MCV4U

2.1 – FINDING DERIVATIVES (PART A)

FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES TO THE POWER RULE

EXAMPLE #1:
a. Using First Principles only, find the slope of the tangent of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2
at any point.

b. Using First Principles only, find the slope of the tangent of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3
at any point.

c. Is there a short cut? Complete the following table.

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 𝑓′(𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 𝑓′(𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 𝑓′(𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 5 𝑓′(𝑥) =

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑛 , then 𝑓′(𝑥) =

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THE POWER RULE

The Power Rule states, if 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝒏 ,
then 𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏

THE POWER RULE

EXAMPLE #2:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Power Rule.
Leave your final answer with positive exponents.
a. 𝑦 = 𝑥10

b. 𝑦 = 𝑥 −1.5

−2
c. 𝑦 = 𝑥5

d. 𝑦 = √𝑥

e. 𝑦 = √5𝑥

1
f. 𝑦 =
√3𝑥

THE CONSTANT RULE

The Constant Rule states, if 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒄,
then 𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝟎 where 𝒄 is a constant value.

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PROOF
EXAMPLE #3:
Using First Principles, prove The Constant Rule.

THE CONSTANT RULE

EXAMPLE #4:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Constant Rule
and or The Power Rule.
a. 𝑦 = 123

b. 𝑦 = 𝑒

c. 𝑦 = 𝜋

d. 𝑦 = −25

e. 𝑦 = 0

f. 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝜋

𝑑
g. (4𝑥 −0.5 +2𝑥 −3 − 1)
𝑑𝑥

2𝑥 3 +4𝑥 5
h. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥

i. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 −0.5 −𝑥 −3

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THE PRODUCT RULE

The Product Rule states, if 𝑭(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙),
then 𝑭′ (𝒙) = 𝒇′(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙) + 𝒇(𝒙)𝒈′(𝒙)
PROOF
EXAMPLE #5:
Using First Principles, prove The Product Rule.

THE PRODUCT RULE

EXAMPLE #6:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Product Rule
and The Power Rule.
The Product Rule The Power Rule
2
𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 3) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3)

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THE PRODUCT RULE

EXAMPLE #7:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Product Rule.
a. 𝑦 = (4𝑥 2 − 3)(𝑥 5 − 3𝑥)

b. 𝑦 = (4𝑥 + 15)(3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1)

c. 𝑦 = √𝑥(3 − 𝑥 2 )

THE EXTENDED PRODUCT RULE

The Extended Product Rule states, if 𝑭(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙)𝒉(𝒙),
then 𝑭′ (𝒙) = 𝒇′(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙)𝒉(𝒙) + 𝒇(𝒙)𝒈′ (𝒙)𝒉(𝒙) + 𝒇(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙)𝒉′(𝒙)

EXTENDED PRODUCT RULE

EXAMPLE #8:
1
Find the derivative of 𝑦 = (√𝑥 + 1) (1 − 𝑥) (𝑥 + 𝑥 2 ) using The Extended
Product Rule. Do not simplify.

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EQUATION OF THE TANGENT LINE

EXAMPLE #9:
a. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 1
when 𝑥 = −2. Leave your final answer in standard form.

b. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve

𝑓(𝑥) = (4𝑥 2 + 1)(𝑥 2 − 3) when 𝑥 = 1. Leave your final answer in standard
form.

c. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve

𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 when the line is parallel to the line 𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 3.
Leave your final answer in standard form.

NEXT STEPS:
GO TO “CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING” FROM BRIGHTSPACE

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2.2 – FINDING DERIVATIVES (PART B)

RECALL THE POWER RULE

EXAMPLE #1:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Power Rule.
Leave your final answer with positive exponents.
a. 𝑦 = 1 + 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 6 + 4𝑥 7 − 5𝑥 8

3 2 1
b. 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4

THE CHAIN RULE

The Chain Rule states, if 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒖𝒏 ,
then 𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝒏(𝒖)𝒏−𝟏 (𝒖′)

THE POWER RULE AND THE CHAIN RULE

EXAMPLE #2:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Power Rule and
The Chain Rule. Leave your final answer in standard form.
The Power Rule The Chain Rule
2
𝑦 = (3𝑥 + 1) 𝑦 = (3𝑥 + 1)2

