Topic 1: Differentiation

1.Rules of Differentiation
2.Practice questions

1
 Differentiation is all about measuring change!
Measuring change in a linear function:

y = bx+c
c =y intercept
b = constant slope i.e. the impact of a unit
change in x on the level of y

b = y =
y2 − y1
x x2 − x1
2
 If the function is non-linear:
40
e.g. if y = x2
30
y=x2

20

10

0
0 1 2 3
X 4 5 6

y y 2 − y1
x
= x2 − x1
gives slope of the line
connecting 2 points (x1, y1) and (x2,y2) on a
curve
• (2,4) to (4,16): slope = (16-4)/(4-2) = 6
• (2,4) to (6,36): slope = (36-4)/(6-2) = 8 3
The slope of a curve is equal to the slope of
the line (or tangent) that touches the curve
at that point
Total Cost Curve

40

35

30

25
y=x2

20

15

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4
The slope of the graph of a function
is called the derivative of the
function

dy y
f ' ( x) = = lim
dx x→0 x
• The process of differentiation involves
letting the change in x become arbitrarily
small, i.e. letting  x → 0
• e.g if y = 2X+X and X →0
•  y = 2X in the limit as X →0
5
 the slope of the non-linear
function
Y = X2 is 2X
• the slope tells us the change in y that
results from a very small change in X
• We see the slope varies with X
e.g. the curve at X = 2 has a slope = 4
and the curve at X = 4 has a slope = 8
• In this example, the slope is steeper
at higher values of X 6
 Rules for Differentiation

1. The Constant Rule

If y = c where c is a constant,
dy
=0
dx

dy
e.g. y = 10 then dx = 0

7
2. The Linear Function Rule
If y = a + bx
dy
=b
dx
dy
=6
e.g. y = 10 + 6x then dx

8
3. The Power Function Rule
If y = axn, where a and n are constants

𝑑𝑦
i) y = 4x => = 4𝑥 0 = 4
𝑑𝑥

ii) y = 4x2 =>

𝑑𝑦
-2
iii) y = 4x => = −2 × 4 × 𝑥 −3 = −8
𝑑𝑥

9
4. The Sum-Difference Rule
If y = f(x)  g(x)

dy d [ f ( x )] d [ g( x )]
= 
dx dx dx

If y is the sum/difference of two or more functions

of x: to find derivative of y we differentiate 2 (or

more) terms separately, then add/subtract
dy
(i) y = 2x2 + 3x then = 4x + 3
dx
dy
(ii) y = 5x + 4 then dx = 5 10
5. The Product Rule

If y = u×v where u and v are functions of

x, (u = f(x) and v = g(x) ) Then
dy dv du
=u +v
dx dx dx

11
 Examples

dy dv du
If y = u×v =u +v
dx dx dx
i) y = (x+2)(ax2+bx)
dy
dx
(
= (x + 2)(2ax + b) + ax + bx
2 )
ii) y = (4x3-3x+2)(2x2+4x)
𝑑𝑦
= 4𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 2 4𝑥 + 4 +
𝑑𝑥
2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 12𝑥 2 − 3 12
6. The Quotient Rule
• If y = u/v where u and v are functions of x
(u = f(x) and v = g(x) ) Then

du dv
v −u
dy dx dx
= 2
dx v
13
 du dv
v −u
u dy dx dx
If y = then =
v dx v2

Example 1

y=
( x + 2)
( x + 4)

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

14
7. The Chain Rule
(Implicit Function Rule)

• If y is a function of v, and v is a function of

x, then y is a function of x and Type
equation here.
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣
• = ×
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑥

15
 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣
= ×
Examples 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑥

2 ½
i) y = (ax + bx)
let v = (ax2 + bx) , so y = v½
( )
1
dy 1 −
= ax + bx 2 .(2ax + b )
2
dx 2

ii) y = (4x + 3x – 7 )
3 4

let v = (4x + 3x – 7 ), so y = v
3 4

dy
dx
( 3 3
)(
= 4 4 x + 3 x − 7 . 12 x + 3
2
)
16
 8. The Inverse Function Rule
dy 1
=
If x = f(y) then dx dx
dy
• Examples
i) x = 3y2 then
dx dy 1
dy
= 6y so dx = 6 y

ii) y = 4x3 then

dy dx 1
= 12x 2 so dy = 12 x 2
dx 17
9. Differentiating Exponential Functions
x
If y = exp(x) = e where e = 2.71828….
dy
then dx = e
x

More generally,
rx
If y = Ae
dy
then dx = rAe = ry
rx

18
 Examples

2x
dy 2x
1) y = e then dx = 2e

-7x
dy -7x
2) y = e then dx = -7e

19
10. Differentiating Natural Logs
Recall if y = ex then x = loge y = ln y
dy
• If y = e
x
then = ex = y
dx

• From The Inverse Function Rule

dx 1
y = e  dy = y
x

• Now, if y = ex this is equivalent to writing

x = ln y
dx 1
• Thus, x = ln y  dy = y
20
More generally,
dy 1
=
if y = ln x  dx x

NOTE: the derivative of a natural log

function does not depend on the co-efficient
of x
Thus, if y = ln mx  dy 1
=
dx x
21
 Proof

• if y = ln mx m>0
• Rules of Logs  y = ln m+ ln x
• Differentiating (Sum-Difference rule)
dy 1 1
=0+ =
dx x x

