DERIVATIVES

BASIC RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION

QUARTER 4 WEEK 1
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Recall the limit definition of

the derivative of a function;
2. Execute the derivation of
the different differentiation
rules;
3. Demonstrate appreciation of
deriving differentiation rules.
 DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION
• Derivative of a function at a certain
point, is the slope of the function at that
particular point.
• In the previous lesson, we derived the
formula for the derivatives as:
f (x + h ) − f (x )
f ' ( x ) = lim
h →0 h
• Using this formula can be cumbersome.
• If this limit exist, for certain values of x
in the domain of function f, we say that
the functions is differentiable at x.
 BASIC RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION

In this lesson we are going

to learn and use some
basic rules of differentiation
that are derived from the
definition. For these rules,
let’s assume that we are
discussing differentiable
functions.
 NOTATIONS FOR DERIVATIVES
• The common notations for
derivatives are:
dy d
f (x)
dx dx
df
dx
y 𝑓′(𝑥)
RULE 1: DERIVATIVE OF A CONSTANT

d (c )
= 0 , for any constant, c.
dx
This rule states that the derivative of a constant is zero.

For example,

f ( x) = 5

f ' ( x) = 0
 RULE 2: THE POWER RULE

( )
d xn
= nx n −,1 where n is any real number
dx
This rule states that the derivative of x raised to a power is the
power times x raised to a power one less or n – 1.

For example,

f (x ) = x 5

f ' (x ) = 5 x 4
Notice that the derivative is the original power, 5 times x
raised to the fourth, which is one less than 5.
RULE 3: DERIVATIVE OF A CONSTANT
MULTIPLE OF A FUNCTION
d
cf ( x) = c d  f ( x) , where c is a constant
dx dx

This rule states that the derivative of a constant times a

function is the constant times the derivative of the function.

For example, find the derivative of f ( x ) = 5x 4

d
dx dx
( )
( f (x )) = d 5 x 4

=5 ( )
d 4
dx
x

( )
= 5 4 x3
= 20 x 3
RULE 4: DERIVATIVE OF A SUM OR
DIFFERENCE
d
 f ( x) + g ( x) = d  f ( x) + d g ( x)
dx dx dx
This rule states that the derivative of a sum or difference is
the sum or difference of the derivatives.

For example, find the derivative of x2 +2x -3

d 2
dx
( )
x + 2x − 3 =
d 2
dx
( )
x + (2 x ) − (3)
d
dx
d
dx
= 2x + 2 − 0
= 2x + 2
The derivative of x squared is done by the Power Rule
(2), the derivative of 2x is done by rule 3 and power
rule and the derivative of 3, a constant is 0.
 𝑑
More Examples: Find 𝑑𝑥
𝑥

You’ll notice none of the basic rules specifically mention

radicals, so you should convert the radical to its exponential
form, x1/2 and then use the power rule.
 d  4 x3 − 2 x + 7 
More Examples: Find  
dx  x 
Rewrite the expression so that you can use the basic rules of
differentiation.
4 x3 − 2 x + 7 4 x3 2 x 7
= − + = 4 x 2 − 2 + 7 x −1
x x x x
Now differentiate using the basic rules.
d  4 x3 − 2 x + 7  d

dx 
 = (
4 x 2 − 2 + 7 x −1 )
x  dx
=
d
dx
(4x2 −) d
dx dx
(
(2) + d 7 x −1 )
= 4  2 x − 0 + 7  −1x −1−1
= 8 x − 7 x −2
7
= 8x − 2
x
Another example: Find the slope and equation
of the tangent line to the curve y = 2 x 2 + 1 at the
point (1,3).

Recall from the previous lesson, the

derivative gives the slope of the tangent to
the curve. So we will need to find the
derivative and evaluate it at x = 1 to find the
slope at the point (1, 3). Then we’ll use the
slope and the point to write the equation of
the tangent line using the point slope form.
Another example: Find all the x values where
y = x 3 + 2 x 2 + x has a horizontal tangent line.