𝑦 = (𝑥 − 1)3 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 1)3

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CHAIN RULE
EXAMPLE #3:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Chain Rule.
Leave your final answer in factored form with positive exponents.
a. 𝑦 = (2𝑥 5 − 4𝑥 + 3)10

b. 𝑦 = (𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥)16

3 5
c. 𝑦 = ( 𝑥)
√

d. 𝑦 = √(5𝑥 3 − 4𝑥)

2
e. 𝑦 = (5𝑥 2 + 3𝑥)3

f. 𝑦 = √𝑥 − √𝑥 − √𝑥 (Do not simplify)

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THE QUOTIENT RULE

𝒇(𝒙)
The Quotient Rule states, if 𝑭(𝒙) = ,
𝒈(𝒙)
𝒇′(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙)𝒈′(𝒙)
then 𝑭′(𝒙) = [𝒈(𝒙)]𝟐

THE PRODUCT AND CHAIN RULE VS THE QUOTIENT RULE

EXAMPLE 4:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Product Rule
and The Chain Rule, and The Quotient Rule.
The Product Rule The Quotient Rule
and The Chain Rule
𝑥2 + 1 𝑥2 + 1
𝑦= 3 𝑦= 3
𝑥 −2 𝑥 −2

THE QUOTIENT RULE

EXAMPLE #5:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Quotient Rule
and or The Chain Rule. Leave your final answer in factored form with
positive exponents.
5𝑥 3 −2
a. 𝑦 = 3𝑥−2𝑥 5

3
√𝑥 2
b. 𝑦 = 1+𝑥 2

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DERIVATIVE
EXAMPLE #6:
Find the derivative of the following functions. Leave your final answer
in factored form with positive exponents.
a. 𝑦 = (𝑥 3 − 1)4 (4𝑥 2 + 7)2

3
(6𝑥 2 +5𝑥−4)
b. 𝑦 = (2𝑥−1)2

5−6𝑥 4
c. 𝑦 = (2𝑥 3 − 1) ( 𝑥+1 )

3
d. 𝑦 = √4𝑥 + √𝑥 − √2𝑥 (Do not simplify)

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EXTENSION: IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Differentiate every term on both sides with respect to 𝒙.
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚
Write 𝒅𝒙 wherever 𝒚 is being differentiated. Solve for 𝒅𝒙.

EXTENSION: IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

EXAMPLE #7:
𝒅𝒚
Find the derivative 𝒅𝒙 of the following functions using Implicit
Differentiation.
a. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 123

b. 𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 − 𝑦 5 = 25

WORD PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #8:
A cliff diver jumps into the ocean from a cliff 78.4 𝑚 high. The diver’s
height, in metres, after 𝑡 seconds is given by ℎ(𝑡) = 78.4 − 4.9𝑡 2 .
a. Determine the rate of change of the height of the diver after 1 𝑠.

b. How long does it take the diver to break the surface of the water?
What is the speed of the diver at this time?

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EQUATION OF THE TANGENT LINE

EXAMPLE #9:
a. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1)6 at
the point where 𝑥 = 1. Leave your final answer in standard form.

b. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve

4𝑥 2 𝑦 − 2𝑥 3 − 5𝑦 + 4 = 0 at the point (1,2). Leave your final answer in
standard form.

QUESTION #4 FROM CONTENT

EXAMPLE #10:
At what points on the hyperbola 𝑥𝑦 = −12 is the tangent line parallel to
−3𝑥 + 𝑦 − 5 = 0?

NEXT STEPS:
GO TO “CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING” FROM BRIGHTSPACE

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2.3 – SOLVING RELATED RATES PROBLEMS

GUIDELINE FOR RELATED RATE PROBLEMS

The basic steps to follow in the related rate problem solving process
are:
1. Draw a diagram (if applicable)
2. Introduce variables to represent the quantities that change.
3. Express the unknown rate of change and the given rate of
change as derivatives.
4. Find an equation that relates the variables.
5. Differentiate both sides of this equation with respect to time 𝑡,
regarding all variables as functions of 𝑡.
6. Evaluate the terms in the differentiated equation at the
specified instant, using the given values and the given rate of
change, and then solve for the unknown rate of change.

CYLINDER PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #1:
Water is being poured into a cylindrical drum at a rate of 4.0 𝑚3 /𝑠. The
drum has a height of 2.5 𝑚 and a radius of 0.5 𝑚. How fast is the water
level rising when the water level is 1.5 𝑚 deep? Round your final
answer to two decimal places.

