BASIC

THEOREMS ON
DIFFERENTIATION
Prepared by: Teacher Mary Angelique P. Salazar
 Rule Illustration
𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 𝑦 = 𝑛 𝑥+𝑦
Product Rule (𝑛 𝑥 )(𝑚 𝑥 )
Remember!
= (𝑛𝑚)𝑥
LAWS OF 𝑛𝑥 𝑥−𝑦
EXPONENTS = 𝑛
Quotient Rule 𝑛𝑦
𝑛𝑥 𝑛 𝑥
𝑥
=
𝑚 𝑚
Power-to-power rule (𝑛 𝑥 )𝑦 = 𝑛 𝑥𝑦
Zero exponent rule 𝑛0 = 1
Negative exponent −𝑥
1
𝑛 = 𝑥
rule 𝑛
The process of finding
the derivative of a
function is called
differentiation.
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 The following are equivalent ways of
writing the derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥):

“
𝑑𝑦
1. 𝑑𝑥
𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 −
𝑑𝑦
( 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑠 "𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑥")
𝑑𝑥
2. 𝑦 ′ 𝑜𝑟 𝑓 ′ 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 −
(𝑦 ′ 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑠 "𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒", 𝑓 ′ 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑠 "𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒")
3. 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 (𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)
4. 𝐷𝑋 𝑦 (𝐿𝑒𝑖𝑏𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑧 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

A. CONSTANT RULE
Definition: If c is any constant, then
𝒅
𝒄 = 𝟎.
𝒅𝒙
The derivative of any constant is zero.

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

A. CONSTANT RULE
Example: Find the derivative.
𝑑𝑦
1. Given: 𝑦 = 3, find .
𝑑𝑥
Solution:
Since the given function 𝑦 = 3 is constant, the derivative is zero.
In symbol:
NOTE: When solving for the derivative of 𝑦=3 ← 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛
such function, change “y” or “f(x)” to
different notations of writing the derivative 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
such as: 𝑑𝑥 , 𝑦 ′ 𝑜𝑟 𝑓 ′ or 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 .
=0 ← 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑥
 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

B. IDENTITY
FUNCTION RULE
𝑑
Definition: 𝑥 =1
𝑑𝑥
The derivative of x is one.

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

C. POWER RULE
𝑑
Definition: 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥
The derivative of x raise to any
number n is n times the
function x raise to n minus 1.

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

C. POWER RULE
Examples: Find the derivative.
𝑑 𝑛
𝑑𝑥
𝑥 = 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛−1

1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 5 2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 −3
Solution: Solution: 𝑛 = −3
From the given function, n = 5
(n is the exponent). 𝑦 = 𝑥 −3 ← 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛
𝑦 = 𝑥5 ← 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑦′ = −3 𝑥 −3−1
𝑑𝑦 𝑦 ′ = −3𝑥 −4 ← 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
= 5 𝑥 5−1
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 5𝑥 4 ← 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑥
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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

D. CONSTANT MULTIPLE
RULE
(DERIVATIVE OF A CONSTANT MULTIPLIED TO A FUNCTION)
𝑑 𝑑
Definition: 𝑐 𝑓 𝑥 =𝑐 𝑓 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

To find the derivative of a constant multiplied to a

function, get the constant term and multiply it to
the derivative of the remaining function.

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

D. CONSTANT MULTIPLE
Example: Find the derivative. RULE 𝑑𝑥 𝑐 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐 𝑑𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
𝑑 𝑑

1. 𝑦 = 5𝑥 2. 𝑦 = 4𝑥 −2
Solution: The given function has a Solution: The given function has a
constant 5 and a function x.
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑
=5 𝑥 =4 𝑥 −2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
=5 1 = 4 • −2 𝑥 −2−1
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
=5 = −8𝑥 −3
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

E. SUM AND/OR
DIFFERENCE RULE
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
Definition: 𝑓 𝑥 ±𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 ± 𝑔 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

To find the derivative of this function, differentiate

each term separately by applying the different rules
above.
 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

E. SUM AND/OR
DIFFERENCE RULE
Example: Find the derivative.
1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 − 7𝑥 + 3
Solution:
Since the function involves two operations 𝑑𝑦 4−1
(addition and subtraction), apply the = 4 𝑥 −7 1 +0
𝑑𝑥
derivative of a sum and/or difference. How?
The given function involves three terms: 𝑑𝑦
𝑦= 𝑥 4 − 7𝑥 + 3 = 4𝑥 3 − 7 ← 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑥
First Second Third
term term term
 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

E. SUM AND/OR
DIFFERENCE RULE
Example: Find the derivative.
2. 𝑦 = 5𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8
Solution:
𝑑𝑦
= 5 • 4 𝑥 4−1 +3 • 2 𝑥 2−1 − 6 1 + 0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 20𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 − 6 ← 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑥
 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

F. PRODUCT RULE
Definition:
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
𝑓 𝑥 •𝑔 𝑥 =𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 +𝑔 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Let f(x) be the first factor and g(x) be the second factor.
The derivative of the product of two functions can be
obtained when each factor is multiplied by the
corresponding derivative of the other factor and adding
the resulting products.

