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UNIT XV: DERIVATIVES OF HYPERBOLIC FUNCTIONS

15.0 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson packet, the students are expected to attain the
following intended learning outcomes:
15.0.1 Solve the derivative of the different Hyperbolic functions.

15.1 Introduction

In Unit XII, we discussed about trigonometric functions and

their derivatives. Take note that trigonometric functions sine and
cosine are circular functions in the sense that they are defined to
be the coordinates of a parameterization of the unit circle. This
means that the circle defined by 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1 is the path traced out
by the coordinates (𝑥, 𝑦) = (cos 𝑡 , sin 𝑡) as t varies; see the figure
below.

Now let’s consider the path traced out by the hyperbola

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1 as shown below. One parameterization of the right
half of this hyperbola is traced out by the hyperbolic functions
(cosh 𝑡 , sinh 𝑡) that we will spend the rest of this section
investigating.
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15.2 Topics and Discussion

15.2.1. Elementary Properties

The hyperbolic functions are analogous to circular function or the

trigonometric functions. Generally, the hyperbolic function takes place in the
real argument called hyperbolic angle.
The basic hyperbolic functions are:
• Hyperbolic sine (sinh)
• Hyperbolic cosine (cosh)
• Hyperbolic tangent (tanh)

From these three basic functions, the other functions such as hyperbolic
cosecant (csch), hyperbolic secant (sech) and hyperbolic cotangent (coth)
functions are derived.

The properties of the hyperbolic functions are analogous to the

trigonometric functions. Some of them are:

1. sinh (-x) = -sinh x

2. cosh (-x) = cosh x
3. sinh 2x = 2 sinh x cosh x
4. cosh 2x = cosh2 x + sinh2 x

Some relations of hyperbolic function to the trigonometric function are

as follows:

1. sinh x = – i sin(ix)
2. cosh x = cos (ix)
3. tanh x = -i tan(ix)

The hyperbolic function identities are similar to trigonometric

functions. Some identities are:

Pythagorean Trigonometric Identities

• cosh2 (𝑥) − sinh2 (𝑥) = 1
• tanh2 (𝑥 ) + sech2 (𝑥) = 1
• coth2 (𝑥) − csch2 (𝑥) = 1

Sum to Product
𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
• sinh 𝑥 + sinh 𝑦 = 2 sinh( 2 ) cosh( 2 )
𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
• sinh 𝑥 − sinh 𝑦 = 2 cosh( ) sinh( )
2 2
𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
• cosh 𝑥 + cosh 𝑦 = 2 cosh( ) cosh( )
2 2
𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
• cosh 𝑥 − cosh 𝑦 = 2 sinh( ) sinh( )
2 2

Product to Sum
• 2 sinh 𝑥 cosh 𝑦 = sinh(𝑥 + 𝑦) + sinh(𝑥 − 𝑦)
• 2 cosh 𝑥 sinh 𝑦 = sinh(𝑥 + 𝑦) − sinh(𝑥 − 𝑦)
• 2 sinh 𝑥 sinh 𝑦 = cosh(𝑥 + 𝑦) − cosh(𝑥 − 𝑦)
• 2 cosh 𝑥 cosh 𝑦 = cosh(𝑥 + 𝑦) + cosh(𝑥 − 𝑦)
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Sum and Difference

• sinh(𝑥 ± 𝑦) = sinh 𝑥 cosh 𝑦 ± cosh 𝑥 sinh 𝑦
• cosh(𝑥 ± 𝑦) = cosh 𝑥 cosh 𝑦 ± sinh 𝑥 sinh 𝑦
tanh 𝑥±tanh 𝑦
• tanh(𝑥 ± 𝑦) = 1±tanh 𝑥 tanh 𝑦
coth 𝑥 coth 𝑦±1
• coth(𝑥 ± 𝑦) = coth 𝑦±coth 𝑥

15.2.2. Definition

The hyperbolic cosine function, written cosh 𝑥, is defined for all real
values of x by the relation
1
cosh 𝑥 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 )

Similarly, the hyperbolic sine function, sinh 𝑥, is defined by

1
sinh 𝑥 = (𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 )
2

The names of these two hyperbolic functions suggest that they have
similar properties to the trigonometric functions.

