The Product Rule

Lesson Objective:

Be able to differentiate the product of two

functions using the Product Rule
How many of these functions can
you differentiate?

x² + 7 sin x

4x³ √x

1 e x
3x + 5
x
 The Product Rule

Example: The function y = x² (3x - 9)

can be written as y = uv,

where u = x² and v = 3x – 9.
Using the Product Rule

Example: y = x² (3x - 9) u = x² v = 3x – 9
= 2x =3

= 3 x² + 2x (3x – 9)
= 3x² + 6x² – 18x
= 9x² – 18x = 9x(x – 2)
Using the Product Rule

Check:
Multiply out the bracket first

y = x² (3x – 9)
Example: y = x² (3x - 9) u = x² y = 3x³3x
– v9x²
–=9
So = 9x² - 18x
= 2x =3

= 3 x² + 2x (3x – 9)
= 3x² + 6x² – 18x
= 9x² – 18x = 9x(x – 2)
Using the Product Rule

Example: y = (x² + 3)(4x + 1) u = x² +3 v = 4x +1

= 2x =4

= 4 (x² + 3) + 2x (4x + 1)
= 4x² + 12 + 8x² + 2x
= 12x² + 2x + 12
Using the Product Rule

Check:
Multiply out the bracket first

y = (x² + 3)(4x + 1)
Example:
y = 4x³ + x² +
y = (x² + 3)(4x + uu==x²x² +3 3xv4x12x + 3
–=v9+1
1) So = 12x² + 2x + 12
=
==2x
2x = 3= 4

= 4 (x² + 3) + 2x (4x + 1)
= 4x² + 12 + 8x² + 2x
= 12x² + 2x + 12
Using the Product Rule

y = x² (x³ + 3)
y = x4 (x7 – 5)
y = (2x + 3)(5x – 9)
y = (x² – 1)(x³ + 6)

y = (x² + 4x)(16x³ + x²)

y = √x (3x + 5) y = (x⅓ – 1)(x⅛ + 6)
y = (x⅓ – 1)(x + 6) y = x2 x– 4
y = 3x5 + 4x
x3
 TRUE or FALSE ?

 When you differentiate the sum of two

functions, you just differentiate each term and
then add the results.
 When you differentiate the product of two
functions, you just differentiate each term and
then multiply the results.
 You can't just differentiate each term and then
multiply the results:
Example:
 We showed that if you differentiate
y = x² (3x – 9) , you get 9x² – 18x.
 Differentiating x² gives 2x.
 Differentiating (3x – 9) gives 3.
 Multiplying these together gives 2x * 3 = 6x
 This is not the same as 9x² – 18x !
 Where does it come from?

Let y = uv and imagine adding a bit to y, called δy.

This means little bits are added to u and to v:
y + δy = (u + δu)(v + δv)

Multiplying out the brackets, we get
y + δy = uv + uδv + vδu + δuδv

Since y = uv, these terms cancel out, to leave
δy = uδv + vδu + δuδv

Divide through by δx:
δy = uδv + vδu + δuδv
δx δx δx δx

As δv and δx tend to zero, the last term disappears and we get
dy = u dv + v du
dx dx dx