Higher Maths

Revision Notes
Basic Differentiation

goodbye Get Started

Basic differentiation
You should know the meaning of the terms limit, differentiable at a point,

differentiate, derivative, differentiable over an interval, derived function.

Differentiate a function whose

terms are of the form axn

find the gradient of the

tangent to a curve y = the rate of change of f at a
f(x) at x = a

sketch a curve with Find where the function

f is strictly increasing,
given equation decreasing or stationary.

determine the greatest/least values of a solve optimisation problems

function on a given interval using calculus

find the stationary point(s) (values) on a curve

and determine their nature using differentiation

Rule of thumb:
Multiply by the power and reduce the power by 1.

Examples 3
y  5x 2 
f (x)  3x 5
x
 f (x)  5  3x 51  y  5x  3x 1
2

 f (x)  15x 4 dy
  10x  3x 2
dx
dy 3
  10x  2
f (x)  2x 3  4 x 2  3x  4 y  f x  dx x

 f (x)  2x 3  4 x 2  3x1  4 x 0 dy
  f x 
 f (x)  6x 2  8x1  3x 0  0x 1 dx x5
 y
 f (x)  6x  8x  3
2
x
x1 5
 y 1  1
f (x)  4 x  5 x2 x2
  12
1
1  y  x 2  5x
 f (x)  4 x  5x 2 0

dy 1  12 5  32
 f (x)  2x
 12
  x 2x
dx 2
2 dy 1 5
 f (x)    
x dx 2 x 2 x 3

 

Test
Yourself?
 2.1.2 Rules of Derivatives
-although first principles
always work, the following
rules are more economical:
1) Constant Rule
If f(x)=k (k is a constant),
f ‘(x) = 0
2) General Rule
If f(x) = ax+b (a and b are 4
 2.1.2 Examples of Derivatives
1) Constant Rule
If f(x)=27
f ‘(x) = 0
2) General Rule
If f(x) = 3x+12
f ‘(x) = 3

5
 2.1.2 Rules of Derivatives
3) Power Rule
If f(x) = kxn,
f ‘(x) = nkxn-1
4) Addition Rule
If f(x) = g(x) + h(x),
f ‘(x) = g’(x) + h’(x)

6
 2.1.2 Examples of Derivatives
3) Power Rule
If f(x) = -9x7,
f ‘(x) = 7(-9)x7-1
=-63x6
4) Addition Rule
If f(x) = 32x -9x2
f ‘(x) = 32-18x
7
 2.1.2 Rules of Derivatives
5) Product Rule
If f(x) =g(x)h(x),
f ‘(x) = g’(x)h(x) + h’(x)g(x)
-order doesn’t matter
6) Quotient Rule
If f(x) =g(x)/h(x),
f ‘(x) =
{g’(x)h(x)-h’(x)g(x)}/{h(x)2} 8

-order matters
 2.1.2 Rules of Derivatives
5) Product Rule
If f(x) =(12x+6)x3
f ‘(x) = 12x3 + (12x+6)3x2
= 48x3 + 18x2
6) Quotient Rule
If f(x) =(12x+1)/x2
f ‘(x) = {12x2 – (12x+1)2x}/x4
= [-12x2-2x]/x4
= [-12x-2]/x3 9
 2.1.2 Rules of Derivatives
7) Power Function Rule
If f(x) = [g(x)]n,
f ‘(x) = n[g(x)]n-1g’(x)
-work from the outside in
-special case of the chain rule
8) Chain Rule
If f(x) = f(g(x)), let y=f(u)
and u=g(x), then 10

dy/dx = dy/du X du/dx

 2.1.2 Rules of Derivatives
7) Power Function Rule
If f(x) = [3x+12]4,
f ‘(x) = 4[3x+12]33
= 12[3x+12]3
8) Chain Rule
If f(x) = (6x2+2x)3 , let y=u3
and u=6x2+2x, dy/dx = dy/du X
du/dx 11

= 3u2(12x+2)
 2.1.2 More Exciting
1) Inverses
Derivatives
If f(x) = 1/x= x-1,
f ‘(x) = -x-2=-1/x2
1b) Inverses and the Chain Rule
If f(x) = 1/g(x)= g(x)-1,
f ‘(x) = -g(x)-2g’(x)=-
1/g(x)2g’(x)
12
 yB  yB
AB 
A straight line has amgradient
x x B A

The chord PQ has a gradient

yQ  y P f (x  h)  f (x) f (x  h)  f (x)
mPQ    
xQ  x P xhx h

As h tends to zero, Q tends towards P and

 the chord PQ becomes the tangent at P.
 f x  h   f x 
f x   lim
The gradient of the tangent at  P = 
h 0
 h 

Example

To find the gradient of the tangent to Find the gradient of the
the curve y = f(x) at x = a we need to evaluate f tangent to the curve y = 3x2
´(a). + 2x –x 14 at the point P(1, 4)
dy
 6x  2
dx
dy
  6.4  2  26
dx x 4

Thus gradient at P is 26.

