Module 4: DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

4.1 Increment and Derivatives

Let y be a continued-single function of x denoted by y = f (x) . If the independent variable x changes from
x to x + x , then the dependent variable y will also change from y to y + y ; thus y = f (x) changes to
y + y = f ( x + x) . Hence 𝛥𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + 𝛥𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥).

If the variable x changes from one fixed value x1 to another value x 2 the difference x2 − x1 is called the
increment of x, denoted by x .
It should be noted that the increment may be positive or negative.

Example If y = x2 – 3x + 1, compute y when

(a) x changes from x1 = 1 to x2 = 1.1; (b) x changes from x1 = –1 to x2 = –1.1

Solution:
Solving for y, y = (x + x)2 – 3(x + x) + 1 – (x2 – 3x + 1) = 2xx + (x)2 – 3x = x(2x +x – 3)
(a) when x changes from x1 = 1 to x2 = 1.1 then x = 0.1, so y = (0.1)(2 + 0.1– 3) = –0.09
(b) when x changes from x1 = –1 to x2 = –1.1 then x = –0.1, so y = (–0.1)( –2–0.1– 3) = 0.51

f ( x + x)
Consider the function y = f(x). If for a fixed value of x, the quotient approaches a limit as the
x
increment x approaches zero, the limit is called the derivative of y with respect to x for the given value of x.
dy
This is usually denoted by .
dx

The derivative of y with respect to x is defined as

dy y f ( x + x) − f ( x)
= lim = lim
dx x→0 x x→0 x
provided the limit exists

Other notations for derivatives are:

d
Dx y, Dx f ( x), y' , f ' ( x), and f ( x)
dx

The process of finding the derivative is called differentiation. If the derivative exists, f(x) is said to be a
differentiable function.

One method of determining the derivative of a function is the increment method or more commonly known as
the four-step rule. The procedure is as follows.

Step 1 Substitute x + x for x and y + y for y in y = f(x).

Step 2 Subtract y = f(x) from the result of step 1 to obtain y in terms of x and x .
Step 3 Divide both sides of step 2 by x .
Step 4 Find the limit of step 3 as x approaches zero.

𝑑𝑦
Example 1 If y = x2 – 3x + 1, find
𝑑𝑥

Solution:
Step 1 → y + y = (x + x)2 – 3(x + x) + 1
Step 2 → y = (x + x)2 – 3(x + x) + 1 – (x2 – 3x + 1) = 2xx + (x)2 – 3x = x(2x +x – 3)
𝑦 𝑥(2𝑥 +𝑥 – 3)
Step 3 → 𝑥 = = 2𝑥 + 𝑥 – 3
𝑥
𝑦
Step 4 → lim = lim (2𝑥 + 𝑥 – 3) = 2𝑥 − 3
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦
 = 2𝑥 − 3
𝑑𝑥
 𝑑𝑦 3𝑥−2
Example 2 Determine given that 𝑦 = 2𝑥+1
𝑑𝑥

Solution:
3(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2
Step 1 → y + y = 2(𝑥+∆𝑥)+1
3(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2 3𝑥−2 (2𝑥+1)(3𝑥+3∆𝑥−2)−(3𝑥−2)(2𝑥+2∆𝑥+1) 7∆𝑥
Step 2 → y = 2(𝑥+∆𝑥)+1 − =
(2𝑥+2∆𝑥+1)(2𝑥+1)
= (2𝑥+2∆𝑥+1)(2𝑥+1)
2𝑥+1
𝑦 7∆𝑥 7
Step 3 → 𝑥 = ∆𝑥(2𝑥+2∆𝑥+1)(2𝑥+1) = (2𝑥+2∆𝑥+1)(2𝑥+1)
𝑦 7 7
Step 4 → lim 𝑥 = lim ((2𝑥+2∆𝑥+1)(2𝑥+1)) = (2𝑥+1)2
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦 7
 =
𝑑𝑥 (2𝑥+1)2

dy
Example 3. Evaluate for y = x − 1 when x =17.
dx
Solution:
Step 1 → y + y = √𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 1
Step 2 → y = √𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 1 − √𝑥 − 1
𝑦 √𝑥+∆𝑥−1−√𝑥−1 √𝑥+∆𝑥−1−√𝑥−1 √𝑥+∆𝑥−1+√𝑥−1 (𝑥+∆𝑥−1)−(𝑥−1) 1
Step 3 → = = ( ) = ∆𝑥(√𝑥+∆𝑥−1+√𝑥−1) =
𝑥 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥 √𝑥+∆𝑥−1+√𝑥−1 √𝑥+∆𝑥−1+√𝑥−1
𝑦 1 1
Step 4 → lim = lim ( ) = 2√𝑥−1
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 √𝑥+∆𝑥−1+√𝑥−1

