Topic 3 : Business Calculus (Differentiation)

Differentiation Rule

If 𝑦 𝑐 where 𝑐 is a constant,

𝑑𝑦
⇒
𝑑𝑥

Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

(a)
(b) ( )

Solution:

(a) (b) ( )

If 𝑦 𝑎𝑥 where 𝑎 is a constant,

𝑑𝑦
⇒ 𝑎
𝑑𝑥

Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

(a)
(b) ( )

Solution:

(a) (b) ( )

If 𝑦 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 where 𝑎 and 𝑛 are constants,

𝑑𝑦
⇒ 𝑛𝑎𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

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Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

(a)
(b) ( )
(c) ( ) √

Solution:

(a)
(b) ( )
(c) ( )
−
( )

Differentiation Rule (Exponential Rule)

If 𝑦 𝑒 𝑓(𝑥) ,

𝑑𝑦
⇒ 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑒 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

−
(a)
1
(b) ( )
√

Solution:

− 1
(a) (b) ( )
( )
−
( )
−
( )

Differentiation Rule (Natural Logarithmic Rule)

If 𝑦 ln 𝑓(𝑥) ,

𝑑𝑦 𝑓 (𝑥)
⇒
𝑑𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
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Some important properties of the natural logarithmic functions:

(a) ln( ) ln ln
(b) ln ( ) ln ln
(c) ln( ) ln
(d) ln is only defined if
(e) ln

Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

(a) ln ( )

(b) ( ) ln ( )

Solution:

(a) ln ( ) (b) ( ) ln ( )
ln ln ln ln ln
( ) ln ln ln
( )

Differentiation Rule (Composite Rule)

If 𝑦 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑛 ,

𝑑𝑦 𝑛−1
⇒ 𝑛 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓 (𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

(a) ( )
(b) ( ) ( )
(c) √

Solution:

(a) ( )

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 ( ) ( )
( ) ( )

( )( )

(b) ( ) ( )

( ) ( ) ( )

( )

( ) ( )

(c) √
1
( )

( )−

( )

( )

Differentiation Rule (Product Rule)

If 𝑦 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥),
𝑑𝑦
⇒ 𝑑𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔 (𝑥)+ 𝑔(𝑥)𝑓 (𝑥)

Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

(a) ( )
(b) ( ) ( )

Solution:

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 (a) ( ) ( )

( )

(b) ( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( )( )

Differentiation Rule (Quotient Rule)

𝑓(𝑥)
If 𝑦 𝑔(𝑥)
,

𝑑𝑦 𝑔(𝑥)𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔 (𝑥)

⇒
𝑑𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)

Example:

Differentiate the following functions.

(a) 1

(b) ( ) −

Solution:

(a) 1

( )
( )

( )
( )

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 ( )

( )

(b) ( ) −

( )
( )
( )

( )
( )

( )

( )
( )

Higher Order of Differentiation

Let be a function of that is ( ). Differentiating with respect to , we obtain

( ) ( )

The ( ) is known as first derivative.

If we differentiate ( ) with respect to again, we obtain the second derivative of ( )

given by

[ ] ( )

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Example:

If ( ) , then

( ) First derivative
( ) Second derivative
( ) Third derivative
( )
( ) Fourth derivative

Application of Derivatives (Maximum and Minimum Value)

For maximum value of a function, we have

𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑦
𝑑𝑥
and 𝑑𝑥
< .

For minimum value of a function, we have

𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑦
𝑑𝑥
and 𝑑𝑥
.

Example

Find the coordinates of the stationary points of the curve and

distinguish between local maximum and local minimum points.

Solution:

At stationary point,

( )

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 ( )( )

When , ( ) ( ) ( )

n ( )

When , ( ) ( ) ( )

n ( )

When , ( )

( )

( ) is a local minimum point.

When , ( )

(< )

( ) is a local maximum point.

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