Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

1. DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

The general objective of this unit is to introduce you to the concept of

differentiation. You should then be able to determine the direction of a
curve at a certain point, develop the general rule for differentiation, and
apply special techniques for differentiating mathematical functions.

The rate at which one quantity changes with respect to another is a central
concept of calculus which leads to the notion of derivative. The
derivative of a function describes the rate of change of the function.

The rate of change of a function at a given point is the gradient of its

graph at the point, which is the same as the slope of the tangent line at
that point.

1.1 The Gradient of a Line

Q(x2, y2) P(x1, y1)

P(x1, y1) Q(x2, y2)



In the above Figures, the gradient is negative and the straight line makes
an obtuse angle,, with the positive direction of the X-axis; the line
slopes downwards to the right. The gradient of a straight line is
constant.
Rise y
Gradient of PQ = =
Run x

The gradient of the line is defined as the tangent of the angle that the
straight line makes with the positive direction of the x-axis.

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

1.2 Definition of a derivative (The gradient of a curve)

f(x)

f(x+ x) Q

Rise

f(x)
P
Run

x
0 x x+  x

The gradient of a PQ is the chord of a curve.

Rise f (x  x )  f (x )
The gradient of the line PQ = =
Run (x  x )  x

Rise = difference in value of f(x)

Run = difference in values of x

If we now move point Q closer to point P?

If we continue to move Q closer to P, then  x gets smaller, and we will

reach the stage where the line PQ appears to pass through the point P
only. This line is called the TANGENT TO THE CURVE AT POINT
P.

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

However the Run(  x) has been reduced to on infinitesimally small value.

In fact, there is a LIMIT to which we can reduce  x. Because of this
dy
limit, we call the gradient of the tangent to the curve a special name,
dx
dy f (x  x )  f (x )
and = f ' ( x ) = lim The derivative of a function
dx x0 x
f or,
The gradient of the tangent

the limit as x gets closer to 0

dy f (x  x )  f (x )
= f ' ( x ) = lim
dx x0 x

This procedure is called finding the differential coefficient from FIRST

PRINCIPLES.

The process of finding this limit for function is called “differentiation”

and the result is called the “derivative” of the function.

e.g.  From first principle, determine the differential coefficient of

each of the following:

(a) f(x) = 3x2

(b) f(x) = 2x2 + 1

(c) f(x) = 4x2 + 7x + 1

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

1.3 Rules of Differentiation

In order to avoid always having to use the tedious process of

differentiating from the first principle, we use some rules.

dy
(1) If y = axn, then = anxn-1
dx

(a) The gradient of the tangent to the curve axn at any point,
(b) The rate of change y with respect to x,
(c) The differential coefficient,
dy d
(d) The notations commonly used, y ' , f ' ( x) , , and f(x)
dx dx
(e) The derivative of y with respect to x.

((( proof )))

dy
We can prove the rule, If y = axn, then = anxn-1 by using the
dx
Binomial Theorem

n (n  1) n-2 2 n(n  1)(n  2) n-3 3

(a + b)n = an + nan-1b + a b + a b + ........
2! 3!

n
C1 n
C2 n
C3

If y = xn, y +y = (x + x)n

n (n  1) n-2 n(n  1)(n  2) n-3

y +y = xn + nxn-1x + x (x)2 + x (x)3 + .
2! 3!
n (n  1) n-2 n(n  1)(n  2) n-3
y = nxn-1x + x (x)2 + x (x)3 + ......
2! 3!
y n ( n  1 ) n ( n  1)( n  2) n-3
= nxn-1 + xn-2(x) + x (x)2 + ......
x 2! 3!

