菲律宾郊亚鄢南星學校

Nan Sing School of Cauayan City, Incorporated

Dalupang St., Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines 3305
Telefax No. (078) 652-2040
School ID: 400424

MODULE 3
BASIC CONCEPTS OF DERIVATIVES
1
Time Allotment: 1 hour
2

Learning  applies the definition of the derivative of a function at a given number

 determine the relationship between differentiability and continuity of a
Outcomes function
At the end of this  illustrate the Chain Rule of differentiation
lesson, you are expected  solve problems using the Chain Rule
to:

DEFINITION
The derivative of a function is one of the basic concepts of mathematics. Together with the
integral, derivative occupies a central place in calculus. The process of finding the derivative is
called differentiation. The inverse operation for differentiation is called integration.

The derivative of a function at some point characterizes the rate of change of the function at this
point. We can estimate the rate of change by calculating the ratio of change of the function Δy to the
change of the independent variable Δx. In the definition of derivative, this ratio is considered in the limit
as Δx→0. Let us turn to a more rigorous formulation.

Formal Definition of the Derivative

Let f(x) be a function whose domain contains an open interval about some point x0. Then the
function f(x) is said to be differentiable at x0, and the derivative of f(x) at x0 is given by

f '¿

Lagrange’s notation is to write the derivative of the function y=f (x )as f ' (x)∨ y ' (x).
df dy
Leibniz’s notation is to write the derivative of the function y=f (x ) as or .
dx dx

The steps to find the derivative of a function f(x) at the point x0 are as follows:


△ y f ( x 0 + △ x ) −f (x 0 ) ;
Form the difference quotient =
△x △x
 Simplify the quotient, canceling Δx if possible;
 Find the derivative f ' (x 0) , applying the limit to the quotient. If this limit exists, then we say that
the function f (x) is differentiable at x 0.

NOTATIONS

- Catalyst of Change -
 菲律宾郊亚鄢南星學校
Nan Sing School of Cauayan City, Incorporated
Dalupang St., Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines 3305 - Catalyst of Change -
Telefax No. (078) 652-2040
School ID: 400424

There are many ways to denote the derivative of a function y=f (x ). Besides f ' (x), the most

common notations are the following:

Nice and brief, but does not

y' “y prime” name the independent variable.

dy dy Names both variables and uses

“ ” or “the derivative of y
dx dx d for derivative.
with respect to x”
df df Emphasizes the function’s
“ ” or “the derivative of f name.
dx dx
with respect to x”
d d Emphasizes the idea that
f (x) “ of f at x ” or “the derivative differentiation is an operation
dx dx
of f at x performed on f.

BASIC RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION

The Constant Rule

The derivative of a constant function is 0. That is, if c is a real number, then

d
[ c ] =0.
dx

The Identity Rule

The derivative of an identity function is 1. That is, f ( x )=x , then

d
[ x ] =1.
dx

The Power Rule

If n is a rational number, then the function f ( x )=x n is differentiable and

d n
[ x ]=n x n−1 .
dx

The Constant Multiple Rule

If f is a differentiable function and c is a real number, then cf is also differentiable and
d
dx
[ cf ( x ) ]=c f ' ( x ) .

The Sum and Difference Rules

The derivative of the sum (or difference) pf two differentiable functions f and g is

differentiable and is the sum (or difference) of their derivatives.

d
dx
[ f ( x ) + g ( x ) ]=f ' ( x )+ g ' ( x ) Sum Rule
d
dx
[ f ( x )−g ( x ) ]=f ' ( x )−g' ( x ) Difference Rule

Statistics and Probability | Page 2 of 4

 菲律宾郊亚鄢南星學校
Nan Sing School of Cauayan City, Incorporated
Dalupang St., Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines 3305 - Catalyst of Change -
Telefax No. (078) 652-2040
School ID: 400424

MORE ON DIFFERENTIATION RULES

Derivatives of Products
Recall that the derivative of the sum of two functions is the sum of their derivatives and
the derivative of the difference of two functions is the difference of their derivatives. However, the
derivative of the product of two functions is not the product of their derivatives.

For example,
d d d d
( x ∙ x )= ( x 2 )=2 x , while ( x ) ∙ ( x )=1 ∙1=1
dx dx dx dx

The derivative of a product is actually the sum of two products, as we now explain.

The Product Rule

The derivative of the product of two functions is the first function times the derivative of
the second function, plus the second function times the derivative of the first function.
In simplified notation:
The product of two differentiable functions u(x ) and v (x) is differentiable, and
d d d dv du
( uv )=u ( v )+ v (u )=u + v .
dx dx dx dx dx

Derivatives of Quotients
Just as the derivative of the product of two differentiable functions is not the product of
their derivatives, the derivative of a quotient of two functions is not the quotient of their derivatives.

The Quotient Rule

The derivative of the quotient of two differentiable functions is equal to the denominator
times the derivative of the numerator, minus the numerator times the derivative of the denominator, all
divided by the square of the denominator.
In simplified notation:
The quotient of two differentiable functions u(x ) and v (x) is differentiable, and
d d du dv
v( u )−u (v ) v −u
d u
dx v()
=
dx
v
2
dx
=
dx
v
2
dx when v ( x ) ≠ 0

THE CHAIN RULE

We have developed rules and techniques for differentiating functions. If we are asked to find the
derivative of, for instance, the function f defined by
f ( x )=¿
we would first have to multiply together the 55 quadratic factors, f ( x )=¿, and then differentiate the
resulting polynomial of degree 110.
There is an easier way to differentiate f by using what is known the chain rule. Using the chain
rule, we compute the derivative of a composite function in terms of the derivatives of the functions
making up the composition.

The Chain Rule

Statistics and Probability | Page 3 of 4

 菲律宾郊亚鄢南星學校
Nan Sing School of Cauayan City, Incorporated
Dalupang St., Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines 3305 - Catalyst of Change -
Telefax No. (078) 652-2040
School ID: 400424

Let y=f (u) and u=g ( x ) , where f and g are functions.

If f is differentiable at the point u=g ( x ) , and g is differentiable at x , then the composite
functions y=f (g ( x )) is differentiable at x , and
D x ( f ( g ( x ) ) )=f ' ( g ( x ) ) g ' ( x ) .
In Leibniz notation, if y=f (u) and u=g ( x ) , then
d dy dy du dy du
f ( g ( x ) )= = ∙ provided that and exist.
dx dx du dx du dx

POWER CHAIN RULE

We know that when f is a differentiable function of u, and u is a differentiable function of x ,
then substituting y=f (u) in the Chain Rule formula
dy dy du
= ∙
dx du dx
leads to the formula
d ' du
f ( u )=f ( u ) .
dx dx

Here is an example of how it works: If n be any real number and f ( u )=un , the Power Rule tells
us that f ' ( u ) =n un−1 . If u is a differentiable function of x , then we can use the Chain Rule to extend this
to the Power Chain Rule.

d n n−1 du
u =nu
dx dx
To summarize:

Power Chain Rule

If u(x) is a differentiable function, n is any real number, and y=f ( x )=¿, then
'
f ( x )=n ¿
Using simplified notation,
d n n−1 du
'
y =n u
n −1 '
u or u =nu , where u=u ( x ) .
dx dx

Statistics and Probability | Page 4 of 4