Business Mathematics

Lecture 5
Differential Calculus

Prepared By: Dr C.S Marange & Mr R.T Chiruka

University of Fort Hare
Department of Computational Sciences
Issues

A. Monday Class (Laws of Indices)

B. Tutorials and SI Sessions
C. Tutorial Test 1 (Online)
D. Consultations
Differentiation: Topics to be Covered

A. Basic Rules of Differentiation; 1 - 7

B. The Chain Rule
C. The Product and Quotient Rules
D. Higher Order Derivatives
E. Stationary Points
Basic Rules of Differentiation; 1 - 4

1. Derivative of a Constant
2. The Power Rule
3. Derivative of a Constant Multiple Function
4. The Sum Rule
 Introduction

 The function that gives the

gradient of any given curve at
any point is called the gradient
function

 The process of finding the

gradient function is called
differentiating
 Notation
There are lots of ways to denote the derivative of a function y = f(x).

f’(x) - the derivative of f

y’ - y prime
df
dx the derivative of f with respect to x.

dy the derivative of y with respect to x.

dx
d the derivative of f at x
f (x)
dx
dx does not mean d times x !

dy does not mean d times y !


 dy
does not mean dy dx !
dx
(except when it is convenient to think of it as division.)

df
does not mean df dx !
dx
(except when it is convenient to think of it as division.)


d d
f  x  does not mean times f  x !
dx dx
(except when it is convenient to treat it that way.)


 Rule 1: The Power Rule

Rule 1: The Power Rule

 If n is any real number, then

d n
dx
 x  nx n 1
 Rule 1: The Power Rule

Practice Examples:
d
 If f(x) = x, then f ( x )   x  1 x1 1  x 0 1
dx
d 8
 If f(x) = x8, then f ( x ) 
dx
 x  8 x 8 1 8 x 7

d 5/2 5 5/2 1 5 3/2

 If f(x) = x5/2, then f ( x ) 
dx
 x   x
2
 x
2
 Class Work

 Find the derivative of

f ( x)  x

1
f ( x)  3
x
 Rule 1: The Power Rule

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x )  x

d d 1/2
f ( x ) 
dx
 
x  x 
dx

1 1/2 1 1  1/2
 x  x
2 2

1

2 x
 Rule 1: The Power Rule

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x ) 
1
3
x

d  1  d  1/3
f ( x )     x 
dx  x  dx
3

1  1/3 1
 x
3

1  4/3 1
 x  4 / 3
3 3x
 Rule 1: The Power Rule
Practice Examples:

 Differentiate f ( x) 3 x .

Solution:
Rewrite f (x) as a power function, and apply the power
rule: 1/ 3
f ( x)  x
1  2/3 1
f ' ( x)  x 
3 3
3 x 2
 Rule 2: Derivative of a Constant

d
 We will use the notation  f ( x )
dx
 To mean “the derivative of f with respect to x at x.”

Rule 2: Derivative of a constant

d
c  0
dx

 The derivative of a constant function is equal to zero.

 Rule 2: Derivative of a Constant
 We can see geometrically why the derivative of a constant
must be zero.
 The graph of a constant function is a straight line parallel
to the x axis.
 Such a line has a slope that is constant with a value of zero.
 Thus, the derivative of a constant must be zero as well.

f(x) = c

x
Rule 3: Derivative of a Constant Multiple Function

Rule 3: Derivative of a Constant Multiple Function

 If c is any constant real number, then

d d
 cf ( x )  c  f ( x )
dx dx
 Rule 3: Derivative of a Constant Multiple Function

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x ) 5 x 3

d
f ( x )  5 x 3 
dx
d 3
5  x 
dx

5 3x 2 

15 x 2
Rule 3: Derivative of a Constant Multiple Function

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x ) 
3
x

d
f ( x) 
dx
3 x  1/ 2 

 1  3/ 2 
3   x 
 2 

3
 3/ 2
2x
Rule 3: Derivative of a Constant Multiple Function

Practice Examples:
 Differentiate f (x) = 10x3.

Solution:
Apply the constant multiple property and the
power rule.
f ’(x) = 10(3x2) = 30 x2
 Class Work

 Find the derivative of

f ( x) 12 x 4

4
f ( x)  5
x
 Rule 4: The Sum Rule

Rule 4: The Sum Rule

d d d
 f ( x ) g ( x )    f ( x )    g ( x ) 
dx dx dx
 Rule 4: The Sum Rule

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x ) 4 x 5  3x 4  8 x 2  x  3

d
f ( x )  4 x 5  3x 4  8 x 2  x  3
dx
d 5 d 4 d 2 d d
4  x   3  x   8  x    x   3
dx dx dx dx dx

4 5 x 4   3 4 x 3   8 2 x   1  0

20 x 4  12 x 3  16 x  1
 Rule 4: The Sum Rule

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of
t2 5
g (t )   3
5 t

d  t2 5  d  1 2 
g (t )    3    t  5t  3 
dt  5 t  dt  5 
1 d 2 d 3
  t   5 t 
5 dt dt

1
 2t   5  3t  4 
5
2t 15 2t 5  75
  4 
5 t 5t 4
 Rule 4: The Sum Rule
Practice Examples:
Differentiate:
f (x) = 3x5 + x4 – 2x3 + 5x2 – 7x + 4.

Solution:
Apply the sum and difference rules, as well as the
constant multiple property and the power rule.
f ’(x) = 15x4 + 4x3 – 6x2 + 10x – 7.
Thank you