Basic Differentiation

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Basic differentiation
You should know the meaning of the terms limit, differentiable at a point,

differentiate, derivative, differentiable over an interval, derived function.

Differentiate a function whose

terms are of the form axn

find the gradient of the

tangent to a curve y = f(x) the rate of change of f at a
at x = a
Find where the function
sketch a curve with
f is strictly increasing,
given equation decreasing or stationary.

determine the greatest/least values of a solve optimisation problems

function on a given interval using calculus

find the stationary point(s) (values) on a curve

and determine their nature using differentiation

 Rule of thumb:
Multiply by the power and reduce the
Examples power by 1.
3
y = 5x 2 +
f (x) = 3x 5
x
 f (x) = 5  3x 5−1  y = 5x + 3x −1
2

 f (x) = 15x 4 
dy
= 10x − 3x −2
dx
dy 3
 = 10x − 2
f (x) = 2x 3 + 4 x 2 − 3x + 4 y = f (x ) dx x

 f (x) = 2x 3 + 4 x 2 − 3x1 + 4 x 0 dy
 = f (x )
 f (x) = 6x 2 + 8x1 − 3x 0 + 0x −1 dx x+5
 y=
 f (x) = 6x + 8x − 3
2
x
x1 5
 y= 1 + 1
f (x) = 4 x − 5 x2 x2
 − 12
1
1  y = x 2 + 5x
 f (x) = 4 x − 5x 2 0

dy 1 − 12 5 − 32
−
 f (x) = 2x 2  = x −2x
1

dx 2
2
 f (x) = 
dy
=
1
−
5
x dx 2 x 2 x 3

 

Test
Yourself?
 yB − yB
A straight line has a gradient mAB =
xB − xA

The chord PQ has a gradient

yQ − y P f (x + h) − f (x) f (x + h) − f (x)
mPQ = = =
xQ − x P x+h−x h

As h tends to zero, Q tends towards P and the chord PQ

 becomes the tangent at P.
 f (x + h) − f (x )
The gradient of the tangent at P = f (x ) = lim  
h →0
 h 

Example

To find the gradient of the tangent to the curve y = f(x) Find the gradient of the tangent to the curve
at x = a we need to evaluate f ´(a). y = 3x2 + 2x – 1 at the point P(1, 4)
x=4
dy
= 6x + 2
dx
dy
 = 6.4 + 2 = 26
dx x= 4

Thus gradient at P is 26.

Test 
Yourself?
 The Waverley can reach its top speed in 5 minutes.
During that time its distance from the start can be
calculated using the formula D = t + 50t2
where t is the time in minutes and D is measured in metres.

What is the Waverley’s top speed?

Speed, v m/min, is the rate of
change of distance with time.

D = t + 50t 2
dD
v= = 1+ 100t
dt
v = 1 + 100  5 = 501 m/sec

How fast is it accelerating? Acceleration, a m/min/min, is the

rate of change of speed with time.
v = 1+ 100t Test
dv Yourself?
a= = 100
dt
 y

The signs indicate where the gradient 0

of the curve is: + –
–
+
positive … the function is increasing –
+ 0 –
negative … the function is decreasing
+ O – x
zero … the function is stationary

A function is strictly increasing in a region where f´(x) > 0

A function is strictly increasing in a region where f´(x) < 0
A function is stationary where f´(x) = 0

Example
f(x) = 2x3 – 3x2 – 12x + 1.
Identify where it is (i) increasing (ii) decreasing (iii) stationery
graph of derivative

f (x ) = 6x 2 − 6x −12 15

10
A sketch of the derivative shows us that
5

f´(x) < 0 for 0 < x < 2 … f(x) decreasing

 -2 -1
0
0 1 2 3

f´(x) > 0 for x < 0 or x > 2 … f(x) increasing -5

Test
f´(x) = 0 for x = 0 or x = 2 … f(x) stationary -10
Yourself?
-15
To sketch a curve, collect the following information:
• where will it cut the y-axis? [x = 0]
• where will it cut the x-axis? [f(x) = 0]
• where is it stationary? [f ´(x) = 0]
• where is f(x) increasing/decreasing [f ´(x) > 0/ f ´(x) < 0]
especially in the neighbourhood of the stationary points.
• how does f(x) behave as x → ±

Test
Yourself?
 When a function is defined on a closed interval, a ≤ x ≤ b, then it must have a
maximum and a minimum value in that interval.
These values can be found either at
• a stationary point [where f´(x) = 0]
• an end-point of the closed interval. [f(a) and f(b)]
All you need do is find these values and pick out the greatest and least values.

Example
A manufacturer is making a can to hold 250 ml of juice.
The cost of the can is dependent on its radius, x cm.
For practical reasons the radius must be between 2·5 cm and 4·5 cm.

The cost can be calculated from the formula

C = x3 –5x2 + 3x + 15, 2·5 ≤ x ≤ 4·5.
Calculate the maximum and minimum values of the cost function.

dC
= 3x 2 −10x + 3 … which equals zero at stationary points.
dx
3x2 – 10x + 3 = 0
(3x– 1)(x – 3) = 0
 x = 1/3 or x = 3

Working to 1 d.p.
f(1/3) = 15·5
f(3) = 6
f(2·5) = 6·9
f(4·5) = 18·4 Test
By inspection fmax = 18·4 (when x = 4·5) and fmin = 6 (when x = 3). Yourself?
 solving optimisation problems using calculus

Example

A box has a square base of side x cm and a height of h cm.

It has a volume of 1 litre (1000 cm3)
For what value of x will the surface area of the box be minimised?
[… and hence the cost of production be optimised]

To use calculus we must express the surface area in terms of x alone … so we must find h in terms of x .
For a cuboid, volume = lbh … so in this case 1000 = x2h.
1000
And so, h = 2 =1000x −2
x
The box is made from 6 rectangles, two of area x2 cm2 and four of area xh cm2
2
 Total Surface Area, S = 2x + 4xh
S = 2x2 + 4000x–1 If x < 10, 4x < 40 and 4000x–2 > 40
dS So dS/dx < 0 … a decreasing function
 = 4x − 4000x −2
dx
If x > 10, 4x > 40 and 4000x–2 < 40
= 0 at stationary points So dS/dx > 0 … an increasing function
 4x = 4000x–2
 Decreasing before x = 10 and increasing after it
 x3 = 1000 Gives us a minimum turning point.
x 10- 10 10+
 x = 10 ds/dx – 0 +

Test
If x = 10 then h = 10.
Yourself?
A cube of side 10 cm has a volume of 1000 cm3 and the smallest possible surface area.