calculus

Differentiation

𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄

𝑑𝑦
́
𝑓(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

Means differentiation of
y with respect to x

Diff
𝑓(𝑥) ́
𝑓(𝑥)
means diff. of y with
Diff
𝑑𝑦 respect to x
𝑦
𝑑𝑥

How to make differentiation

𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝒏
Rule
𝒅𝒚
= 𝒂𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏
𝒅𝒙

1
Ex:-
𝒊𝒇 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙𝟔
𝒅𝒚
= 𝟐 × 𝟔𝒙𝟓
𝒅𝒙
= 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟓

𝒊𝒇 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙𝟏
𝒅𝒚
= 𝟐 × 𝟏𝒙𝟎
𝒅𝒙

= 𝟐𝒙𝟎
=2
𝒊𝒇 𝒚 = 𝟓
𝒅𝒚
= 𝟓 × 𝟎𝒙−𝟏
𝒅𝒙
=0

Note that
The differentiation of any constant
number is zero

2
Ex:-
𝒅𝒚 𝟑
Find for If there is denominator,
𝒅𝒙 𝒙𝟐
3 we should write it in the
𝑦= = 3𝑥 −2
𝑥2 form of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛
𝑑𝑦
= 3(−2)𝑥 −3
𝑑𝑥
= −6𝑥 −3
6
= −
𝑥3

What does differentiation mean

𝑑𝑦 Type equation here.
gradient or
𝑑𝑥
slope of a function at
certain point (m)

To get the gradient of the function at

certain point we must get the 1 𝑠𝑡
differentiation of the function and
then substitute with the value of x of
the pt to get (m) the gradient.

3
Example 1 : -
For 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 20
dy
I. Find
dx
II. Find the gradient of the curve at x = −3
Answer
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 20
𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = −3
𝑚 = 3(−3)2 − 12(−3)
𝑚 = 63
Example 2 : -
Find the coordinates of point on the curve y = x 3
where the gradient is 12.
Answer: - y = x 3
𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥

12 = 3𝑥 2 𝑥2 = 4 𝑥 = ∓2
𝑥1 = 2 𝑥2 = −2
𝑦1 = (2)3 𝑦2 = (−2)3
=8 = -8
( 2,8) ( -2,-8)
4
Special Case :
Max. pt.
Turning or stationary points (max or min pts.)

Pls. Note that :

Min. pt.
The gradient of any curve at its turning
(stationary pt.) is zero (horizontal line )

In other words
𝑑𝑦
= 0 ( 1𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜)
𝑑𝑥

This fact is mainly used to find the coordinates of the

turning points of the curve as shown in the next
example.
Example
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 24𝑥
Find the coordinates of the turning Pts. On the curve.
Answer: -
𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 – 24
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
At turning pt =0
𝑑𝑥

5
 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 – 24 = 0 ( solve by formula)
a= 3 b= 6 c= -24
𝒙𝟏 = 𝟐
𝑦1 = (2)3 + 3(2)2 − 24(2)
𝑦1 = -28
(2, -28)
𝒙𝟐 = −𝟒 The two turning points
of the cubic curve.
𝑦2 = (−4)3 + 3(−4)2 − 24(−4)
( max. and min. pts)
𝑦2 = 80
( -4,80)

6
To find the nature of the turning pt

𝑑2𝑦
Get
𝑑𝑥 2
(2𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)

Rule
𝑑2𝑦
If > 0(+𝑣𝑒) minimum pt.
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑2𝑦
< 0(−𝑣𝑒) maximum pt.
𝑑𝑥 2

Ex:-
For the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1
Find the coordinates of turning pt. and determine its
nature.
Answer:
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 2𝑥 – 4 at turning pt. = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2𝑥 − 4 = 0
2𝑥 = 4 𝑥=2
𝑦 = (2)2 − 4(2) + 1 𝑦 = −3
turning pt. ( 2,-3)

7
 𝑑2𝑦
to find its nature (max or min) get
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑2𝑦
= 2𝑥 – 4 =2 > 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2
So, its minimum point.

Displacement, velocity and acceleration

If S = f(t)
Displacement function in time

𝒅𝒔
𝑽 =
𝒅𝒕
V(t)

Velocity is the differentiation of the displacement

function.
If 𝑉 = 𝑓(𝑡)
𝑑𝑣
𝑎 = a(t)
𝑑𝑡

acceleration is the differentiation of the velocity

function.