Basic Differentiation Rules

Theorem 1: Derivative of a Constant

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 (a constant) for all 𝑥, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 for all 𝑥.

Example:
Find the derivative of the following:
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 13
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = −9
3
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2

Solution/s:

1. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑓′(13) = 0
2. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑓′(−9) = 0
3
3. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑓 ′ (2) = 0

Theorem 2: Power Rule for an Integer 𝒏.

If 𝑛 is a rational integer and 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑛 , then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 .

Example:
Find the derivative of the following:

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

Solution/s:

1. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 5𝑥 5−1 = 5𝑥 4
2. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = −3𝑥 −3−1 = −3𝑥 −4
1 1
1 1
3. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2 𝑥 2−1 = 2 𝑥 −2
2 2 1
3 2 2
4. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑓 ′ ( √𝑥 2 ) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 3 ) = 3 𝑥 3−1 = 3 𝑥 −3
1 7
5. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 7 ) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 −7 ) = −7𝑥 −7−1 = −7𝑥 −8 = − 𝑥 8

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 Theorem 3:
If 𝑓 is a differentiable function at 𝑥 and 𝐹(𝑥) = 𝑐 ⋅ 𝑓(𝑥), where 𝑐 is a constant, then 𝐹 is
differentiable at 𝑥 and 𝐹 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑐 ⋅ 𝑓 ′ (𝑥), that is, if 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 ⋅ 𝑥 𝑛 , then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑐 ⋅ 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1.

Example:
Find the derivative of the following:
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 7𝑥 3
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 −2
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 5

Solution/s:

1. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 7 ⋅ 3𝑥 3−1 = 21𝑥 2

2. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 4 ⋅ −2𝑥 −2−1 = −8𝑥 −3
3. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = −2 ⋅ 5𝑥 5−1 = −10𝑥 4

Theorem 4: Derivative of a Sum

If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are differentiable at 𝑥 and ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥), then ℎ is differentiable at 𝑥 and
ℎ′(𝑥) = 𝑓′(𝑥) + 𝑔′(𝑥).

Example:
Find the derivative of the following:

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 13
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1

Solution/s:

1. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3 ⋅ 2𝑥 2−1 + 𝑥1−1 = 6𝑥 + 𝑥 0 = 6𝑥 + 1

2. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 + 2 ⋅ 𝑥1−1 − 2𝑥 2−1 = 2 ⋅ 𝑥 0 − 2𝑥 = 2 ⋅ 1 − 2𝑥 = 2 − 2𝑥

3. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 4𝑥 4−1 − 0 = 4𝑥 3
4. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 3−1 − 9 ⋅ 2𝑥 2−1 + 𝑥1−1 − 0 = 3𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 + 1

Theorem 5: Derivative of a Product

If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are differentiable at 𝑥 and ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ⋅ 𝑔(𝑥), then ℎ is differentiable at 𝑥 and
ℎ′(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ⋅ 𝑔′(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) ⋅ 𝑓 ′ (𝑥).

Example:
Differentiate the following:
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = (2𝑥 3 )(𝑥 4 )
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 6𝑥 ⋅ 3𝑥 5
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 7𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1)

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Solution/s:
1. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = (2𝑥 3 )(4𝑥 4−1 ) + (2 ⋅ 3𝑥 3−1 )(𝑥 4 )
= (2𝑥 3 )(4𝑥 3 ) + (6𝑥 2 )(𝑥 4 )
= 8𝑥 6 + 6𝑥 6
= 14𝑥 6

2. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥(3 ⋅ 5𝑥 5−1 ) + 6𝑥 0 ⋅ 3𝑥 5

= 6𝑥(15𝑥 4 ) + 6(1) ⋅ 3𝑥 5
= 90𝑥 5 + 18𝑥 5
= 108𝑥 5

3. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 7𝑥(2𝑥 2−1 + 0) + (7 ⋅ 1)(𝑥 2 + 1)

= 7𝑥 ⋅ 2𝑥 + (7𝑥 2 + 7)
= 14𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 2 + 7
= 21𝑥 2 + 7

Theorem 6: Derivative of a Product

𝑓(𝑥)
If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are differentiable at 𝑥 and if ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) with 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0, then ℎ is differentiable at 𝑥
𝑔(𝑥)⋅𝑓 ′ (𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥)⋅𝑔′ (𝑥)
and ℎ′(𝑥) = [𝑔(𝑥)]2
.

