DIFFERENTIATION

Introduction
Revise: y

y1

Slope of a straight line, m = ∆y = y2 – y1 x1 x2 X

∆x x2 – x1

Interpretation: for every unit increase in x, the value of y increases by m units. The
bigger the value of m, the steeper the line.
If we use f(x) instead of y, then m = ∆f(x) = f(x2) – f(x1)
∆x x2 - x1

Now if x2 –x1 = h, then x2 = x1+h.

Hence m = f(x2) – f(x1) = f(x1+h) – f(x1) for the straight line.

x2 - x1 h

While the slope of a straight line is constant, the slope of a curve will vary from point to
point. We therefore speak of the slope of a curve at A PARTICULAR POINT on the
curve.

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The slope of the curve at say point P, is the same as the slope of the straight line which is
tangential to the curve at point P.

Consider Points along the curve such as Q, Q’ etc. each closer to point P than the one
before. Next consider drawing a straight line PQ from P to Q , then similarly PQ1 and
PQ2 etc. It should be clear that as the “Q” positions gets closer to P, (whether from the
right or from the left) the corresponding line PQ gets closer to the position of the
tangential line.

We may conclude therefore that the limiting position is that of the tangential line.

Since the position of P is fixed, then as the “Q”positions gets closer and closer to P, the
value of h ( x2 – x1 ) gets closer and closer to zero. In other words, h tends to zero as point
“Q” gets closer and closer to point P. Note that the x coordinate of point P is x1 and the x
coordinate for point “Q” is x2.

The slope of the tangential line can therefore be defined as:

lim f(x1+h) – f(x1)

h0 h

In general if f(x) is a function, the slope of the curve at point x is known as the derivative
of the function and is given by: f′(x) = lim f(x+h) – f(x)
h0 h

The process of finding the derivative of a function is called differentiation. You may not
be required to use the limit equation above to do differentiation because several rules of
differentiation have been developed from it, which you will be required to use.

Alternative notation of Derivative

If f(x) = is a function, then the derivative of this function is written as f′(x). We already
know that, f(x) can be written as y.
We should also note that f′(x) can be written as: dy , pronounced “dee y dee x”.
dx

Note that just like f(x) does not mean ‘f’ multiply by ‘x’: dy does NOT mean ‘dy’
dx
divide by ‘dx’.

We can however use the notation to remind us that the derivative is the slope of the
curve (at a point x), since the format is somewhat similar to the slope of a straight line
ie ∆y.
∆x

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The notations f′(x) and dy will be used interchangeable throughout this course.
dx

RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION

1. The Derivative of a constant is zero

If f(x) is a constant, c, then:

dy = d (c) = 0
dx dx

Hence if f(x) = 4, then f′(x) = f′(4) = 0.

Similarly if y = √5, then dy = d (√5) = 0.
dx dx

Note that we need not find the actual value of √5, it is sufficient to know that
the actual value of √5 will be a constant hence its derivative is zero.

2, The derivative of xn
If n is any real number (positive or negative) then:

d (xn) = nxn-1
dx

eg. If f(x) = x3, then f′(x) = 3x3-1 = 3x2

similarly if f(x) = 1/x2, rewrite it as x-2, then f′(x) = -2x-2-1 = -2x-3

Also if f(x) = x, imagine it as x1, then f′(x) = 1. x1-1 =1 . x0 = 1.1 =1 (any number raise to
the zero power is equal to 1)

If y = x100, dy = d (x100) = 100x100-1 = 100x99

dx dx

3. The Constant factor rule ‘Constant times function’

If c is a constant multiplied by a function of x then the derivative of the product is:

f′[c.f(x)] = c. f′(x)

eg If y = 4x5 , then dy = d (4x5) = 4 d(x5) = (4)5x5-1 = 20x4

dx dx dx

e.g 2 If y = 6x6, then dy = d (6x6) = 6 d(x6) = (6)6x6-5 = 36x5

dx dx dx

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e.g 3 If y = 2x2, then dy = d(2x2) = 2d(x2) = (2)2x2-1 = 4x1 = 4x
dx dx dx

3b. The Chain Rule

If y is a differentiable function of u, and u is a differentiable function of x, then y
is also a differentiable function of x, such that:

dy = dy . du
dx du dx

eg. y is a function of u so let y = 2u2 , say

hence dy = 2.2u2-1 = 4u
du

u is a function of x, so let u = 3x3 , say

hence du = 3. 3x3-1 = 9x2
dx
Therefore dy = dy . du
dx du dx

= 4u . 9x2

But u = 3x3, hence dy = 4.3x3.9x2 = 108x5 Ans

dx

4.. The Function Power (special case of the chain rule)

If a “function of x” is raised to a power (not just x raise to a power as in the xn rule),

then the Function Power Rule is used.

