Differentiation

ECC3011
 Rates of change
This graph shows the distance that a car travels over a period of 5 seconds.

The gradient of the graph tells us the rate at which

the distance changes with respect to time.
distance (m)

40

In other words, the gradient tells us the speed of the

car.
0 time (s) 5

change in distance 40
gradient = = = 8 m/s
change in time 5
The car in this example is travelling at a constant speed since the gradient is the same at
every point on the graph.
 Rates of change
In most situations, however, the speed will not be constant and the distance–time graph
will be curved.
For example, this graph shows the distance–time
graph as the car moves off from rest.

distance (m)
The speed of the car, and therefore the gradient,
changes as you move along the curve.
0 time (s)

To find the rate of change in speed we need to find the gradient of the curve.

The process of finding the rate at which one variable changes with respect to another is
called differentiation.

In most situations this involves finding the gradient of a curve.

Recall that the slope is defined as
the change in Y divided by the
change in X
Δ𝑌 Y2−Y1
slope = =
Δ𝑋 X2−X1

This ratio is also called the

difference quotient.
 Consider the straight line below:
When we move from point (X1,Y1)=(5,20) to
point (X2,Y2)=(12,6), we see that the slope is
Δ𝑌 Y2−Y1 6−20 −14
= = = = -2.
Δ𝑋 X2−X1 12−5 7

Y Note that the negative slope indicates that the

line slopes downward from left to right.

20
6
5 12 X
Let’s consider a line drawn between two points on a
curve. We start at (X0,Y0). Then we change our X value
slightly to X0+ ΔX and our Y value to the corresponding
value, so we are now at (X0+ ΔX, Y0 + ΔY).

Y0
Y0 + ΔY
X0 X0+ ΔX X
 Then ΔY/ ΔX is the slope of the
line connecting the two points.

Y0
Y0 + ΔY
X0 X0+ ΔX X
If we shrink ΔX a bit, our picture looks like this:

Y0
Y0 + ΔY

X0 X0+ ΔX X
 If we make ΔX infinitesimally small,
then X0+ ΔX is virtually identical to X0,
Y0+ ΔY is virtually identical to Y0,
and we are looking at the line tangent to the curve.
Y

Y0

X0 X
So the slope of a curve at a point
is the slope of the line tangent to
the curve at that point.
Y

X
 d𝑌
We define the concept of the derivative
d𝑋
to be the limit of the difference quotient
Δ𝑌
as ΔX approaches zero.
Δ𝑋

d𝑌 Δ𝑌
= lim
d𝑋 ∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋

So the derivative is the slope of the curve at a point.

Let’s calculate the derivative for the function, Y = 3X2.
When X1 = X0, Y1 = 3X02.
When X2 = X0+ ΔX ,
Y2 = 3(X0 + ΔX)2 = 3[X02 + 2X0ΔX + (ΔX)2]
= 3X02 + 6X0ΔX + 3(ΔX)2.
d𝑌 Δ𝑌 𝑌2−𝑌1
Then, = lim = lim
d𝑋 ∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋 ∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋

[3X02 + 6X0ΔX + 3(ΔX)2]−3X02

= lim
∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋

6X0ΔX + 3(ΔX)2
= lim
∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋

= lim [6X0 + 3(ΔX)]

∆𝑋→0
= 6X0 .
 d𝑌
So 6X0 is the derivative of the
d𝑋
function Y = 3X2 evaluated at the
point X0.
In general, we say that for the function
d𝑌
Y= 3X2, the derivative = 6X.
d𝑋
 To calculate derivatives for similar
functions of the form Y = aXn, we use the
power function rule.

d𝑌
If Y = aXn , then = naXn-1.
d𝑋
 Using the power function rule
d𝑌
If Y = aXn , then = naXn-1
d𝑋

