College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Name: __________________________________ Course & Year: ______________

Module 6 : The Chain Rule and the General Power Rule

Course Title : Differential Calculus
Course Number : Calculus 1
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:

The ideas of derivatives had already been discussed in the previous

chapter. Finding for the derivative of a certain function using the concept of limit
is much complicated since this method needs mastery of some algebraic
techniques to obtain the final answer. This chapter gives solution to these
problems. Computations of derivatives can now be done by just using formulas
for the derivatives of basic algebraic functions. This will now ease you in finding
for the derivative of a function without computing the limits. These formulas are
proved based on the ideas of derivatives introduced on the previous chapter and
some of these proofs were introduced in this chapter.
Also, other topics included in this chapter are the chain rule, higher order
derivatives and the derivatives of implicit functions.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this chapter, the students will be able to:
1. Identify the basic derivative formulas of algebraic functions.
2. Find the derivatives of functions involving algebraic
functions.
3. Differentiate functions using the chain rule and implicit
differentiation.
4. Solve for the higher order derivatives.

Indicative Content:
This module discusses at least the following topics: Rate of Change, methods
involving rate of change and problem-solving regarding rate of change.

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG

1
 Discussion:

Basic Derivative Formulas

I. Derivative of a Constant

Given the function,

𝑦=𝑐

Where 𝑐 is constant
𝑑
𝑐=0
𝑑𝑥

The derivative of any constant is zero.

Proof:

II. Derivative of a Sum

Given u and v as functions of x, the derivative of a sum is,

The derivative of the sum of two functions is equal to the sum of

their derivatives.
Proof:

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 2

III. Derivative of a Product

Given u and v as functions of x, the derivative of a product is,

The derivative of the product of two functions is equal to the

first function times the derivative of the second function plus the
second function times the derivative of the first function.

Proof:

IV. Derivative of a Quotient

Given u and v as functions of x, the derivative of a quotient is,

The derivative of the quotient of two functions is equal to the

denominator times the derivative of the numerator minus the numerator
times the derivative of the denominator all over the square of the
denominator.
Proof:

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 3

V. Derivative of 𝑥 𝑛 ,
Given the function,

This is the general power formula.

The derivative of a function raised to an integer is equal to the
integer times the function raised to the integer minus one.
Proof:

By Taylor’s Theorem, the expansion is

Other Formulas
VI. Derivative of a Product of a Constant and a Function

VII. Derivative of a Quotient of a Constant and a Function

VIII. Derivative of a Square Root

Proof:

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 4

The Chain Rule

For a given function such as y = (x + 2) 6,y = (√x + x)5 and y = ( x2 + x -

10)10, there is no possible method discussed in the previous topics to find the
derivative of those functions.

For a function ƒ(x) n, the derivative can be obtained by using the general
power formula, but in case a function such as [ƒ(x) n]r, a Chain Rule can be
used.

Without the chain rule, we cannot actually multiply a function by itself nth
times and differentiating the result resulting to a larger degree polynomial.

Higher Order Derivatives

The derivative of y with respect to x, or simply y', is at first derivative. The
derivative of the first derivative is called the second derivative and is written in
𝑑2𝑦
the form 𝑑𝑥 2 , 𝑦 ′′ , 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥 ) 𝑜𝑟 𝐷𝑥2 𝑦. Further differentiation, ,.., etc.

Derivatives of Implicit Functions

For functions such as, x 2 + y 2 = 4xy, and (x + y) = 3xy, the

values of x and y are connected together in an equation. Finding 2 for the
derivative of y with respect to x, implicit differentiation can be applied. The y
is called the implicit function of x.

Exercises/Drills:

1. Derive the function 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 2.

Solution:
𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 2.
By the general power formula,
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑦 ′ = 6𝑥 + 5
𝑑𝑥
𝑥 2 +1
2. Derive the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 3

Solution:
𝑥2 + 1
𝑦=
𝑥3

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 5

By the derivative of a quotient,

1 2
3. Derive the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3

Solution:
1 2
𝑦= +
𝑥2 𝑥3

By the derivative of a quotient of a constant and a function,

4. Derive the function 𝑦 = (𝑡 2 + 5)(𝑡 2 − 𝑡 + 3)

Solution:

𝑦 = (𝑡 2 + 5)(𝑡 2 − 𝑡 + 3)

By the derivative of a product,

5. Differentiate the function 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)6

Solution:

By the Chain Rule,

6. Differentiate the function

Solution:

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 6

By Chain Rule,

7. Differentiate the function

Solution:

By the derivative of a quotient,

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

Solution:

By the derivative of a product,

9. Find the second derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1.

Solution:

10. Find the third derivative of 𝑦 = 4𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2.

Solution:

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 7

 (𝑥+1)2
11. Find the second derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥−1

Solution:

12. Find the first four derivative of the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 6 + 3𝑥 5 − 4𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 +

9𝑥 − 10

Solution:

13. Find 𝑦 ′ of the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥𝑦.

Solution:

First, differentiate each term of the equation.

Then, combine the terms containing the same differential making the terms of
𝑑𝑦 on the left side and the terms of 𝑑𝑥 on the other side on the equation, then factor
out the terms.

𝑑𝑦
Divide both sides of the equation by the terms that will remain only on the
𝑑𝑥
left side and all other terms on the other side.

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 8

14. Find 𝑦 ′ of the equation (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 3𝑥𝑦

Solution:

15. Find 𝑦 ′ of the equation 𝑦 3 = 𝑎𝑥 2

Solution:

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 9

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

Evaluation:

I. Differentiate the given function.

II. Find the third derivative of the given functions.

III. Find y ′ of the given implicit functions.

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 10

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 11