Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

DIFFERENTIATION OF A PRODUCT

When 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑣, and 𝑢 and 𝑣 are both functions of 𝑥, then

𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒗 𝒅𝒖
= 𝒖 + 𝒗
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙

Copy Derivative Copy Derivative

first of second second of first
function function function function

This is known as the product rule.

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

SAMPLE PROBLEM

PROBLEM (1).

Find the differential coefficient of:

𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥

SOLUTION (1).

3𝑥 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥 is a product of two terms 𝟑𝒙𝟐 and 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝒙.

Let

finding 𝑢 = 3𝑥 2 finding 𝑣 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥

the the
derivative 𝑑𝑢 = 6𝑥 derivative 𝑑𝑣 = 2 cos 2𝑥

Using the product rule:

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
= 𝑢 + 𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

gives:
𝑑𝑦
= (3𝑥 2 ) (2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥) + (𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥) (6𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= 6𝑥 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 + 6𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 Answer.
= 6𝑥(𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

Note that the differential coefficient of a product is not obtained by merely

differentiating each term and multiplying the two answers together. The product
rule formula must be used when differentiating products.

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (2).

Find the rate of change of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 given: 𝑦 = 3 √𝑥 𝑙𝑛 2𝑥

SOLUTION (2).
𝑑𝑦
The rate of change of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 is given by
𝑑𝑥

𝑦 = 3 √𝑥 𝑙𝑛 2𝑥
1
𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 𝑙𝑛 2𝑥 which is a product

Let
1
𝑢 = 3𝑥 2 𝑣 = 𝑙𝑛 2𝑥
finding
finding 1 the
1 1
the 𝑑𝑢 = (2) (3)𝑥 2−1 derivative 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑥
derivative
1
3
𝑑𝑢 = 2 𝑥 −2

Then
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
= 𝑢 + 𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

1 1
1 3
= (3𝑥 2 ) (𝑥) + (𝑙𝑛 2𝑥) (2 𝑥 −2 )
1 1
3
= 3𝑥 2−1 + (𝑙𝑛 2𝑥) (2) (𝑥 −2 )
1
1
= 3𝑥 −2 (1 + 2 𝑙𝑛 2𝑥)

𝑑𝑦 3 1 Answer.
= (1 + 2 𝑙𝑛 2𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 √𝑥

Engineering Department
 Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (3).

Differentiate: 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥 𝑙𝑛 𝑥

SOLUTION (3). A product within the product

Let

𝑢 = 𝑥 3 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥 (i.e. a product) 𝑣 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑥 finding

1 the
Let 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑥 derivative
finding
the 𝑚 = 𝑥3 𝑛 = cos 3𝑥
2
derivative
𝑑𝑚 = 3𝑥 2 𝑑𝑛 = −3 sin 3𝑥
𝑑𝑛 𝑑𝑚
𝑑𝑢 = 𝑚 +𝑛
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑢 = (𝑥 3 )(−3 sin 3𝑥) + (cos 3𝑥)(3𝑥 2 )

𝑑𝑢 = −3𝑥 3 sin 3𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 cos 3𝑥

Then
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
= 𝑢 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑣 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥

1
= (𝑥 3 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥) (𝑥) + (𝑙𝑛 𝑥)[−3𝑥 3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥]

= 𝑥 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 𝑙𝑛 𝑥(𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝑥 − 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑥)

𝒅𝒚 Answer.
= 𝒙𝟐 [𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟑𝒙 + 𝟑𝒍𝒏𝒙(𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟑𝒙 − 𝒙𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟑𝒙)]
𝒅𝒙

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (4).

Determine the rate of change of voltage, given 𝑣 = 5𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑡 volts, when 𝑡 = 0.2 s

SOLUTION (4).

𝑣 = 5𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑡 (a product)

𝑚 = 5𝑡 𝑛 = sin 2𝑡

𝑑𝑚 = 5 𝑑𝑛 = 2 cos 2𝑡

𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑛 𝑑𝑚
=𝑚 +𝑛
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

= (5𝑡)(2 cos 2𝑡) + (sin 2𝑡)(5)

𝑑𝑣
= 10𝑡 cos 2𝑡 + 5 sin 2𝑡
𝑑𝑡

When 𝑡 = 0.2,
𝑑𝑣
= 10(0.2)𝑐𝑜𝑠 2(0.2) + 5 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2(0.2)
𝑑𝑡

= 2 cos 0.4 + 5 sin 0.4 (where 𝑐𝑜𝑠 0.4 means the

𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 0.4 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠 = 0.92106)

𝑑𝑣
Hence 𝑑𝑡 = 2(0.92106) + 5(0.38942)

= 1.8421 + 1.9471
𝑑𝑣
= 3.7892
𝑑𝑡
Answer.
i.e. the rate of change of voltage when t = 0.2 s is 3.79 volts/s

correct to 3 significant figures.

Engineering Department