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1.8 Higher Order Derivatives
1.8 Higher Order Derivatives
Class Notes
1.8 Higher-Order Derivatives
Given a function y = f (x), its derivative f 0 (x) is itself a function. This means we can take its derivative.
The derivative of the derivative is called the second derivative of the function and is denoted
d2 y
f 00 (x) in Newton’s notation or in Leibniz’ notation
dx2
We can then take the derivative of the second derivative to obtain the third derivative, denoted
d3 y
f 000 (x) in Newton’s notation or in Leibniz’ notation
dx3
We can keep taking derivatives to obtain the fourth derivative, the fifth derivative, and so on. Past the
third derivative, we usually use a superscript in parentheses instead of listing primes.
d4 y
f (4) (x) =
dx4
d5 y
f (5) (x) = 5
dx
..
.
EXAMPLE Let f (x) = x4 + 2x3 . Find f 0 (x), f 00 (x), f 000 (x), and f (4) (x).
33
34 Chapter 1 Differentiation
EXAMPLE When an object is dropped, the distance it falls in t seconds, assuming that air resistance
is negligible, is given by
s(t) = 16t2 ,
where s(t) is in feet. If a stone is dropped from a cliff, find each of the following.
a) How far it has traveled 5 seconds after being dropped.