Example 1: Y=4X7
d𝑌
= 28X6
d𝑋
Example 2: Y=2X or Y=2X1
d𝑌
= 2(1)X(1-1) = 2X(0) = 2
d𝑋
Example 3: Y=5X-3
d𝑌
= -3(5)X(-3-1) = -15X-4 = -15/X4
d𝑋
 More practice with the power function rule
d𝑌
If Y = aXn , then = naXn-1
d𝑋

Example 4: Y=6X2/3
d𝑌
= (2/3)(6)X[(2/3)-1] = 4X-1/3 = 4/X1/3.
d𝑋
Example 5: Y=7X0.6
d𝑌
= (0.6)(7)X(0.6-1) = 4.2X-0.4 = 4.2/X0.4.
d𝑋
 What is the derivative of
a constant function Y = k
(example: Y = 4)?

Recall the definition of the derivative:

d𝑌 Δ𝑌
= lim
d𝑋 ∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋
d𝑌 Δ𝑌 0
So, = lim = lim = lim 0 = 0
d𝑋 ∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋 ∆𝑋→0 Δ𝑋 ∆𝑋→0

So the derivative of a constant is 0.

 Notation

If Y = f(X), we sometimes we denote

d𝑌
the derivative as f'(X) .
d𝑋
 The derivative of the sum of functions
Y = 𝑓(𝑋) + 𝑔 𝑋
is the sum of the derivatives of the functions.

d𝑌 d
That is, = [𝑓(𝑋) + 𝑔 𝑋 ] = 𝑓′(𝑋) + 𝑔′ 𝑋
d𝑋 d𝑋

Similarly for differences: if Y = 𝑓 𝑋 − 𝑔 𝑋 ,

d𝑌 d
= [𝑓 𝑋 − 𝑔 𝑋 ] = 𝑓′ 𝑋 − 𝑔′ 𝑋
d𝑋 d𝑋
Example: Determine the derivative of
Y = 6 + 2X3 + 4X5

d𝑌
= 0 + 6 X2 + 20 X4
d𝑋
= 6 X2 + 20 X4
 Note that the derivative of the
product of functions
d
[𝑓(𝑋)𝑔 𝑋 ] does NOT equal the
d𝑋
product of the derivatives
𝑓′(𝑋)𝑔′ 𝑋 .
There is a special product rule for determining
the derivative of the product of functions.
(We will not be examining that here.)
 We have touched on a very small
part of differential calculus.
There is also a quotient rule for the derivative
of the quotient of two functions.
There is a chain rule for the derivative of a
function of a function.
There are rules for the derivatives of
exponential functions, logarithmic functions,
and trigonometric functions.
 Four Basic Rules

 We’ve learned that to find the rule for the derivative f ′of a
function f, we first find the difference quotient

f ( x  h)  f ( x)
lim
h0 h

 But this method is tedious and time consuming, even for

relatively simple functions.
 This chapter we will develop rules that will simplify the
process of finding the derivative of a function.
 Rule 1: 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 1: Derivative of a constant

d
c  0
dx

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

 Rule 1: 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 1: Derivative of a Constant
 We can use the definition of the derivative to
demonstrate this:

f ( x  h)  f ( x)
f ( x )  lim
h0 h
cc
 lim
h0 h

 lim 0
h0
0
 Rule 2: The Power Rule

Rule 2: The Power Rule

 If n is any real number, then

d n
dx
 x   nx n 1
 Rule 2: The Power Rule

 Lets verify this rule for the special case of n = 2.

