ALDERSGATE COLLEGE

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING INFORMATICS AND TECHNOLOGY

CALCULUS 1 (DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS)

MODULE 03
THE DERIVATIVE

OVERVIEW
This module mainly focuses on the application of the different rules of differentiation in finding the
derivative of an algebraic function

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, the student should be able to
1. Understand the concept of increment and derivative
2. Apply the increment method to find derivative of a given function
3. Understand concept of rate of change
4. Know the differentiation formulas for algebraic function

LEARNING FOCUS

3.1 INCREMENT (THE SYMBOL∆ )

An increment is a small, unspecified, nonzero change in the value of a quantity. The symbol most
commonly used is the uppercase Greek letter delta ().
Consider the case of the graph of a function y=f ( x ) in Cartesian (rectangular) coordinates, as
∆y
shown in the figure. The slope of this curve at a specific point P is defined as the limit of m= , as
∆x
∆ x (read “delta x”) approaches zero, provided the function is continuous (the curve is not “broken”).
∆y
The value depends on defining two points in the vicinitqy of P . In the illustration, one of the points
∆x
is P itself, defined as ( x P , y P ) and the other is Q( x q , y q ), which is near P. The increments here are
∆ y = y q− y P and ∆ x=x q −x P. As point Q approaches point P, both of these increments approach
∆y
zero, and the ratio of increments approaches the slope of the curve at point P. When the
∆x
increment is positive, it means “increase in the value of the quantity” while a negative increment
signifies a “decrease”.

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The term increment is occasionally used in physics and engineering to represent a small change in
a parameter such as temperature T(∆T ), electric current I( ∆ I ) or time t(∆t ).

A change ∆ x in x produces a corresponding change ∆ y in y . That is,

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

3.2 DERIVATIVE
If y=x 2, then y +∆ y =(x +∆ x )2. Therefore, ∆ y =(x +∆ x )2−x 2
If x is assigned the value 5, the corresponding value of y will be (5)2 or 25. Now, if we increase
the value of x by 3, making it 8, we have increment ∆ x=3 . This results in an increase in the value of y
, and we call this increase an increment or ∆ y . From this we write ∆ y =(5+ ∆ x)2−x 2. Therefore,
2
∆ y =(5+ ∆ x) −25 .
∆y
We are interested in the ratio because the limit of this ratio as ∆ x approaches zero is the
∆x
derivative of function with respect to x .
As we recall from the discussion of limits, as ∆ x is made smaller, ∆ y gets smaller also. In our
∆y
example, the ratio approaches 10 as shown on the table below. Let x=5 , correspondingly, y=25
∆x
∆y
, then assume values of ∆ x that tend to approach zero. Take note that as ∆ x →0 , → 10.
∆x

∆y
The symbol gives the average rate of change of y with respect to x , that is, with x changing
∆x
from x to x +∆ x , and with y correspondingly changing from y to y +∆ y . In effect, the value of the

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∆y
function f ( x) becomes y=f ( x +∆ x ). Furthermore, if for a fixed value of x , the quotient
∆x
approaches a limit as the increment ∆ x approaches zero, this limit is called the derivative of y with
dy d
respect to x for the given value of x . This is denoted by symbol or f (x), y ' , f ' (x), D x y ,
dx dx
D x f ( x).
dy ∆y f ( x +∆ x )−f ( x)
Thus, by definition, = lim = lim
dx ∆ x→ 0 ∆ x ∆ x→ 0 ∆x

dy
Differentiation is the process of finding when y=f (x ). If the derivative of f (x) exists, then,
dx
f ( x) is said to be a differentiable function of x .

