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LESSON 4: RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION

Most Essential Learning Competencies:

1. Determine the relationship between differentiability and continuity of a function
(STEM_BC11D-IIIf-1).
2. Apply the differentiation rules in computing the derivative of an algebraic, exponential,
logarithmic, trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions (STEM_BC11D-IIIf-3).

A. Lesson 1: Differentiability Implies Continuity

❖ Introduction
The difference between continuity and differentiability is a critical issue. Most, but not all, of the
functions we encounter in calculus will be differentiable over their entire domain. Before we can
confidently apply the rules regarding derivatives, we need to be able to recognize the exceptions to the
rule.

Differentiability implies continuity (but not necessarily vice versa). If a function is differentiable
at a point (at every point on an interval), then it is continuous at that point (on that interval). The
converse is not always true: continuous functions may not be differentiable.

❖ Differentiability and continuity

Differentiability and continuity are the two fundamental concepts of differential calculus. As a step
toward this understanding, we should recall first the following definitions:
Definition 1 (Continuity at a Number). A function f is continuous at a number c if all of the following
conditions are satisfied:
(i) f(c) is defined;
(ii) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists; and
𝑥→𝑐
(iii) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐
If at least one of these conditions is not satisfied, the function is said to be discontinuous at c.
Definition 2 (Continuity on ℝ). A function f is said to be continuous everywhere if f is continuous at
every real number.
Definition 3. A function f is differentiable at the number c if
𝒇(𝒄 + 𝒉) − 𝒇(𝒄)
𝒇′ (𝒄) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒉→𝟎 𝒉
exists.

We now present several examples of determining whether a function is continuous or differentiable at

a number.
Examples:
1. The piecewise function defined by

is continuous at c = 1. This is because f(1) = 4,

(𝑥−1)(𝑥+3)
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim = 4,
𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥−1

and f(1) = lim f(x).

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2. The function defined by

is not continuous at c = 2 since lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −4 ≠ 1 = lim 𝑓(𝑥)), hence the lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not
𝑥→2− 𝑥→2+ 𝑥→2
exist.

3. The function defined by

is continuous at x = 1 but is not differentiable at x = 1. Indeed, (1) = 2(1) + 3 = 5. Now,

• If 𝑥 < 1, then 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 and lim 5𝑥 = 5.
𝑥→1+
• If 𝑥 > 1, then 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 and so lim (2𝑥 + 3) = 5.
𝑥→1+

Since the one-sided limits exist and are equal to each other, the limit exists and equals 5. So,
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 = 𝑓(1).
𝑥→2

This shows that f is continuous at x = 1. On the other hand, computing for the derivative,

Since the one-sided limits at x = 1 do not coincide, the limit at x = 1 does not exist. Since this limit
is the definition of the derivative at x = 1, we conclude that f is not differentiable at x = 1.

4. Another classic example of a function that is continuous at a point but not differentiable at that point
is the absolute value function f(x) = |x| at x = 0. Clearly, 𝑓(0) = 0 = lim |𝑥|. However, if we look
𝑥→0
at the limit definition of the derivative,
𝑓(0+ℎ)−𝑓(0) |0+ℎ|−|0| |ℎ|
lim = lim = lim .
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ

Note that the absolute value function is defined differently to the left and right of 0 so we need to
compute one-sided limits. Note that if h approaches 0 from the left, then it approaches 0 through
negative values. Since ℎ < 0 ⟹ |ℎ| = −ℎ, it follows that
|ℎ| −ℎ
lim = lim = lim −1 = 1.
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0

Similarly, if h approaches 0 from the right, then h approaches 0 through positive values. Since h >
0 ⇒ |h| = h, we obtain
|ℎ| −ℎ
lim+ = lim+ = lim+ −1 = 1
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0

Hence, the derivative does not exist at x = 0 since the one-sided limits do not coincide.