Four more hyperbolic functions are defined in the manner to be

expected:

sinh 𝑥 1
tanh 𝑥 = cosh 𝑥 sech 𝑥 = cosh 𝑥

1 1
csch 𝑥 = sinh 𝑥 coth 𝑥 = tanh 𝑥

15.2.3. Graphs of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Graph of Hyperbolic Sine

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The hyperbolic sine function, sinh 𝑥, is defined by 𝑦 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 ) and
is denoted, sinh 𝑥. Its graph is shown below.
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Graph of Hyperbolic Cosine

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The hyperbolic cosine function, cosh 𝑥, is defined by 𝑦 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 )
and is denoted, cosh 𝑥. Its graph is shown below.

Graph of Hyperbolic Tangent

𝑒 𝑥 −𝑒 −𝑥
The hyperbolic tangent function, tanh 𝑥, is defined by 𝑦 = 𝑒𝑥 +𝑒 −𝑥 and is
denoted, tanh 𝑥. Its graph is shown below.

15.2.4. Applications

In this section, we will apply our learning in the previous topics to get
the derivative of hyperbolic functions.

1 𝑑
1. If cosh 𝑥 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 ), what is 𝑑𝑥 (cosh 𝑥)?
Solution:
1
cosh 𝑥 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 ) Given function
1 1
cosh 𝑥 = 2 𝑒 𝑥 + 2 𝑒 −𝑥 By distributive law
𝑑 𝑑 1 1
(cosh 𝑥) = 𝑑𝑥 (2 𝑒 𝑥 + 2 𝑒 −𝑥 ) Differentiate both sides of equation
𝑑𝑥
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𝑑 1 𝑑 1 𝑑
(cosh 𝑥) = 2 𝑑𝑥 (𝑒 𝑥 ) + 2 𝑑𝑥 (𝑒 −𝑥 ) Applying properties of derivatives
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 1 1
(cosh 𝑥) = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 ) − 2 (𝑒 −𝑥 ) Differentiate each term
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 1 1
(cosh 𝑥) = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 ) Factor out 2
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 1
(cosh 𝑥) = sinh 𝑥 Using sinh 𝑥 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 )
𝑑𝑥

1 𝑑
2. If sinh 𝑥 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 ), what is 𝑑𝑥 (sinh 𝑥)?
Solution:
1
sinh 𝑥 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 ) Given function
1 1
sinh 𝑥 = 2 𝑒 𝑥 − 2 𝑒 −𝑥 By distributive law
𝑑 𝑑 1 𝑥 1
(cosh 𝑥) = ( 𝑒 − 𝑒 −𝑥 ) Differentiate both sides of equation
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2 2
𝑑 1 𝑑 𝑥 1 𝑑
(sinh 𝑥) = (𝑒 ) − (𝑒 −𝑥 ) Applying properties of derivatives
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 1 1
(sinh 𝑥) = (𝑒 𝑥 ) + (𝑒 −𝑥 ) Differentiate each term
𝑑𝑥 2 2
𝑑 1 1
(sinh 𝑥) = (𝑒 + 𝑒 −𝑥 )
𝑥
Factor out 2
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑 1
(sinh 𝑥) = cosh 𝑥 Using cosh 𝑥 = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 )
𝑑𝑥

3. Assuming the derivatives of sinh 𝑥 and cosh 𝑥, use quotient rule to get the
derivative of tanh 𝑥.
Solution:
sinh 𝑥
tanh 𝑥 = cosh 𝑥 Given function
𝑑 𝑑 sinh 𝑥
(tanh 𝑥) = 𝑑𝑥 (cosh 𝑥) Differentiate both sides of equation
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
𝑑 cosh 𝑥 (sinh 𝑥)−sinh 𝑥 (cosh 𝑥)
(tanh 𝑥) = 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Using quotient rule
𝑑𝑥 (cosh 𝑥)2
𝑑 cosh 𝑥 (cosh 𝑥 )−sinh 𝑥 (sinh 𝑥)
(tanh 𝑥) = Differentiate each term
𝑑𝑥 (cosh 𝑥)2
𝑑 cosh2 𝑥 − sinh2 𝑥
(tanh 𝑥) = Simplify
𝑑𝑥 cosh2 𝑥
𝑑 1
(tanh 𝑥) = cosh2 𝑥 Using cosh2 (𝑥) − sinh2 (𝑥) = 1
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 1
(tanh 𝑥) = sech2 𝑥 Using sech 𝑥 = cosh 𝑥
𝑑𝑥

👉 Exercise 1: Use quotient rule, or otherwise, to get the following derivatives.

