“Teach A Level Maths”

Vol. 2: A2 Core Modules

12: The Quotient Rule

© Christine Crisp
 The Quotient Rule

Module C3
AQA
Edexcel

MEI/OCR

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 The Quotient Rule
The following are examples of quotients:
x
x e
(a) y  (b) y 
sin x 1 x
1  x2 sin x
(c) y  (d) y 
x2 cos x
(c) can be divided out to form a simple function as
there is a single polynomial term in the denominator.
1  x2 1 x2
y 2
 y 2

x x x2
2 dy
 y  x 1   2 x  3
dx
For the others we use the quotient rule.
 The Quotient Rule
The quotient rule gives us a way of differentiating
functions which are divided.
The rule is similar to the product rule.

du dv
v  u
u dy
y   dx 2 dx
v dx v
where u and v are functions of x.
This rule can be derived from the product rule but
it is complicated. If you want to go straight to the
examples, click on the box below.
Examples
 The Quotient Rule
We can develop the quotient rule by using the product
rule!
u 1
y  yu  y  u  v 1
v v
The problem now is that this v is not the same as the
v of the product rule. That v is replaced by v 1.
1
dy du dv dy du d ( v )
So, v u becomes v 1
u
dx dx dx dx dx dx
1
Simplifying  dy 1 du d ( v )
 u
dx v dx dx
1
Part of the 2nd
term, d ( v ) , is the derivative of v 1
dx
but with respect to x not v.
 The Quotient Rule
1
We use the chain rule: d ( v ) d (v 1 ) dv
 
dx dv dx
1
So, d ( v ) 1 dv
  2 
dx v dx
1
Then, dy 1 du d ( v ) dy 1 du u dv
 u    2
dx v dx dx dx v dx v dx
Make the denominators the same by multiplying the
numerator and denominator of the 1st term by v.
dy v du u dv
 2  2 du dv
dx v dx v dx v  u
dy
Write with a common denominator:   dx 2 dx
dx v
 The Quotient Rule

x2
e.g. 1 Differentiate y  to find dy .
x 1 dx
Solution: y 
u
 u  x 2 and v  x  1
v dv
du 1
 2x
dx dx
du dv
v  u
u dy
y   dx 2 dx
v dx v
dy 2 x( x  1)  x 2
 
dx ( x  1) 2
We now need to simplify.
 The Quotient Rule
dy 2 x( x  1)  x 2

dx ( x  1) 2
We could simplify the numerator by taking out the
common factor x, but it’s easier to multiply out the
brackets. We don’t touch the denominator.

Multiplying out numerator:

dy 2 x 2
 2 x  x 2

dx ( x  1) 2
dy x2  2x
Now collect like terms: 
dx ( x  1) 2
dy x ( x  2)
and factorise: 
dx ( x  1) 2
We leave the brackets in the denominator as the
factorised form is simpler.
 The Quotient Rule

Quotients can always be turned into products.

e.g. ex
can be written as e x (1  x 2 ) 1
1 x 2

However, differentiation is usually more awkward

if we do this.
In the quotient above, u  e x and v  1  x 2
( both simple functions )
In the product , u  e x and v  (1  x 2 ) 1
( v needs the chain rule )
 The Quotient Rule
SUMMARY
To differentiate a quotient:
 Check if it is possible to divide out. If so, do it
and differentiate each term.
 Otherwise use the quotient rule:
u
If y , where u and v are both functions of x
v
du dv
v  u
dy
 dx 2 dx
dx v
 The Quotient Rule
Exercise
Use the quotient rule, where appropriate, to
differentiate the following. Try to simplify your
answers:
x3 cos x
1. y x 2. y
e x4
2
3. y
x 2 x
4. y
2 x x2
 The Quotient Rule
x3
1. y du dv
e x
v  u
u dy
Solution: y   dx 2 dx
v dx v
u
y   u  x3 and v  ex
v du dv
 3x 2  ex
dx dx
dy 3 x 2 e x  x 3 e x
 
dx e x 2
 
dy x 2 e x ( 3  x ) dy x ( 3  x )
2
   
dx e x
 
2
dx e x
 The Quotient Rule
cos x
2. y 4
x du dv
v  u
u dy
Solution: y   dx 2 dx
v dx v
u
y   u  cos x and v  x 4
v dv
du  3
  sin x 4x
dx dx
dy  x 4 sin x  4 x 3 cos x
 
dx x 4 2
 
dy  x 3 ( x sin x  4 cos x )  ( x sin x  4 cos x )
  
dx x8 5 x5
x
 The Quotient Rule
x2
3. y
2 x du dv
v  u
Solution: u dy
y   dx 2 dx
v dx v
u
y   u  x 2 and v  2  x
v dv
du  1
 2x
dx dx
dy 2 x( 2  x )  x ( 1)
2
 