The previous two examples prove that continuity does not necessarily imply differentiability. That
is, there are functions which are continuous at a point, but is not differentiable at that point. The next
theorem however says that the converse is always TRUE.

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Remark 1:
(a) If 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎, it does not mean that 𝑓 is differentiable at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
(b) If 𝑓 is not continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎, then 𝑓 is not differentiable at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
(c) If 𝑓 is not differentiable at 𝑥 = 𝑎, it does not mean that 𝑓 is not continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
(d) A function 𝑓 is not differentiable at 𝑥 = 𝑎 if one of the following is true:
i. 𝑓 is not continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
ii. the graph of 𝑓 has a vertical tangent line at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
iii. the graph of 𝑓 has a corner or cusp at 𝑥 = 𝑎.

B. Lesson 2: The Differentiation Rules and Examples Involving Algebraic, Exponential, and
Trigonometric Functions
❖ Introduction
How do we find derivatives?
The procedure for finding the exact derivative directly from a formula of the function without
having to use graphical methods is called differential calculus. In practice, we use some rules that tell
us how to find the derivative of almost any function. In this lesson, we will introduce these rules.
Let us start computing the derivatives of the following functions using the limit definition (formal
definition):
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 4
3𝑥 2 +4
b. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥−1

Take a few minutes to solve.

After a few minutes, (using your answers) did you observe that computing the derivative of a given
function from the definition is usually time consuming. Thus, this lesson will help them compute the
derivative of a given function more easily.
We first recall the definition of the derivative of a function.
The derivative of the function 𝑓 the function 𝑓’ whose value at a number x in the domain of f is
given by
𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
if the limit exists.
For example, let us compute the first derivative of the function: (𝑥) = 3𝑥2 + 4.
Solution:
(𝑥 + ℎ) − (𝑥) = [3(𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 4] − (3𝑥2 + 4)
= (3𝑥2 + 6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2 + 4) − (3𝑥2 + 4)
= 6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2
= ℎ(6𝑥 + 3ℎ).

Therefore:
𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
3(𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 4 − (3𝑥 2 + 4)
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ(6𝑥 + 3ℎ)
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

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= lim (6𝑥 + 3ℎ)

ℎ→0

= 6𝑥.
We see that computing the derivative using the definition of even a simple polynomial is a lengthy
process. What follows next are rules that will enable us to find derivatives easily. We call them
Differentiation Rules.

❖ Differentiating Rules
1. Differentiating Constant Functions
The graph of a constant function is a horizontal line and a horizontal line has zero slope. The
derivative measures the slope of the tangent, and so the derivative is zero.
RULE 1: The Constant Rule
If (𝑥) = 𝑐 where c is a constant, then 𝑓′(𝑥) = 0. The derivative of a constant is equal to zero.
Proof:
𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑐−𝑐
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim = lim = lim 0 = 0
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0

Examples:
(a) If f(𝑥) = 10, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 0.
(b) If ℎ(𝑥) = −√3, then ℎ’(𝑥) = 0.
(c) If (𝑥) = 5𝜋, then 𝑔’(𝑥) = 0.

2. Differentiating Power Functions

A function of the form (𝑥) = 𝑥𝑘, where 𝑘 is a real number, is called a power function. Below are
some examples of power functions.
Examples:
4
(a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 (d) 𝑝(𝑥) = √𝑥
(b) 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥2 (e) 𝑙(𝑥) = 𝑥 −5
1
(c) ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥 (f) 𝑠(𝑥) = 3
𝑥

The definition of the derivative discussed in the previous lesson can be used to find the derivatives
of many power functions. For example, it can be shown that
If (𝑥) = 𝑥2, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 2𝑥.
If (𝑥) = 𝑥3, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 3𝑥2.
If (𝑥) = 𝑥4, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 4𝑥3.
If (𝑥) = 𝑥5, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 5𝑥4.
If (𝑥) = 𝑥6, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 6𝑥5.
Notice the pattern in these derivatives. In each case, the new power of 𝑓 becomes the coefficient in
𝑓’ and the power of 𝑓’ is one less than the original power of 𝑓. In general, we have the following rule:

RULE 2: The Power Rule

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑛 where 𝑛 𝜖 N, then 𝑓 ′(𝑥) = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 .