 If f(x) = x2, then

f ( x  h)  f ( x)
f ( x ) 
d 2
dx
 x   lim
h0 h

( x  h )2  x 2 x 2  2 xh  h 2  x 2
 lim  lim
h0 h h0 h

2 xh  h 2 h(2 x  h )
 lim  lim
h0 h h0 h

 lim(2 x  h )  2 x
h0
 Rule 2: The Power Rule

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

 If f(x) = x8, then f ( x ) 

d 8
dx
 x   8  x81  8 x 7

 If f(x) = x5/2, then f ( x ) 

dx

d 5/2
x  x
5 5/21 5 3/2
2
 x
2

Example 2, page 159

 Rule 2: The Power Rule

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

f ( x ) 
d
dx
 
x  x 
d 1/2
dx

1 1/21 1 1/2
 x  x
2 2

1

2 x

Example 3, page 159

 Rule 2: The Power Rule

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

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

1
  x 1/31
3

1 4 / 3 1
 x   4/3
3 3x

Example 3, page 159

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 )  5x
3

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

 5  3x 2 

 15 x 2

Example 4, page 160

 Rule 3: Derivative of a Constant Multiple Function

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

f ( x) 
d
dx
 3x 1/ 2 

 1 3/ 2 
 3  x 
 2 

3

2 x 3/ 2

Example 4, page 160

 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

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

 4  x   3  x   8  x    x    3
d 5 d 4 d 2 d d
dx dx dx dx dx

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

 20 x 4  12 x 3  16 x  1

Example 5, page 161

 Rule 4: The Sum Rule

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

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

  t   5 t 
1 d 2 d 3
5 dt dt

 2t   5  3t 4 
1

5
2t 15 2t 5  75
  4 
5 t 5t 4
Example 5, page 161
 Applied Example: Conservation of a Species
 A group of marine biologists at the Temerloh Institute of
Oceanography recommended that a series of conservation
measures be carried out over the next decade to save a
certain species of whale from extinction.
 After implementing the conservation measure, the
population of this species is expected to be
N (t )  3t 3  2t 2  10t  600 (0  t  10)
where N(t) denotes the population at the end of year t.
 Find the rate of growth of the whale population when
t = 2 and t = 6.
 How large will the whale population be 8 years after
implementing the conservation measures?

Applied Example 7, page 162

 Applied Example: Conservation of a Species
Solution
 The rate of growth of the whale population at any time t is
given by
N (t )  9t 2  4t  10
 In particular, for t = 2, we have

N (2)  9  2   4  2   10  34
2

 And for t = 6, we have

N (6)  9  6  4  6  10  338
2

 Thus, the whale population’s rate of growth will be 34

whales per year after 2 years and 338 per year after 6 years.

Applied Example 7, page 162

 Applied Example: Conservation of a Species
Solution
 The whale population at the end of the eighth year will be

N 8  3 8  2 8  10 8  600

3 2

 2184 whales

Applied Example 7, page 162

The Product and Quotient Rules

d
 f ( x) g ( x)  f ( x) g ( x)  g ( x) f ( x)
dx

d  f ( x )  g ( x ) f ( x )  f ( x) g ( x)
  