𝑑𝑦 1
When x = 17, 𝑑𝑥 = 8

4.2 Rules of Algebraic Differentiation

Rule 1. Derivative of a Constant

d
If c is any constant, and y is a function defined by y = c then c=0
dx
dy
Example Determine if 𝑦 = 32 + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛5
dx

Solution:
dy
Since  is a mathematical constant and arcsin5 is also a constant, then =0
dx
Rule 2. Derivative of a Power
If n is any real number and if y = u n , where u is a differentiable function of x, then

u n = nu n −1 (u )
d d
dx dx
dy
Example Find if 𝑦 = 𝑥 4
dx

Solution:
dy
Applying rule 2 or also known as power formula gives, = 4𝑥 3
dx

Rule 3. Derivative of a Constant times a Function

If u is a differentiable function of x and C is a constant, then
d
(Cu) = C d (u ) .
dx dx
dy
Example Find if 𝑦 = 5𝑥 4
dx
Solution:
dy
Using rule 3 and rule 2, we have = 20𝑥 3
dx

Rule 4. Derivative of a Sum or Difference

If u and v are both differentiable functions of x,
d
(u  v) = d (u )  d (v)
dx dx dx
dy
Example Find if 𝑦 = 5𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 − 6
dx

Solution:
dy
Using rules 1 through 4, we have = 20𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 4
dx

Rule 5. Derivative of a Product

If u and v are differentiable functions of x, then
d
(uv) = u dv + v du
dx dx dx
dy
Example Find if 𝑦 = (2𝑥 2 − 3)(5𝑥 2 + 3)
dx

Solution:
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
By product rule, 𝑑𝑥 [(2𝑥 2 − 3)(5𝑥 2 + 3)] = (2𝑥 2 − 3) 𝑑𝑥 [(5𝑥 2 + 3)] + (5𝑥 2 + 3) 𝑑𝑥 [(2𝑥 2 − 3)]
dy
= (2𝑥 2 − 3)(10𝑥) + (5𝑥 2 + 3)(4𝑥) = 40𝑥 3 − 18𝑥
dx

Alternative solution:
Since the product can be obtained at once, that is, 𝑦 = (2𝑥 2 − 3)(5𝑥 2 + 3) = 10𝑥 4 − 9𝑥 2 − 9
dy
Then, = 40𝑥 3 − 18𝑥
dx

Rule 6. Derivative of a Quotient

du dv
v −u
d u dx dx
If u and v are differentiable functions of x, then  =
dx  v  v2
𝑑𝑦 3𝑥−2
Example Determine given that 𝑦 = 2𝑥+1
𝑑𝑥

Solution:
𝑑 𝑑
𝑑 3𝑥−2 (2𝑥+1) (3𝑥−2)−(3𝑥−2) (2𝑥+1) (2𝑥+1)(3)−(3𝑥−2)(2)
By quotient rule, ( )=
𝑑𝑥 2𝑥+1
𝑑𝑥
(2𝑥+1) 2
𝑑𝑥
=
(2𝑥+1)2

𝑑𝑦 7
 =
𝑑𝑥 (2𝑥+1)2

Rule 6.1 Derivative of a Constant numerator with differentiable function of x as the denominator.

If C is any constant and v is a differentiable function of x, then

dv
−C
d C dx .
 =
dx  v  v2
𝑑𝑦 5
Example Find if 𝑦 = 𝑥 2−4𝑥+6
𝑑𝑥

Solution:
𝑑
𝑑 5 −5 (𝑥 2 −4𝑥+6) −5(2𝑥−4) −10(𝑥−2)
𝑑𝑥
Applying rule 6.1, we have 𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 2 −4𝑥+6) = = (𝑥 2 −4𝑥+6)2 = (𝑥 2−4𝑥+6)2
(𝑥 2 −4𝑥+6)2
Rule 6.2 Derivative of a differentiable function of x as the numerator and a constant denominator.
d  v  1 dv
If C is any constant and v is a differentiable function of x, then  = where C  0 .
dx  C  C dx
𝑑𝑦 5𝑥 4 −4𝑥 3 +4𝑥 2 −4𝑥+9
Example Find if 𝑦 =
𝑑𝑥 4

Solution:
Using rule 6.2,
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 5𝑥 4 −4𝑥 3 +3𝑥 2 −4𝑥+9 1
= ( ) = (20𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 4) = 5𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 4 4

