Derivatives and Differentiation Rules

BASIC CALCULUS
Limits of Function, Derivatives, and Integration

6 THE DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

The derivative of a function f with respect to x is the function that tells you the slope of the
line tangent to f at any point on its graph. Thus, provided that this limit exists,

' f ( x +h )−f (x )
m=f ( x )=lim
h →0 h
The process of finding the derivative of a function is called differentiation. These are the
following steps in the process of differentiation:
1. Evaluate f at x + h.
2. Subtract f(x) from f(x + h).
3. Divide the difference of f(x + h) and f(x) by h.
4. Take the limit of the quotient as h approaches 0.

Example 1.1 Find the derivative of f(x) = 3x – 5

Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate f at x + h.
f ( x +h )=3 ( x+ h )−5=3 x+3 h−5

Step 2: Subtract f(x) from f(x + h).

f ( x +h )−f ( x )=( 3 x +3 h−5 )−( 3 x−5 )=3 x +3 h−5−3 x +5

Step 3: Divide the difference of f(x + h) and f(x) by h.

3h
=3
h

Step 4: Take the limit of the quotient as h approaches 0.

f ( x+ h )−f ( x )
f ' ( x )=lim
h →0 h
= lim 3
h→ 0

=3

Therefore, f ' ( x )=3.

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 Derivatives and Differentiation Rules

Because the derivative of a function is also the slope, then it can also be viewed as a rate
of change. In example 1.1, the derivative is constant. This means that the function has a constant
rate of change. For every increase or decrease in the value of, there is a constant increase or
decrease in the value of f(x).

BASIC CALCULUS
Limits of Function, Derivatives, and Integration

7 DIFFERENTIATION RULES

The derivative of a function allows us to understand further the graph of a function in

terms of its rate of change. However, finding the derivative of a function through the limit can be a
lengthy process. Therefore, there are derivation of some rules that will simplify the process of
differentiation.
7.1: The Constant Rule
The derivative of constant function is 0. In symbols, if c is a constant, then
d
[ c ] =0
dx
Examples:
−4
a) y= b) f ( x )=100 c) g ( x )=π
5
'
y =0 f ' ( x )=0 g ' ( x )=0

7.2: The Power Rule

If n is any real number, then
d n
[ x ]=n x n−1
dx
Examples:
1
a) f ( x )=x 6 b) g ( x )=x 25 c) h ( t )= 3
t
6 −1 25−1 −3−1
f ' ( x )=6 x g ' ( x )=25 x h ' ( t )=(−3)t
' −4 −3
f ' ( x )=6 x
5
g ' ( x )=25 x
24 h ( t ) =(−3 ) t = 4
t

7.3: The Constant Multiple Rule

If k is any real number constant and f is a differentiable function of x, then
d d
[ k • f ( x )] =k • [f ( x ) ]
dx dx
Examples:

10
 Derivatives and Differentiation Rules

a) y=4 x 5
dy d d 5
= [ 4 x ]=4 [ x ]=4 ( 5 x )=20 x
5 4 4
dx dx dx

3 8
b) g(x )= x
4

D x [ g ( x ) ]=
dx 4[ ]
d 3 8 3 d 8 3
x =
4 dx
[ x ]= ( 8 x 7 )=6 x 7
4

7.4: The Sum and Difference Rules

If f and g are two differentiable functions at x, then
d d d
dx
[ f ( x ) ± g( x)]= dx [f ( x )]± [ g ( x ) ]
dx
Examples:
a) g ( x )=2 x3 + 4 x 2−3 x+1
d
'
g ( x ) =¿ [ 2 x3 ]+ d [ 4 x 2 ]− d [ 3 x ] + d [ 1 ]
dx dx dx dx
' 2
g ( x ) =6 x +8 x−3

b) f ( x )=9 x +2
d
'
f ( x)=¿ [ 9 x ]+ d [ 2 ]
dx dx
'
f ( x)=9+ 0
'
f ( x)=9

7.5: Product and Quotient Rule of Differentiation

If f and g are two differentiable functions of x, then the following rules should be followed:
 Product Rule
d
dx
[ f ( x ) g ( x ) ]=f ( x ) g' ( x )+ g ( x ) f ' ( x )