For the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑛 , in computing 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) = (𝑥 + ℎ)𝑛 , we need to invoke the Binomial
Theorem:

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Note that in the binomial expansion,

(i) there are n + 1 terms;
(ii) the coefficient of the rth term is the binomial coefficient ; and
(iii) the sum of the exponent of x and the exponent of h is always equal to n.
Proof. (The general case)

Remark 1: Observe that the statement of the power rule restricts the exponent to be a natural number
(since the Binomial Theorem is invoked). However, this formula holds true even for exponents r ϵ ℝ:

For example, if 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 −𝜋 , then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = (−𝜋)𝑥 (−𝜋−1).

Examples:
(a) If (𝑥) = 𝑥3, then 𝑓 ′(𝑥) = 3𝑥 3−1 = 3𝑥 2 .
1
(b) Find 𝑔’(𝑥) where 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥2
Solution: In some cases, the laws of exponents must be used to rewrite an expression before
1
applying the power rule. Thus, we first write 𝑔(𝑥) = 2 = 𝑥 −2 before we apply the Power Rule.
𝑥
We have:
−2
𝑔′ (𝑥) = (−2)𝑥 −2−1 = −2𝑥 −3 = −2𝑥 −3 or 3
𝑥
1
(c). If ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥, then we can write ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 . So we have,
2
1 1
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 𝑥 2−1
2
1
1 1
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 𝑥 −2 or
2 2√𝑥
Study the table of examples below.

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3. Differentiating a Constant Times a Function

RULE 3: The Constant Multiple Rule
If (𝑥) = 𝑘ℎ(𝑥) where 𝑘 is a constant, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 𝑘ℎ’(𝑥).
Examples:
Find the derivatives of the following functions.
3
13
(a) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5𝑥 4 (b) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = √𝑥 (c) ℎ(𝑥 ) = −√3𝑥
3
Solution: We use Rule 3 in conjunction with Rule 2.

4. Differentiating Sums and Differences of Functions

RULE 4: The Sum Rule
If (𝑥) = (𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥) where 𝑔 and ℎ are differentiable functions, then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 𝑔′(𝑥) + ℎ′(𝑥).
Examples:
Given by the following functions:
3
13
𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 ℎ(𝑥) = −√3(𝑥)
3
(a) Differentiate the following:
(i) 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) (ii) 𝑔(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥) (iii) 𝑓(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥)

Solution:
(i) 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) (ii) 𝑔(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥) (iii) 𝑓(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥)
3 13 13
= √𝑥 + (−√3)
3
5𝑥 4 + √𝑥 3 =5𝑥 4 + (−√3(𝑥))
3
13 3
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) + 𝑔′ (𝑥) = √𝑥 − √3𝑥
3 =5𝑥 4 − √3
15 −1 1 −2 𝑔′ (𝑥) + ℎ′ (𝑥) 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) + ℎ′(𝑥)
= 𝑥 4+ 𝑥 3
4 9 1 2 15 −1
= 𝑥 −3 + (−√3) = 𝑥 4 + (−√3)
9 4

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1 2 15 −1
= 𝑥 −3 − √3 = 𝑥 4 − √3
9 4
(b) Use Rules 3 and 4 to differentiate the following: (Hint: (𝑥) − (𝑥) = (𝑥) + (−1)(𝑥).)
(i) 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) (ii) 𝑔(𝑥) − ℎ(𝑥) (iii) 𝑓(𝑥) − ℎ(𝑥)
3 13 1 3
= √𝑥 − (−√3(𝑥))
3
= 5𝑥 4 − √𝑥 3 =5𝑥 4 + (−√3(𝑥))
3 13 3
= √𝑥 + √3𝑥 =5𝑥 4 + √3𝑥
3