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SMALL PEBBLE PROBLEM

EXAMPLE #2:
When a small pebble is dropped in a pool of still water, it produces a
circular wave that travels outward at a constant speed of 15 𝑐𝑚/𝑠. At
what rate is the area inside the wave increasing:
a. when the radius is 6 𝑐𝑚? Round your final answer to two decimal
places.

b. when the area is 400𝜋 𝑐𝑚2 ? Round your final answer to two decimal
places.

c. when 5 𝑠 have elapsed? Round your final answer to two decimal

places.

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TWO CARS CHANGING PROBLEM

EXAMPLE #3:
Two cars approach a right angled intersection, one travelling south at
50 𝑘𝑚/ℎ and the other west at 70 𝑘𝑚/ℎ. When the faster car is 3 𝑘𝑚
from the intersection and the other car is 4 𝑘𝑚 from the intersection,
how fast is the distance between the two cars changing?

CONE PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #4:
A paper cup has the shape of a cone with height 7 𝑐𝑚 and radius of top
3 𝑐𝑚. Water is poured into the cup at a rate of 4 𝑐𝑚3 /𝑚𝑖𝑛, how fast is
the water rising when the water level is 5 𝑐𝑚 deep? Round your final
answer to two decimal places.

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LADDER SLIDING DOWN

EXAMPLE #5:
A ladder 5 𝑚 long is leaning against a vertical wall. If a person pulls the
bottom of the ladder away from the wall at a rate of 0.5 𝑚/𝑠, how fast
is the top sliding down the wall when the bottom of the ladder is 3 𝑐𝑚
from the wall? Round your final answer to two decimal places.

SPHERICAL BALLOON
EXAMPLE #6:
A spherical balloon is being inflated. If the volume of the balloon is
increasing at a rate of 13 𝑚3 /𝑚𝑖𝑛, how fast is the radius increasing
when the radius is 2 𝑐𝑚? Round your final answer to two decimal
places.

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SHADOW PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #7:
A spotlight at a school dance is fastened to a wall 8 𝑚 above the dance
floor. A girl 1.8 𝑚 tall moves away from the wall at a speed of 0.8 𝑚/𝑠.
a. At what rate is the length of her shadow increasing? Round your
final answer to two decimal places.

b. At what speed is the tip of her shadow moving? Round your final
answer to two decimal places.

NEXT STEPS:
GO TO “CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING” FROM BRIGHTSPACE

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2.4 – INVESTIGATING VELOCITY, ACCELERATION AND SECOND

DERIVATIVES

REVIEW
EXAMPLE #1:
A ball is thrown into the air from an apartment balcony. The height,
ℎ metres, of the ball relative to the ground after 𝑡 seconds is given by
the equation ℎ(𝑡) = −5𝑡 2 + 10𝑡 + 30.
a. Graph this function.

b. Find the maximum height of the ball above the ground.

c. When did the ball reach the maximum height?

d. What is the actual vertical distance the ball travelled?

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HIGHER DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE #2:
a. Find 𝑓 ′ , 𝑓′′, 𝑓′′′, 𝑓 (4) and 𝑓 (5) for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 + 1.

1
b. Find 𝑓 ′ , 𝑓′′, 𝑓′′′, 𝑓 (4) and 𝑓 (5) for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥.

VELOCITY
Velocity is the rate of change in displacement with respect to
time.
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 ∆𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 = =
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 ∆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
𝒗(𝒕) = 𝒔′(𝒕)
The formula for velocity can be found by taking the derivative
of the position or displacement function

VELOCITY
EXAMPLE #3:
The position of an object moving on a line is given by the equation
1 7
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑡 3 − 2 𝑡 2 + 10𝑡 where 𝑠(𝑡) is the displacement in metres and 𝑡 is
3
the time in seconds. Find the following:
a. What is the velocity after 3 seconds?

b. When is the object at rest?

c. When is the object moving in a positive direction?

