number
sin x cos x
cos x − sin x
ex ex
1
ln x
x
cf (x) cf ′ (x) c constant
f (x) ± g(x) f ′ (x) ± g ′(x)
sin mx m cos mx m is a constant
cos mx −m sin mx m is a constant
emx memx m is a constant
1
ln mx x
a
ln(ax + b) ax+b

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Exercise 2
Find the derivative of each of the following:

a) sin 4x b) e5x c) cos 3x d) ln 5x

e) 2 sin 3x f) 4e−2x g) 4 cos(−2x) h) ln(3x + 2)
i) 4 sin 2x + 3 cos 3x j) e2x − e−2x k) ln 2x + 2 sin 3x l) 4 cos x − 2 ln(x + 4)

Answers

Exercise 1

a) 20x3 b) 12 c) −8x−3 d) −8 sin x e) 3 sin x

3 4
f) 2ex g) h) −7ex i) −2 cos x j) −
x x
Exercise 2
1
a) 4 cos 4x b) 5e5x c) −3 sin 3x d) e) 6 cos 3x f) −8e−2x g) 8 sin(−2x)
x
3 1 2
h) i) 8 cos 2x − 9 sin 3x j) 2e2x + 2e−2x k) + 6 cos 3x l) −4 sin x −
3x + 2 x x+4

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