4-7.

Higher Order Derivatives

The second derivative of a function y = fr) is the derivative of the first derivative of f. The
second derivative of y = f(x) is denoted in a variety of ways:

dy df d
( ) D'f Df d2 dx ) y" or

EXAMPLE 4-39: Find the second derivative of f(x) =

2x -4x+7x +6.

Solution:
f(x)= 10x -8x +7

) = fr)=
dx (10x
dx
-8x+7)-40x -8
The nth derivative of a function y = f(x) (where n is a positive integer) is the derivative of the

(n 1) st derivative of f. The nth derivative of f is most often denoted f(x) to avoid the use
of many primes.
EXAMPLE 4-40: Find the sixth derivative of flx) = 2x - 4x+7+6.
Solution:
(x)= 10x -8x +7
f"(x)= 40r -8
x)=1201
f x ) = 240x

)=240
x)= 0

EXAMPLE 4-41: Find the higher derivative of f(r) =

sin x.

Solution
f(x) =
cos *

124
 f"(x-sin x
x) -cos x
x ) sin x
=

So the pattern continues.