A.S.

Physics: Calc PS 5b: Differentiating Sums

Calculus Practice # 5b: differentiating a sum

The derivative of the sum of a number of functions, e.g., y(x) = u(x) + v(x), dy du dv
is equal to the sum of the derivatives of these functions. = +
dx dx dx

1. Differentiate the following functions with respect to x, i.e., find dy/dx:

2 1 2 1 1 5
(a) y = 6 x + 5x (b) y = x + x+ (c) y = + 4x
2 7 4 x
4 2
(d) y = 7+ ! (e) y = 8 x + 10
x x2
2. Find ds/dt for each of the following:

(a) s = ut + 12 at 2 (u and a are constants) (b) s = 5t + 16t 2 (c) s = 3t 2 ! 4t + 7

3. Find dy/dx when y = ax 3 + bx 2 + cx + d where a, b, c, and d are constants.

4. Find dy/dx when:

2
(a) y = x 2 n ! nx 2 + 5n , where n is constant (b) y = x +3 x +
x
2
5. Given the function y = 2 x ! 3 x + 1 .
(a) Find the gradient at x = 1.5 on the graph. (b) For what value of x will the gradient be zero?

1
6. Find the coordinates of the points of zero gradient on the graph of y = x+ .
x

1
 A.S. Physics: Calc PS 5b: Differentiating Sums

Answers:

-2
1: (a) 12x + 5 (b) x + 1/7 (c) -5x + 4
-2 -3 -½
(d) -4x + 4x (e) 4x

2: (a) t + a t (b) 5 + 32 t (c) 6 t - 4

2
3: 3ax + 2bx + c

2n-1 -½ -2/3 -2
4: (a) 2n x - 2n x (b) ½ x + 1/3 x - 2x

5: (a) dy/dx = 4x - 3 so @ x = 1.5, dy/dx = 6 - 3 = 3 (b) 0 = 4x - 3 so x = ¾

-2
6: y’ = dy/dx = 1 - x so y’ = 0 at x = {1, -1}

#5: #6:
y = 2x^2 - 3x + 1 y = x + 1/x

3.5 40

slope = 0 at -1 and +1
3 30
slope = 3 at x = 1.5
2.5 20
2
10
1.5
Y

0
Y

1 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
-10
0.5

0 -20

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

-0.5 -30

X
-40
X