Review Notes Differential Calculus

Differential Calculus is a field of mathematics which Evaluate the following limits:

deals with the study of how functions change when
𝑥+2 𝑥2 − 1 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 + 5
their inputs change. lim lim lim
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1 𝑥→∞ 2𝑥 3 − 7
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 2

The rate of change of a function with respect to a 𝑥+2 𝑥2 − 1 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 12

chosen input value is called derivative. lim lim lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2 𝑥→∞ 𝑥 − 1 𝑥→−3 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥

A closely related notion is the differential, which means sin 3𝑥 𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 5

“incremental change”. lim lim
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→1 (𝑥 − 1)2

The process of taking the derivative of a function is The Derivative

called differentiation.
The derivative of the function y = f(x), denoted by f ’(x)
The Limit of a Function or dy/dx is defined as the instantaneous rate of change
of the function y with respect to its independent
The limit of a function describes what happens to a variable x.
function as the independent variable approaches a
particular value.

Limits involving algebraic operations are often 𝑑𝑦

= 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑦′
performed by replacing sub-expressions by their limits. 𝑑𝑥

Properties of Limits
Δ𝑦
= average rate of change
Provided that the limits of f(x) and g(x) exist Δ𝑥

The derivative is the instantaneous rate of change. Thus:

𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦 𝑓(𝑥 + Δ𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)

= lim = lim
𝑑𝑥 Δ𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 Δ𝑥→0 Δ𝑥

Derivative of Functions

Given a = constant, u = f(x), v = g(x), u’= du/dx, and

v’= dv/dx

Derivative of a constant (𝑎)′ = 0

(𝑎𝑢)′ = 𝑎𝑢′
Derivative of a product (𝑢𝑣)′ = 𝑢𝑣 ′ + 𝑣𝑢′
Limits Involving Infinity
𝑢 ′ 𝑣𝑢′ − 𝑢𝑣 ′
Derivative of quotient ( ) =
𝑣 𝑣2

Derivative of Powers (𝑢𝑛 )′ = 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 𝑢′

Linearity property [𝑢 + 𝑣]′ = 𝑢′ + 𝑣′

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢
Chain rule: If y = f(u) and u = g(x), = ∙
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑥
Mean Value Theorem

If f is differentiable on the
interval (a, b) and continuous 𝑓(𝑏) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑓 ′ (𝑐) =
at the endpoints, there exists 𝑏−𝑎
a c in (a, b) such that

Prepared by: Engr. Jefril M. Amboy, MSc. (2020)

Review Notes Differential Calculus
Derivative of Common Functions error and the percentage error in the computed
value of the volume.
14. Find the equation of the tangent and normal lines to
the curve y = x3 – 2x2 + 4 at (2, 4).

Maxima and Minima

Problems:
15. Given the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 − 3 .
1. Find the derivative of 𝑥√1 + 𝑥3 and evaluate the Determine the following:
derivative at x = 2. A. maximum point
𝑥+1
2. Find the derivative of y given that 𝑦 = B. minimum point
𝑥+2
3. Differentiate: y = arctan (3x). C. Point of inflection
4. –1
Differentiate: y = [sin (4x)] 2 16. What is the area of the largest rectangle that can be
5. 2 2
Given x – xy +y = 3x, solve for y’. inscribed in a semi circle of radius 5 cm?
6. x
Find the derivative of y = x with respect to x. 17. The sum of two numbers is 21. The product of one
7. 2 2
Find the partial derivative of 2x y + xy with respect of the numbers by the square of the other is to
to x. maximum, what are the numbers?
8. Find the partial derivative of sin 𝑦 𝑒 + ln 2𝑦 cos 𝑥
3𝑥 18. What is the largest possible volume of a right
with respect to y. circular cylinder if it is inscribed in a sphere of radius
9. A particle moves along the path defined by the 5?
3 2
equation x(t) = 3t – 4t + 6 where x is the 19. A person in a rowboat is 3 km from a point P on a
displacement in meters. straight shore while his destination is 5 km directly
A. Determine its average velocity after 2 seconds. east of point P. If he can row 4 kph and walk 5 kph,
B. What is its velocity at t = 2? how far from his destination must he land on the
C. Find the acceleration of the particle after 1 shore in order to reach his destination in shortest
second? possible time.
10. The height in feet at any time t in seconds of a 20. A kite, at a height of 60 ft is moving horizontally at a
2
projectile thrown vertically is h(t) = -16t + 256t rate of 5 ft/s away from the boy who flies it. How
A. What is the maximum height reached by the fast is the cord being released when there are 100 ft
projectile. When did this occur? out?
B. With what velocity and when did the projectile 21. Water is flowing into a conical reservoir 20 ft deep
hit the ground? and 10 ft across the top, at a rate 15 cu. Ft. per
11. Boyle’s Law states that when a gas is compressed at minute. Find how fast is the water rising when it is 8
constant temperature, the product of its pressure ft deep?
and volume remains constant. If the pressure of the 22. A runner and his trainer are standing together on a
gas is 80 lb/in2 when the volume is 40 in3, find the circular track of radius 100 meters. When the trainer
rate of change of pressure with respect to the gives a signal, the runner starts to run around the
volume when the volume is 20 in . 3 track at a speed of 10 m/s. How fast is the distance
12. A spherical snowball is melting in such a way that its between the runner and the trainer increasing when
surface area decreases at the rate of 1 sq. in. per the runner has run 1/4 of the way around the track?
min. How fast is the radius decreasing when r = 3 23. A light is at the top of a pole 80 ft high. A ball is
in.? dropped at the same height from a point 20 ft from
13. If the radius of the sphere is measured as 5 in with a the light. If the ball falls according to y = 16t2, how
possible error of 0.02 inch, find the approximate fast is the shadow of the ball moving along the
ground 1 second later?
Prepared by: Engr. Jefril M. Amboy, MSc. (2020)