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ACCELERATION
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to
time.
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 ∆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚
𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = =
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 ∆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
′ (𝒕)
𝒂(𝒕) = 𝒗 = 𝒔′′(𝒕)
The formula for acceleration can be found by taking the
derivative of the velocity function or the second derivative of
the position or displacement function
AVERAGE ACCELERATION
The average acceleration (𝒂) of any object over a given interval
of time (𝒕) can be calculated using the following equation:
∆𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒗𝒇 − 𝒗𝒊
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = =
𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕

AVERAGE ACCELERATION
EXAMPLE #4:
Given the table below, determine the average acceleration.
Time (𝒔) 𝒎
Velocity ( 𝒔 )
0 0
1 2
2 4
3 6
4 8

THE RELATIONSHIP
The derivative of the displacement formula 𝒔(𝒕) is finding the
rate of change of the distance with respect to the rate of
change of time.
𝒗(𝒕) = 𝒔′(𝒕)
The derivative of the velocity formula is finding the rate of
change of the velocity with respect to the rate of change of
time.
𝒂(𝒕) = 𝒗(′𝒕) = 𝒔′′(𝒕)

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MAXIMUM HEIGHT
EXAMPLE #5:
If a ball is thrown directly upward with an initial velocity of 19.6 𝑚/𝑠
then its height after 𝑡 seconds, in metres is given by the equation
ℎ(𝑡) = 19.6𝑡 − 4.9𝑡 2 .
a. Find the velocity after 1 𝑠.

b. When does the ball reach its maximum height?

c. What is the maximum height?

d. When does it hit the ground?

e. With what velocity does it hit the ground?

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MATH ENGLISH DIAGRAM

𝑠(𝑡) = 0 Particle is in the origin.

ℎ(𝑡) = 0 Particle is on the ground.

𝑠(𝑡) > 0 Particle is on the

positive side of the origin.

𝑠(𝑡) < 0 Particle is on the

negative side of the origin.

ℎ(𝑡) > 0 Particle is above the ground.

ℎ(𝑡) < 0 Particle is below the ground.

𝑣(𝑡) = 0 The particle is at rest or changes

direction of movement.

𝑎(𝑡) = 0 The particle is not accelerated.

𝑣(𝑡) > 0 The particle is moving in the positive

direction (right or up).

𝑣(𝑡) < 0 The particle is moving in the negative

direction (left or down)

𝑠(𝑡)𝑣(𝑡) > 0 If |𝑠(𝑡)| is increasing then the particle

is moving away from the origin
and 𝑠(𝑡)𝑣(𝑡) > 0.
𝑠(𝑡)𝑣(𝑡) < 0 If |𝑠(𝑡)| is decreasing then the particle
is moving towards the origin and
𝑠(𝑡)𝑣(𝑡) < 0.
𝑣(𝑡)𝑎(𝑡) > 0 If |𝑣(𝑡)| is increasing then the particle
is speeding up and 𝑣(𝑡)𝑎(𝑡) > 0.

𝑣(𝑡)𝑎(𝑡) < 0 If |𝑣(𝑡)| is decreasing then the particle

is slowing down and 𝑣(𝑡)𝑎(𝑡) < 0.

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SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN

EXAMPLE #6:
Consider the following position function, 𝑠(𝑡) = 0.25𝑡 3 − 3𝑡.
a. Graph on the same grid 𝑠(𝑡), 𝑣(𝑡) and 𝑎(𝑡).

b. Find the interval(s) when the particle is moving towards the origin.

c. Find the interval(s) when the particle is speeding up.

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THINKING
EXAMPLE #7:

A particle is moving in a straight line with the position relative to the

origin 𝑂 is given by the equation 𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑡 3 − 3𝑡 + 1, where 𝑠(𝑡) is the
displacement in metres and 𝑡 is the time in seconds, 𝑡 ≥ 0.
a. Find the velocity and acceleration.

b. Find the initial conditions and describe the motion at this instant.

c. Describe the motion of the particle at 𝑡 = 2 seconds.

d. Find the position of the particle when changes in direction occur.

e. For what time interval is the particle’s speed increasing?

f. What is the total distance travelled in the time from 𝑡 = 0

to 𝑡 = 2 seconds?

NEXT STEPS:
GO TO “CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING” FROM BRIGHTSPACE

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2.1 FINDING DERIVATIVES (PART A)

FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES TO THE POWER RULE

EXAMPLE #1:
a. Using First Principles only, find the slope of the tangent of
at any point.

b. Using First Principles only, find the slope of the tangent of

at any point.

c. Is there a short cut? Complete the following table.

If

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THE POWER RULE

The Power Rule states, if ,
then

THE POWER RULE

EXAMPLE #2:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Power Rule.
Leave your final answer with positive exponents.
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

THE CONSTANT RULE

The Constant Rule states, if ,
then where is a constant value.

