College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Name: ____________________________________ Course & Year: ______________

Module 3 : Derivative
Course Title : Differential Calculus
Course Number : Math 111
Course Description : An introductory course covering the core concepts of
limit, continuity and differentiability of functions involving one or more
variables. This also includes the application of differential calculations
in solving on optimization, rate of change, related rates, tangents and
normal, and approximations; partial differentiation and transcendental
curve tracing.
Total Learning Time : 4 units (4 hours lecture per week)
Pre-requisites : N/A
(if there’s any)

Overview:

Everything changes. As the volume of a balloon changes, there is a

corresponding change in its radius. Population changes with time. A motion of a certain
object changes its position as time changes. Nothing is permanent, that’s why the study
of these phenomena gives birth to derivatives. Derivative describes the rate of change
of a certain thing. This also describes the behavior of the tangent lines to a graph which
can tell what the shape of that graph is. This chapter deals with the idea of derivatives,
the slope and rate of change.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, the student should be able to:

1. Define derivative.
2. Find the derivative of a given function.
3. Differentiate the function

Indicative Content:

This module discusses at least the following topics: Derivatives, Definition of

derivatives and determination of derivatives.

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 1

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Name: ____________________________________ Date Submitted: __________
Course & Year: _____________________________ Rating: __________

Pre-Assessment:

Differentiate the given functions.

1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1

2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 − 3

3. 𝑦 = (2 + 𝑥)2

4. 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥 2 − 2)

5. 𝑦 = √𝑥 + 3

6. 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 + 2𝑥 2

7. 𝑥 = √2 − 𝑦

8. 𝑦 = 2 + 3𝑥 − 𝑥 −1

9. 𝑥 = (𝑦 2 + 3)2
𝑥+3
10. 𝑦 = 𝑥−3

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 2

Discussion:

The Derivatives

Consider a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

To obtain the derivative of a given function, follow the procedure below.

1. For the function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 ) add ∆𝑥 to 𝑥 and 𝑦 to ∆𝑦. (∆ or delta, called

increment).

𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 )
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥 )

2. Substitute the value of 𝑦 in 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 + ∆𝑥 ) to the value of 𝑦 in 2.

Transpose the value of 𝑦 to the other side obtaining a formula of ∆𝑦 in
terms of 𝑥 and ∆𝑥.

From
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥)
𝑓 (𝑥 ) + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 + ∆𝑥 )
∆𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 + ∆𝑥 ) − 𝑓(𝑥 )

3. Perform the suitable algebraic transformation (combine fractions and

rationalize) and simplify.
∆𝑦
4. From equation ∆𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 + ∆𝑥 ) − 𝑓 (𝑥), write the quotient by
∆𝑥
dividing both sides of the equation by ∆𝑥.

∆𝑦 𝑓(𝑥+∆𝑥)− 𝑓(𝑥)
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥

5. Evaluate the limit as ∆𝑥 approaches zero.

𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥 ) − 𝑓(𝑥 )
= lim = lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
The derivative is symbolized by 𝑑𝑥 , 𝑦, 𝑓(𝑥 ), 𝐷𝑥 𝑦 and 𝑑𝑥 𝑓(𝑥). By definition of
the derivative:
Δ𝑦
The derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥, is the limit of the ratio when Δ𝑥
Δ𝑥
approaches zero.
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
= lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 3

Exercises/Drills:

1. Differentiate the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 3

Solution:

𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 3
y + ∆y = (x + ∆x)2 + 3(x + ∆x)
∆y = (x + ∆x)2 + 3(x + ∆x) − y
∆y = (x + ∆x)2 + 3(x + ∆x) − (𝑥 2 + 3)
∆y = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 − 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥
∆y = 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 + 3∆𝑥
Δ𝑦 2𝑥∆𝑥+∆𝑥 2 +3∆𝑥
=
Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥
Δ𝑦
= 2𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 3
Δ𝑥
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
= lim = lim 2𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 3
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦
= 2𝑥 + 3
𝑑𝑥

1
2. Differentiate the function 𝑦 =
√𝑥

Solution:
1
𝑦=
√𝑥
1
y + ∆y =
√𝑥+∆x
1 1
∆y = −
√𝑥 + ∆x √𝑥
√𝑥−√𝑥+∆x √𝑥+√𝑥+∆x
∆y = ∙
√𝑥 2 +𝑥∆x √𝑥+√𝑥+∆x
−∆x
∆y =
√𝑥(𝑥 + 𝑥∆x)(√𝑥 + √𝑥 + ∆x)
Δ𝑦 −1
=
Δ𝑥 √𝑥(𝑥+𝑥∆x)(√𝑥+√𝑥+∆x)
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦 −1
= lim = lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 √𝑥(𝑥+𝑥∆x)(√𝑥+√𝑥+∆x)
𝑑𝑦 1 1
= = 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑥(2√𝑥) 2𝑥 ⁄2

