DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

INTRODUCTION DIFFERENTIATION AND APPLICATION

Differential Calculus- is a branch of Increments
mathematics which deals with derivatives and limits. If a variable x changes from one fixed value x1
to another x2, the difference x2 – x1 is called an
The term “calculus” was derived from a Latin increment of x. In general increment may be positive
word “calx” which means “stone” and from a Greek or negative, and denoted by the symbol ∆, read as
word “challis” which means “limestone” delta.
Let y be a continuous, single – valued function
In 1684, a German mathematician and of x denoted by
philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz published his
y = f(x) (1)
early work on calculus, while an English astronomer,
physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton made an If the independent variable changes from the
early study on the subject in 1665 but did not published value x to another value x + ∆x, the function (1) will
his work until 1704. These two mathematicians are now change from y to y + ∆y, thus
considered as founders of today’s calculus.
y + ∆y = f(x + ∆x) (2)
Subtracting (1) from (2), we obtain increment
THEOREMS ON LIMITS of the function.

1. If f(x) = c, a constant, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐. ∆y ≡ ∆f(x) = f(x + ∆x) – f(x)

𝑥→𝑎
Sample Problems:
Let lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐴 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐵 then;
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 1. Determine the increment of the equation y =
x2 – 3x, if x changes from 4 to 4.5.
2. lim 𝑘𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘𝐴 , k being constant 2. Determine the increment of the equation y =
𝑥→𝑎
x2, if x changes from 3 to 5.
3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐴 ± 𝐵.
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 Derivative
The rate of change in value of y with respect
4. lim 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)( lim 𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝐴𝐵. 𝑑𝑦
to the change in value of x. dy/dx or .
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑑𝑥

Procedures for finding the derivative of a

5. lim
𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥)
= 𝑥→𝑎 =
𝐴
, 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝐵 ≠ 0. given function. (Four-Step Rule)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
𝐵

1. Substitute x + ∆x for x and y + ∆y for y in y = f(x).

𝑛 𝑛
2. Subtract y = f(x) from the result of 1 to obtain
lim √𝑓(𝑥) = √ lim √𝑓(𝑥) = √𝐴, 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 √𝐴
𝑛
6. 𝑛 𝑛
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 ∆y in terms of x and ∆x.
3. Divide both side of the answer from 2 by ∆x.
4. Find the limit of 3 as ∆x approaches zero.

L’ HOSPITAL’S RULE (INDETERMINATE TYPE 0/0) Sample Problems:

If a is a number, if f(x) and g(x) are 1. If y =
1 𝑑𝑦
, find for any value of x.
differentiable and g(x) ≠ 0 for all x on some interval 0 𝑥+1 𝑑𝑥
< l x – a l < δ, and if lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 0 , then, 2. Find
𝑑𝑦
, if y = √𝑥
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑑𝑥
𝑓(𝑥)
when lim exists or is infinite, 𝑑𝑦
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) 3. Find in each of the following:
𝑑𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓′(𝑥) a. y = x2 – 5x
lim = lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎 𝑔′(𝑥)
b. y = 2x3 + x
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: c. y = 3/x
Simplify the following Expression/ Evaluate the Assignment: (Submission Monday June 27, 2016)
following Limits.
1. lim
𝑥 2 −16
4. lim(𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 4) List down derivatives of following functions:
𝑥→4 𝑥−4 𝑥→4 1. Algebraic Functions
2. Exponential Functions
𝑥+4 𝑥 2 −1
2. lim 5. lim 3. Logarithmic Functions
𝑥→∞ 𝑥−4 𝑥→1 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥−4
4. Trigonometric Functions
3𝑥 3 −2𝑥+4 𝑥 2 −4
Note: Study your assignment, familiarize derivatives of
3. lim 6. lim the functions listed above.
𝑥→∞ 2−3𝑥 2 −2𝑥 3 𝑥→2 𝑥−2

Differential Calculus
 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS
DERIVATIVES 11.
d
(au ) = au ln a
du
The derivative of a function expresses its rate dx dx
of change with respect to an independent variable. d du
The first derivative of a function is the slope of the 12. (eu ) = eu
dx dx
tangent line to that curve defined by the function.

The following are the derivatives of the different c. Logarithmic Functions:

function.
du
a. Algebraic Functions: d loga e
dc 13. (loga u) = dx
1. =0 dx u
dx
du
d log10 e
2.
d
(u + v) =
du
+
dv 14. (log10 u) = dx
dx dx dx dx u
du
d dv du
3. (uv) =u + v 15.
d
(ln u) = dx
dx dx dx dx u
du dv
d u vdx − udx
4. ( )=
dx v v2
Sample Problems:
d du
5. (un ) = nun−1 1. y = e4x
dx dx
2
du 2. y = e−x
d
6. (√u)= dx 3. y = 32x
dx 2√u
d u 1 du 4. y = 23x
7. ( ) =
dx c c dx
5. y = ln(x 2 − 8)
du
d c cdx 6. y = ln(x − 1)2
8. ( ) =
dx u u2
x−1
dy dy du 7. y = ln√
x+1
9. = ( )
dx du dx 𝑥
8. 𝑦 = log
dy 1 1+𝑥
10. = 𝑑𝑥
dx 9. y = log a (x 2 + 3x)
𝑑𝑦

Sample Problems: 10. 𝑦 = √log x

Find the derivatives of the following function
with respect to x and simplify the results.

1. y = (1 + 3x)5
x+1
2. y=
x+2

3. y = x 2 √1 − x 2
1
4. y=
√4x−3
2
5. y=
x2 −1
4x2 −9
6. y=
2x+3
7. y = x 3 (x + 1)2 (x + 2)
8. y = (5 − 2x)4
9.
3
y = √2x + √3x
10. y = u2 + 6u − 2
u = 4x 2 + 8x + 1
b. Exponential Functions:

Differential Calculus