ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS LESSON 3

*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:

𝑦=𝑐
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑐
∆𝑦
=0
∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦
= lim = lim 0
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑
𝑐=0
𝑑𝑥
II. Derivative of a Sum

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

𝑦 =𝑢+𝑣
𝑑 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
(𝑢 + 𝑣) = +
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
The derivative of the sum of two functions is equal to the sum of their derivatives.

Proof:

𝑦 =𝑢+𝑣
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑢 + ∆𝑢 + 𝑣 + ∆𝑣
∆𝑦 = ∆𝑢 + ∆𝑣
∆𝑦 ∆𝑢 + ∆𝑣
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦 ∆𝑢 + ∆𝑣
= lim = lim ( )
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
= +
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
III. Derivative of a Product

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

𝑦 = 𝑢𝑣
𝑑 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
(𝑢𝑣) = 𝑢 +𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
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:

𝑦 = 𝑢𝑣
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = (𝑢 + ∆𝑢)(𝑣 + ∆𝑣)
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS LESSON 3

∆𝑦 = 𝑣∆𝑢 + 𝑢∆𝑣 + ∆𝑢∆𝑣

∆𝑦 𝑣∆𝑢 + 𝑢∆𝑣 + ∆𝑢∆𝑣
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦 𝑣∆𝑢 + 𝑢∆𝑣 + ∆𝑢∆𝑣
= lim = lim ( )
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
=𝑢 +𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

IV. Derivative of a Quotient

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

𝑢
𝑦=
𝑣
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑 𝑢 𝑣 −𝑢
( )= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑣 𝑣 2

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:
𝑢
𝑦=
𝑣
𝑢 + ∆𝑢
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 =
𝑣 + ∆𝑣
𝑢 + ∆𝑢 𝑢
∆𝑦 = −
𝑣 + ∆𝑣 𝑣
𝑣(𝑢 + ∆𝑢) − 𝑢(𝑣 + ∆𝑣)
∆𝑦 =
𝑣(𝑣 + ∆𝑣)
𝑣∆𝑢 − 𝑢∆𝑣
∆𝑦 = 2
𝑣 + 𝑣∆𝑣
∆𝑢 ∆𝑣
∆𝑦 𝑣 ∆𝑥 − 𝑢 ∆𝑥
= 2
∆𝑥 𝑣 + 𝑣∆𝑣
∆𝑢 ∆𝑣
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦 𝑣 ∆𝑥 − 𝑢 ∆𝑥
= lim = lim ( )
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 𝑣 2 + 𝑣∆𝑣

𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑦 𝑣 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑢 𝑑𝑥
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑣2

V. Derivative of 𝒙𝒏

Given the function,

𝑦 = 𝑥𝑛
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥
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.
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS LESSON 3

Other Formulas:

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

𝑑 𝑑𝑣
(𝑐𝑣) = 𝑐
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
VII. Derivative of Quotient of a Constant and a Function
𝑑𝑣
𝑑 𝑐 𝑐
( ) = − 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑣 𝑣2
VIII. Derivative of a Square Root
𝑑𝑢
𝑑
(√𝑢) = 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2√𝑢

Example 1:

Derive the function𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 2

Solution:

𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 2
By General power Formula,
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑦 ′ = 6𝑥 + 5
𝑑𝑥

Example 2:
𝑥 2 +1
Derive the function 𝑦 = 𝑥3

Solution:

𝑥2 + 1
𝑦=
𝑥3
By the derivative of a quotient:

𝑥 3 (2𝑥 𝑑𝑥) − (𝑥 2 + 1)(3𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 =
(𝑥 3 )2
2𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥 − 3𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 =
𝑥6
4
(−𝑥 − 3𝑥 )𝑑𝑥2
𝑑𝑦 =
𝑥6
𝑑𝑦 𝑥2 + 3
= 𝑦′ = −
𝑑𝑥 𝑥4

Example 3:
1 2
Derive the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS LESSON 3

Solution:
1 2
𝑦= +
𝑥2 𝑥3
By the derivative of a quotient of a constant and a function,

2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2(3𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 = − −
𝑥4 𝑥6
𝑑𝑦 2 6
= 3− 4
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

*THE CHAIN RULE*

5
For the given function such as 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)6 , 𝑦 = (√𝑥 + 𝑥) and 𝑦 = (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 10)10 , there
is no possible method discussed in the previous lessons to find the derivative for those
functions.

For a function 𝑓(𝑥)𝑛 , the derivative can be obtained by using the general power
formula , but in case a function such as [𝑓(𝑥)𝑛 ]𝑟 , a chain rule can be used.
𝑑
[𝑓(𝑥)𝑛 ]𝑟 = 𝑟[𝑓(𝑥)𝑛 ]𝑟−1 𝑓 ′ (𝑥)𝑛
𝑑𝑥
Without the chain rule we cannot multiply a function by itself nth times and
differentiating the result resulting to a larger degree polynomial.

EXAMPLE 1.

Differentiate the function 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)6

Solution:

By chain rule:

𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)6
𝑦 ′ = 6(𝑥 + 2)5

EXAMPLE 2:
5
Differentiate the function 𝑦 = (√𝑥 + 𝑥)

Solution:

By chain rule,
5
𝑦 = (√𝑥 + 𝑥)
4 1
𝑦 ′ = 5(√𝑥 + 𝑥) ( + 1)
2 √𝑥
4
′
(√𝑥 + 𝑥) 4
𝑦 = 5[ + (√𝑥 + 𝑥) ]
2 √𝑥
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS LESSON 3

4
5 (√𝑥 + 𝑥) (1 + 2√𝑥)
𝑦′ = [ ]
2 √𝑥