Test 
Yourself?
The Waverley can reach its top speed in 5 minutes.
During that time its distance from the start can be
calculated using the formula D = t + 50t2
where t is the time in minutes and D is measured in metres.

What is the Waverley’s top speed?

Speed, v m/min, is the rate of
change of distance with time.
D  t  50t 2
dD
v  1 100t
dt
v = 1 + 100  5 = 501
m/sec


How fast is it accelerating?

Acceleration, a m/min/min, is the
rate of change of speed with time.
v  1 100t
Test
dv Yourself?
a  100
dt
 y

The signs indicate where 0

the gradient of the curve + –
is: –
+ –
+ 0 –
positive … the function
is increasing + O – x
negative … the function
is decreasing
zero … the function is
stationary
A function is strictly increasing in a region
where f´(x) > 0
A function is strictly increasing in a region
where f´(x) < 0
A function is stationary where f´(x) = 0

Example
f(x) = 2x3 – 3x2 – 12x + 1.
Identify where it is (i) increasing (ii)
decreasing (iii) stationery graph
graph of
of derivative
derivative

f x   6x 2  6x 12 15
15

10
10
A sketch of the derivative shows
55
us that

00

f´(x) < 0 for 0 < x < 2 … f(x) -2

-2 -1
-1 00 11 22 33

-5
decreasing
-5
Test
-10
-10
Yourself?
f´(x) > 0 for x < 0 or x > 2 … -15
-15
f(x) increasing
f´(x) = 0 for x = 0 or x = 2 …
To sketch a curve, collect the following
information:
• where will it cut the y-axis? [x = 0]
• where will it cut the x-axis? [f(x) = 0]
• where is it stationary? [f ´(x) = 0]
• where is f(x) increasing/decreasing [f
´(x) > 0/ f ´(x) < 0]
especially in the neighbourhood of the
stationary points.
• how does f(x) behave as x  ±

Test
Yourself?
 When a function is defined on a closed interval, a ≤ x
≤ b, then it must have a maximum and a minimum value
in that interval.
These values can be found either at
• a stationary point [where f´(x) = 0]
• an end-point of the closed interval. [f(a)
and f(b)]
All you need do is find these values and pick out the
Example
greatest and least values.
A manufacturer is making a can to hold 250 ml of juice.
The cost of the can is dependent on its radius, x cm.
For practical reasons the radius must be between 2·5 cm and 4·5 cm.

The cost can be calculated from the formula

C = x3 –5x2 + 3x + 15, 2·5 ≤ x ≤ 4·5.
Calculate the maximum and minimum values of the cost function.

dC
 3x 2 10x… 3which equals zero at stationary points.
dx
3x2 – 10x + 3 = 0
(3x– 1)(x – 3) = 0
 x = 1/3 or x = 3
Working to 1 d.p.
f(1/3) = 15·5
f(3) = 6
f(2·5) = 6·9
f(4·5) = 18·4 Test
By inspection fmax = 18·4 (when x = 4·5) and fmin Yourself?
= 6 (when x = 3).
solving optimisation problems using calculus

Example

A box has a square base of side x cm and a height of h cm.

It has a volume of 1 litre (1000 cm3) h
For what value of x will the surface area of the box be
minimised?
x
[… and hence the cost of production be optimised] x

To use calculus we must express the surface area in terms of x alone … so

we must find h in terms of x .
1000 volume = lbh … so in this case 1000 = x2h.
For a cuboid,
h  2  1000x 2
x
And so,
The box is made from 6 rectangles, two of area x2 cm2 and four of
area xh cm2

Total Surface Area, S = 2x2 + 4xh If x < 10, 4x < 40 and 4000x–2 > 40
S dS 2x2 + 4000x
= 2 –1
So dS/dx < 0 … a decreasing function
  4 x  4000x
dx
If x > 10, 4x > 40 and 4000x–2 < 40
= 0 at stationary So dS/dx > 0 … an increasing function
points

 4x = 4000x–2 Decreasing before x = 10 and increasing after it
 x3 = 1000
x 10- 10 10+ Gives us a minimum turning point.
ds/dx – 0 +
 x = 10

Test
If x = 10 then h = 10.
Yourself?
A cube of side 10 cm has a volume of 1000 cm3 and the
smallest possible surface area.
Example
Find the stationary points of the function f(x) = x5 + 5x4 – 35x3 +
1 and determine their nature.