Find the derivative.

d 3
dx
( )
x + 2 x 2 + x = 3x 2 + 4 x + 1

Since horizontal lines have a slope of 0, set the derivative equal

to 0 and solve for x.
3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 = 0
3𝑥 + 1 𝑥 + 1 = 0
3𝑥 + 1 = 0 or 𝑥 + 1 = 0
−1
𝑥= or𝑥 = −1
3 Thus the x values where
the function has horizontal
tangents is at x = -1 , -1/3.
The graph below shows the function from the last
example and the horizontal tangent lines at x = -1 and
x = -1/3.
RULE 5: PRODUCT RULE

d
 f ( x) g ( x) = f ( x) g ( x) + g ( x) f ( x)
dx

In other words:
The derivative of f times g is the
first times the derivative of the
second plus the second times the
derivative of the first.
 PRODUCT RULE
d d d
 f ( x )  g ( x )  =  f ( x)  g ( x) +  g ( x)  f ( x)
dx dx dx

( )(
Ex. f ( x) = x + 2 x + 5 3x − 8 x + 1
3 7 2
)
( )(
f ( x) = 3x 2 + 2 3x 7 − 8 x 2 + 1) + ( x + 2 x + 5 )( 21x
3 6
− 16 x )
Derivative Derivative of
of the first the second
function function


f ( x) = 30 x + 48 x + 105 x − 40 x − 45 x − 80 x + 2
9 7 6 4 2
 Another notation to express the product rule:
d dv du
( uv ) = u + v
Some times the two functions are expressed
as u and v, so here u is u(x) and v is v(x)
dx dx dx meaning both are functions of x.
This is sometimes memorized as: d ( uv ) = u dv + v du
d  2
dx 
(
x + 3 2 x )(
3
+ 5 x  ) ( )
 = x 2 + 3 ( 6 x 2 + 5 ) + ( 2 x3 + 5 x ) ( 2x )

d
dx
(
2 x5 + 5 x3 + 6 x3 + 15 x )
d
dx
(
2 x5 + 11x3 + 15 x ) 6 x 4 + 5 x 2 + 18 x 2 + 15 + 4 x 4 + 10 x 2

10 x 4 + 33x 2 + 15 10 x 4 + 33x 2 + 15
→
Find the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = (2𝑥 2 − 1)(3𝑥 + 4)

1. The Product Rule

(first ) 
derivative of   derivative of 
 + (second )   
 the second   the first 
f ( x) = (2 x 2 − 1) 
d
dx dx
(
(3x + 4) + (3x + 4)  d 2 x 2 − 1 )
f ( x) = (2 x 2 − 1)  3 + (3x + 4)  4 x
f ( x) = 6 x 2 − 3 + 12 x 2 + 16 x
f ( x) = 18 x 2 + 16 x − 3

2. Same derivative by expanding and using the Power Rule.

f ( x) = (2 x 2 − 1)(3x + 4)
f ( x) = 6 x 3 + 8 x 2 − 3x − 4
f ( x) = 18 x 2 + 16 x − 3
Notice in the first example, finding the derivative of the function
𝑓(𝑥) = (2𝑥 2 − 1)(3𝑥 + 4) the derivative could be found in two
different ways. Whether you use the Product Rule or rewrite the
function by multiplying and find the derivative using the Power Rule,
the result or the derivative, 𝑓′ 𝑥 = 18𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 − 3
was the same.
 EXAMPLE 2 OF THE PRODUCT RULE:

Find f’(x) for f (x ) = x 3 ( )

x −1

First rewrite the radical in exponential form.

 1

3

f ( x) = x  x − 1
2

 
Now use the Product Rule.
 derivative of   derivative of 
f ' (x ) = (first )    + (second )   
 the second   the first 
   d 3
( )
1 1
d
f ( x) = x 3
 x − 1 +  x − 1
2 2
x
dx     
   dx
Example 2 continued…

d  12   12  d 3
f ( x) = x
3
 x − 1 +  x − 1

dx     ( )x
   dx
3 1    2
−1 1
  2  
f ( x) = x   x − 0  +  x − 13  x
2

2   
1 52 5
f ( x) = x + 3x 2 − 3x 2 Recall when you are multiplying
2
the same base you add the exponents.
7 52
f ( x) = x − 3x 2
2

*The derivative could also be found by performing the

multiplication and then finding the derivative.
Find the derivative of the function below using the product rule of
differentiation or the power rule.

