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ADMATHS

SECTION: CALCULUS

LESSON 15: PRODUCT RULE AND QUOTIENT RULE

PRODUCT RULE

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

In words: The derivative of the product of two functions is the derivative of

the first function times the second function plus the first function times the
derivative of the second function.

EXAMPLE 1

dy
If y  (5x  3)(2x3  4x 2  x  7), determine
dx

ANSWER

It is clear that the function is given as the product of two functions.

Let f(x)  5x  3  f (x)  5
and g(x)  2x3  4x 2  x  7  g(x)  6x 2  8x  1

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

d 
 (5x  3)(2x 3  4x 2  x  7)
dx  

d  d
  (5x  3) (2x 3  4x 2  x  7)  (5x  3) (2x 3  4x 2  x  7)
 dx  dx

 5  (2x3  4x 2  x  7)  (5x  3)(6x 2  8x  1)

 Do not simplify unless you are asked to do so! 

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EXAMPLE 2

d 3
Determine (x  2x 2  x  1)(3x  1)3
dx

ANSWER

From the outside we have the product of two functions – so product rule.
Let f(x)  x3  2x 2  x  1  f (x)  3x 2  4x  1
and g(x)  (3x  1)3  g(x)  3(3x  1)2 (3) Careful! Chain rule within
product rule!
Apply the product rule:

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

dy  3
 (x  2x 2  x  1) (3x  1)3 
dx  

d  d
  (x 3  2x 2  x  1) . (3x  1)3  (x 3  2x 2  x  1) (3x  1)3
 dx  dx

 (3x 2  4x  1)(3x  1)3  (x 3  2x 2  x  1) [3(3x  1)2 (3)]

 (3x 2  4x  1)(3x  1)3  9(x 3  2x 2  x  1)(3x  1)2

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EXAMPLE 3

dy
If y  4x3 2x  1 , find
dx

ANSWER

Again we see the product rule:

Let f(x)  4x3  f (x)  12x 2
1 1 1
and g(x)  2x  1  (2x  1) 2  g(x)  (2x  1) 2 . 2 Chain rule.
2

dy d
  [f(x) . g(x)]
dx dx Not necessary to show
 f (x) . g(x)  f(x) . g(x) these steps.
1 1
 12x 2 . 2x  1  4x 3 . (2x  1) 2 . 2
2
4x3
 12x 2
2x  1 
2x  1

OR

(without the f(x) and g(x) notation)

dy d d
  (4x3 ) . 2x  1  4x 3 . ( 2x  1)
dx dx dx
1 1
 12x 2 . 2x  1  4x 3 . (2x  1) 2 . 2
2
4x3
 12x 2
2x  1 
2x  1

©2016 AdMaths C15

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EXAMPLE 4

Determine the equation of the tangent to the graph y  x x 2  5 at the

point where x is 3.

ANSWER

1
y  x . x 2  5  x (x 2  5) 2 ..............
1
Gradient of tangent: dy 2 1
1. x 5 x . (x 2 5) 2 . 2x
dx 2
2 x2
m x 5
x2 5

2 32
Gradient of tangent if x 3: m 3 5
32 5
9
4
4
9
2
2
6,5

Let equation of tangent be: y  mx  c

 y  6,5x  c..........................

Substitute x  3 into

 y  3 32  5  3  4  3  2  6

 (3 ; 6) is a point on the graph and tangent. (It is the point of contact.)

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Substitute (3 ; 6) into

 6  6,5(3)  c

 c  6  19,5   13,5

 Equation of tangent: y  6,5x  13,5

EXERCISE 1

1. Differentiate each of the following: (Simplfy your answers.)

1.1 y  (2x  3) (x 2  x  9)

1.2 f(x)   x3 (4x  1)5

 2 
1.3 y  x2   7
 x 
 
1.4 f(x)  ( 3 x  6) (3x  2)4

2. Find the gradient of the tangent to f(x)  x2 2x  1 at x  4 .

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QUOTIENT RULE

d  f(x)  f  (x) . g(x)  f(x) . g(x)


dx  g(x)  [g(x)]2

In words: The derivative of the quotient of two functions is the derivative of

the top function times the bottom function, minus the top function times the
derivative of the bottom function, divided by the square of the bottom function.

EXAMPLE 5

2x  1 dy
If y  , find .
4x  5 dx

ANSWER

It is clear that the function is the quotient of two functions.

Let f(x)  2x  1  f (x)  2

and g(x)  4x  5  g(x)  4
dy d  f(x)  f (x)g(x)  f(x)g(x)
 
dx dx  g(x)  [g(x)]2
dy 2(4x  5)  (2x  1) 4
 
dx (4x  5)2
8x  10  8x  4

(4x  5)2
14

(4x  5)2

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EXAMPLE 6

2x  1
Given f(x) 
4x  5

Determine…

6.1 f '(x)

6.2 the gradient of the tangent to f(x) at x  1.

ANSWER

NOTE:

This is first the chain rule(derivative of the outer function in terms of the inner
function) and then the quotient rule .

6.1 2x  1
f(x) 
4x  5
1
 2x  1  2 Chain rule
f(x)   
 4x  5 
1
 Quotient rule
1  2x  1   2(4x  5)  4(2x  1) 
2
f '(x)   4x  5   
2    (4x  5)2 
1 4x  5  14 
  
2 2x  1  (4x  5)2  1 1
a 2 b 2 b
b a a

14(1)  5  14 
6.2 f '(1)   
22(1)  1  (4(1)  5)2 
1 14 
 (3)  
2  81
7 7
  Gradient of the tangent is .
27 27

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EXERCISE 2

1. Differentiate each of the following:

x3
1.1 y 
2x  1

2
x3
1.2 y   
 2x  1 

x3
1.3 f(x) 
8  x2

4x  5
1.4 f(x) 
2x  3

x
2. Find the equation of the tangent to f(x)  at x  3.
x2

STATIONARY POINTS OF A FUNCTION

 A curve f is stationary at x  k if f '(k)  0.

