HIGHER DERIVATIVES:

𝑦=𝑓 𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑦′ = 𝑓′ 𝑥 → 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑥
′′ ′′ 𝑑2 𝑦
𝑦 =𝑓 𝑥 → 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑3 𝑦
𝑦 ′′′ = 𝑓 ′′′ 𝑥 → 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒
𝑑𝑥 3
𝑦𝑛 = 𝑓𝑛 𝑥 → 𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒

Illustrative Problems:
1) y = 3x 4 − 2x 2 + x − 5
1
2) y = x
x
3) y =
x−1
x 4
4) y = x−1
5) y = x 3 − 2x 2
Solution:
1) y = 3x 4 − 2x 2 + x − 5
𝑦′ = 3 4 𝑥3 − 2 2 𝑥 + 1
𝑦 ′ = 12𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 1
𝑦 ′′ = 12 3 𝑥 2 − 4
𝑦 ′′ = 36𝑥 2 − 4 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑦 ′′′ = 36 2 𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ = 72𝑥 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
1
2) y = x
1
0−
2 𝑥
𝑦′ = 𝑥
1
𝑦′ = −
2 𝑥3
3𝑥2
0−
1 2 𝑥3
𝑦 ′′ = − 2 𝑥3
Solution cont’d:
3𝑥2
0−
′′ 1 2 𝑥3 1 3𝑥 2 3 1
𝑦 = −2 = −2 − =4
𝑥3 2𝑥 3 𝑥 3 𝑥 𝑥3
3
𝑦 ′′ = → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
4 𝑥5
5𝑥4
0−
′′′ 3 2 𝑥5 3 5𝑥 4 15 1
𝑦 = = − =−
4 𝑥5 4 2𝑥 5 𝑥 5 8 𝑥 𝑥5
15
𝑦 ′′′ = − → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
8 𝑥7
x
3) y = x−1
1
𝑥−1−𝑥
𝑦′ = 2 𝑥−1
𝑥−1
1 𝑥
𝑦′ = −
𝑥−1 2 𝑥−1 3
1 3 𝑥−1 2
0− 𝑥−1 3 −𝑥
1 2 𝑥−1 3
𝑦 ′′ = 2 𝑥−1
−2
𝑥−1 𝑥−1 3
Solution cont’d:
1 3 𝑥−1 2
0− 𝑥−1 3 −𝑥
1 2 𝑥−1 3
𝑦 ′′ = 2 𝑥−1
−2
𝑥−1 𝑥−1 3
1 1 3𝑥
𝑦 ′′ = − 3
− 3
+
2 𝑥−1 2 𝑥−1 4 𝑥−1 5
3𝑥 1 1 1
𝑦 ′′ = − = 3𝑥 − 4 𝑥 − 1 = 4−𝑥 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
4 𝑥−1 5 𝑥−1 3 4 𝑥−1 5 4 𝑥−1 5
4
𝑥−1 5 −𝑥 5 𝑥−1
3 𝑥−1 2
2 𝑥−1 5 0−
3 2 𝑥−1 3
𝑦 ′′′ = 4 𝑥−1 5
− 𝑥−1 3
3 15𝑥 3
𝑦 ′′′ = 5
− 7
+
4 𝑥−1 8 𝑥−1 2 𝑥−1 5
9 15𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ = −
4 𝑥−1 5 8 𝑥−1 7
3 5𝑥 3 5𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ = 3 𝑥−1 − = 3𝑥 − 3 −
4 𝑥−1 7 2 4 𝑥−1 7 2
3 6𝑥−6−5𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ =
4 𝑥−1 7 2
3
𝑦 ′′′ = 𝑥−6 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
8 𝑥−1 7
Solution cont’d:
x 4
4) y = x−1
′ 𝑥 3 𝑥−1 −𝑥 𝑥3
𝑦 = 4 =−4
𝑥−1 𝑥−1 2 𝑥−1 3 𝑥−1 2
′ 4𝑥 3
𝑦 =− 𝑥−1 5
′′ 𝑥−1 5 3𝑥 2 −𝑥 3 5 𝑥−1 4
𝑦 = −4 𝑥−1 10
′′ 20𝑥 3 12𝑥 2 4𝑥 2 4𝑥 2
𝑦 = − = 5𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 1 = 2𝑥 + 3 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑥−1 6 𝑥−1 5 𝑥−1 6 𝑥−1 6
′′′ 𝑥−1 6 3𝑥 2 −𝑥 3 6 𝑥−1 5 𝑥−1 5 2𝑥 −𝑥 2 5 𝑥−1 4
𝑦 = 20 𝑥−1 12
− 12 𝑥−1 10
′′′ 60𝑥 2 120𝑥 3 24𝑥 60𝑥 2
𝑦 = − − +
𝑥−1 6 𝑥−1 7 𝑥−1 5 𝑥−1 6
′′′ 120𝑥 2 120𝑥 3 24𝑥
𝑦 = − −
𝑥−1 6 𝑥−1 7 𝑥−1 5
24𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ = 5𝑥 𝑥 − 1 − 5𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 1 2
𝑥−1 7
Solution cont’d:
24𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ = 7 5𝑥 𝑥 − 1 − 5𝑥 2
− 𝑥 − 1 2
𝑥−1
24𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ = 𝑥−1 7 5𝑥 2
− 5𝑥 − 5𝑥 2
− 𝑥 2
− 2𝑥 + 1
24𝑥
𝑦 ′′ = 7 −𝑥 2
− 3𝑥 − 1
𝑥−1
24𝑥
𝑦 ′′′ = − 𝑥−1 7 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 1 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
1
5) y = x 3 − 2x 2 = 𝑥 3− 2𝑥 2 2
−2𝑥
𝑦′ = 𝑥 + 3 − 2𝑥 2
3−2𝑥 2
′ 3−2𝑥 2 −2𝑥 2
𝑦 =
3−2𝑥 2
3−4𝑥 2
𝑦′ =
3−2𝑥 2
−2𝑥
3−2𝑥 2 −8𝑥 − 3−4𝑥 2
3−2𝑥2
𝑦 ′′ = 3−2𝑥 2
Solution cont’d:
−2𝑥
3−2𝑥 2 −8𝑥 − 3−4𝑥 2
3−2𝑥2
𝑦 ′′ = 3−2𝑥 2
3−2𝑥2 −8𝑥 + 2𝑥 3−4𝑥2
3−2𝑥2
𝑦 ′′ = 3−2𝑥 2
′′ −24𝑥+16𝑥 3 +6𝑥−8𝑥 3
𝑦 =
3−2𝑥 2 3
′′ 8𝑥 3 −18𝑥 2𝑥
𝑦 = = 4𝑥 2 + 9 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
3−2𝑥 2 3 3−2𝑥 2 3
2
3 3−2𝑥2 −2𝑥
3−2𝑥 2 3 24𝑥 2 −18 − 3
8𝑥 −18𝑥
3
3−2𝑥2
𝑦 ′′′ = 3−2𝑥 2 3
3 2
3−2𝑥2 24𝑥2 −18 +6𝑥 8𝑥3 −18𝑥 3−2𝑥2
3
3−2𝑥2
𝑦 ′′′ = 3−2𝑥 2 3
2 2 3
′′′ 2 2 24𝑥 −18 3−2𝑥 +6𝑥 8𝑥 −18𝑥
𝑦 = 3− 2𝑥
3−2𝑥 2 9
Solution cont’d:
2 2 3
′′′ 2 2 24𝑥 −18 3−2𝑥 +6𝑥 8𝑥 −18𝑥
𝑦 = 3 − 2𝑥
3−2𝑥 2 9
1
𝑦 ′′′ = −48𝑥 4
+ 72𝑥 2
+ 36𝑥 2
− 54 + 48𝑥 4 − 108𝑥 2
3−2𝑥 2 5
54
𝑦 ′′′ = − → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
3−2𝑥 2 5