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 4

 1
3. Differentiate the function 𝑦 = (𝑥+2)2

Solution:

1
𝑦=
(𝑥 + 2)2
1
y + ∆y = (𝑥+∆x+2)2
1
∆y =
𝑥2+ 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4∆𝑥 + 4
1 1
∆y = 𝑥 2+2𝑥∆𝑥+∆𝑥 2 +4𝑥+4∆𝑥+4 − 𝑥 2+4𝑥+4
(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4) − (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4∆𝑥 + 4)
∆y =
(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4∆𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4)

−2𝑥∆𝑥 − 4∆𝑥 − ∆𝑥 2
∆y =
(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4∆𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4)
Δ𝑦 −2𝑥 − 4 − ∆𝑥
= 2
Δ𝑥 (𝑥 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 4∆𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4)
2

𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦 −2𝑥−4−∆𝑥
= lim = lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 (𝑥 2+2𝑥∆𝑥+∆𝑥 2 +4𝑥+4∆𝑥+4)(𝑥 2+4𝑥+4)

𝑑𝑦 −2(𝑥 + 2) 2
= 4
=
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 + 2)3

4. Differentiate the function 𝑦 = cos 𝑥.

Solution:

𝑦 = cos 𝑥
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = cos (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = (cos 𝑥 cos ∆𝑥 − sin 𝑥 sin ∆𝑥 )
∆𝑦 = (cos 𝑥 cos ∆𝑥 − sin 𝑥 sin ∆𝑥 ) − cos 𝑥
∆𝑦 = sin 𝑥 sin ∆𝑥 − cos (1 + cos ∆𝑥)
From the trigonometric identity,
1
sin 2𝑥 = (1 − cos 2𝑥)
2
1
1 − cos 𝑥 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( 2 𝑥)
Then,
1
∆𝑦 = sin 𝑥 sin ∆𝑥 − cos 𝑥 [(2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (2 ∆𝑥)]

1
∆𝑦 = sin 𝑥 sin ∆𝑥 − 2 cos 𝑥 [(𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (2 ∆𝑥)]
1
sin ∆𝑥 [(𝑠𝑖𝑛( ∆𝑥)]
2
∆𝑦 = sin 𝑥 − 2 cos 𝑥
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 5

 1
sin ∆𝑥 [(𝑠𝑖𝑛 2( ∆𝑥)] 1
2
∆𝑦 = sin 𝑥 − cos 𝑥 1 [(𝑠𝑖𝑛 (2 ∆𝑥)]
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
2
1
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦 sin ∆𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (2 ∆𝑥) 1
= lim = lim {− sin 𝑥 ( ) − cos 𝑥 [ ] [𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ∆𝑥)]}
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 1 2
2 ∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= − sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 6

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Name: ____________________________________ Date Submitted: __________
Course & Year: _____________________________Rating: __________

Evaluation:

Differentiate the function. Write your solutions on the space provided.

1. 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2
2. 𝑦 = 3 + 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2
3. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 + 2
4. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 6
5. 𝑥 = 𝑦 4 − 2𝑦 2
1
6. 𝑧 = 𝑡 4 − 5𝑡 − 3
2
1
7. 𝑦 = 2 (3𝑥 2 + 1)2
8. 𝑦 = (𝑥 2 − 2)2
1
9. 𝑦 = 𝑥+7
1
10. 𝑦 = 4−𝑥
2𝑦
11. 𝑥 = 𝑦−1
𝑡
12. 𝑥 = 3−𝑡
1
13. 𝑦 = 2 − 3𝑥 −
𝑥
3𝑥−1
14. 𝑦 = 2𝑥+5

1
15. 𝑥 = 𝑡 2

Additional Reading:

DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS WITH EXAMPLES AND

APPLICATIONS BY GEORGE A. OSBORNE, S.B.

References:

C.E. Love and E.D. Rainville. (1981). Differential and Integral Calculus, Sixth Edition.
New York: The Macmillan Company.
H.J. Terano. (2015). A Simplified Text in Differential Calculus. Camarines Sur
Plytechnic Colleges
E.D. Rainville. (1958). Elementary Differential Equations, Second Edition. Collier
Macmillan Canada, Ltd., Toronto Ontario

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 7