Example:
Differentiate the following:
𝑥+1
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2
2𝑥 3 −4
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+3
𝑥−2
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+2

Solution/s:

(𝑥 2 )⋅(𝑥 1−1 +0)−(𝑥+1)⋅(2𝑥 2−1 )

1. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = (𝑥 2 )2

(𝑥 2 )⋅(𝑥 0 )−(𝑥+1)⋅(2𝑥)
= 𝑥4
(𝑥 2 )⋅(1)−(𝑥+1)⋅(2𝑥)
= 𝑥4
𝑥 2 −2𝑥 2 −2𝑥
= 𝑥4
−𝑥 2 −2𝑥
= 𝑥4
𝑥(−2𝑥−2)
= 𝑥⋅𝑥 3
−2𝑥−2
= 𝑥3

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 (𝑥+3)⋅(2⋅3𝑥 3−1 −0)−(2𝑥 3 −4)⋅(𝑥 1−1 +0)
2. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = (𝑥+3)2

(𝑥+3)⋅(6𝑥 2 )−(2𝑥 3 −4)⋅(𝑥 0 )

= (𝑥+3)2

(6𝑥 3 +18𝑥 2 )−(2𝑥 3 −4)⋅1

= (𝑥+3)2

6𝑥 3 +18𝑥 2 −2𝑥 3 +4
= (𝑥+3)2

4𝑥 3 +18𝑥 2 +4
= (𝑥+3)2

(𝑥+2)(1−0)−(𝑥−2)(1+0)
3. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = (𝑥+2)2
(𝑥+2)(1)−(𝑥−2)(1)
= (𝑥+2)2
𝑥+2−𝑥+2
= (𝑥+2)2
4
= (𝑥+2)2

Theorem 7: The Chain Rule

Suppose that 𝑓, 𝑔 and 𝑢 are functions with 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑢(𝑥)) and suppose that 𝑔 and 𝑢 are
differentiable at 𝑥. Then 𝑓 is differentiable at 𝑥 and 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑔′ (𝑢(𝑥)) ⋅ 𝑢′ (𝑥)

Corollary: Special case of Theorem 7

If 𝑓(𝑥) = [𝑢(𝑥)]𝑛 , where 𝑛 is any rational number, and 𝑢 is a differentiable function, then
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑛[𝑢(𝑥)]𝑛−1 (𝑢′ (𝑥)).

Example:
Differentiate the following:

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 3 − 4)5
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = (2𝑥 4 + 𝑥)2

Solution/s:

1. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 5(𝑥 3 − 4)5−1 (3𝑥 2 − 0)

= 5(𝑥 3 − 4)4 (3𝑥 2 )
= 15𝑥 2 (𝑥 3 − 4)4

2. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2(2𝑥 4 + 𝑥)2−1 (2 ⋅ 4𝑥 4−1 + 1)

= 2(2𝑥 4 + 𝑥)(8𝑥 3 + 1)
= (16𝑥 3 + 2)(2𝑥 4 + 𝑥)
= 32𝑥 7 + 16𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 4 + 2𝑥
= 32𝑥 7 + 20𝑥 4 + 2𝑥

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 Derivative of Trigonometric Functions

a. If 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = cos 𝑥. d.

𝑑
(cot 𝑥) = −csc 2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
b. If 𝑓(𝑥) = cos 𝑥, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = −sin 𝑥. 𝑑
e. (sec 𝑥) = sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥
𝑑 2 𝑑𝑥
c. (tan 𝑥) = sec 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑
f. (csc 𝑥) = − csc 𝑥 cot 𝑥
𝑑𝑥

Example:

Differentiate the following:

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 sin 𝑥
2. 𝑓(𝑡) = cos3 𝑡
cos 𝑥
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 1−sin 𝑥
3
4. 𝑓(𝑡) = (2 − 3cos 𝑡)2
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 tan 𝑥

Solution/s:

𝑑𝑦
1. = 𝑥 2 ⋅ cos 𝑥 + sin 𝑥 ⋅ 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥

= 𝑥 2 cos 𝑥 + 2𝑥 sin 𝑥

𝑑𝑦
2. = 3(cos 𝑡) 3−1 (− sin 𝑡)
𝑑𝑡

= −3 sin 𝑡 (cos 𝑡)2

= −3 sin 𝑡 cos 2 𝑡

𝑑𝑦 (1−sin 𝑥)(− sin 𝑥)−(cos 𝑥)(0−cos 𝑥)

3. =
𝑑𝑥 (1−sin 𝑥)2
− sin 𝑥+(sin 𝑥)+(cos 𝑥)(cos 𝑥)
= (1−sin 𝑥)2

− sin 𝑥+sin2 𝑥+cos2 𝑥

= (1−sin 𝑥)2
− sin 𝑥+1
= (1−sin 𝑥)2
1−sin 𝑥
= (1−sin 𝑥)(1−sin 𝑥)
1
= 1−sin 𝑥

3
𝑑𝑦 3
4. = 2 (2 − 3 cos 𝑡)2−1 ⋅ (0 − 3(− sin 𝑡))
𝑑𝑡
1
3
= (2 − 3 cos 𝑡)2 ⋅ (3 sin 𝑡)
2
1
9
= 2 sin 𝑡 (2 − 3 cos 𝑡)2

