Created by T.

Madas

DIFFERENTIATION
from first principles

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)

f ( x ) = x2 , x ∈ » .

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

f ′( x) = 2x .

MP1-Q , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**)

f ( x ) = x4 , x ∈ » .

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

f ′ ( x ) = 4 x3 .

MP1-O , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**)

f ( x ) = x 2 − 3x + 7 , x ∈ » .

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

f ′( x) = 2x − 3 .

MP1-M , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (**+)

y = x3 − 4 x + 1 , x ∈ » .

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

dy
= 3x 2 − 4 .
dx

MP1-L , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**+)

f ( x ) = x3 + 2 , x ∈ » .

a) State the value of f ( −1) .

b) Find a simplified expression for f ( −1 + h ) .

c) Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

f ′ ( −1) = 3 .

MP1-G , f ( −1) = 1 , f ( −1 + h ) = 1 + 3h − 3h 2 + h3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***)

f ( x ) = x4 − 4 x , x ∈ » .

a) Find a simplified expression for

f ( 2 + h ) − f ( 2) .

b) Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

f ′ ( 2 ) = 28 .

MP1-A , f ( 2 + h ) − f ( 2 ) = 28h + 24h2 + 8h3 + h 4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***)
A reciprocal curve has equation

1
y= , x ≠ 0.
x

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

dy 1
=− 2.
dx x

MP1-J , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***)

d
( sin x ) = cos x .
dx

Prove by first principles the validity of the above result by using the small angle
approximations for sin x and cos x .

SYN-K , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***)
If x is in radians

d
( sin x ) = cos x .
dx

Prove the validity of the above result from first principles.

You may assume that if h is small and measured in radians, then as h → ∞

cos ( h ) − 1 sin ( h )
→ 0 and → 1.
h h

MP2-B , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***+)

cos ( A + B ) ≡ cos A cos B − sin A sin B

cos ( A − B ) ≡ cos A cos B + sin A sin B

a) By using the above identities show that

 P +Q   P −Q 
cos P − cos Q ≡ −2sin   sin  .
 2   2 

a) Hence, prove by first principles that

d
( cos x ) = − sin x
dx

MP2-K , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***+)
Differentiate from first principles

1
, x ≠ 0.
x2

2
MP1-D , −
x3

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (***+)
1
Differentiate from first principles.
2− x

d  1  1
SYN-J ,  =
dx  2 − x  ( 2 − x )2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (***+)

x−2
f ( x) = , x∈».
x+2

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

4
f ′( x) = 2
.
( x + 2)

SYN-I , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (***+)
Differentiate from first principles

x
, x ≠ −1 .
x +1

1
SYN-N ,
( x + 1)2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (***+)
1
Differentiate from first principles.
2 + x2

d  1  2x
MP1-V ,  2 =− 2
dx  2 + x 
(2 + x2 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (***+)
1
Differentiate 2
from first principles.
x − 2x

d  1  2 (1 − x )
SYN-B ,  2 =
dx  x − 2 x  x 2 − 2 x 2
( )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (***+)

1
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ 0 .
x3

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

3
f ′( x) = − .
x4

MP1-C , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (***+)

1
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ − 3 .
5x + 3 5

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

5
f ′( x) = − 2
.
( 5 x + 3)

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (***+)

3
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ − 1 .
4x −1 4

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

12
f ′( x) = − 2
.
( 4 x − 1)

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (***+)

d
( sin x ) = cos x .
dx

Prove the validity of the above result by …

 sin x 
b) … using lim 
x →0  x 
 =1

and the trigonometric identity

A+ B A− B
sin A − sin B ≡ 2 cos sin .
2 2

c) … using small angle approximations for sin x and cos x .

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (****)
Prove by first principles, and by using the small angle approximations for sin x and
cos x , that

d
( tan x ) = sec2 x .
dx

SYN-N , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (****)
Prove by first principles, and by using the small angle approximations for sin x and
cos x , that

d
( sec x ) = sec x tan x .
dx

MP2-W , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (****+)

f ( x ) = 1 + x2 , x ∈ » .

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

x
f ′( x) = .
1 + x2

SYN-L , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (****+)

1
f ( x) = , x∈» , x >1.
x2 − 1

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

x
f ′( x) = − 3 .
( x − 1)
2 2

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (*****)

1− x
f ( x) = , x ∈ » , x < 1.
1+ x

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

1
f ′( x) = − .
2
2 (1 + x ) 1 − x

proof

Created by T. Madas