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Higher-Order Derivatives

This document discusses higher-order derivatives. It defines the second derivative f'' as the derivative of the first derivative f' and describes how higher derivatives can be obtained by continuing to differentiate. It presents notations for the first, second, third, and nth derivatives. Examples are provided to illustrate calculating the first, second, and third derivatives of various functions.

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Stevenzel Eala Estella
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692 views3 pages

Higher-Order Derivatives

This document discusses higher-order derivatives. It defines the second derivative f'' as the derivative of the first derivative f' and describes how higher derivatives can be obtained by continuing to differentiate. It presents notations for the first, second, third, and nth derivatives. Examples are provided to illustrate calculating the first, second, and third derivatives of various functions.

Uploaded by

Stevenzel Eala Estella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MATH 114 – differential calculus


Handout #6

Higher-Order Derivatives
The derivative f ' of a function f is itself a function and hence may have a derivative of its

own. If f ' is differentiable, then its derivative is denoted by f '' and is called the second derivative of

f . As long as we have differentiability, we can continue the process of differentiating to obtain the
third, fourth, fifth, and even higher derivatives of f .
These successive derivatives are denoted by

f ', f ''  ( f ')', f '''  ( f '')', f 4  ( f ''')', f 5  ( f 4 )',...


Using the same functional notation y  f ( x) , we will have the following symbols for higher
derivatives:
First Derivative:
dy d d
y ' , f '( x) , ,  y ,  f  x  , Dx f  x 
dx dx dx 
Second Derivative:
d2y d2 d2
2   2   
y '' , f ''( x) , 2
, y ,  f x  , D2 x f  x 
dx dx dx
Third Derivative:
d3y d3 d3
y ''' , f '''( x) , ,  y  ,  f  x  , D3 x f  x 
dx3 dx3 dx3 
nth Derivative:
dn y dn dn
y n , f n ( x) , n
, n  y  , n   
 f x  , Dn x f  x 
dx dx dx
dy d 2 y d n y
The symbols , , are called Leibniz notations.
dx dx2 dxn

Example 1. Given f ( x)  3x2  2 x  4 , find f '( x) , f ''( x) and f '''( x) .

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998


Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002
2

1
Example 2. Given y  x  2 x , find
3
y ' , y '' and y ''' .

1
Example 3. Given y  , find y ' , y '' and y ''' .
x

d2y
Example 4. Given that x3  y3  3x2 y  3xy 2  2x  2 y 1, show that 0.
dx 2

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998


Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002
3

Example 5. Given f ( x)  x2 x  5x , find f '( x) , f ''( x) and f '''( x) .

2x
Example 6. Given f ( x)  , find f '( x) , f ''( x) and f '''( x) .
1  2x

Example 7. Given y  v v  2 , find y ' , y '' and y ''' .

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998


Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002

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