Rules Of Derivatives Used in Economics

(ECO401)
Constant Function rule:
The derivative of a constant with respect to an independent variable x
is zero.

d
c   0 c is a constant 
dx

Let y = f (x) = C be a constant function, then

y’ = f ’(x) = 0.
Examples: Find the derivatives of the following
functions
1) f(x) = -30
f’(x) = ? 0

2) f(x) =  25
f’(x) = ? 0

3) f(x) = 10
f’(x) = ?0
 The Power Function Rule
A function of the form f (x) = xn is called a power
function. This includes f (x) = x (where n = 1).

The derivative of a power function, y=axn , is equal to the

power n times the co-efficient a, multiplied by the
variable x raised to power n-1.
It can be expressed as,

d n
dx
 
x  nx n 1  n is a real number 
 Example

Differentiate f (x) = x5
Solution:
By the power rule, the derivative of xn is n xn–1.
In our case n = 5, so we get f ’(x) = 5 x5-1
= 5 x4
 Examples: Find the derivatives of the
following functions
1
1) f(x) = x5 4) f(x) = = x-1
x
f’(x) = ? 5x4
2 1
f’(x) = ? 1x  2
2) f(x) = t-2 x
2 5) f(x) =
f’(x) = -2t
? -3= 3
u 2 = u2/3
t3
1
3) f(x) = t 3/2 f’(x) =? 2 u  3  2
1/ 3
1 3 3u
3
f’(x) = ? t
2
6) f(x) =1 = x-1/2
2 x
f’(x) =? 1 23 1
 x   3/ 2
2 2x
 The Sums and Difference Rule
If a function has terms linked by plus(or minus) signs, then the
derivative of the function is equal to the Sum(or difference) of
derivatives of the individual terms.
y = f (x) = f(x) ± g(x),
then d d d
 
f x g x    
f ( x)  
g ( x) 
dx  dx dx

y’ = f ’(x) = f’(x) ± g’(x)

 Example

Differentiate f (x) = 2x5 + x4 – 4x3 + 8x2 – 3x + 6.

Solution:
Apply the sum and difference rules, as well as the constant
multiple property and the power rule.
f ’(x) = 10x4 + 4x3 – 12x2 + 16x -3
 Examples: Find the derivatives of the following
functions
1) f(x) = 4x4-5x3+x2-3x+7 3) f(x) = 3 4 x4
  3
f’(x) = ? 4x x 8
16 x 3  15 x 2  2 x  3 3 1 x 4
f’(x) =?   x  4 x 3 
2) f(x) = 10 - 7x -2 4 8
f’(x) = ? 3 2 4 1 3
x  12 x  x
4 2
3 14
14 x  3 3 12 1 3
x 2
 4 x
4x x 2