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PROOF
EXAMPLE #3:
Using First Principles, prove The Constant Rule.

THE CONSTANT RULE

EXAMPLE #4:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Constant Rule
and or The Power Rule.
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

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THE PRODUCT RULE

The Product Rule states, if ,
then
PROOF
EXAMPLE #5:
Using First Principles, prove The Product Rule.

THE PRODUCT RULE

EXAMPLE #6:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Product Rule
and The Power Rule.
The Product Rule The Power Rule

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THE PRODUCT RULE

EXAMPLE #7:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Product Rule.
a.

b.

c.

THE EXTENDED PRODUCT RULE

The Product Rule states, if ,
then

EXTENDED PRODUCT RULE

EXAMPLE #8:
Find the derivative of using The Extended
Product Rule. Do not simplify.

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EQUATION OF THE TANGENT LINE

EXAMPLE #9:
a. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve
when . Leave your final answer in standard form.

b. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve

when . Leave your final answer in standard
form.

c. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve

when the line is parallel to the line .
Leave your final answer in standard form.

NEXT STEPS:

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2.2 FINDING DERIVATIVES (PART B)

RECALL THE POWER RULE

EXAMPLE #1:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Power Rule.
Leave your final answer with positive exponents.
a.

b.

THE CHAIN RULE

The Chain Rule states, if ,
then

THE POWER RULE AND THE CHAIN RULE

EXAMPLE #2:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Power Rule and
The Chain Rule. Leave your final answer in standard form.
The Power Rule The Chain Rule

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CHAIN RULE
EXAMPLE #3:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Chain Rule.
Leave your final answer in factored form with positive exponents.
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f. (Do not simplify)

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THE QUOTIENT RULE

The Quotient Rule states, if ,
then

THE PRODUCT AND CHAIN RULE VS THE QUOTIENT RULE

EXAMPLE 4:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Product Rule
and The Chain Rule, and The Quotient Rule.
The Product Rule The Quotient Rule
and The Chain Rule

THE QUOTIENT RULE

EXAMPLE #5:
Find the derivative of the following functions using The Quotient Rule
and or The Chain Rule. Leave your final answer in factored form with
positive exponents.
a.

b.

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DERIVATIVE
EXAMPLE #6:
Find the derivative of the following functions. Leave your final answer
in factored form with positive exponents.
a.

b.

c.

d. (Do not simplify)

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EXTENSION: IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Differentiate every term on both sides with respect to .
Write wherever is being differentiated. Solve for .

EXTENSION: IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

EXAMPLE #7:
Find the derivative of the following functions using Implicit
Differentiation.
a.

b.

WORD PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #8:
A cliff diver jumps into the ocean from a cliff
height, in metres, after seconds is given by
a. Determine the rate of change of the height of the diver after .

b. How long does it take the diver to break the surface of the water?
What is the speed of the diver at this time?

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EQUATION OF THE TANGENT LINE

EXAMPLE #9:
a. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at
the point where . Leave your final answer in standard form.

b. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve

at the point . Leave your final answer in
standard form.

QUESTION #4 FROM CONTENT

EXAMPLE #10:
At what points on the hyperbola is the tangent line parallel to
?

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2.3 SOLVING RELATED RATES PROBLEMS

GUIDELINE FOR RELATED RATE PROBLEMS

The basic steps to follow in the related rate problem solving process
are:
1. Draw a diagram (if applicable)
2. Introduce variables to represent the quantities that change.
3. Express the unknown rate of change and the given rate of
change as derivatives.
4. Find an equation that relates the variables.
5. Differentiate both sides of this equation with respect to time
regarding all variables as functions of .
6. Evaluate the terms in the differentiated equation at the
specified instant, using the given values and the given rate of
change, and then solve for the unknown rate of change.

CYLINDER PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #1:
Water is being poured into a cylindrical drum at a rate of . The
drum has a height of and a radius of . How fast is the water
level rising when the water level is deep? Round your final
answer to two decimal places.

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SMALL PEBBLE PROBLEM

EXAMPLE #2:
When a small pebble is dropped in a pool of still water, it produces a
circular wave that travels outward at a constant speed of . At
what rate is the area inside the wave increasing:
a. when the radius is ? Round your final answer to two decimal
places.

b. when the area is ? Round your final answer to two decimal

places.

c. when have elapsed? Round your final answer to two decimal

places.