dy y
= lim
dx x0 x
y n (n  1) n-2 y n(n  1)(n  2) n-3
= nxn-1 + lim x (x) + lim x (x)2 +
x0 x 2! x0 x 3!
n-1
= nx
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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

d 2y
: The second order derivative,
dx 2

d 3y
: The third order derivative, .........etc.
dx 3

e.g.  (a) y = 3x2

3
(b) f(x) =
x2

(c) y = 3x4

(d) f(x) = 2x7

(2) Constant multiplication rule

If y = f(x) and k is a constant then

d dy
(ky) = k = kf’(x)
dx dx

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

(3) Sum rule

If u = f(x) and v = g(x) then

d du dv
(u + v) = + =f’(x) + g’(x)
dx dx dx

e.g.  (a) y = x2 + x3

x2  1
(b) y=
x

1 2
(c) y = x3 + 2x2 - + +3, x  0
x x2

(4) Chain Rule

dy dy du
= .
dx du dx

used to differentiate the function of a function.

e.g.  (a) y = (x2 + 1)3

(b) y = (x2 - a2)n where a is a constant

(c) y = (3x3 - 2x2 + 1)5

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

Implicit Differentiation

When a variable y is expressed in terms of another variable, y = f(x), we

say that y is an explicit function of x. For example, y = 3x2 – 4x + 5.
The variable y is the subject of the equation and does not appear on the
right hand side of the equation.

However, when the relation between the variable is such that y can not be
expressed directly in terms of x, we say that y is an implicit function of x.
For example, y = xy – x2. In this particular case we could express y as
an explicit function of x, thus:

y = xy – x2
xy – y = x2
y(x – 1) = x2
x2
y= ,and now y is expressed as an explicit function of x.
x 1

However it is sometimes impossible to rearrange the function. For

3 3
example, if x + y = x – 2xy + 7y, then y can not be expressed in the
form y = f(x).

To fine the derivative of an implicit function of x, we differentiate every

term in the equation with respect to x.

A function can be related to two or more functions. The differential

coefficient can be obtained using the chain rule. Implicit differentiation
is just an application of the chain rule.

dZ
If y = f(x) and Z = 3y2, find =?
dx
dZ
Z = 3y2, = 6y
dy
dZ dZ dy
Therefore, = .
dx dy dx

e.g.  (a) f(x,y) = x3 + y3 + 3x -11

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

(5) Product Rule for Differentiation

dy dv du
If y = u.v then =u +v
dx dx dx
(where, u is a function of x, v is a function of x)

((( proof )))

f(x) = y = u.v, where u is a function of x, often written u(x)

v is a function of x, often written v(x).

y f (x  x )  f (x )
Back to first principle: =
x x

An increase in u, that is  u, and an increase in v, that is  v

So, f(x) = u.v and f(x+  x) = (u +  u).(v +  v)

y (u  u)(v  v )  uv
Now, =
x x

uv  uv  vu  uv  uv

=
x

uv  vu  uv

Simplify, =
x

write the expression as the sum of fractions:

y v u v
= u v  u
x x x x

In the limit as x  0 ,
y dy
lim is
x0 x dx

v dv
lim is ,
x0 x dx

u du
lim is ,
x0 x dx

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

and y  0 , u  0 , v  0 ,

y v u v
so, = u v  u becomes
x x x x

dy dv du dv
= u +v + 0.
dx dx dx dx

e.g.  (a) y = (3x + 1) (2x + 1)

(b) y = (x3 + 3x2 + 4x +7) (x2 -2x + 1)

(c) Z = x2y3 with respect to x

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

(6) Quotient Rule for Differentiation

du dv
v u
u dy dx dx .
If y = , then = 2
v dx v

(where, u is a function of x, v is a function of x)

((( proof )))

u
f(x) = y = , where u is a function of x, often written u(x)
v
v is a function of x, often written v(x).

u
If y = , it follows that v.y = u or, u = v.y.
v
Here is an application of the product rule.

du dy dv
=v +y
dx dx dx

u
But, y= ,
v

du dy u dv
So, we can write =v + .
dx dx v dx

Multiply each term by v:

du dy dv
v = v2 +u .
dx dx dx
dv
Subtract u from both sides:
dx
du dv dy
v - u . = v2 .
dx dx dx

Divide both sides by v2:

du dv
v u
dy dx dx .
= 2
dx v

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Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Calculus(VBP234)

3x  4
e.g.  (a) y=
5x  3

x (x  2)
(b) y=
3x  1

x
(c) Z= with respect to x
y

(2x  1)
(d) y=
(x 2  1) 3

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