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

F. PRODUCT RULE
Definition:
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
𝑓 𝑥 •𝑔 𝑥 =𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 +𝑔 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

MNEMONIC: 1D2 + 2D1

Read as: First D Second plus Second D First (First
factor times the Derivative of the Second factor
plus Second factor times the Derivative of the
First Factor)

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

F. PRODUCT RULE
Example: Find the derivative.
MNEMONIC: 1D2 + 2D1
1. 𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 + 5
𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Solution: 𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑
= 4𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 + 5 + 2𝑥 + 5 4𝑥 − 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 4𝑥 − 3 2 1 + 0 + 2𝑥 + 5 4 1 − 0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 4𝑥 − 3 2 + 2𝑥 + 5 4
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 8𝑥 − 6 + 8𝑥 + 20 = 16𝑥 + 14
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

F. PRODUCT RULE
Example: Find the derivative.
MNEMONIC: 1D2 + 2D1
2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 3 2𝑥 − 3
Solution: 𝑑𝑦 2
𝑑 𝑑
= 𝑥 −3 2𝑥 − 3 + 2𝑥 − 3 𝑥2 − 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑥 2 − 3 2 1 − 0 + 2𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 2−1 − 0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑥 2 − 3 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 2𝑥 2 − 6 + 4𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 = 6𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 6
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

G. QUOTIENT RULE
𝑑 𝑑
𝑑 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 −𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)
Definition: =
𝑑𝑥 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥) 2

The quotient rule is equal to:

Denominator g(x) times the derivative of the
numerator f(x) minus numerator f(x) times the
derivative of the denominator [g(x)] divide by
square of denominator g(x).

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 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

G. QUOTIENT RULE
𝑓 𝑥 𝑁𝑈𝑀𝐸𝑅𝐴𝑇𝑂𝑅 𝐻𝐼𝐺𝐻
Let: = 𝑜𝑟
𝑔 𝑥 𝐷𝐸𝑁𝑂𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐴𝑇𝑂𝑅 𝐿𝑂𝑊

𝑳𝑫𝑯−𝑯𝑫𝑳
MNEMONIC:
𝑳𝟐
Read as: Low D High Minus High D Low over Low
squared) where L means low (the denominator)
and H means high (the numerator)
 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

G. QUOTIENT RULE
Example: Find the derivative. 𝑑 2
5𝑥 + 4 𝑥 + 3 − 𝑥 2 + 3 𝑑 5𝑥 + 4
𝑥 2 +3 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1. 𝑦 = =
5𝑥+4 𝑑𝑥 ൫5𝑥 + 4)2
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 5𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 2−1 + 0 − 𝑥 2 + 3 5 • 1 + 0
Let =
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 3 𝑑𝑥 ൫5𝑥 + 4)2
and 𝑑𝑦 5𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 − 𝑥2 + 3 5
𝑔 𝑥 = 5𝑥 + 4. 𝑑𝑥 =
൫5𝑥 + 4)2
𝑑𝑦 10𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 5𝑥 2 + 15
=
𝑑𝑥 ൫5𝑥 + 4)2
 BASIC THEOREMS ON DIFFERENTIATION

G. QUOTIENT RULE 5𝑥 + 4
𝑑 2
𝑥 + 3 − 𝑥2 + 3
𝑑
5𝑥 + 4
Example: Find the derivative. 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
൫5𝑥 + 4)2
𝑥 2 +3 𝑑𝑦 5𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 2−1 + 0 − 𝑥 2 + 3 5 • 1 + 0
1. 𝑦 = 𝑑𝑥
=
൫5𝑥 + 4)2
5𝑥+4
𝑑𝑦 5𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 − 𝑥2 + 3 5
=
𝑑𝑥 ൫5𝑥 + 4)2
𝑑𝑦 10𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 5𝑥 2 + 15
=
𝑑𝑥 ൫5𝑥 + 4)2

𝑑𝑦 10𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 5𝑥 2 − 15
=
𝑑𝑥 ൫5𝑥 + 4)2
𝑑𝑦 5𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 15
=
𝑑𝑥 ൫5𝑥 + 4)2
 More often than not, because of
the complexity of the resulting
REMARK!
derivative, you are no longer
required to simplify your answers.
However, the manner of writing
your answer should follow
appropriate rules of algebra such
as inserting appropriate grouping
symbols or algebraic operations
for clarity of solutions.