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑔′ (𝑥) 𝑔′ (𝑥) − ℎ′ (𝑥) 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − ℎ′(𝑥)

15 −1 1 −2 1 2 15 −1
= 𝑥 4− 𝑥 3 = 𝑥 −3 − (−√3) = 𝑥 4 − (−√3)
4 9 9 4
1 2 15 −1
= 𝑥 −3 + √3 = 𝑥 4 + √3
9 4
Remark 2:
(a) The Sum Rule can also be extended to a sum of a finite number of functions. If
f(x) = f1(x) + f2(x) + ··· + fn(x)
where f1, f2,..., fn are differentiable functions, then
.
(b) The same is true for the difference of a finite number of functions. That is,
.

5. Differentiating Products of Functions

RULE 5: The Product Rule
If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are differentiable functions, then
𝐷𝑥[𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔’(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑓’(𝑥).
Rule 5 states that the derivative of the product of two differentiable functions is the first function times
the derivative of the second function plus the second function times the derivative of the first function.
The derivative of the product is NOT the product of their derivatives! Indeed, if (𝑥) = 𝑥 and (𝑥) = 𝑥2,
then

[𝑓(𝑥) · 𝑔(𝑥)] = [𝑥 · 𝑥2] = 𝐷(𝑥3) = 3𝑥2.

However,
[𝑓(𝑥)] · [(𝑥)] = 𝐷𝑥(𝑥) · 𝐷𝑥(𝑥2) = 1 · 2𝑥 = 2𝑥.
Clearly, 3𝑥2 ≠ 2𝑥, and therefore
𝐷𝑥[𝑓(𝑥) · 𝑔(𝑥)] ≠ 𝐷𝑥[𝑓(𝑥)] · 𝐷𝑥[𝑔(𝑥)].
Example:
(a). Find 𝑓’(𝑥) if 𝑓(𝑥) = (3𝑥2 − 4) (𝑥2 − 3𝑥)
Solution:
𝐷𝑥[𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔’(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑓’(𝑥).
𝑓’(𝑥) = (3𝑥2 − 4) 𝐷𝑥(𝑥2 − 3𝑥) + (𝑥2 − 3𝑥)𝐷𝑥(3𝑥2 − 4)
= (3𝑥2 − 4)(2𝑥 − 3) + (𝑥2 − 3𝑥)(6𝑥)
= 6𝑥3 − 9𝑥2 − 8𝑥 + 12 + 6𝑥3 − 18𝑥2
= 12𝑥3 − 27𝑥2 − 8𝑥 + 12.
Remark 3: In the given function (𝑥) = (3𝑥2 − 4) (𝑥2 − 3𝑥), we could have also multiplied the two factors
and get

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(𝑥) = 3𝑥4 − 9𝑥4 − 4𝑥2 + 12𝑥.

Then, by the Rules 2,3 and 4, the derivative of 𝑓 is
𝑓’(𝑥) = 12𝑥3 − 27𝑥2 − 8𝑥 + 12
which is consistent with the one derived from using the product rule.
(b). Find the derivative of the function 𝑦 = (1 − 2𝑥)(2 − 𝑥).
Solution.
By the product rule, [(𝑥) (𝑥)] = (𝑥) 𝑔’(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑓’(𝑥).
𝑦′ = (1 − 2𝑥)′(2 − 𝑥) + (1 − 2𝑥)(2 − 𝑥)′
= −2 ⋅ (2 − 𝑥) + (1 − 2𝑥) ⋅ (−1)
= −4 + 2𝑥 − 1 + 2𝑥
= 4𝑥 − 5.

