The Second Differential

IB SL/HL

Adrian Sparrow

www.ibmaths.com
 Notation

Function or equation y f (x)

dy
1st differential f (x)
 dx

2
d y
2nd differential
 2
f (x)
dx
 The process
Differentiate each of these twice, using the correct notation:
2
dy d y
1. y  x  2x  3  2x  2 2
2
2
dx dx

2. f (x)  x  4 x  5x  1
3 2

f (x)  3x  8x  5
2
f (x)
  6x  8


2
3. y  e 4 x  dy d y
 4e 4x
2
 16e 4x

dx dx

4. f (x)  cos 2 x f (x)  2cos x sin x f (x)  2sin x  cos x 


 2 2


 Graphing 1
Consider the graph of the equation,
y  x 2  2x  3.

Now graph the 1st

differential.
dy
 2x  2
dx

Now graph the 2nd

differential.
2
d y
2
2
dx

Did you have an idea about the type of graph the first and second
differentials would be from the shape of the original curve?
 Graphing - a cubic
Below is a graph of y=f(x). Answers
y = f (x)



y = f (x)


Sketch the general shape of,
The original graph is an +x3.
y = f (x) and y = f (x). The differential will be +x2.
The second differential will be
y=mx+c.
 Graphing - a cubic again
Below is a graph of y=f(x). Answers

y = f (x)



y = f (x)
Sketch the general shape of,
y = f (x) and y = f (x). The original graph is an -x3.
The differential will be -x2.
The second differential will be
y=-mx+c.
 Why do we need the 2nd differential?

The second differential is useful so that we can find

the nature of turning, or stationary, points.