 Quotient Rule

[ ]
'
d f (x ) g ( x ) f ( x )−f ( x ) g '( x )
= 2
dx g( x) [ g (x )]

To easily remember these rules, a prime notation is sometimes used such that we let u =
f(x) and v = g(x). Then, using the prime notation, we have

 Product Rule
d
[ uv ] =udv +vdu
dx

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 Derivatives and Differentiation Rules

 Quotient Rule

dx v[]
d u vdu−udv
=
v2

Examples:
a) Find the derivative of y=( 4−2 x3 ) ( 2 x + x 3 ) .
Let u = 4−2 x 3 and v = 2 x+ x 3 . Then du = −6 x 2 and dv = 2+3 x 2.

d
[ uv ] =udv +vdu
dx
3 2 3 2
¿( 4−2 x ) ¿ 2+3 x ¿+(2 x+ x )(−6 x )
2 3 5 3 5
¿ 8+12 x −4 x −6 x −12 x −6 x
5 3 2
¿−12 x −16 x +12 x +8
2
2 x +1
b) Find the derivative of f (x)= .
x−1
Let u = 2 x 2+1 and v = x−1. Then du = 4 x and dv = 1.

dx v []
d u vdu−udv
=
v2
( x−1 )( 4 x )−(2 x 2 +1)(1)
¿
( x −1)2
2 2
4 x −4 x−2 x −1
¿ 2
(x−1)
2
2 x −4 x−1
¿ 2
(x−1)

7.6: The Chain Rule

If y is a differentiable function of u and u is a differentiable function of x, then y can be
regarded as a function of x, and that
dy dy du
=
dx du dx ( )
That is, the derivative of y with respect to x is the derivative of y with respect to u
multiplied by the derivative of u with respect to x.

Table 7.6.1
Examples of nondifferentiable and differentiable functions when used with the chain rule
Not Differentiable with the Chain Rule Differentiable with the Chain Rule
1
2
y=x −3 y=(x ¿¿ 2−3) 3 ¿

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 Derivatives and Differentiation Rules

y=2 x +4 y= √ 2 x+ 4
y= ( x −1 )( 2 x+ 9 ) y=(x−1)(2+9)
4

Example Problem:
Find the derivative of F ( x )= √ 3 x−4.
1
Solution: Let F(x) = y = √ u=u 2 and u=3 x −4.
−1
dy 1 1 du
So, = u 2
= and =3.
du 2 2 √u dx

dy dy du
=
dx du dx ( )
1
¿ (3 )
2√ u
3
¿
2√ u
' 3
F ( x )=
2 √3 x−4
Thus, the chain rule leads to the generalization of the power rule.
7.7: The General Power Rule
If y=u nis a differentiable function of u , where u is a differentiable function of x , then for
any real number n,
d n
[ u ]=nu n−1 •u '
dx
Examples:
a) Use the general power rule of differentiation to find the derivative of f ( x )=(5 x−2 x3 )4 .
Solution: The inside function is 5 x−2 x3 . Thus, u = 5 x−2 x3 .
3 3
f ( x )=4 ( 5 x−2 x ) • ( 5−6 x )
' 2

3 3
f ( x )=(20−24 x ) ( 5 x−2 x )
' 2

√3
b) Find the derivative of g ( x )= (2 x 3+ 3 x )2.
2
Solution: g ( x )=√3 (2 x 3+ 3 x )2=(2 x 3 +3 x) 3 . Thus, u = 2 x3 +3 x .
2
2 −1
g ( x ) = ( 2 x +3 x ) • ( 6 x +3 )
' 3 3 2
3
−1
2
¿ ( 2 x 3+ 3 x ) 3 ( 6 x 2+ 3 )
3

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 Derivatives and Differentiation Rules

2 1
¿ ( 6 x +3 ) • 3 3
2
3 √ 2 x +3 x
2
4 x +2
¿
√3 2 x 3+ 3 x

14