Differentiation Techniques Summary

Function

Derivative

ax n

nax n 1

ax n + bx m

nax n 1 + bmx m1

(ax + b) n

an(ax + b) n 1

[ f ( x)]n

n[ f ( x)]

n1

[ f ' ( x )]

sin[ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x)]cos[ f ( x)]

cos[ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x)]sin[ f ( x)]

tan[ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x)]sec 2 [ f ( x)]

cos ec[ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x)]cos ec[ f ( x)]cot[ f ( x)]

sec[ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x)]sec[ f ( x)] tan[ f ( x)]

cot[ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x)]cos ec 2 [ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x)]
2
1 [ f ( x )]

sin 1 [ f ( x)]

cos 1 [ f ( x)]

tan 1 [ f ( x)]

[ f ' ( x )]
2
1 [ f ( x )]

[ f ' ( x )]
2
1 + [ f ( x )]

Function

Derivative

a f ( x)

a f ( x ) (ln a) f ' ( x)

e f ( x)

f ' ( x )e f ( x )

ln f ( x)

f ' ( x)
f ( x)

Product Rule:

Quotient Rule:

d u
=
dx v

d
dv
du
(uv) = u + v
dx
dx
dx

du
dv
u
dx
dx
2
v

Implicit Differentiation:
d
d
dy
f ( y) =
f ' ( y)
dx
dy
dx

Knowledge of proving specific differential identities:

d
1
(tan 1 x) =
dx
1+ x2
Let y = tan 1 x , then tan y = x

1. Show that

Differentiating both sides wrt x gives sec 2 y

dy
dy
1
=1
=
dx
dx sec 2 y

dy
1
1
=
=
2
dx 1 + tan y 1 + x 2

(Similar approaches shall be taken for proving the derivatives of sin 1 x and cos 1 x)

d x
(a ) = (ln a )(a x )
dx
x
Let y = a , then ln y = x ln a

2. Show that

 1 dy
dy
Differentiating both sides wrt x gives = ln a
= y (ln a)
dx
y dx
dy

= (a x )(ln a ) (shown)
dx
!ote that many other variations can surface within the examinations, where
techniques like implicit differentiation, product rule or quotient rule may have to be
employed.
Manipulation of derivatives to achieve targeted differential equations:
Example: If y = e x ln x, (a) Find

dy
.
dx

(b) Show that x

d 2 y dy
+
(1 + x) y = 2e x
2
dx
dx

SOLUTIO!S :
dy
1
1
= e x + e x ln x = e x + y
dx
x
x

d2y
1
1 dy
= ex ex 2 +
2
dx
x
x dx
d2y
dy
1
1
= ex ex + x
= e x e x + e x + xy
2
dx
dx
x
x
d2y
1
x 2 + e x xy = 2e x
dx
x

d 2 y dy
+
y xy = 2e x
2
dx
dx

d 2 y dy
+
(1 + x) y = 2e x (shown)
2
dx
dx