1 1
y = ( x + )( x − + 1)
x x
RULE 6: THE QUOTIENT RULE
𝑑 𝑑
𝑑 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)
= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥) 2
This rule may look overwhelming with the functions but it is
easy to learn if you can repeat these words: The derivative of
a quotient is the bottom times the derivative of the top minus
the top times the derivative of the bottom over the bottom
squared.
derivativeof derivativeof
bottom ⋅ − top ⋅
Derivativeof thetop thebottom
=
aquotient bottom 2
 Expressing quotient rule in terms of function u and v
(remember u and v are functions of x):

du dv
v −u  u  v du − u dv
d u dx dx or d =
  =
 
2
dx  v  v 2 v v

d 2 x3 + 5 x
=
( )( ) ( )
x 2 + 3 6 x 2 + 5 − 2 x3 + 5 x ( 2 x )
dx x + 3
( )
2 2
x +3
2

→
 𝑑 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 1
Example of the Quotient Rule: Find 𝑑𝑥 𝑥

First we will find the derivative by using The Quotient Rule

derivativeof derivativeof
bottom ⋅ − top ⋅
Derivativeof thetop thebottom
=
aquotient bottom 2

d  x − 3x − 1 
2 x
d 2
dx
( )
x − 3x − 1 − ( x 2 − 3x − 1) (x )
d
dx
  =
dx  x  x2
x  (2 x − 3) − ( x 2 − 3x − 1) 1
=
x2
2 x 2 − 3x − x 2 + 3x + 1
=
x2
x2 +1
= 2
x
Another way to do the same problem is to do the division first and
then use the power rule.

𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 1 𝑥 2 3𝑥 1
= − − = 𝑥 − 3 − 𝑥 −1
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

Now find the derivative.

𝑑 1 𝑥 2+1
𝑥 − 3 − 𝑥 −1 = 1 − 0 − −1 ⋅ 𝑥 −2 = 1 + 𝑥 −2 = 1 + 2 =
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥2

Again, notice there is more than one method you could

use to find the derivative.
Example 2: Find the derivative of f ( x ) =
x
x2 +1
For this quotient doing the division first would require polynomial long
division and is not going to eliminate the need to use the Quotient Rule.
So you will want to just use the Quotient Rule.

𝑑 𝑑 2
𝑥2 + 1 ⋅ 𝑥 − 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑥 +1
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑥2 + 1 2

𝑥 2 + 1 ⋅ 1 − 𝑥 ⋅ 2𝑥 𝑥 2 + 1 − 2𝑥 2
= =
𝑥2 + 1 2 𝑥2 + 1 2

−𝑥 2 + 1
= 2
𝑥 +1 2
 DIFFERENTIABLE FUNCTION ARE
CONTINUOUS

A function is continuous at every point where it has a derivative.

Theorem 1

If f has a derivative at x = c, then f is continuous at x = c.

Continuous Function may or may not be Differentiable

For Example the absolute function, f =|x|, is

not differentiable at x = 0,
 f (x + h ) − f (x )
Definition of a derivative at a given point f ' ( x ) = lim
h →0 h
 Higher Order Derivatives:
dy
y = is the first derivative of y with respect to x.
dx

dy d dy d 2 y is the second derivative.

y = = = 2
dx dx dx dx (y double prime)

dy
y = is the third derivative. We will learn
later what these
dx higher order
derivatives are
used for.
( 4) d
y = y is the fourth derivative.
dx
Higher Order Derivatives:

Find the second and third derivative of the function below:

y = 4x + 7x − 9
5 2
CONCLUDING REMARKS
CONCLUDING REMARKS