The Differentiation Rules for Algebraic Functions

Constant Rule
dy d '
If c is any constant and y=f ( x )=c for all x, then = c=f ( x )=0
dx dx

Example 1: f ( x )=7

Solution: f ' ( x )=0

Power Rule
d n
If y=x n is a power function for some positive integer n, then ( x )=nx x−1 .
dx

Example 2: Find the derivative of f ( x )=x 5

Solution: f ( x )=x 5
f ' ( x )=5 x 5−1
4
¿5 x

Identity Function Rule

dy
If y=x , then =1.
dx

Example 3: Find the derivative of f ( x )=8 x 6 .

6
Solution: f ( x )=8 x
f ' ( x )=8 ∙ 6 x 6−1
5
¿ 48 x

Sum and Difference Rule

d d d
If f (x) and g(x ) are differentiable functions, then
dx
[ f ( x ) ± g ( x ) ] = f (x)± g (x)
dx dx

Example 4: Find f ' (x) of f ( x )=5 x 4 +3 x 3−6 x +8.

4 3
Solution: f ( x )=5 x +3 x −6 x +8.
d d d d
f ( x )= (5 x ¿¿ 4)+ ( 3 x ) − ( 6 x )+ (8) ¿
' 3
dx dx dx dx
¿ 5(4 x ¿¿ 3)+3 (3 x¿ ¿2)−6 (x ¿¿ 0)+ 0 ¿ ¿ ¿
3 2
¿ 20 x + 9 x −6(1)
¿ 20 x 3+ 9 x2 −6

Product Rule
d d d
If f (x) and g(x ) are both differentiable functions, then [ f (x) ∙ g( x)]=f ( x ) g ( x ) + g ( x ) f ( x ) .
dx dx dx

Example 5: Differentiate the function f ( x )= ( 4 x−3 )( 2 x+ 5 ) .

Solution: f ( x )= ( 4 x−3 )( 2 x+ 5 ) .
' d d
f ( x )=( 4 x−3 ) ( 2 x +5 ) +(2 x+5) ( 4 x−3)
dx dx
¿ ( 4 x−3 ) ( 2 )+(2 x+ 5)( 4)
¿ 8 x−6+ 8 x +20
¿ 16 x +14

Quotient Rule
If f (x) and g(x ) are both differentiable functions at x with g ( x ) ≠ 0 , then
d d
g (x ) f ( x )−f (x) g( x )
d f (x ) dx dx .
=
dx g (x) [ g(x )]
2

2
( ) x +3
Example 6: Find the derivative of f x =
5 x+ 4

2
x +3
Solution: f ( x )=
5 x+ 4
d
( x¿ ¿2+3) (5 x +4 )
d dx
¿ ( 5 x+ 4 ) (x¿ ¿2+3)− ¿¿
dx (5 x+ 4)
2

¿(5 x + 4)¿ ¿
(5 x¿ ¿ 2+ 15)
¿ ( 10 x 2+ 8 x ) − ¿
(5 x +4)2
2 2
10 x +8 x−5 x −15
¿ 2
(5 x + 4)
2
5 x +8 x−15
¿ 2
(5 x +4)

ON 3: Find the derivative of each of the following functions.

1.) f ( x )=3 x +9

2.) f ( x )=x 2 +3 x−15

3.) f ( x )=5 x 3−7 x 2 +8 x

4.) f ( x )=15 x 3 +3 x 2−8 x+ 4

5.) f ( x )=2 x 4 +3 x−5

3 3
6.) f ( x )=4 x − 2
x
7.) f ( x )=(x 2+ 7)(3 x−4)

8.) f ( x )=(3 x−7)2

9.) f ( x )=(5−x2 )3

10.) f ( x )=(3 x ¿¿ 2−2 x+ 4)(x +5)¿

 2
x +3
11.) f ( x )=
5 x−2
2
x −2 x+7
12.) f ( x )=
2 x +3
2
x −4
13.) f ( x )=
3 x+ 1
4 x+ 3
14.) f ( x )= 2
5 x −3 x+ 6
2
(4 x +3)
15.) f ( x )=
2 x−3