See video: 28WD at www.everythingmaths.co.

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Worked example 11: Rules of differentiation
QUESTION
Use the rules of differentiation to nd the derivative of each of the following:
1. y = 3x
5
2. p =
1
4
q
2
3. f(x) = 60
4. y = 12x
3
+ 7x
5. m =
3
2
n
4
1
SOLUTION
Step 1: Apply the appropriate rules to determine the derivative
1.
dy
dx
= 3

5x
4

= 15x
4
2.
dp
dq
=
1
4
(2q) =
1
2
q
3. f

(x) = 0
4.
dy
dx
= 12

3x
2

+ 7 = 36x
2
+ 7
5.
dm
dn
=
3
2

4n
3

0 = 6n
3
Worked example 12: Rules of differentiation
QUESTION
Differentiate the following with respect to t:
1. g(t) = 4 (t + 1)
2
(t 3)
2. k(t) =
(t+2)
3

t
SOLUTION
Step 1: Expand the expression and apply the rules of differentiation
We have not learnt a rule for differentiating a product, therefore we must expand the
brackets and simplify before we can determine the derivative:
g(t) = 4 (t + 1)
2
(t 3)
= 4

t
2
+ 2t + 1

(t 3)
= 4

t
3
+ 2t
2
+ t 3t
2
6t 3

= 4

t
3
t
2
5t 3

= 4t
3
4t
2
20t 12
g

(t) = 4

3t
2

4 (2t) 20 0
= 12t
2
8t 20
222 6.3. Rules for differentiation