dx (2  x ) 2

dy 4 x  2 x  x
2 2
4x  x 2
x(4  x )
   
dx (2  x ) 2
(2  x ) 2
(2  x ) 2
 The Quotient Rule
2 x
4. y
x2
Solution: Divide out:
2 x 2 1 x
y 2
 y 2

x x x2
 y  2 x  2  x 1
dy 3 2
  4 x  x
dx
4 1
 3  2
x x
 The Quotient Rule

We can now differentiate the trig function y  tan x

by writing
sin x
y  tan x 
cos x
u
y  u  sin x v  cos x
v du dv
 cos x   sin x
dx dx
dy (cos x )(cos x )  (sin x )( sin x )
 
dx (cos x )(cos x )
cos2 x  sin2 x

cos2 x
 The Quotient Rule

So, y  tan x  dy cos2 x  sin2 x


dx cos2 x
This answer can be simplified:
dy 1
cos x  sin x  1 
2 2

dx cos 2 x
Also,
1
is defined as secx
cos x
dy
So, y  tan x   sec2 x
dx
 The Quotient Rule

Those of you taking the OCR/MEI spec can omit the

next ( final exercise ).
 The Quotient Rule
Exercise

Use the quotient rule ( or, for (a) and (b), the
chain rule ) to find the derivatives with respect to x
of
(a) y  cosec x (b) y  sec x (c) y  cot x
Before you check the solutions, look in your formula
books to see the forms used for the answers. Try
to get your answers into these forms.
 The Quotient Rule

(a) Solution:
1
y  cosec x 
sin x
dy sin x(0)  1(cos x )

dx (sin x ) 2
cos x

sin x sin x
cos x 1
 
sin x sin x
  cot x cosec x (   cosec x cot x )
 The Quotient Rule
(b) Solution:
1
y  sec x 
cos x
dy cos x(0)  1(  sin x )
 2
dx (cos x )
sin x

cos x cos x
sin x 1
 
cos x cos x
 tan x sec x (  sec x tan x )
 The Quotient Rule

(c) Solution:
cos x
y  cot x 
sin x
dy sin x(  sin x )  cos x cos x
 2
dx (sin x )
 (sin 2 x  cos 2 x )

sin 2 x
1

sin 2 x
  cosec2 x
The Quotient Rule
 The Quotient Rule

The following slides contain repeats of

information on earlier slides, shown without
colour, so that they can be printed and
photocopied.
For most purposes the slides can be printed
as “Handouts” with up to 6 slides per sheet.
 The Quotient Rule
The following are examples of quotients:
x
x e
(a) y  (b) y 
sin x 1 x
1  x2 sin x
(c) y  (d) y 
x2 cos x
(c) can be divided out to form a simple function as
there is a single polynomial term in the denominator.
1  x2 1 x2
y 2
 y 2

x x x2
dy
 y  x 1 
 2
 2 x  3
dx
For the others we use the quotient rule.
 The Quotient Rule

SUMMARY
To differentiate a quotient:
 Check if it is possible to divide out. If so, do it
and differentiate each term.
 Otherwise use the quotient rule:
u
If y , where u and v are both functions of x
v
du dv
v  u
dy
 dx 2 dx
dx v
 The Quotient Rule
x2
e.g. 1 Differentiate y  to find dy .
x 1 dx
Solution: y 
u
 u  x 2 and v  x  1
v dv
du 1
 2x
dx dx
du dv
v  u
u dy
y   dx 2 dx
v dx v
dy 2 x( x  1)  x 2
 
dx ( x  1) 2
We now need to simplify.
 The Quotient Rule
dy 2 x( x  1)  x 2

dx ( x  1) 2
We could simplify the numerator by taking out the
common factor x, but it’s easier to multiply out the
brackets. We don’t touch the denominator.

Multiplying out numerator:

dy 2 x 2
 2 x  x 2

dx ( x  1) 2
dy x2  2x
Now collect like terms: 
dx ( x  1) 2
dy x ( x  2)
and factorise: 
dx ( x  1) 2
We leave the brackets in the denominator.
( A factorised form is considered to be simpler. )
 The Quotient Rule

We can now differentiate the trig function y  tan x

by writing
sin x
y  tan x 
cos x
u
y  u  sin x v  cos x
v du dv
 cos x   sin x
dx dx
dy (cos x )(cos x )  (sin x )( sin x )
 
dx (cos x )(cos x )
cos2 x  sin2 x

cos2 x
 The Quotient Rule

So, y  tan x  dy cos2 x  sin2 x


dx cos2 x
This answer can be simplified:
dy 1
cos x  sin x  1 
2 2

dx cos 2 x
Also,
1
is defined as secx
cos x
dy
So, y  tan x   sec2 x
dx