Note: If y=f (x ), the instantaneous rate of change of y per unit change in x at x 1 is f ' (x ¿¿1) ¿,
or, equivalently, the derivative of y with respect to x at x 1, if it exists.

dy
EXAMPLE 01: Find the derivative of y with respect to x or using the increment method.
dx
a. y=x 2 +2 x−3
Solution:
y +∆ y =( x +∆ x )2+2 ( x +∆ x )−3
2 2
∆ y =( x +∆ x ) +2 ( x +∆ x )−3−(x +2 x −3)
∆ y =[ x +2 x ∆ x+(∆ x ) ]+2 x +2 ∆ x−3−x −2 x +3
2 2 2

∆ y =2 x ∆ x +(∆ x)2+ 2 ∆ x
∆ y =∆ x (2 x + ∆ x+2)
∆y
=2 x+∆ x+2
∆x
∆y
lim = lim (2 x+ ∆ x+2)
∆ x →0 ∆ x ∆ x →0
¿ 2 x+0+ 2
dy
=2 x +2
dx

1
b. y= 2 , when x=2
( x−1)
Solution:
1
y +∆ y = 2
( x+ ∆ x−1)
1 1
∆ y= 2
− 2
(x+ ∆ x−1) ( x −1)

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2 2
(x−1) −(x +∆ x−1)
∆ y=
( x+ ∆ x−1 )2 ( x−1)2
( x 2−2 x +1 )−[x 2 + ( ∆ x )2 +1+2 x ∆ x−2 x−2 ∆ x ]
∆ y=
( x+ ∆ x−1)2(x −1)2
2
− ( ∆ x ) −2 x ∆ x+ 2 ∆ x
∆ y=
(x +∆ x−1)2 ( x−1)2
∆ x(−∆ x−2 x+2)
∆ y= 2 2
(x+ ∆ x−1) (x −1)
∆y −∆ x−2 x+2
=
∆ x ( x +∆ x−1)2 (x−1)2
∆y −∆ x−2 x +2
lim = lim
∆ x →0 ∆ x
2 2
∆ x →0 ( x + ∆ x −1) ( x−1)

dy 0−2 x+2
=
dx ( x+ 0−1)2 ( x−1)2
dy −2 x +2
=
dx ( x−1)4
dy −2
=
dx (x−1)3

dy −2
When x=2: dx = 3
=−2
(2−1)

1
EXAMPLE 02: At what point on the curve y= √ x is the derivative of y with respect to x equal to .
4
Still using the increment method.
Solution:
y +∆ y =√ x + ∆ x
∆ y =√ x + ∆ x −√ x
∆ y =( √ x+ ∆ x−√ x ) ∙ √
x+ ∆ x+ √ x
√ x+ ∆ x+ √ x
2 2
( √ x +∆ x ) −( √ x )
∆ y=
√ x +∆ x + √ x
x+ ∆ x−x
∆ y=
√ x +∆ x +√ x
∆x
∆ y=
√ x +∆ x +√ x
∆y 1
=
∆ x √ x +∆ x + √ x
∆y 1
lim = lim
∆ x →0 ∆ x ∆ x →0 √ x+ ∆ x+ √ x
dy 1
=
dx √ x +0+ √ x

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dy 1
=
dx 2 √ x
dy 1
To determine the unknown point on the curve, we use the given condition that = .
dx 4
1 1
Thus, =
2√ x 4
4=2 √ x
2= √ x
x=4
1
Hence, the unknown point on curve y= √ x where the derivative of y with respect to x equals is
4
( 4,2)

3.3 RATE OF CHANGE

∆y
Recall that the symbol gives the average rate of change of y with respect to x . That is with x
∆x
changing from x to x +∆ x , y correspondingly changes from y to y +∆ y . If a quantity say A changes
dA
with quantity D , the rate of change of A with respect to D represented by , at a particular instant,
dD
say when D=3 , is called the instantaneous rate of change of A with respect to D .