22
 Examples
dy 1
1) y = ln 5x (x>0)  =
dx x
2
2) y = ln(x +2x+1)
2
let v = (x +2x+1) so y = ln v
dy dy dv
Chain Rule:  dx = dv . dx
dy 1
= 2 .(2 x + 2 )
dx x + 2 x + 1
dy
= 2
(2 x + 2)
dx (
x + 2x + 1 )
23
3) y = x4lnx
Product Rule: 
dy 1
= x 4 + ln x.4 x 3
dx x
= x 3
+ 4 x 3
ln x = x 3
(1 + 4 ln x )
4) y = ln(x3(x+2)4)
Simplify first using rules of logs
 y = lnx3 + ln(x+2)4
 y = 3lnx + 4ln(x+2)
dy 3 4
= +
dx x x + 2
24
 Second derivative
• The second order derivative of a function
is the derivative of the derivative:
• 𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 ′
𝑑2𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
• Or: =
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

25
 Stationary points
• A point (a, f(a)) where f’(a)=0 – stationary
point;
• In other words, stationary point is a point
on the function f(x) where the derivative is
equal to zero;

26
 Stationary points
• If f’’(a)<0 then f(x) has local maximum at
stationary point;
• If f’’(a)>0 then f(x) has a local minimum at
stationary point.
• If f’’(a)=0 test is inconclusive, in this case
we investigated first derivative behaviour.

27
 Finding stationary points
• To find stationary points and local extrema of the function
we follow next steps:
• 1) Calculate first order derivative of the function f(x);
• 2) Find values of x for which first order derivative is zero;
• 3) values of x, found in step #2 are plugged in the
original function and corresponding y values are found.
These obtained coordinates are stationary points.

28
 Finding local extrema of the
function
• After stationary points are found we
examine behavior of first order derivative
for different values of x, either if its
increasing, decreasing or has maximum or
minimum;
• Corresponding table can be created;
• For more complex functions it is easier to
perform second derivative test using rules
mentioned on page 27.
29
 Questions
• Find local extrema of the function
• 𝑓 𝑥 = −3𝑥 5 + 5𝑥 3
• Step #1: Calculate first derivative
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = −15𝑥 4 + 15𝑥 2
Equate f’(x)=0;
0 = −15𝑥 4 + 15𝑥 2
From the equation above we have:
0 = 15𝑥 2 1 − 𝑥 2 = 15𝑥 2 1 − 𝑥 1 + 𝑥
Hence x=0, -1, +1

30
 Questions
• Step #2: Find stationary points
To find stationary points we plug in the values 0, 1, -1 of x
into the original function:
𝑓 0 = −3 0 5 + 5 0 3 = 0
𝑓 1 = −3 1 5 + 5 1 3 = 2
𝑓 −1 = −3 −1 5 + 5 −1 3 = −2
Stationary points are (0,0);(-1,-2);(1,2)

31
 Questions
• Step #3: Find local extremum
At this step we must investigate behavior of the function
from -∞ to + ∞;
For this, table can be created, for derivative
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = −15𝑥 4 + 15𝑥 2
X -∞ -1 -0.5 0 +0.5 1 +∞
f’(x) - Local + Original + Local -
minimum function is maximum
zero
f(x) minimum Passes maximum
through zero

32
 Questions
• Sign diagram would be:

33
 Question
• Second order derivative can also determine
behavior of the function.
• Step #4: Find local extremum with second
order derivative:
• 𝑓 ′ ′ 𝑥 = −60𝑥 3 + 30𝑥
• 𝑓 ′ ′ 0 = 0, 𝑓 ′ ′ −1 > 0, 𝑓 ′ ′ 1 < 0
• At (-1) function has local minimum, at (1)
function has local maximum, at zero test is
inconclusive so we look at behavior of f’(x)

34
 Question
• Investigate local extremum of function:
• 𝑦 = 5𝑥 2 + 3

35
 Question
• Investigate local extremum of function:
• 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 6x + 2

36
 Question
• Investigate local extremum of function:
• 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 − x2 + 1

37
 Question
• Investigate local extremum of function:
• 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3x 2 + 3x

38
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
3 1
1 −
𝑑2 2 𝑥+6 6𝑥 2 −2𝑥 2
𝑥
• =
𝑑𝑥 2 3𝑥

39
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
𝑑2 2
• 2𝑥 + 3 =
𝑑𝑥 2

40
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
𝑑2 1
=
𝑑𝑥 2 2−𝑥 4

41
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
𝑑2 1 −3.8
𝑡3 − 𝑡2 =
𝑑𝑡 2

42
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
3
𝑑2 1 7
• 𝑥+ =
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑥

43
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
𝑑2 2
• 𝑥+2 𝑥+3 =
𝑑𝑥 2

44
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
𝑑2 2 3
• 2𝑥 − 1 𝑥+3 =
𝑑𝑥 2

45
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
1 2
𝑑2
• 𝑥 1−𝑥
3 3 =
𝑑𝑥 2

46
 Practice questions
• Evaluate the following:
𝑑2 𝑥
• =
𝑑𝑥 2 1−𝑥 2

47
 Stationary points
• Investigate local extremum of the function
• 𝑦 = 𝑥4 − 𝑥2 + 1

48
49
 Stationary points
• Investigate local extremum of the function
• 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 − 4

50
51
 Stationary points
• Investigate local extremum of the function
• 𝑦 = 2𝑥 4 − 𝑥 + 6

52
53
 Stationary points
• Investigate local extremum of the function
• 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 8

54
55
 Stationary points
• Investigate local extremum of the function
• 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 7

56
57
 Stationary points
• Investigate local extremum of the function
• 𝑦 = 6𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 6

58
59