Notation for Differentiation

There are two main types of notation used to denote the derivative of a function.

Lagrange’s Notation is to write the derivative of the function f (x) as

f 0 (x)
Leibniz’s Notation is to write the derivative of the function f as
df
dx

Two other notations are worth mentioning

Newton’s Notation is to write the derivative of y using a dot

ẏ

Euler’s Notation is to use a capital D i.e.

Dx f (x)

The Lagrange and Leibniz notation will be considered in some situations in-
volving differentiation. It may be that the comments are influenced too much
by the particular methods of teaching received by the author. Any further
comments are welcome.
1. Functions of a single variable
(a) Basic

Lagrange Leibniz

Function f (x) f

df
Derivative f 0 (x)
dx

00 d2 f
2nd Derivative f (x)
dx2

dn f
Higher Derivative f (n) (x)
dxn

Z
Integral f (x) dx

Comments For the higher derivatives the (n) is a little cumbersome

and can possible be mistaken for an index. An integral is rarely seen
without a dx so there is no entry in the Lagrange Column.
(b) Differentiation Rules

Product Rule

Lagrange [u(x)v(x)]0 = u(x)v 0 (x) + v(x)u0 (x)

d dv du
Leibniz [uv] = u + v
dx dx dx

Comments The Leibniz notation is probably more common here.

Chain Rule

Lagrange f [g(x)]0 = f 0 [g(x)] × g 0 (x)

d df dg
Leibniz [f (g(x))] = ×
dx dg dx

Comments Neither set looks ’comfortable in its entirety. The most

d
comfortable may be a mixture such as [f (g(x))] = f 0 [g(x)] × g 0 (x)
dx

Implicit Differentiation (say of x2 f + sin(xf ) = 0)

Lagrange x2 f 0 (x) + 2x f (x) + cos[x f (x)][f (x) + xf 0 (x)] = 0

df df
Leibniz x2 + 2xf + cos(xf )(f + x ) = 0
dx dx

Comments The Leibniz notation looks more natural here.

Logarithmic Differentiation (say of f = (x + 1)5 (sin x)7 (x2 − 1)4 )

f 0 (x) 5 8x
Lagrange = + 7 cot x + 2
f (x) x+1 x −1

1 df 5 8x
Leibniz = + 7 cot x + 2
f dx x + 1 x −1

Comments Not a great deal to choose between them here.

Parametric Differentiation (say of f = t + sin t, t2 − cos t)

Lagrange f 0 (t) = 1 + cos t; x0 (t) = 2t + sin t

1 + cos t
f 0 (x) =
2t + sin t

df dx
Leibniz = 1 + cos t; = 2t + sin t
dt dt
df 1 + cos t
=
dx 2t + sin t

Comments The Leibniz notation seems to cope better with the different
variables.
(c) Integration

Integration by parts
Z Z
0
Lagrange u(x)v (x) dx = u(x)v(x) − v(x)u0 (x) dx

Z Z
dv du
Leibniz u dx = u × v − v dx
dx dx

Comments The Lagrange notation is certainly more common here.

Arc Length
Z bp
Lagrange 1 + [f 0 (x)]2 dx
a

s µ ¶2
Z b
df
Leibniz 1+ dx
a dx

Comments Not a great deal to choose between the two.

(d) Other

Differential Equations

Lagrange f 0 (x) + 2xf (x) = x2 sin x

df
Leibniz + 2xf = x2 sin x
dx
 Comments The Leibniz notation is more common here. The application
to separable equations may be seen as a gimic by some.

Taylor Series

Lagrange f (x) = f (a) + (x − a)f 0 (a) + 12 f 00 (a) + . . .

¯ ¯
df ¯¯ d 2 ¯
f
Leibniz f = f |x=a + (x − a) ¯ + 1 (x − a)2 2 ¯¯ + ...
dx x=a 2 dx x=a

Comments The Lagrange notation is certainly more common here.

2. Functions of Two Variables

(a) Basic
Lagrange Leibniz

Function f (x, y) f

∂f ∂f
Derivative fx , fy ,
∂x ∂y

∂ 2f ∂ 2f ∂ 2f
2nd Derivative fxx , fxy , fyy , ,
∂x2 ∂xy ∂y 2

∂ 5f
Higher Derivative fxxxyy
∂x3 y 2

Comments A long series of subscripts can start to look a bit clumsy.

(b) Other

Chain Rule

Lagrange f 0 (x) = f 0 (u)u0 (x) + f 0 (v)v 0 (x)

∂f ∂f ∂u ∂f ∂v
Leibniz = +
∂x ∂u ∂x ∂v ∂x

Comments Both notations are used commonly

Jacobian (in double integral)

Lagrange x0 (u)y 0 (v) − x0 (v)y 0 (u)

∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
Leibniz −
∂v ∂v ∂v ∂u

Comments The Liebniz notation is certainly more common here.

Taylor Series

Lagrange f (x, y) = f (x0 , y0 ) + (x − x0 )fx (x0 , y0 ) + (y − y0 )fy (x0 , y0 )+

1
£
2 (x − x0 )2 fx x(x0 , y0¤) + (x − x0 )(y − y0 )fx y(x0 , y0 )+
+(y − y0 )2 fy y(x0 , y0 ) + . . .

¯ ¯
∂f ¯¯ ∂f ¯¯
Leibniz f = f |x=x0 ,y=y0 + (x − x0 ) + (y − y0 ) +
∂x ¯x=x0 ,y=y0 ∂y ¯x=x0 ,y=y0
" ¯ ¯
2 ¯ 2 ¯
1 2 ∂ f ¯ ∂ f ¯
2 (x − x0 ) ∂x2 ¯ + 2(x − x0 )(y − y0 )
∂xy ¯x=x0 ,y=y0
x=x0 ,y=y#
0
2 ¯
¯
∂ f
+(y − y0 )2 2 ¯¯ + ...
∂y x=x0 ,y=y0

Comments The Lagrange notation looks more comfortable here.

Partial Differential Equation

Lagrange x2 fx − 2xyfy = 1

∂f ∂f
Leibniz x2 − 2xy =1
∂x ∂f

Comments Again, the Liebniz notation is certainly more common here.

 Checking PDE
Solution

1
Lagrange fx = 2xyg 0 (x2 y) +
x2
fy = x2 g 0 (x2 y)

∂f ∂g(x2 y) 1
Leibniz = 2xy 2
+ 2
∂x ∂(x y) x
2
∂f ∂g(x y)
= x2
∂y ∂(x2 y)

Comments The Leibniz notation is having difficulty here with terms

∂g(x2 y)
such as being extremely clumsy.
∂(x2 y)

In general, the Leibniz notation rests more comfortably with these examples.
However, there were several cases where the Lagrange notation had a slight
advantage. For the final case of checking the solution of a partial differential
equation, this was a large and significant advantage.