Differentiation 9

Second Derivative

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Differentiation
Second Derivative
When a function y=x3+x2-3x+6 is differentiated
with respect to x, the derivative

dy
= 3x 2 + 2x − 3
dx

dy
The second function can be differentiated
dx
again with respect to x. This is called the second
derivative of y with respect to x and can be
d2 y
written as .
dx 2

2
d2 y  dy 
Take note that ≠ is not the same as
dx 2  dx 
2
 dy 
 dx  .
 

For example,
If y=4x3 – 7x2 +5x -1,
dy
The first derivative = 12x 2 − 14x + 5
dx
d2 y
The second derivative = 24x − 14
dx 2

Example 1
Find the second derivative of the following
2
a) y = 3
x
b)=y (3x − 1)9
2x 3 + x
c) y =
x2
x +1
d) y =
x −1

d2 y 24 d2 y
[Ans: (a) = ; =
(b) 648(3x − 1)7 ;
dx 2 x 5 dx 2
d2 y 2 d2 y 4
(c) = ; (d) = ]
dx 2
x 3
dx 2
(x − 1)3

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Differentiation
Example 2 Example 4
2 d2 y dy
Given that f(x) = , Given y =x(6 − x), express y +x + 18
(3x − 5)2 dx 2
dx
evaluate f''(1) in terms of x in the simplest form. Hence,
[Clone SPM 2005] find the value of x which satisfies the equation
d2 y dy
y 2
+x + 18 =
0
dx dx

[Ans: -6x + 18; 3]

[Ans: 6.75]
Example 5
Example 3
x2 dy x 2 + 6x
2x 2 + 3 d2 y dy Given that y= , show that = .
If y= , prove x 2 2 + x =
y. x+3 dx (x + 3)2
x dx dx
d2 y
Find in the simplest form.
dx 2

d2 y 18
[Ans: = ]
dx 2
(x + 3)3

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