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TWO CARS CHANGING PROBLEM

EXAMPLE #3:
Two cars approach a right angled intersection, one travelling south at
and the other west at . When the faster car is
from the intersection and the other car is from the intersection,
how fast is the distance between the two cars changing?

CONE PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #4:
A paper cup has the shape of a cone with height and radius of top
. Water is poured into the cup at a rate of , how fast is
the water rising when the water level is deep? Round your final
answer to two decimal places.

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LADDER SLIDING DOWN

EXAMPLE #5:
A ladder long is leaning against a vertical wall. If a person pulls the
bottom of the ladder away from the wall at a rate of , how fast
is the top sliding down the wall when the bottom of the ladder is
from the wall? Round your final answer to two decimal places.

SPHERICAL BALLOON
EXAMPLE #6:
A spherical balloon is being inflated. If the volume of the balloon is
creasing at a rate of , how fast is the radius increasing when
the radius is ? Round your final answer to two decimal places.

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SHADOW PROBLEM
EXAMPLE #7:
A spotlight at a school dance is fastened to a wall above the dance
floor. A girl tall moves away from the wall at a speed of .
a. At what rate is the length of her shadow increasing? Round your
final answer to two decimal places.

b. At what speed is the tip of her shadow moving? Round your final
answer to two decimal places.

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2.4 INVESTIGATING VELOCITY, ACCELERATION AND SECOND

DERIVATIVES

REVIEW
EXAMPLE #1:
A ball is thrown into the air from an apartment balcony. The height,
metres, of the ball relative to the ground after seconds is given by
the equation .
a. Graph this function.

b. Find the maximum height of the ball above the ground.

c. When did the ball reach the maximum height?

d. What is the actual vertical distance the ball travelled?

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HIGHER DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE #2:
a. Find , , , and for the function .

b. Find , , , and for the function .

VELOCITY
Velocity is the rate of change in displacement with respect to
time.

The formula for velocity can be found by taking the derivative

of the position or displacement function

VELOCITY
EXAMPLE #3:
The position of an object moving on a line is given by the equation
where is the displacement in metres and is
the time in seconds. Find the following:
a. What is the velocity after seconds?

b. When is the object at rest?

c. When is the object moving in a positive direction?

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ACCELERATION
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to
time.

The formula for acceleration can be found by taking the

derivative of the velocity function or the second derivative of
the position or displacement function
AVERAGE ACCELERATION
The average acceleration of any object over a given interval
of time can be calculated using the following equation:

AVERAGE ACCELERATION
EXAMPLE #4:
Given the table below, determine the average acceleration.
Time Velocity

THE RELATIONSHIP
The derivative of the displacement formula is finding the
rate of change of the distance with respect to the rate of
change of time.

The derivative of the velocity formula is finding the rate of

change of the velocity with respect to the rate of change of
time.

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MAXIMUM HEIGHT
EXAMPLE #5:
If a ball is thrown directly upward with an initial velocity of
then its height after seconds, in metres is given by the equation
.
a. Find the velocity after .

b. When does the ball reach its maximum height?

c. What is the maximum height?

d. When does it hit the ground?

e. With what velocity does it hit the ground?

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MATH ENGLISH DIAGRAM

Particle is in the origin.

Particle is on the ground.

Particle is on the
positive side of the origin.

Particle is on the
negative side of the origin.

Particle is above the ground.

Particle is below the ground.

The particle is at rest or changes

direction of movement.

The particle is not accelerated.

The particle is moving in the positive

direction (right or up).

The particle is moving in the negative

direction (left or down)

If is increasing then the particle

is moving away from the origin
and .
If is decreasing then the particle
is moving towards the origin and
.
If is increasing then the particle
is speeding up and .

If is decreasing then the particle

is slowing down and .

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SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN

EXAMPLE #6:
Consider the following position function, .
a. Graph on the same grid and .

b. Find the interval(s) when the particle is moving towards the origin.

c. Find the interval(s) when the particle is speeding up.

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THINKING
EXAMPLE #7:

A particle is moving in a straight line with the position relative to the

origin is given by the equation , where is the
displacement in metres and is the time in seconds, .
a. Find the velocity and acceleration.

b. Find the initial conditions and describe the motion at this instant.

c. Describe the motion of the particle at seconds.

d. Find the position of the particle when changes in direction occur.

e. For what

f. What is the total distance travelled in the time from

to seconds?

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