𝑑𝑦
5. = 𝑥(sec 2 𝑥) + tan 𝑥 ⋅ 1
𝑑𝑡

= 𝑥sec 2 𝑥 + tan 𝑥

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 Let 𝑢 be a differentiable function of 𝑥. Then

𝑑
a. (sin 𝑢) = (cos 𝑢) ⋅ 𝑢′
𝑑𝑥

𝑑
b. (cos 𝑢) = (−sin 𝑢) ⋅ 𝑢′
𝑑𝑥

𝑑
c. (tan 𝑢) = (sec 2 𝑢) ⋅ 𝑢′
𝑑𝑥

𝑑
d. (cot 𝑢) = (−csc 2 𝑢) ⋅ 𝑢′
𝑑𝑥

𝑑
e. (sec 𝑢) = (sec 𝑢 tan 𝑢) ⋅ 𝑢′
𝑑𝑥

𝑑
f. (csc 𝑢) = (− csc 𝑢 cot 𝑢) ⋅ 𝑢′
𝑑𝑥

Example:

Differentiate the following:

1. 𝑦 = 2 sin 10𝑥 + 3 cos 𝜋𝑥
2. 𝑦 = sin2 3𝑥 cos 4 5𝑥
3. 𝑦 = cos √𝑥
4. 𝑦 = cot 3 2𝑥

Solution/s:

1. 𝑦 ′ = 2 ⋅ cos 10𝑥 ⋅ 10 + 3 ⋅ −sin 𝜋𝑥 ⋅ 𝜋

= 20 cos 10𝑥 − 3𝜋 sin 𝜋𝑥

2. 𝑦 = sin2 3𝑥 ⋅ cos4 5𝑥 = (sin 3𝑥)2 ⋅ (cos 5𝑥)4

⟹ 𝑦 ′ = (cos 5𝑥)4 ⋅ 2(sin 3𝑥) ⋅ (cos 3𝑥) ⋅ 3 + (sin 3𝑥)2 ⋅ 4(cos 5𝑥)3 ⋅ (− sin 5𝑥) ⋅ 5
⟹ 𝑦 ′ = 6(cos 5𝑥)4 (sin 3𝑥)(cos 3𝑥) − 20(sin 3𝑥)2 (cos 5𝑥)3 (sin 5𝑥)

1
3. 𝑦 = cos √𝑥 = cos 𝑥 2
1 1
1
⟹ 𝑦 ′ = −sin 𝑥 2 ⋅ 2 𝑥 2−1
1 1
1
⟹ 𝑦 ′ = −sin 𝑥 2 ⋅ 2 𝑥 −2
1
⟹ 𝑦 ′ = −sin √𝑥 ⋅ 2
√𝑥
− sin √𝑥
⟹ 𝑦′ = 2√𝑥

4. 𝑦 = cot 3 2𝑥 = (cot 2𝑥)3

⟹ 𝑦 ′ = 3(cot 2𝑥)2 ⋅ (−csc 2 2𝑥) ⋅ 2
⟹ 𝑦 ′ = −6 cot 2 2𝑥 ⋅ csc 2 2𝑥

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 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Examples:

𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 or 𝑦′ of the following equations.

1. 𝑦 3 = 𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 5
2. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 16
3. cos(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑦 sin 𝑥

Solutions

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
1. (𝑦 3 ) = (𝑥𝑦) − (2𝑥 5 )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

3𝑦 3−1 ⋅ 𝑦 ′ = (𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦(1)) − 2(5𝑥 5−1 )

3𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ = 𝑥𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 − 10𝑥 4
3𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ − 𝑥𝑦 ′ = 𝑦 − 10𝑥 4
𝑦 ′ (3𝑦 2 − 𝑥) = 𝑦 − 10𝑥 4
𝒚 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟒
𝒚′ =
𝟑𝒚𝟐 − 𝒙

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
2. (𝑥 2 ) + (𝑦 2 ) = (16)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

2𝑥 + 2𝑦 ⋅ 𝑦 ′ = 0

2𝑦 ⋅ 𝑦 ′ = −2𝑥

−2𝑥
𝑦′ =
2𝑦

𝒙
𝒚′ = −
𝒚

𝑑 𝑑
3. [cos(𝑥 + 𝑦)] = (𝑦 sin 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

−sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) ⋅ (1 + 𝑦 ′ ) = 𝑦 cos 𝑥 + 𝑦′ ⋅ sin 𝑥

−sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) − 𝑦 ′ sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑦 cos 𝑥 + 𝑦′ sin 𝑥

−𝑦 ′ sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) − 𝑦 ′ sin 𝑥 = 𝑦 cos 𝑥 + sin(𝑥 + 𝑦)

𝑦 ′ (− sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) − sin 𝑥) = 𝑦 cos 𝑥 + sin(𝑥 + 𝑦)

−𝒚 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝒙 + 𝒚)
𝒚′ =
𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝒙 + 𝒚) + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙

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