EXAMPLE 03: Find the rate at which the volume V of the cube changes with respect to its edge e
when the edge measures 2 cm.
Solution:
Here, we like to find the instantaneous rate of change of the volume with respect to the edge of
dV
cube when the edge measures 2 cm, that is , when e=2 .
de
Recall the formula to find volume V of a cube having edge e , that is, V =e3 . Using the Increment
Method of differentiation,
V + ∆V =( e+ ∆ e)3
3 3
∆ V =(e+ ∆ e) −e
3 2 2 3 3
∆ V =e + 3 e ∆ e +3 e(∆ e) +( ∆ e) −e
∆ V =3 e 2 ∆ e +3 e (∆ e )2+(∆ e )3
∆ V =∆ e [ 3 e +3 e ∆ e+(∆ e) ]
2 2

∆V 2 2
=3 e +3 e ∆ e +(∆ e)
∆e
∆V
lim =lim [ 3 e 2 +3 e ∆ e+( ∆ e)2 ]
∆e →0 ∆ e ❑

dV cm3
When e=2 cm , =3(2)2=12
de cm

3.4 DIFFERENTIATION OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTION

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ALGEBRAIC FUNCTION
An algebraic function is one formed by a finite number of algebraic operations on constants and/or
variables. These algebraic operations include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, raising
to powers, and extracting roots. Polynomial and rational functions are particular kinds of algebraic
functions.
Polynomial function is defined by f ( x )=an x n + an−1 x n−1 +an−2 x n−2 + ⋯+a1 x+ a0. Where
a 0 , a 1 , ⋯ , a n are real numbers ( a n ≠ 0 ) and n is a non-negative integer. Function f is a polynomial
function of degree n .
Rational function is a function that can be expressed as a quotient of two polynomial functions. For
x−1
example, f ( x )= 2 .
x −4

DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

The following differentiation formulas were derived using the Increment Method of differentiation.
On the list below, let u , v be functions of x ; while c and n are constants

d
D1 ( c )=0 The Constant Rule
dx
d
D2 ( x )=1 The Identity Function Rule
dx
d du
D3 ( cu ) =c
dx dx
d du dv
D4 ( u+ v )= + The Sum Rule
dx dx dx
d dv du
D5 ( uv )=u + v The Product Rule
dx dx dx
du dv
v −u
D6 d u
()
dx v
=
dx
v
2
dx The Quotient Rule

d n−1 du
D7 (u¿ ¿ n)=n u ¿ The Power Rule
dx dx
du
D8 d dx
( √ u )=
dx 2 √u
D9
d 1
( ) =
−n du
dx un u n+1 dx

dy
EXAMPLE 04: Find the derivative or f ' (x) or y ' of the given algebraic functions.
dx
a. y=x 3−4 x 2 +6 x−8
Solution:
dy d 3
= ( x −4 x +6 x−8 )
2
dx dx

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d 3 d d d
¿ x − 4 x 2 + 6 x− 8
dx dx dx dx
3−1 2−1 1−1
¿ 3 x −4 ( 2 ) x +6 ( x ) −0
dy 2
=3 x −8 x+6
dx
2
b. y=( 2 x 2−3 )
Solution:
There are two possible ways of finding the derivative of the given function which is a
general power of x .

Method 1. First, we transform the given function to a sum of terms by expanding the right side of
the given equation above using the special product called square of a binomial:
(a ± b)2=a 2 ± 2 ab+b 2. Hence,
y=(2 x2 −3)2 =4 x 4 −12 x 2 +9
dy 4−1 2−1
=4 ( 4 ) x −12 ( 2 ) x +0
dx
dy 3
=16 x −24 x
dx
dy
=8 x (2 x 2−3)
dx