Differentiate: f´(x) = 5x4 + 20x3 –

105x2
Equate to zero: 5x4 + 20x3 – 105x2 = 0 at
stationary points
(factorise)  5x2(x2 + 4x – 21)
= 0
x
  – 3)(x
5x2(x -7  7) 0= 0 
+ 3  … scan the critical
2
5x + + + 0 + + + x’s

x-3 x = –0 (twice),
– – x =
– 3 or
– x 0 + … examine each factor
= –7 x+7 – 0 + + + + + of dy/dx
dy/dx + 0 – 0 – 0 +
Make a table of signs: … conclusions based on
profile / – \ – \ – /
Nature max PI min sign of derivative

Stationary points occur at

x = –7 ( a maximum turning point);
x = 0 (a horizontal point of
inflexion);
x = 3( a minimum turning point.
The corresponding stationary values are
f(–7) = 7204
f(0) = 1 Test
f(3) = –296 Yourself?
The stationary points are: (–7, 7204) a max TP; (0, 1) a
horizontal PI; (3, –296) a min TP
 Differentiate
(a) 3x5 + 4x3 – x – 3
(b) 3x2 + 2x
3
(c) 4
x
2x  x
(d) x2

reveal

 Differentiate
(a) 3x5 + 4x3 – x – 3 (a) 15x4 + 12x2 –1
(b) 3x2 + 2x
3
(c) 4
x 1
(b) 3x 2  2 x  3x 2  2x 2
2x  x
dy 1 1
(d) x2   6x  x 2  6x 
 dx x


You must make  3
(c) 4  4  3x 1
each term take x
the shape axn
dy 3
  3x 2   2
dx x

1
 (d) 2x  x 2x x 2 1  32
   2x  x
x2 x2 x2
dy 5
  2x 2  32 x 2
dx


Gradient at a
Point

0
0 1 2 3

-1

reveal

Using convenient units and

axes, the profile of a hill
has been modelled by
H = 0·1(x3 – 5x2 + 6x) where H
is the height and x is the
distance from the origin.
What is the gradient of the
curve when x = 2?
Gradient at a
Point

0
0 1 2 3
H = 0·1x3 – 0·5x2 + 0·6x
-1

dH
 0  3x 2  x  0  6
dx
dH
  0  3  22  2  0  6
dx x 2
 1 2  2  0  6
 0  2



Using convenient units and

axes, the profile of a hill
has been modelled by
H = 0·1(x3 – 5x2 + 6x) where H
is the height and x is the
distance from the origin.
What is the gradient of the
curve when x = 2?
Rates of change

reveal

The radius, r cm, of a

particular circular ripple is
related to the time, t, in
seconds since the photo was
taken.
r = 4t + 3
How fast is the area of the
circle growing when the radius
is 10 cm?
Rates of change

Since r = 4t + 3
then r = 11  t = 2.
and the area of the circular
ripple, A cm2, is π(4t + 3)2
A = π(4t + 3)2
 A = 16πt2 + 24πt + 9π

dA
  32t  24
dt
dA
  32  2  24  88
dt t 2



The radius, r cm, of a When the radius is 11 cm, the

particular circular ripple is
related to the time, t, in
seconds since the photo was
taken.
r = 4t + 3
area is increasing at the rate
of 276·5 cm2 per second
correct to 1 d.p.

How fast is the area of the

circle growing when the radius
is 11 cm?
 Increasing/decreasing
functions

reveal

During one study of red squirrels

the number in one area was modelled
by the function
N(x) = x3 – 15x2 + 63x – 10, 1 < x <
12
Where x is the number of years since
the
study started.

During what years was this a

decreasing function?
 Increasing/decreasing
functions

N(x) = x3 – 15x2 + 63x – 10, 1

< x < 12
 N´(x) = 3x2 – 30x + 63

N´(x) = 0 at stationary points

3x2 – 30x + 63 = 0  x = 3 or 7

N
´(x
)

During one study of red squirrels

3 7 x
the number in one area was modelled
by the function
N(x) = x3 – 15x2 + 63x – 10, 1 < x <
12 The sketch shows that N´(x) < 0
Where x is the number of years since for 3 < x < 7.
the
study started. The population was on the
decrease between the 3rd and 7th
During what years was this a years of the survey.
decreasing function?
Curve sketching

Sketch the curve with

equation
y = x3 – 5x2 – 8x + 12
Identifying
(i) where will it cut the
y-axis?
(ii)where will it cut the
x-axis?
(iii)where is it
stationary? reveal
(iv)where it is
increasing/decreasing
especially in the
neighbourhood of the
stationary points.
(v) how it behave as x 
±
Curve sketching

(i) x = 0  y = 12 … (0, 12)