𝑑
1. (coth 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
2. (sech 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
3. (csch 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
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Let us now enumerate the different formulas in getting the derivative

of hyperbolic functions. And take few examples.

Let u be a function of x
𝑑 𝑑𝑢 𝑑 𝑑𝑢
(cosh 𝑢) = sinh 𝑢 (coth 𝑢) = −csch2 𝑢
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 𝑑𝑢 𝑑 𝑑𝑢
(sinh 𝑢) = cosh 𝑢 (sech 𝑢) = − sech 𝑢 tanh 𝑢
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑𝑢 𝑑 𝑑𝑢
(tanh 𝑢) = sech2 𝑢 𝑑𝑥 (csch 𝑢) = − csch 𝑢 coth 𝑢
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Examples:
1
1. Differentiate 𝑦 = coth 𝑥
Solution:
1
Let 𝑢=𝑥
𝑑𝑢 1
= − 𝑥2
𝑑𝑥

Substitute to the formula,

𝑑 𝑑𝑢
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (coth 𝑢) = −csch2 𝑢 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 1 1 1
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (coth 𝑥) = −(csch2 𝑥)(− 𝑥2 )
𝑑 1 1 1
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (coth 𝑥) = 𝑥2 csch2 (𝑥)

2. Differentiate 𝑦 = ln sinh 𝑥 , for 𝑥 > 0

Solution:
Let 𝑢 = sinh 𝑥
𝑑𝑢
= cosh 𝑥
𝑑𝑥

Substitute to the formula,

𝑑𝑢
𝑑
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (ln 𝑢) = 𝑑𝑥
𝑢
′ 𝑑 cosh 𝑥
𝑦 = (ln sinh 𝑥 ) =
𝑑𝑥 sinh 𝑥
′ 𝑑
𝑦 = 𝑑𝑥 (ln sinh 𝑥 ) = coth 𝑥

3. Differentiate 𝑦 = sinh 𝑥 tanh 𝑥

Solution:
Use product rule
Let 𝑢 = sinh 𝑥 𝑣 = tanh 𝑥
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
= cosh 𝑥 = sech2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Substitute to the formula,

𝑑 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (𝑢𝑣 ) = 𝑢 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑣 𝑑𝑥
𝑑
𝑦′ = (sinh 𝑥 tanh 𝑥 ) = (sinh 𝑥 )(sech2 𝑥 ) + (tanh 𝑥 )(cosh 𝑥 )
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 sinh 𝑥
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (sinh 𝑥 tanh 𝑥 ) = (sinh 𝑥 )(sech2 𝑥 ) + (cosh 𝑥) (cosh 𝑥 )
𝑑
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (sinh 𝑥 tanh 𝑥 ) = (sinh 𝑥 )(sech2 𝑥 ) + sinh 𝑥
𝑑
𝑦 ′ = 𝑑𝑥 (sinh 𝑥 tanh 𝑥 ) = (sinh 𝑥 )(sech2 𝑥 + 1)
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👉 Exercise 2: Find the derivatives of the following functions.

1. 𝑦 = tanh 4𝑥
2. 𝑦 = csch(5𝑥 + 3)
3. 𝑦 = sinh 𝑒 𝑥
4. 𝑦 = cosh 5𝑥 sinh 3𝑥
5. 𝑦 = √coth 4𝑥

15.3 References

1. Love, Clyde and Rainville, Earl D. (1981). Differential and Integral

Calculus, 6th Edition. New York. The Macmillan Co.
2. http://educ.jmu.edu/~kohnpd/236/TKsection2_6.pdf
3. http://www.cimt.org.uk/projects/mepres/alevel/fpure_ch2.pdf
4. https://byjus.com/maths/hyperbolic-function/
5. https://www.math24.net/derivatives-hyperbolic-functions/