(The derivative is zero at the stationary points.)

 f '(x)  0 at the turning points  f '( 2)  0 and f '(12)  0

f x

12
2 x

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GRADIENT OF A FUNCTION

The gradient (or derivative) of the function f  x  :

 f '(x) > 0 where the function is increasing (positive gradient)

 f '(x) < 0 where the function is decreasing (negative gradient)

EXAMPLE 7

x2  2
f(x) 
2x  1

For which values of x is the function decreasing?

ANSWER

2x(2x  1)  (x 2  2)(2)
f '(x) 
(2x  1)2
4x 2  2x  2x 2  4

(2x  1)2
2x 2  2x  4

(2x  1)2
2(x 2  x  2)

(2x  1)2

Decreasing means f (x)  0

2(x  2)(x  1) (negative gradient).
0
(2x  1)2
1   ? 
 (x  2)(x  1)  0 and x  1
2 1 2
2
1
 1  x  2 and x 
2

NOTE:

It is better to not to talk about f(x) and g(x) now, but rather top function and
bottom function, because the fraction is called f(x).

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EXAMPLE 8

Determine the stationary points on the curve.

y  (x2  3) 5  x

(Give coordinates correct to 2 decimal numbers.)

ANSWER

(4,14 ; 13,11)
y  (x2  3) 5  x

(0,14 ;  6,76)

1
y  (x  3) (5 
2
x) 2

1 1
dy 1 
  2x(5  x) 2  (x 2  3)  (5  x) 2 ( 1)
dx 2

x2  3
 2x 5  x 
2 5x

dy x2  3
Stationary points where  0  2x 5  x 
dx 2 5x

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 2 5x 4x (5  x)  x 2  3

20x  4x 2  x 2  3

x 2  3  20x  4x 2  0

5x 2  20x  3  0

  b2  4ac

 ( 20)2  4(5) ( 3)

 400  60
 460

5x 2  20x  3  0

b  b2  4ac
x 
2a

 20  ( 20)2  4(5)( 3)


2(5)

 20  460

10
 4,14 or  0,14

Substitute x  4,14 into :

1
y  (4,14)  3  (5 
2
4,14) 2
 
 13,11

Substitute x   0,14 into :

1
y  (0,14)2  3  5  ( 0,14) 2
 
  6,76

 Stationary points at (4,14 ; 13,11) and ( 0,14 ;  6,76)

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EXAMPLE 9

3x 2  4
f(x) 
x6

9.1 Determine f '(x) and simplify.

9.2 For which values of x is the function increasing?

9.3 When is the function not differentiable?

ANSWER

NOTE:

You will learn in grade 12 how to draw these graphs.

9.1
3x 2  4
f(x) 
x6

x  6

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6x (x  6)  (3x 2  4) (1)
f '(x) 
(x  6)2

6x 2  36x  3x 2  4

(x  6)2

3x 2  36x  4

(x  6)2

3x 2  36x  4
9. 2   0 Function is increasing where f '(x)  0.
(x  6)
2

Zeros:

Consider 3x2  36x  4  0 f '(x)  0  stationary points of f(x) .

 b  b2  4ac
x 
2a

36  362  4(3)(4)


2  3

36  1 248

6
  0,11 or  11,89

3x 2  36x  4
  0
(x  6)2
 0  ?  0 
 
11,89 6 0,11
 x   11,89 or x   0,11
(See sketch.)

9.3 The function’s derivative namely f '(x) does not exist at x   6 ,

because division by 0 is undefined  not differentiable at x   6.

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EXERCISE 3

4  x2
Given: f(x) 
x2

Find…

1. f '(x) and simplify

2. the x-coordinates of the stationary point(s) of f(x)

3. for which values of x is f(x) increasing

4. where f(x) is not differentiable.

(Give coordinates correct to 2 decimal numbers.)

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HOMEWORK C15: PRODUCT RULE AND QUOTIENT RULE

 Do not simplify or factorise answers if not specifically asked to do so.

 Leave answers in surd form and with positive exponents where

applicable.

dy
1. If y  (6x  1) (5x3  2x 2  4x  9) , determine
dx

2. If f(x)  x3 (7x5  x3  8x), determine f '(x)

3. Differentiate the following:

3.1 x 4 (6x  5)3 (Factorise your answer.)

3.2 (a  2) (4a2  a  1)3

3.3 2t 3t  4 (Simplify your answer.)

dy
4. If y  2x3 2x  1, determine in simplified form.
dx

5. Determine the x-coordinate(s) of the stationary point(s) of

y  (x2  1) 1  x

6. Determine the equation of the tangent to the graph

y  2x 2  1

at the point where x is equal to 1

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x  1
7. Given: y 
2x  3

Determine ...

dy
7.1
dx
dy
7.2
dx x 1

7.3 the equation of the tangent at x  1

7.4 for which values of x the function is decreasing.

8. Proof that:

 2x  3x  10
8.1 Dx   
 3x  5  (3x  5)3

d 3x  1 29
8.2 
dx 2x  9 2 3x  1  (2x  9)3

©2016 AdMaths C15