(ii) y = 0  x3 – 5x2 – 8x + 12 = 0
Sketch the curve with
 (x – 1)(x + 2)(x – 6) = 0
equation x = 1 or x = –2 or x = 6 … (1,
0), (–2,0),(6, 0)
y = x3 – 5x2 – 8x + 12 (iii) dy/dx = 3x2 – 10x – 8
Identifying = 0 at S.P.s
(i) where will it cut the 3x2 – 10x – 8 = 0  (3x + 2)(x
– 4) = 0
y-axis? (iv  x x= –2/3 or  x =-24
/3 … amax 4
TP 
(ii)where will it cut the ) at (– 2
3x + /32, 400
/27
– ) 0 + + +
x-axis?  y x –=4 /27 or
400 – y =– –36 … – a min
0 +
dy/dx + 0 – 0 +
(iii)where is it at (4 , –36 )
inc/dec / - \ - /
stationary? nature max min
(iv)where it is (v) When x is large and positive, y is large
increasing/decreasing and positive (1st quad)
especially in the When x is large and negative, y is large and
3 2
y = x - 5x - 8x +
neighbourhood of the negative (3rd quad)
30
stationary points.
(v) how it behave as x  20

± 10

0
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-10

-20

-30

-40
 A shop takes x deliveries a year of
cereal.
reveal
The suppliers are willing to make
between 20 and 200 deliveries a
year.
The annual cost 10000
of these deliveries
can be  calculated
C x  4 x   1000 ; 20 ≤ x ≤ 200
x from the formula:

Calculate the number of

deliveries that will minimise

the costs.
 Find stationary point(s)

10000
C x   4 x   1000
x
10000
 C x   4 
x2

At stationary points C´(x)

 = 0
10000
4 0
A shop takes x deliveries a year of x2
cereal. 10000
 x2   2500
4
The suppliers are willing to make  x  50
between 20 and 200 deliveries a
year.
The annual cost 10000
of these deliveries Examine end-points and

can be  calculated
C x  4 x   1000 ; 20 ≤ x ≤ 200 stationary point(s)
x from the formula:
10000
C 20  4  20   580
20
10000
C 200  4  200   850
 What is the manager’s best 200
strategy to minimise the costs. 10000
C 50  4  50   400
50

Optimum strategy: Order 50


times a year. This will
minimise costs at £400.
Optimisati
on
30 cm

20 cm

20 – 2x
x
30 – 2x
reveal

An A4 sheet of paper, roughly

20 by 30 cm
has its edges folded up to
create a tray.
Each crease is x cm from the
edge.

What size should x be in order

to maximise the volume of the
tray?
Optimisati
on
30 cm

Express volume in terms of

x:
20 cm
V = x(20 –2x)(30 –2x)
x = 4x3 – 100x2 + 600x
Differentiate
dV
 12x 2  200x  600
dx
20 – 2x = 0 at S.P.s
x
30 – 2x  12x 2  200x  600  0
200  40000  4.12.600
x
24
 x  12  7 or 3 9 (to 1 d.p.)
An A4 sheet of paper, roughly
20 by 30 cm Check nature
has its edges folded up to  x  3·9  12·7 
create a tray. dV/dx – 0 + 0 –
Each crease is x cm from the inc/dec \ / \
edge. Nature mim max

What size should x be in order Conclusion

to maximise the volume of the
tray? When x = 3·9, the volume is
at a maximum of 1056 cm3.
 Stationary points and nature

A function is
defined by
x5 x4 x3 x2
f (x)    
5 4 3 2


reveal
(a) Show that its derivative has
factors
x, (x + 1) and (x – 1)
(b) Find the stationary points of
the function and determine
their nature.
 Stationary points and nature

differentiate
f x   x 4  x 3  x 2  x
A function is  x(x 3  x 2  x 1)
defined by  x[x 2 (x  1)  (x  1)]

x5 x4 x3 x2  x(x  1)(x 2 1)

f (x)      x(x  1)(x 1)(x  1)
5 4 3 2 Equate to zero
At S.Ps f´(x) = 0

i.e. x = 0 or x = –1 or
x = 1
Make nature
 x
table  -1  0  1 
2
(x+1) + 0 + + + + +
(a) Show that its derivative has x – – – 0 + + +
(x-1) – – – – – 0 +
factors f'(x) + 0 + 0 – 0 +
x, (x + 1) and (x – 1) inc/dec / - / - \ - /
nature PI max min

(b) Find the stationary points of Find corresponding y-

the function and determine values.f 1   15  14  13  12   607
their nature. f 1  15  14  13  12   23
60

f 0  0

Summarise findings
(–1,–7/60) point of inflexion

(1,–23/60) minimum turning point
(0, 0) minimum turning point