Method 2: We directly use formula D4; where u=2 x 2−3 and n=2
2
y=( 2 x −3 )
2

dy 2−1 d
=2 ( 2 x −3 ) ( 2 x 2−3 )
2
dx dx
dy
=2 ( 2 x −3 ) [ 2 ( 2 ) x −0 ]
2 2−1
dx
dy
=2 ( 2 x 2−3 ) (4 x )
dx
dy 2
=8 x (2 x −3)
dx

c. y=5 x 3−4 x 2+ 3 x−6

Solution:
' 2
y =5 ( 3 ) ( x ) −4 ( 2 ) ( x )+ 3−0 by D7, D2, D1
' 2
y =15 x −8 x+ 3

d. y= √5−6 x
Solution:
−6
y'= by D8
2 √ 5−6 x
' −3
y=
√5−6 x

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e. y= √3 2 x−7
Solution:
1
y=(2 x−7) 3 (Recall that in algebra, radicand and exponent are related)
−2
' 1 3
y = ( 2 x−7 ) (2) by D7
3
' 2
y= 3
3 √ (2 x −7)
2

4 x−5
f. y=
2 x +1
Solution:
u=4 x−5 v=2 x +1
du dv
=4 =2
dx dx

' ( 2 x +1 ) ( 4 )−( 4 x−5)(2)

y= 2 by D6 (The Quotient Rule)
(2 x +1)
8 x+ 4−8 x+ 10
y'= 2
(2 x +1)
' 14
y= 2
(2 x+ 1)

g. y= ( 4 x−5 )( 2 x+1 )
Solution:
u=4 x−5 v=2 x +1
du dv
=4 =2
dx dx
'
y =( 4 x−5 ) ( 2 )+(2 x+1)( 4) by D4 (The Sum Rule)
y ' =8 x−10+ 8 x + 4
'
y =16 x−6

THE CHAIN RULE

If y is differentiable function of u given by y=f(u) and if u is a differentiable function of x
given by u=g(x), then y is a differentiable function of x and

dy dy du
D10 = ∙
dx du dx

dy
EXAMPLE 05: If y=4 u3 and u=x2 +5 x , find .
dx
Solution:
3 2
y=4 u u=x +5 x

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dy du
=12u 2 =2 x+5
dx dx

dy dy du
= ∙
dx du dx
dy 2
=(12 u )( 2 x +5)
dx
dy 2
=12 ( x 2 +5 x ) (2 x +5)
dx

THE INVERSE FUNCTION RULE

If y is differentiable function of x defined by y=f(x), then its inverse function defined by x=g(y) is
differentiable function of y and
dy 1
=
D11 dx dx
dy

dy
EXAMPLE 06: If x= y 3−4 y 2, find
dx
Solution:
x= y 3−4 y 2
dx
=3 y 2−8 y
dy
dy 1
=
dx dx
dy
dy 1
= 2
dx 3 y −8 y

Practice Problem:
dy
Find the derivative of the following algebraic equations:
dx
y= √2 x−7
3
1.
2
2. y=2 x + 5
3. y=(x 2+ 1)2
y=u +u ; u=2 x +1
2
4.
5. y= √u+2 ; u=4 x +2
6. x= y + y 2 + y 3

LEARNING ACTIVITY 03

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer all the questions being asked, write your solution in a clean sheet of bond
paper and upload it as a picture file.

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dy
Items 1-3. In each of the following, find at the indicated value of x using the Increment Method.
dx
1. y=x ( x+1 ) ; x=3
4
2. y= ; x=5
√ x−1
1
3. y= ; x=2
4x
1
4. For the function y= , at what values of x will the rate of change of y with respect to x be
2−x
1
equal to ?
16
5. Find the rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its diameter when the radius is 4 cm.
2 π 2
Area of a circle A=π r = D
4
6. Find the rate of change of the hypotenuse of a right triangle having a constant base of 2 cm with
respect to its altitude when the altitude measures √ 21 cm. Hint: Use Pythagorean Theorem.
Items 7-10. Find the derivative of the following functions. If ever possible, express final answer in
factored form.

( )
3 3
x −2
7. y= 3
x +1
8. y=3 x 5−3 x 4 +7 x 3−5 x 2+ x−8
4
9. y=2 ( x 3−2 x+ 5 ) Prepared by:
1
10. y= √3 x− 3 Engr. Eloisa T. Sentillas
√5 x
Instructor

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