WEEK 8: MATH 11 BSCpE 1

TOPIC: DERIVATIVE OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

Let us first have a review about some notation. Suppose we are taking the derivative of
the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2; we usually say that we are taking the derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) with respect
to 𝑥 (or whatever the independent variable is). When we take the derivative with respect to 𝑥 for
example, we can write it using the following manner:

𝑑𝑦 𝑑(𝑓(𝑥)) 𝑑
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) 𝑦′ (𝑓 (𝑥))
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Remarks:

1. The first two notations are read as 𝑓 prime of 𝑥 and 𝑦 prime respectively; the third as
𝑑𝑦 over 𝑑𝑥, and the last two as derivative of 𝑓 of 𝑥 with respect to 𝑑𝑥.
𝑑𝑓 𝑑
2. You may see them looking different sometimes like 𝑦 𝐷𝑥 𝑦 but
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
they all mean the same thing.
3. Observe that when you have an algebraic expression that is a sum or difference i.e.
𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 1, you can separate the expression into monomials and take the derivative
of each separately and add/subtract them together.

Rules for Differentiation:

Definition 1. Derivative of Constant

d
C=0
dx

Definition 2: Derivative of Identity Function

d
x=1
dx

Definition 3.
d d
cu = c u
dx dx
Definition 4. Derivative of Sum
d d d
(u + v) = u+ v
dx dx dx

Definition 5. Derivative of Product

d dv du
(uv) = u +v
dx dx dx

Definition 6. Derivative of Quotient

d u vdu − udv
( )=
dx v v2

Definition 7. Derivative of Power

d du
un = nun−1
dx dx

Definition 8
du
d dx
√u =
dx 2 √u

Definition 9
d 1 −n
[ n ] = n+1
dx u u

Illustrative Sample:

Evaluate the derivative of the following functions.

1. 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 − 5𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑
= 𝑑𝑥 4𝑥 2 − 𝑑𝑥 5𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
=4 𝑥2 − 5 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 4(2𝑥 2−1 )(1) − 5(𝑥 1−1 ) (1)

= 4(2𝑥) − 5(1)
= 8𝑥 − 5
2. y = 5x3 – 4x2 + 3x – 6
𝑑𝑦
= 3(5)(𝑥 3−1 ) − 2(4)(𝑥 2−1) + 3(1)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 15𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 3
𝑑𝑥

3. 𝑦 = √5 − 6x
1
y = (5 − 6x)2
1
𝑑𝑦 1
= (5 − 6𝑥)2−1 (−6)
𝑑𝑥 2
1 2
𝑑𝑦 1
= (5 − 6𝑥 )2 − 2 (−6)
𝑑𝑥 2
1
= (5 − 6𝑥 )− 2 (−3)
−3
= 1
(5−6𝑥)2
−3
=
√5−6x

3 4
4. 𝑦 = √𝑥 + + √𝑥
𝑥
1 1
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 −1 + 𝑥 2
1 1 1 1
𝑦 ′ = (𝑥 3 −1 ) − 1(4)𝑥 −1−1 + (𝑥)2 − 1
3 2
1 3 1 2
1 − 1
= (𝑥 3 3 ) − 4(𝑥 −2) + (𝑥 2 − 2 )
3 2
2 1
1 1
= (𝑥 − 3 ) − 4(𝑥 −2 ) + (𝑥 − 2 )
3 2
1 4 1
= 2 − + 1
𝑥2
3(𝑥 3 ) 2(𝑥 2 )
1 4 1
= 3 - +
3 √x2 x2 2 √x

3
5. f(x) = √2x − 7
1
f(x) = (2x − 7)3
1 2
f’(x) = (2x − 7)− 3 (2)
3
 2
= 2
3 (2x−7)3
2
= 3
3 √(2x−7)2

x √x
6. f(x) =
5
1
x ∙ x2
f(x) =
5
1
1+
(x ) 2
f(x) =
5
3
𝑥2
=
5
1 3 3
f ‘(x)= ( )(𝑥) 2−1
5 2
1
3
= (x)2
10

3 √x
=
10

7. 𝑦 = (2𝑥 + 5)√4x − 1
1
y = (2x+5)(4x − 1)2
1 1
1
𝑦′ = (2𝑥 + 5) ( ) (4𝑥 − 1)2−1 (4) + (4𝑥 − 1)2 (2)
2
1 1
= 2(2𝑥 + 5)(4𝑥 − 1)−2 + 2(4𝑥 − 1)2
1
2(2x+5)
= 1 + 2(4𝑥 − 1)2
(4x−1) 2
4x+10
= + 2 √4x − 1
√4x−1

1(4x + 10) + √4x−1(2)√4x−1

=
√4x−1

4x +10 + 2 (√4𝑥−1)2
=
√4x−1
4x +10 + 2 (4x−1)
=
√4x−1
 4x + 10 + 8x − 2
=
√4x−1
12x + 8
=
√4x−1

4x−5
8. y =
2x+1
(2x+1)(4)− (4x−5)(2)
y’ =
(2x+1)2

(4)(2x+1)−(2)(4x−5)
=
(2x+1)2

8x + 4 − 8x + 10
=
(2x+1)2
14
=
(2x+1)2