DERIVATIVES OF

PRODUCTS AND
QUOTIENTS
Lesson 4.2
 Products
Quotients Rule!Rule!

This
Thislesson
lessonwill
willshow
showus
ushow
howto
totake
take
derivatives
derivativesofofproducts
productsand
andquotients.
quotients.

2
Review

We know what to do with constant times a function

For k f(x)
xD k f ( x) k f '( x)
We also know what to do with the sum of functions
When

Then
f ( x ) h( x ) k ( x )

f '( x) h '( x) k '( x)

3
Product Rule

Consider the product of two functions

f ( x) h( x) k ( x)

It can be shown (see proof, pg 215) that

f '( x) h( x) k '( x) k ( x) h '( x)

In words:
The first function times the derivative of the second
plus the second times the derivative of the first

4
Try It Out

Given the following functions which are products

Determine the derivatives

y 5 x 2 1 4 x 3

f ( x) 2 x 3
x 1

5
Quotient Rule

p ( x)of two other

functions
f ( x)
When our function is the quotient
q( x)
The quotient rule specifies the derivative
q ( x) p '( x) p ( x) q '( x)
f '( x)
q ( x)
2

In words:
The denominator times the derivative of the
numerator minus the numerator times the derivative
of the denominator, all divided by the square of the
denominator

6
OK Try That!

Use the quotient rule on the following functions

6 x 11
y
8x 1

x2 4x
y
x3
2.2
z
h( z )
z 3.2
5