dx  g ( x )   
g ( x )
2
 Rule 5: The Product Rule

 The derivative of the product of two differentiable

functions is given by

d
 f ( x) g ( x)  f ( x) g ( x)  g ( x) f ( x)
dx
 Rule 5: The Product Rule

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x )   2 x 2  1 x 3  3

f ( x )   2 x 2  1      2 x 2  1
d 3 d
x  3  x 3
 3
dx dx

  2 x 2  1 3x 2    x 3  3  4 x 

 6 x 4  3x 2  4 x 4  12 x
 x 10 x 3  3x  12 

Example 1, page 172

 Rule 5: The Product Rule

Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x )  x
3
 x 1 
f ( x )  x
3

dx

d 1/2
x  1   x  1 x
1/2 d 3
dx
1 
 x 3  x 1/2    x1/2  1 3x 2
2 

1 5/2
 x  3x 5/2  3x 2
2
7
 x 5/2  3x 2
2

Example 2, page 172

 Rule 6: The Quotient Rule

 The derivative of the quotient of two differentiable

functions is given by

d  f ( x)  g ( x) f ( x)  f ( x) g ( x)
    g  x   0
 
2
dx  g ( x)  g ( x )
 Rule 6: The Quotient Rule

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

d d
 2 x  4 ( x)  x  2 x  4 
f ( x )  dx dx
  
2
2 x 4


 2 x  4 1  x  2 
  
2
2 x 4

2x  4  2x 4
 
 2 x  4  2 x  4
2 2

Example 3, page 173

 Rule 6: The Quotient Rule

Practice Examples:
x2  1
 Find the derivative of f ( x)  2
x 1

 x  1 dx  x  1   x  1 dx  x  1
2 d 2 2 d 2
f ( x ) 
 x  1
2 2


 x 2
 1  2 x    x 2  1  2 x 
x  1
2 2

2 x3  2 x  2 x3  2 x 4x
 
x  1 x  1
2 2 2 2

Example 4, page 173

 Applied Example: Rate of Change of decomposition
of bulk chemicals
 The decomposition rate of a type of bulk chemical, t years
from the time of release is given by
5t
S (t )  2
t 1
 Find the rate at which the decomposition are changing at
time t.
 How fast are the decomposition changing at:
✦ The time the bulk chemicals are released (t = 0)?
✦ And two years from the time of release (t = 2)?

Applied Example 6, page 174

 Solution
 The rate of change at which the decomposition are
changing at time t is given by
d  5t 
S (t )   2 
dt  t  1 


 t 2
 1  5   5t  2t 
t  1
2 2

5t  5  10t
2 2 5 1  t 2 
 
t  1 t  1
2 2 2 2

Applied Example 6, page 174

 Solution
 The rate of change at which the sales are changing when
the bulk chemicals are released (t = 0) is

5 1   0   5 1
 2

S (0)    5
1
2 2
 0   1
2
 

That is, decomposition rate are increasing by 5 per year.

Applied Example 6, page 174

 Solution
 The rate of change two years after the bulk chemicals are
released (t = 2) is

5 1   2   5 1  4 
 2

S (2)    
15 3
     0.6
 4  1
2 2
 2   1
2 25 5
 

That is, decomposition rate are decreasing by -0.6 per

year.

Applied Example 6, page 174

The Chain Rule

d
h( x )  g  f ( x )   g  f ( x ) f ( x )
dx
dy dy du
 
dx du dx
 Deriving Composite Functions

 
2
 Consider the function h( x )  x  x  1
2

 To compute h′(x), we can first expand h(x)

h( x )   x  x  1   x 2  x  1 x 2  x  1
2 2

 x 4  2 x 3  3x 2  2 x  1
and then derive the resulting polynomial

h( x)  4 x 3  6 x 2  6 x  2

 But how should we derive a function like H(x)?

H ( x )   x  x  1
2 100
 Deriving Composite Functions

Note that H ( x )   x  x  1
2 100
is a composite function:
 H(x) is composed of two simpler functions

f ( x)  x 2  x  1 and g ( x)  x100
 So that

H ( x )  g  f ( x )   f ( x )   x  x  1
100 2 100

 We can use this to find the derivative of H(x).

 Deriving Composite Functions
To find the derivative of the composite function H(x):
 We let u = f(x) = x2 + x + 1 and y = g(u) = u100.
 Then we find the derivatives of each of these functions
du dy
 f ( x )  2 x  1 and  g (u)  100u 99
dx du
 The ratios of these derivatives suggest that

dy dy du
   100u 99  2 x  1
dx du dx

 Substituting x2 + x + 1 for u we get

 100  x  x  1  2 x  1
dy 99
H ( x )  2

dx
 Rule 7: The Chain Rule

 If h(x) = g[f(x)], then

d
h( x)  g  f ( x)   g   f ( x)  f ( x)
dx
 Equivalently, if we write y = h(x) = g(u),
where u = f(x), then
dy dy du
 
dx du dx
 The Chain Rule for Power Functions

 Many composite functions have the special form

h(x) = g[f(x)]
where g is defined by the rule
g(x) = xn (n, a real number)
so that
h(x) = [f(x)]n
 In other words, the function h is given by the power of a
function f.
 Examples:

h( x )   x  x  1
100 1
2
H ( x)  G( x )  2 x 2  3
5  x 
3 3
 The General Power Rule

