Calculus Review Rules for

Differentiating Functions
1.

The derivative of a constant is

zero.
y=a
dy/dx = 0
Example:

y=2

dy/dx = 0
1

Calculus Review Rules for

Differentiating Functions
2.

The derivative of a power function such as,

y = axb, where a and b are constants is
dy/dx = b a x (b-1)
Example:
y = 2x3

dy/dx = (3)(2)(x)
dy/dx = 6x 2

(3-1)

Additional Power Functions

Examples:
y = 0.5x

y = 6/x2 = 6x

dy/dx = (1)(0.5)x
dy/dx = 0.5
(since x0 = 1)
-2

(1-1)

dy/dx = (-2)(6)x(-2-1)
dy/dx = -12x -3
dy/dx = -12/x 3
3

Calculus Review Rules for

Differentiating Functions
3.

The derivative of a sum (difference) is equal to the

sum (difference) of the derivatives of the individual
terms.
Sum:
y = u(x) + v(x)
dy/dx = du/dx +dv/dx
Example: y = 41x + 1.1x2
dy/dx = 41 + 2.2x
Difference: y = u(x) - v(x)
Examples: y = 2x2 x3

dy/dx = du/dx - dv/dx

dy/dx = 4x 3x2

Practice
1.

2.

3.

TR = 900Q 0.2Q2
dTR/dQ =
TC = 7,812,500 + 100Q + 0.006Q2
dTC/dQ =
= 10,000 + 400Q 10Q2
d /dQ =

Differentiating Multivariate Functions

(Partial Derivatives)
Given:

Q = f(P, A)

The partial derivatives are:

Q/P (found by varying P and holding A constant)

Q/A (found by varying A and holding P constant)

Differentiating Multivariate
Functions (Partial Derivatives)
Example 1:
Q = 3200 50P2 + 39A + 0.25PA 0.1A2
Q/P = -100P + 0.25A
Q/A = 39 + 0.25P 0.2A

Differentiating Multivariate
Functions (Partial Derivatives)
Example 2:
Q = 30x + 2xy 0.5x2 0.5y2
Q/x = 30 + 2y x
Q/y = 2x - y

Practice
1.

Q = 5000 + 3P2A + 100PA 200P

Q/ P =
Q/ A =

2. Q = 15PA 50 0.5A2 0.2P2

Q/P =
Q/A =
9