UNIT 3: DIFFERENTIATING ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS USING

THEOREMS
Learning Outcomes
This module will enable you to:
1. differentiate algebraic functions using theorems

Resource
You will be needing the following for this module:
1. graphing tools like Graphmatica or Graphing Calculator
Expectations
You are expected to
1. follow the guidelines in accomplishing the module
2. accomplish the module completely

THE DERIV TIVE OF A FUNCTION

A function that has a derivative is said to differentiable. A derivative is
https://www.flaticon.co
m/de/kostenloses-
computed by the operation of differentiation. Theorems that help perform this
icon/buch_1341264 computation on algebraic functions simplify the task of finding derivatives. Note that
there are several notations for derivatives. These are 𝒇’(𝒙), 𝑫𝒙 , and 𝒅𝒚/𝒅𝒙.

THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

To simplify the task of finding the derivatives of algebraic functions, the following theorems
can be used:

1. If 𝒄 is any constant and 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒄 for all 𝒙, then 𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟎.

𝑫𝒙 (𝒄) = 𝟎

Example: Differentiate: 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟕

Solution: 𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝑫𝒙 (𝟕)

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟎

DIFFERENTIATING ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS USING THEOREMS Page 1 of 5

2. If 𝒏 is a positive integer and if 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝒏 , then 𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏.

𝑫𝒙 (𝒙𝒏 ) = 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏

Example: Differentiate 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟓

Solution: 𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝑫𝒙 (𝒙𝟓 )

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟓𝒙𝟓−𝟏
𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟓𝒙𝟒

3. If 𝒇 is a function, 𝒄 is a constant and 𝒈 is the function defined by 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒄 ∙ 𝒇(𝒙), then if 𝒇’(𝒙)
exists, 𝒈’(𝒙) = 𝒄 ∙ 𝒇’(𝒙).

𝑫𝒙 [𝒄 ∙ 𝒇(𝒙)] = 𝒄 ∙ 𝑫𝒙 𝒇(𝒙)

Example: Differentiate 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟖𝒙𝟔

Solution: 𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟖 ∙ 𝑫𝒙 (𝒙𝟔 )

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟖 ∙ 𝟔𝒙𝟔−𝟏
𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟒𝟖𝒙𝟓

4. If 𝒇 and 𝒈 are functions and if 𝒉 is the function defined by 𝒉(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙), then if 𝒇’(𝒙)
and 𝒈’(𝒙) exist, 𝒉’(𝒙) = 𝒇’(𝒙) + 𝒈’(𝒙).

𝑫𝒙 [𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝑫𝒙 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝑫𝒙 𝒈(𝒙)

Example: Differentiate 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟖

Solution: 𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝑫𝒙 (𝟓𝒙𝟒 ) + 𝑫𝒙 (𝟑𝒙𝟑 ) − 𝑫𝒙 (𝟔𝒙) + 𝑫𝒙 (𝟖)

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟓 ∙ 𝟒𝒙𝟒−𝟏 + 𝟑 ∙ 𝟑𝒙𝟑−𝟏 − 𝟔 ∙ 𝒙𝟏−𝟏 + 𝟎
𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟐𝟎𝒙𝟑 + 𝟗𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔

DIFFERENTIATING ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS USING THEOREMS Page 2 of 5

5. If 𝒇 and 𝒈 are functions and if 𝒉 is the function defined by 𝒉(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙), then if 𝒇’(𝒙)
and 𝒈’(𝒙) exist, 𝒉’(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈’(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙) ∙ 𝒇’(𝒙).

𝑫𝒙 [𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝑫𝒙 𝒈(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙) ∙ 𝑫𝒙 𝒇(𝒙)

Example: Differentiate 𝒇(𝒙) = (𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓)

Solution: 𝒇’(𝒙) = (𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑) ∙ 𝑫𝒙 (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓) + (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓) ∙ 𝑫𝒙 (𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑)

𝒇’(𝒙) = (𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝟐 ∙ 𝒙𝟏−𝟏 + 𝟎) + (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓)(𝟒 ∙ 𝒙𝟏−𝟏 − 𝟎)
𝒇’(𝒙) = (𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝟐) + (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓)(𝟒)
𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟖𝒙 − 𝟔 + 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟐𝟎
𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟏𝟔𝒙 + 𝟏𝟒

𝒇(𝒙)
6. If 𝒇 and 𝒈 are functions and if 𝒉 is the function defined by 𝒉(𝒙) = 𝒈(𝒙), where 𝒈(𝒙) ≠ 𝟎, then
𝒈(𝒙)∙𝒇′ (𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙)∙𝒈′(𝒙)
if 𝒇’(𝒙) and 𝒈’(𝒙) exist, 𝒉’(𝒙) = [𝒈(𝒙)]𝟐
.

𝒇(𝒙) 𝒈(𝒙)∙𝑫𝒙 𝒇(𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙)∙𝑫𝒙 𝒈(𝒙)

𝑫𝒙 [𝒈(𝒙)] = [𝒈(𝒙)]𝟐

𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟒
Example: Differentiate 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐

(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)∙𝑫𝒙 (𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟒)−(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟒)∙𝑫𝒙 (𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)

Solution: 𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟐
(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)

(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)(𝟑∙𝟐𝒙𝟐−𝟏 +𝟎)−(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟒)(𝟓∙𝟐𝒙𝟐−𝟏 −𝟑𝒙𝟏−𝟏 +𝟎)

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟐
(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)

(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)(𝟔𝒙)−(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟒)(𝟏𝟎𝒙−𝟑)

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟐
(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)

(𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑 −𝟏𝟖𝒙𝟐 +𝟏𝟐𝒙)−(𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑 −𝟗𝒙𝟐 +𝟒𝟎𝒙−𝟏𝟐)

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟐
(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)

𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑 −𝟏𝟖𝒙𝟐 +𝟏𝟐𝒙−𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑 +𝟗𝒙𝟐 −𝟒𝟎𝒙+𝟏𝟐

𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟐
(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)

−𝟗𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝟖𝒙+𝟏𝟐
𝒇’(𝒙) = 𝟐
(𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑𝒙+𝟐)

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 LEARNING SUMMARY AND REFLECTION

In this module, I learned that

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From this module, I realize that as an OLSHCOnian, I have a responsibility to

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In this module, I need to understand more the concept/s on

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Tutorial Videos:

Calculus – Basic rules for derivatives (2013). Retrieved June 11, 2020 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRphiUtRKcY

Calculus – The product rule for derivatives (2013). Retrieved June 11, 2020 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBfXqorEad0

Calculus – The quotient rule for derivatives (2013). Retrieved June 11, 2020 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fJY3fYgTbU

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References:

Crowell, R. H. & Slesnick, W. E. (2008). Crowell and Slesnick’s calculus with analytic geometry.
Downloaded June 9, 2020 from https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/calc/calc.pdf

Dawkins, P. (2007). Calculus I. Downloaded June 9, 2020 from

https://notendur.hi.is/adl2/CalcI_Complete.pdf

Graphmatica.com (2017). Graphmatica by Ksoft. [online] Available

at: <http://www.graphmatica.com/> [Accessed December 15, 2017].

Leithold, L. (1990). The calculus with analytic geometry (6th ed.). New York: Harper & Row Publishers,
Inc.

Mercado, J. P., & Orines, F. B. (2016). Next cetury mathematics: Basic calculus. Quezon City: Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc.

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