That is, if f(x) is a “function of x” and n is any real number, then the derivative of
H(x) = [f(x)]n is given by:

H′(x) = n[f(x)]n-1 . f′(x)

eg.1 H(x) = (2x3 – 4)4

This is of the form H(x) = [f(x)]n , where f(x) = 2x3 – 4 and n =4

Hence H′(x) = 4(2x3 – 5)4-1 . (2.3x3-1 –0)

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 = 4(2x3 –5)3.6x2
= 24x2(2x3 –5)3 Ans

Eg 2 y = (x+3)5
dy = 5(x+3)5-1. d(xt3)
dx dx

=5(x+3)4.(1+0) = 5(x+3)4 Ans

eg. 3 y = (2x2 + 1)-1

dy = -1(2x2 +1)-1-1.d(2x2 +1)

dx dx

= -(2x2 +1)-2(2.2x2-1)
= -4x(2x2 +1)-2 = -4x . Ans
2 2
(2x +1)

eg. 4 f(x) = 3(x+2) , first rewrite as a power

so f(x) = 3(x+2)1/2
f(x) = 3.1/2(x+2)1/2-1. d(x+2)
dx

= 3/2(x+2)-1/2. (1+0)
= 3/2(x+2)-1/2 = 3 . . = 3 .
2(x+2)1/2 2(x+2)

eg. 5 f(x) = 4. 3(5 + 2x) , first rewrite as a power.

f(x)= 4(5+2x)1/3
Therefore f(x) = 4. 1/3(5+2x)1/3-1. d(5+2x)
dx
= 4. 1/3(5+2x)-2/3 .(0 + 2)
= 8/3(5+2x)-2/3 = 8 . =8 . Ans
3(5+2x)2/3 3 3(x+2)2

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5. The Product Rule

d [f(x) . g(x)] = f(x) . g′(x) + g(x) . f′(x)

dx

That is, multiply the first function by the derivative of the second function, then
multiply the second function by the derivative of the first and lastly add the two
products.

Eg. If y = (3x + 2)(2x2 – 1)

Then dy = (3x +2) d (2x2 –1) + (2x2 – 1) d (3x + 2)

dx dx dx

=(3x+2) (2.2x2-1-0) + (2x2- 1) (3x1-1 + 0)

= (3x + 2)4x + (2x2 – 1)3

= 12x2 + 8x + 6x2 – 3

= 18x2 + 8x – 3 Ans

eg2. y =8x3(x4 + 3)

dy = 8x3.d(x4+3) + (x4 +3).d(8x3)

dx dx dx

= 8x3.(4x4-1 +0) + (x4 +3)(8.3x3-1)

= 8x3.(4x3) + (x4 +3)(24x2)
= 32x6 + 24x6 + 72x2
= 56x6 + 72x2 Ans

eg. 3

f(x) = x2(x2 +2)

f(x) = x2. d(x2 +2) + (x2 +2).d(x2)

dx dx

= x2(2x + 0) + (x2 + 2)2x

= 2x3 + 2x3 +4x

= 4x3 + 4x Ans

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WORKED EXAMPLE OF THE CHAIN RULE AND THE QUOTIENT RULE
TOGETHER.

The Quotient Rule of Differentiation is the final rule for this course. It is used when we
want to differentiate a fraction, that is one function divided by another function, hence the
name quotient. The rule is:

If y = f(x) , then dy = f (x).g(x) - g(x).f(x)

g(x) dx [g(x)]2

Note that the numerator part is somewhat similar to the product rule in that you
differentiate one of the function while holding the other one as given. The main
differences with the quotient rule are:

1) It is important which one you differentiate first, you must differentiate the
numerator function f(x) first while holding the denominator function, g(x) as
given. Next you differentiate the denominator function g(x) while holding the
numerator function f(x) as given.

2) The two products are then subtracted, not added as in the product rule.

3) The denominator function g(x) is then squared to form the denominator in the
answer. The product rule has no denominator.

Example
Let w = u2 and u = t + 1 find dw
t–1 dt

Note that the first equation has u as the independent variable (think of x) while the
second equation has u as the dependent variable (think of y). Based on what was
discussed in class, you should be able to identify this as a case for the chain rule. That is ,
we want to find the rate of change of w with respect to t, dw , but we must go through
dt
the intermediate variable u. ie w- u  t.

1) Now if w = u2, what is the derivative that we can find from that? (Think of y = x2)

The derivative is dw . That is differentiate w with respect to u.

du

2) If u = t+1 then the derivative we can find from that is du . i.e Differentiate u with
t-1 dt respect to t.

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We are asked to find dw. Note that dw = dw x du.
dt dt du dt

w= u2 therefore dw = 2u
du

u = t+1 therefore du = (t-1).d (t+1) - (t+1).d (t-1) ------ quotient rule.

t–1 dt . dt dt .
2
(t-1)

Again note that in the quotient rule we differentiate the numerator (t+1)first and hold the
denominator (t-1)steady . Next we differentiate the denominator and hold the numerator
steady. The two products are separated by a minus sign and the denominator is squared.

Note that d (t+1) = 1 and d (t-1) = 1

dt dt

Therefore:

du = (t-1) (1) – (t+1) (1) = t -1 –t – 1 = - 2 .

dt (t-1)2 (t-1)2 (t-1)2

So dw = dw x du
dt du dt

= 2u x - 2 .
(t-1)2

But u = t+1
t–1

Therefore dw = 2 (t+1) x -2 . = -4(t+1) Ans

dt (t – 1) (t-1)2 (t-1)3

Prepared By: Andrew O. Hunter