 If the function f is differentiable and

h(x) = [f(x)]n (n, a real number),
then
d
h( x )   f ( x )  n  f ( x ) f ( x )
n n 1

dx
 The General Power Rule
Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of G( x )  x 2  1
Solution
 Rewrite as a power function: G( x )   x  1
2 1/2

 Apply the general power rule:

G( x )   x  1   1
1 2 1/2 d 2
x
2 dx
  x  1  2 x 
1 2 1/2

2
x

x2  1

Example 2, page 184

 The General Power Rule
Practice Examples:
 Find the derivative of f ( x )  x  2 x  3
2 5

Solution
 Apply the product rule and the general power rule:

d 5 d
f ( x )  x 2  2 x  3   2 x  3 x 2
5

dx dx
 x  5 2 x  3  2    2 x  3  2  x
2 4 5

 10 x 2  2 x  3  2 x  2 x  3
4 5

 2 x  2 x  3  5 x  2 x  3
4

 2 x  2 x  3  7 x  3
4

Example 3, page 185

 The General Power Rule
Practice Examples:
1
 Find the derivative of f ( x ) 
4x  7
2 2

Solution
f ( x)   4 x  7  2 2
 Rewrite as a power function:
 Apply the general power rule:

f ( x)  2  4 x  7 
3
2
8 x 
16 x

4x  7
2 3

Example 5, page 186

 The General Power Rule
Practice Examples:

3
 2 x 1 
 Find the derivative of f ( x )   
 3 x  2 
Solution
 Apply the general power rule and the quotient rule:

 2x  1  d  2x  1 
2


f ( x)  3    
 3 x  2  dx  3 x  2 

 2x  1 
2
  3x  2  2    2 x  1 3 
 3   
    3x  2 
2
3 x 2  

 2 x  1  6 x  4  6 x  3 3  2 x  1
 
2 2

 3   
 3x  2    3x  2     
2 4
3 x 2
Example 6, page 186
 Applied Problem: Arteriosclerosis

 Arteriosclerosis begins during childhood when plaque

forms in the arterial walls, blocking the flow of blood
through the arteries and leading to heart attacks, stroke
and gangrene.

Applied Example 8, page 188

 Applied Problem: Arteriosclerosis

 Suppose the idealized cross section of the aorta is circular

with radius a cm and by year t the thickness of the plaque is
h = g(t) cm
then the area of the opening is given by
A = p (a – h)2 cm2
 Further suppose the radius of an individual’s artery is 1 cm
(a = 1) and the thickness of the plaque in year t is given by
h = g(t) = 1 – 0.01(10,000 – t2)1/2 cm

Applied Example 8, page 188

 Applied Problem: Arteriosclerosis
 Then we can use these functions for h and A
h = g(t) = 1 – 0.01(10,000 – t2)1/2 A = f(h) = p (1 – h)2
to find a function that gives us the rate at which A is
changing with respect to time by applying the chain rule:
dA dA dh
   f (h)  g (t )
dt dh dt
 1 
 2p (1  h )( 1)  0.01   10,000  t  ( 2t ) 
2 1/2

 2 
 0.01t 
 2p (1  h )  
 10,000  t 2  
1/2

 
0.02p (1  h )t

10,000  t 2
Applied Example 8, page 188
 Applied Problem: Arteriosclerosis
 For example, at age 50 (t = 50),

h  g (50)  1  0.01(10,000  2500)1/2  0.134

 So that

dA 0.02p (1  0.134)50
  0.03
dt 10,000  2500
 That is, the area of the arterial opening is decreasing at the
rate of 0.03 cm2 per year for a typical 50 year old.

Applied Example 8, page 188