Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

SUCCESSIVE DIFFERENTIATION

When a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is differentiated with respect to 𝑥 the differential coefficient is

𝑑𝑦
written as or 𝑓’(𝑥).
𝑑𝑥

If the expression is differentiated again, the second differential coefficient is obtained and is
𝑑 2𝑦
written as or 𝑓′′(𝑥) (pronounced f double–prime x).
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑑3 𝑦 𝑑4 𝑦
By successive differentiation further higher derivatives such as and may be obtained.
𝑑𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 4

Thus if 𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙𝟒
𝒅𝒚
Then Finding = 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟑
𝒅𝒙
the
derivative
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
= 𝟑𝟔𝒙𝟐
Finding 𝒅𝒙𝟐
the
derivative
𝒅𝟑 𝒚
= 𝟕𝟐𝒙
Finding
𝒅𝒙𝟑
the
derivative 𝒅𝟒 𝒚
= 𝟕𝟐 and
𝒅𝒙𝟒
Finding
the
derivative 𝒅𝟓𝒚
= 𝟎
𝒅𝒙𝟓

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

SAMPLE PROBLEM

PROBLEM (1).

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 5 − 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 5, find 𝑓′′(𝑥)

SOLUTION (1).

𝑓′′(𝑥) two primes means we have to differentiate 2x

Finding 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 5 – 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 5
the
derivative
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 10𝑥 4 – 12𝑥 2 + 3
Finding
the
derivative 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 40𝑥 3 − 24𝑥 simplifying,

𝒇′′(𝒙) = 𝟒𝒙(𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔) Answer.

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (2).

𝜋 𝑑2 𝑦
If 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥, evaluate 𝑥, in the range 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ , when is zero
2 𝑑𝑥 2

SOLUTION (2).

𝑑2𝑦
we have to differentiate 2x
𝑑𝑥 2

Finding 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥

the
derivative
𝑑𝑦
= −𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
Finding 𝑑𝑥
the
derivative
𝑑2𝑦
= −𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2

When
𝑑2𝑦
=0
𝑑𝑥 2

−𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 = 0

𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
sin 𝑥 sin 𝑥
= 1 = tan 𝑥
cos 𝑥 cos 𝑥

Hence

𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥 = 1

𝑥 = tan−1 1

= 450 or
𝜋 𝜋 Answer.
𝑥 = 4 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 in the range 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (3).

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Given 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 show that + 6 + 9𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

SOLUTION (3).

𝑑2𝑦
we have to differentiate 2x
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 (i.e. a product)

Finding 𝑢 = 2𝑥 Finding
𝑣 = 𝑒 −3𝑥
the the
derivative derivative
𝑑𝑢 = 2 𝑑𝑣 = −3𝑒 −3𝑥
Finding
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
the
derivative = 𝑢 + 𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= (2𝑥)(−3𝑒 −3𝑥 ) + (𝑒 −3𝑥 )(2)
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= −6𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 + 2𝑒 −3𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑2𝑦
Finding = [(−6𝑥)(−3𝑒 −3𝑥 ) + (𝑒 −3𝑥 )(−6)] + (−6𝑒 −3𝑥 )
the 𝑑𝑥 2
derivative

= 18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 − 6𝑒 −3𝑥 − 6𝑒 −3𝑥

𝑑2𝑦
= 18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 − 12𝑒 −3𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Substituting values into 7 𝑑𝑥 2 + 6 𝑑𝑥 + 9𝑦 gives:

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

= (18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 – 12𝑒 −3𝑥 ) + 6(−6𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 + 2𝑒 −3𝑥 ) + 9(2𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 )

= 18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 – 12𝑒 −3𝑥 – 36𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 + 12𝑒 −3𝑥 + 18𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥

= 0

𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦 Answer.
Thus when 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑒 −3𝑥 , + 6 𝑑𝑥 + 9𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥 2

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (4).

𝑑2 𝑦
Evaluate 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃 = 0 given: 𝑦 = 4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝜃
𝑑𝜃2

SOLUTION (4).

𝑑2𝑦
we have to differentiate 2x
𝑑𝜃2

𝑦 = 4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝜃, then

Finding
the
𝑑𝑦
derivative
= (4)(2)𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝜃 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝜃
𝑑𝜃

𝑑𝑦
= 8 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝜃 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝜃 (i.e. a product)
𝑑𝜃

Finding
𝑢 = 8 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝜃 𝑣 = (𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝜃) Finding
the the
derivative derivative
𝑑𝑢 = [(8)(2)𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝜃 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝜃] 𝑑𝑣 = (2 sec 2 2𝜃)
Finding
the
derivative 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
= 𝑢 + 𝑣
𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑2𝑦
= (8 sec 2𝜃)(2 sec 2 2𝜃) + (𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝜃)[(8)(2)𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝜃 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝜃]
𝑑𝜃2

𝑑2𝑦
= 16 sec 3 2𝜃 + 16 𝑠𝑒𝑐2𝜃 tan2 2𝜃
𝑑𝜃2

When 𝜃 = 0,
𝑑2𝑦
= 16 sec 3 0 + 16 sec 0 tan2 0
𝑑𝜃2

= 16(1) + 16(1)(0)
𝑑2𝑦 Answer.
= 𝟏𝟔
𝑑𝜃2

Engineering Department