Problem Sets:
1. y= 1+ x
2. y = 3 − 2x 2
x+2 3
3. y= x−3
4
4. y= − 3x
x
3
5. y = 4x − 12x + 9
x
6. y= 1−x
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION:
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0, on a certain restricted range of the variables is said to
Define 𝑦 implicitly as a function of 𝑥.

Illustrative Problem:
Determine 𝑦 ′ and 𝑦 ′′ of the following;

1. xy + x − 2y − 1 = 0

2. x 2 y − xy 2 + x 2 + y 2 = 0

3. x 2 + y 2 = a2

4. x 2 + 4xy + y 2 = 1

5. x2 − y2 2
= 4ay 2
Solution:
1) xy + x − 2y − 1 = 0
𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 + 1 − 2𝑦 ′ = 0 ;𝑥𝑦 ′ − 2𝑦 ′ +y+1=0
𝑦′ 𝑥 − 2 + 𝑦 + 1 = 0
𝑦 ′ 𝑥 − 2 = −𝑦 − 1 ;𝑦 ′ 𝑥 − 2 = − 𝑦 + 1
𝑦+1
𝑦′ = − → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑥−2
𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 + 1 − 2𝑦 ′ = 0
𝑥𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 ′ − 2𝑦 ′′ = 0 ;𝑥𝑦 ′′ −2𝑦 ′′ +2𝑦 ′ = 0
𝑦 ′′ 𝑥 − 2 + 2𝑦 ′ = 0 ;𝑦 ′′ 𝑥 − 2 = −2𝑦 ′
′′ 2𝑦 ′ 𝑦+1
𝑦 = − 𝑥−2 since 𝑦 ′ = − 𝑥−2
𝑦+1
− 2 𝑦+1
𝑦 ′′ = −2 𝑥−2
𝑥−2
; 𝑦 ′′ = 𝑥−2 𝑥−1
2𝑦+2
𝑦 ′′ = → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑥−2 2
Solution cont’d:

2) x 2 y − xy 2 + x 2 + y 2 = 0
𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0 ;𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ −2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ +2𝑦𝑦 ′ −𝑦 2 +2𝑥𝑦 +2𝑥=0
𝑦 ′ 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 = 0 ; 𝑦 ′ 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 = 𝑦 2 - 2𝑥𝑦- 2𝑥
′ 𝑦 2 −2𝑥𝑦−2𝑥
𝑦 = → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑥 2 −2𝑥𝑦+2𝑦

𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ + 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0

𝑥 2 𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2 𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 − 2 𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑥𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ + 𝑦𝑦 ′ − 2𝑦𝑦 ′ + 2 + 2 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ = 0
𝑥 2 𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ +2𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′′ -2 𝑥𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ -2 𝑦𝑦 ′ −2𝑦𝑦 ′ +2 𝑦𝑦 ′′ +2 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ +2=0
𝑦 ′′ 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 − 2𝑥 𝑦 ′ 2
− 2𝑦𝑦 ′ − 2𝑦𝑦 ′ + 2 𝑦 ′ 2
+2=0
𝑦 ′′ 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 + 4𝑥𝑦 ′ − 2𝑥 𝑦 ′ 2
+ 2 𝑦′ 2
− 4𝑦𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 + 2 = 0
2
′′ 𝑦′ 2𝑥−2 +𝑦 ′ 4𝑦−4𝑥 −2𝑦−2
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 −2𝑥𝑦+2𝑦
→ 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
Solution cont’d:

3) x 2 + y 2 = a2
2𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
2𝑦𝑦 ′ = −2𝑥
2𝑥
𝑦 ′ = − 2𝑦
𝑥
𝑦′ = − 𝑦 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟

2𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
2 + 2 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ = 0
1 + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ 2
=0 ; 𝑦𝑦 ′′ =− 1 + 𝑦 ′ 2

2
1+ 𝑦 ′ 𝑥
𝑦 ′′ = − 𝑦
since 𝑦 ′ = − 𝑦
𝑥 2
1+ −
𝑦
𝑦 ′′ = − 𝑦
Solution cont’d:
𝑥2
1+ 2
𝑦
𝑦 ′′ = − 𝑦
𝑥2 +𝑦2
′′ 𝑦2 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑦 =− = − (𝑦2 )(𝑦)
𝑦

′′ 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑦 = − 𝑦3 but x 2 + y 2 = a2

′′ 𝑎2
𝑦 = − 𝑦3 → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟

4) x 2 + 4xy + y 2 = 1
2𝑥 + 4 𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
2𝑥 + 4𝑥𝑦 ′ + 4𝑦 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0, 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑦 2 ; 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 + 𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
𝑦 ′ 2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 0 ; 𝑦 ′ 2𝑥 + 𝑦 = −𝑥 − 2𝑦
𝑥+2𝑦
𝑦′ = − → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
2𝑥+𝑦
Solution cont’d:
𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 + 𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0
1 + 2 𝑥𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 ′ + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ = 0
1 + 2𝑥𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 ′ + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ 2
=0 ; 2𝑥𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦𝑦 ′′ +4𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 ′ 2
+1=0
𝑦 ′′ 2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑦 ′ 2
+ 4𝑦 ′ + 1 = 0 ; 𝑦 ′′ 2𝑥 + 𝑦 = − 𝑦 ′ 2
− 4𝑦 ′ − 1
2
′′ 𝑦′ +4𝑦 ′ +1 𝑥+2𝑦
𝑦 =− since 𝑦 ′ = − 2𝑥+𝑦
2𝑥+𝑦
𝑥+2𝑦 2 𝑥+2𝑦
− +4 − +1
′′ 2𝑥+𝑦 2𝑥+𝑦
𝑦 −
2𝑥+𝑦
𝑥+2𝑦 2 4 𝑥+2𝑦
−− +1
′′ 2𝑥+𝑦 2 2𝑥+𝑦
𝑦 =− 2𝑥+𝑦
𝑥+2𝑦 2 −4 𝑥+2𝑦 2𝑥+𝑦 + 2𝑥+𝑦 2
′′ 2𝑥+𝑦 2 𝑥+2𝑦 2 −4 𝑥+2𝑦 2𝑥+𝑦 + 2𝑥+𝑦 2
𝑦 =− =−
2𝑥+𝑦 2𝑥+𝑦 2 2𝑥+𝑦

