DepartmentCapital University of Science and Technology

of Mathematics
Islamabad

MT1013 – Calculus and Analytic Geometry Fall 2019

Assignment 2 (Exercise 8) Differentiation I
Definition: The derivative of the function ƒ(x) with respect to the variable x is the function f (x)
whose value at x is
f ( x  h)  f ( x )
f ( x)  lim (1)
h 0 h
provided the limit exists.
If f (x) exists at a particular x, we say that ƒ is differentiable (has a derivative) at x. If

f (x) exists at every point in the domain of ƒ, we call ƒ differentiable.
The process of calculating a derivative is called differentiation.

Finding derivative by definition means to evaluate the limit given in the above formula (1).

Recall that the limit on the right hand side of one gives the slope of the curve at any point x.

By the slope of the curve at any point x we mean the slope of the tangent line at that point.

The tangent line at any point P(xo, yo) on the graph of the function f(x) is the line passing

through P and whose slope m is given by m  f ( x0 ) . The equation of the tangent line at P is
therefore given by: y  y 0  f ( x)( x  x0 )
The line that is perpendicular to the tangent line at the point of tangency is called the normal

line.Therefore, if m is the slope of the tangent line at any point P on the curve, then slope of
1
the normal line at that point is  .
m
There are many ways to denote the derivative of a function y  f (x ) where the independent

variable is x and the dependent variable is y.
dy df d
f ( x)  y     f ( x)  D x f ( x)
dx dx dx
The left hand derivative at a point xo is the left hand limit Lf ( x )  lim f ( x0  h)  f ( x0 )
 0
h0 h
The right hand derivative at xo is the right hand limit Rf ( x )  lim f ( x0  h)  f ( x0 )
 0
h0 h
A function y=f(x) will fail to have a derivative at a point P(xo,yo) if there is:

a corner at the point P, in this case Lf ( x 0 )  Rf ( x 0 )
o
a cusp at P, in this case the slope of the secant line PQ approaches ∞ from one side
o
and – ∞ from the other side.
a vertical tangent at P.
o
a discontinuity at the point P
o
Page 1 of 4 Dr. Samina Rashid
 DepartmentCapital University of Science and Technology
of Mathematics
Islamabad

Every differentiable function is continuous. The converse is not true. That is, a function need

not have a derivative at apoint where it is continuous. For instance, in the above first three
cases (a corner, a cusp, a vertical tangent) f is continuous at P but not differentiable.
By using the rules for differentiation, we can differentiate functions without having to apply

the definition of the derivative each time. Following are the rules for differentiation:
If y = f(x) = c, has the constant value for all x, then y   f ( x)  0
o
Sum/ difference rule:
o
if y  f ( x)  g ( x) then y   f ( x)  g ( x)
Power rule:
o
if y  x n , then y   nx n 1
Product rule:
o
If y  f ( x) g ( x ) then y   f ( x) g ( x)  f ( x) g ( x)
Quotient rule:
o
f ( x) g ( x) f ( x)  f ( x) g ( x)
if y  ; g ( x)  0, then y  
g ( x) ( g ( x)) 2
The chain rule:
o
dy dy du
if y  f (u ) and u  g ( x) , then  
dx du dx
if y  ( f  g )( x)  f ( g ( x)), then y   f ( g ( x))  g ( x)
The general power rule:
o
if y  [ f ( x)]n , then y   n[ f ( x)] n 1  f ( x)
If y  f (x) is a differentiable function, then its derivative f (x) is also a function of x. If f 

is also differentiable, then we can differentiate f  to get new function f  or y  called the 2nd
d dy d2y
derivative of the function y  f (x) . That is, y   f ( x)  ( f )( x)  ( )  2 .
dx dx dx
rd
If y  is differentiable, its derivative y  is the 3 derivative of y.we denote by y ( n ) the nth

derivative of y with respect to x.
Let s(t) be the position of a body moving along a coordinate line, with s meters and t in

ds d 2 s dv
seconds. Then s (t )   v, is the velocity of the body at any timet, s (t )  2   a, is
dt dt dt
d 3 s d 2 v da
the acceleration of the body at any time t and, s (t )   2   j , is the jerk in the
dt 3 dt dt
body at any time t.

Page 2 of 4 Dr. Samina Rashid

 DepartmentCapital University of Science and Technology
of Mathematics
Islamabad

Q2. Show that f (x) = | x | is not differentiable at the origin (x = 0).

dy
Q3. Find if x  tan( xy )  0 (Hint: use implicit differentiation).
dx

 x if 0  x  1
Q4. Let f ( x)   , find f (1).
 2 x  1 if x  1
Q5. If gas in a cylinder is maintained at a constant temperature T, the pressure P is related to the
volume V by a formula of the form:
nRT an 2
P  2
V  nb V
dP
in which a, n, b, and R are constants. Find .
dV

Q6. The total solar radiation H, in watts per square meter, on a particular surface during an
5000
average clear day is given by H  2 , where t (-6 ≤ t ≤ 6) is the number of hours from noon. Find
t  10
the instantaneous rate of change of H with respect to t at 3 P.M.

Q7. A company determines that the cost C, in dollars, of producing x machine parts per day is
given by C ( x)  x 3  300 x  100 . Find the marginal cost at the production level of x = 12 parts.

Q8. In thermodynamics, an equation relating the thermodynamic temperature T, pressure p, and

 a  V  b 
the volume V of a gas is T   p  2   , where a, b, and Rare constants. Find the derivative of
 V  R 
T with respect to V assuming p is constant.

Q9. During a chemical change the number n of grams of a compound being formed is given by
6t 2
n 2 , where t is measured in seconds. How many grams per second are being formed after 3.0
2t  3
seconds?

Q10. Oil moves through a pipeline such that distance s (in meters) it moves and the time t (in
seconds) are related by s3 – t2 = 7t. Find the velocity and the acceleration of the oil for s = 4.01 m and
t = 5.25 s.

Page 3 of 4 Dr. Samina Rashid

 DepartmentCapital University of Science and Technology
of Mathematics
Islamabad

Q11. The temperature T (in oC) in a freezer as a function of the time t (in hours) is given by
10(1  t ) dT
T  . Find .
0.5t  1 dt

Good Luck

Page 4 of 4 Dr. Samina Rashid