Rule 7. Derivative of a Radical with index equal to 2

du
If u is a differentiable function of x, then
d
dx
( )
u = dx .
2 u
𝑑𝑦
Example Find if 𝑦 = √1 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥

Solution:
Using square root rule,
𝑑
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 (1−2𝑥+3𝑥2 ) −2+6𝑥 2(3𝑥−1) 3𝑥−1
𝑑𝑥
= (√1 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑥2 ) = = = =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2√1−2𝑥+3𝑥2 2√1−2𝑥+3𝑥2 2√1−2𝑥+3𝑥 2 √1−2𝑥+3𝑥2

Rule 8. Derivative of a Radical with index other than 2

If n is any positive integer and u is a differentiable function of x, then

d  n  1 n −1 du
1 1

u  =  u 
dx   n dx
𝑑𝑦 3 1−𝑥 3
Example Obtain given that 𝑦 = √1+𝑥 3
𝑑𝑥

Solution:
1
3 1−𝑥 3 1−𝑥 3 3
Since 𝑦 = √1+𝑥 3 = (1+𝑥 3) applying rule 8,
1 1 2
−1 − 𝑑 𝑑
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 1−𝑥3 3 1 1−𝑥 3 3 𝑑 1−𝑥 3 1 1−𝑥 3 3 (1+𝑥 3 ) (1−𝑥 3 )−(1−𝑥 3 ) (1+𝑥 3 )
= ( ) =3 (1+𝑥3) (
𝑑𝑥 1+𝑥 3
) = 3 (1+𝑥 3) [ 𝑑𝑥
(1+𝑥 3 )2
𝑑𝑥
]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 1+𝑥3
−2/3
𝑑𝑦 (1−𝑥3 ) (1+𝑥3 )(−3𝑥2 )−(1−𝑥3 )(3𝑥2 ) −6𝑥 2 −2𝑥 2
= −2/3 [ 2 ]= 2/3 4/3 = 2/3 4/3
𝑑𝑥 3(1−𝑥3 ) (1+𝑥3 ) 3(1−𝑥3 ) (1+𝑥3 ) (1−𝑥3 ) (1+𝑥3 )

Rule 9. Chain Rule of Differentiation

If y = f (u ) and u = g (x ) , then the derivative of y with respect to x is equal to the product of the
derivative of y with respect to u and the derivative of u with respect to x, that is,
dy dy du
= 
dx du dx
Example Differentiate y with respect to x if 𝑦 = (2𝑥 2 − 1)5 (3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2)3

Solution:
𝑑𝑢
Here, it is not advisable to find the product first before differentiating the function. Let 𝑢 = 2𝑥 2 − 1, 𝑑𝑥 = 4𝑥
𝑑𝑣
and let 𝑣 = 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2, 𝑑𝑥 = 6𝑥 + 4, then 𝑦 = 𝑢5 𝑣 3 . By product rule and chain rule, we have
𝑑𝑦 5
𝑑(𝑣 3 ) 𝑑𝑣 3
𝑑(𝑢5 ) 𝑑𝑢
=𝑢 [ ]+𝑣 [ ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑢5 (3𝑣 2 )(6𝑥 + 4) + 𝑣 3 (5𝑢4 )(4𝑥) = 2𝑢4 𝑣 2 (3𝑢(3𝑥 + 2) + 10𝑥𝑣)
𝑑𝑥
Substitute the values of u and v, we have
 𝑑𝑦
= 2(2𝑥 2 − 1)4 ( 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2)2 (3(2𝑥 2 − 1)(3𝑥 + 2) + 10𝑥( 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2))
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 2(2𝑥 2 − 1)4 ( 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2)2 (48𝑥 3 + 52𝑥 2 − 29𝑥 − 6)
𝑑𝑥

Rule 10. Parametric Differentiation

dy
If y = f (u ) and x = g (u ) then
dy dy f ' (u )
= du or = , g ' (u )  0
dx dx dx g ' (u )
du

𝑑𝑦
Example Suppose 𝑥 = 3𝑡 2 − 2𝑡 + 5 and 𝑦 = 4𝑡 − 2, find 𝑑𝑥

Solution:
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
If 𝑥 = 3𝑡 2 − 2𝑡 + 5 then 𝑑𝑡 = 6𝑡 − 2. Also, since 𝑦 = 4𝑡 − 2, then 𝑑𝑡 = 4
𝑑𝑦⁄
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 4 2
Thus, = 𝑑𝑥 = =
𝑑𝑥 ⁄𝑑𝑡 6𝑡−2 3𝑡−1