′′ 𝑥 2 +4𝑥𝑦+4𝑦 2 −4 2𝑥 2 +5𝑥𝑦+2𝑦 2 +4𝑥 2 +2𝑥𝑦+𝑦 2 𝑥 2 +4𝑥𝑦+4𝑦 2 −8𝑥 2 −20𝑥𝑦−8𝑦 2 +4𝑥 2 +2𝑥𝑦+𝑦 2

𝑦 =− =
2𝑥+𝑦 3 2𝑥+𝑦 3
𝑥 2 +4𝑥𝑦+4𝑦 2 −8𝑥 2 −20𝑥𝑦−8𝑦 2 +4𝑥 2 +2𝑥𝑦+𝑦 2
𝑦 ′′ = −
2𝑥+𝑦 3
Solution cont’d:
′′ 𝑥 2 +4𝑥𝑦+4𝑦 2 −8𝑥 2 −20𝑥𝑦−8𝑦 2 +4𝑥 2 +2𝑥𝑦+𝑦 2
𝑦 = − 2𝑥+𝑦 3
′′ −3𝑥 2 −14𝑥𝑦−3𝑦 2
𝑦 = − 2𝑥+𝑦 3
′′ 3𝑥 2 +14𝑥𝑦+3𝑦 2
𝑦 = → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
2𝑥+𝑦 3

5) x2 − y2 2
= 4ay 2
𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 4 = 4𝑎𝑦 2
4𝑥 3 − 2 2𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 ′ + 2𝑥𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 3 𝑦 ′ = 8𝑎𝑦𝑦 ′
4𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 ′ − 4𝑥𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 3 𝑦 ′ = 8𝑎𝑦𝑦 ′ ; 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 ′ − 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3 𝑦 ′ = 2𝑎𝑦𝑦 ′
𝑦 ′ 4𝑦 3 − 4𝑥 2 𝑦 − 8𝑎𝑦 + 4𝑥 3 − 4𝑥𝑦 2 = 0, ; 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 3 − 𝑦𝑥 2 − 2𝑎𝑦 + 𝑥 3 − 𝑥𝑦 2 = 0
𝑦 ′ 𝑦 3 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 2𝑎𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦 2 - 𝑥 3
′ 𝑥𝑦 2 −𝑥 3
𝑦 = → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑦 3 −𝑥 2 𝑦−2𝑎𝑦
Solution cont’d:
𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 ′ − 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3 𝑦 ′ = 2𝑎𝑦𝑦 ′
3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ + 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ − 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3 𝑦 ′′ + 3𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′ = 2𝑎 𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 ′ 𝑦 ′
3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 ′′ − 𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ 2
− 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ − 2𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3 𝑦 ′′ + 3𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ 2
= 2𝑎𝑦𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑎 𝑦 ′ 2

𝑦 ′′ 𝑦 3 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 2𝑎𝑦 + 3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ 2
− 4𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ 2
= 2𝑎 𝑦 ′ 2

𝑦 ′′ 𝑦 3 − 𝑦𝑥 2 − 2𝑎𝑦 = 2𝑎 𝑦 ′ 2
+ 𝑥2 𝑦′ 2
−3𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ 2
+ 4𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 2 − 3𝑥 2
2
′′ 𝑦′ 𝑥 2 −3𝑦 2 +2𝑎 +4𝑥𝑦𝑦 ′ +𝑦 2 −3𝑥 2
𝑦 = → 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑦 3 −𝑦𝑥 2 −2𝑎𝑦

Problem Sets:
1. Determine 𝑦 ′′ and 𝑦 ′′′ for the following functions;
2
a. x+y = 2ax
b. 𝑥 + 2𝑦 3 = 4𝑎
c. 𝑥3 − 𝑦3 = 1
2. Determine 𝑦 ′ and 𝑦 ′′ for the following functions;
1Τ 1Τ 1Τ
a. x 2 +y 2 =a 2

b. x 3 y − 6x + 9y + y 4 = 0

3. Determine the slope of the tangent line to the curve 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑦 2 = 9 at

the point 3, 2 . (Hint: Simply find 𝑦 ′ and substitute the coordinates)