6. Differentiating Quotients of Two Functions

RULE 6: The Quotient Rule
Let f(x) and (𝑥) be two differentiable functions with (𝑥) ≠ 0. Then
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔′(𝑥)
𝐷𝑥 [ ]=
𝑔(𝑥) [𝑔(𝑥)]2

The rule above states that the derivative of the quotient of two functions is the fraction having as its
denominator the square of the original denominator, and as its numerator the denominator times the
derivative of the numerator minus the numerator times the derivative of the denominator.
Examples:
3𝑥+5
(a) Let ℎ(𝑥) = 2 . Compute h’(x).
𝑥 +4
3𝑥+5
Solution: If ℎ(𝑥) = 2 , then 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 5 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 4 and therefore 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔′ (𝑥) =
𝑥 +4
2𝑥. Thus,
𝑔(𝑥)𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔′(𝑥)
ℎ(𝑥) =
[𝑔(𝑥)]2
2
(𝑥 + 4)(3) − (3𝑥 + 5)(2𝑥)
=
(𝑥 2 + 4)2
3𝑥 + 12 − 6𝑥 2 − 10𝑥
2
=
(𝑥 2 + 4)2
12 − 10𝑥 − 3𝑥 2
=
(𝑥 2 + 4)2

(b) Find 𝑔′(𝑥) if 𝑔 (𝑥) =

Solution:
(3𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 + 1)𝐷𝑥 (2𝑥 4 + 7𝑥 2 − 4) − (2𝑥 4 + 7𝑥 2 − 4)𝐷𝑥 (3𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 + 1)
𝑔′(𝑥) =
(3𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 + 1)2
(3𝑥 + 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 1)(8𝑥 3 + 14𝑥) − (2𝑥 4 + 7𝑥 2 − 4)(154 + 4𝑥 3 − 1)
5 4
=
(3𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 + 1)2
−6𝑥 8 − 63𝑥 6 − 14𝑥 5 + 54𝑥 4 + 24𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 − 8
=
(3𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 + 1)2

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(c) Use the Quotient Rule to find the derivative of

6x 2
𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
2−𝑥
Solution:

7. Differentiating Trigonometric Functions

RULE 7: Derivatives of trigonometric functions
1. 𝐷𝑥(𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 4. 𝐷𝑥(𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑥) = −𝑐𝑠𝑐2 𝑥
2. 𝐷𝑥(𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥) = −𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 5. 𝐷𝑥(𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥) = 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥
3. 𝐷𝑥(𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥) = 𝑠𝑒𝑐2 𝑥 6. 𝐷𝑥(𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑥) = −𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑥
Examples: Differentiate the following functions:
(a) 𝑓(𝑥) = sec 𝑥 + 3 csc 𝑥 (b) 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 sin 𝑥 − 3𝑥 cos 𝑥 + 5 sin 𝑥
Solution: Applying the formulas above, we get

Remark 4:
(a) Whenever Rule 7 is applied to problems where the trigonometric functions are viewed as functions
of angles, the unit measure must be in radians.
(b) Every trigonometric function is differentiable on its domain. In particular, the sine and cosine
functions are everywhere differentiable.

8. Differentiating an Exponential Function

RULE 8: Derivative of an exponential function

𝐼𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒𝑥, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑒𝑥

Examples:
(a) Find 𝑓’(𝑥) if 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑒𝑥
Solution: Apply Rules 3 and 7, we have
𝑓’(𝑥) = 3 𝐷𝑥[𝑒𝑥] = 3𝑒𝑥

(b) Find 𝑔’(𝑥) if 𝑔(𝑥) = −4𝑥2𝑒𝑥 + 5𝑥𝑒𝑥 − 10𝑒𝑥.

Solution: Applying Rule 5 to the first two terms and Rule 3 to the third term, we have
𝑔’(𝑥) = [(−4𝑥2)(𝑒𝑥) + (𝑒𝑥)(−8𝑥)] + [(5𝑥)(𝑒𝑥) + (𝑒𝑥)(5) − 10 ⋅ 𝑒𝑥]
= −4𝑥2𝑒𝑥 – 3𝑥𝑒𝑥 − 5𝑒𝑥

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