UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Chapter 3: Differentiation Rules

Section 3.1 Differentiation Formulas
Let c be a constant,
(1)

Derivative of a Constant Function

d
(c ) = 0
dx

Proof:
Let f ( x) = c, from the limit definition,

d
(c ) = f ' ( x )
dx
f (x + h ) f (x )
= lim
h 0
h
cc
= lim
h 0
h
= lim 0

y=c

x
a

h 0

=0
For any constant c, the horizontal line y = c has a tangent line with zero slope.
(2)

The Power Rule

d n
( x ) = nx n1 , for n 0
dx

Example 3.1
Determine the f ' ( x)
(a) f(x) = x; f(x) = 1
(c) f(x) = x3/2; f(x) = 3/2x1/2
(3)

The Constant Multiple Rule

(b) f(x) = x3; f(x) = 3x2

(d) f(x) = x-1; f(x) = -x-2
d
d
(cf ( x)) = c
f ( x) = cf ' ( x)
dx
dx

Example 3.2
Determine the f ' ( x) when f(x) = 3x4 and f(x) = -x.
d
d
a.
(3 x 4 ) = 3 ( x 4 )
dx
dx
= 3(4 x3 ) = 12 x3

b.

d
d
( x) = [ (1) x ]
dx
dx
d
= (1) ( x) = 1(1) = 1
dx

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

(4)

The Sum Rule

(5)

The Difference Rule If f and g are both differentiable, then

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

If f and g are both differentiable, then

d
d
d
[ f ( x) + g ( x)] = [ f ( x)] + [ g ( x)]
dx
dx
dx

Example 3.3
d 8
[ x + 12 x 5 4 x 4 + 10 x 3 6 x + 5]
dx
d 8
( x + 12 x5 4 x 4 + 10 x3 6 x + 5)
dx
d
d
d
= ( x8 ) + 12 ( x5 ) 4 ( x 4 )
dx
dx
dx
d
d
d
+ 10 ( x3 ) 6 ( x ) + ( 5 )
dx
dx
dx
7
4
3
2
= 8 x + 12 ( 5 x ) 4 ( 4 x ) + 10 ( 3 x ) 6 (1) + 0
= 8 x 7 + 60 x 4 16 x 3 + 30 x 2 6

Example 3.4
Find the points on the curve y = x 4 6 x 2 + 4 where the tangent line is horizontal.
dy d 4
d
d
=
( x ) 6 ( x 2 ) + (4)
dx dx
dx
dx
3
2
= 4 x 12 x + 0 = 4 x( x 3)

Thus, dy/dx = 0 if x = 0 or x2 3 = 0, that is, x = 3 .

(6)

The Product Rule

If f and g are both differentiable, then

d
d
d
[ f ( x) g ( x)] = f ( x) [ g ( x)] + g ( x) [ f ( x)]
dx
dx
dx

Example 3.5
Find F ' ( x) if F ( x) = (6 x 3 )(7 x 4 )
d
d
(7 x 4 ) + (7 x 4 ) (6 x 3 )
dx
dx
3
3
4
= (6 x )(28 x ) + (7 x )(18 x 2 )

F '( x) = (6 x 3 )

= 168 x 6 + 126 x 6
= 294 x 6

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Example 3.6
If h(x) = xg(x) and given g(3) = 5 and g ' (3) = 2 , find h' (3)
d
d
d
h '( x) = [ xg ( x)] = x [ g ( x)] + g ( x) [ x]
dx
dx
dx
= xg '( x) + g ( x)
So, h '(3) = 3 g '(3) + g (3) = 3 2 + 5 = 11

The Quotient Rule

(7)

If f and g are both differentiable, then

d
d
g ( x) [ f ( x)] f ( x) [ g ( x)]
d f ( x)
dx
dx
[
]=
2
dx g ( x)
[ g ( x)]

Example 3.7
x2 + x 2
Let y =
, evaluate y '.
x3 + 6
( x3 + 6 ) dxd ( x 2 + x 2 ) ( x2 + x 2 ) dxd ( x3 + 6 )
y'=
2
( x3 + 6 )

(x
=

( 2x
=
=

(8)

+ 6 ) ( 2 x + 1) ( x 2 + x 2 )( 3 x 2 )

(x
4

+ 6)

+ x 3 + 12 x + 6 ) ( 3 x 4 + 3 x3 6 x 2 )

(x

+ 6)

x 4 2 x 3 + 6 x 2 + 12 x + 6

(x

+ 6)

d x
e = ex
dx

Example 3.8
Find y ' if y = e x x
y' = e x 1
(9)

Equation of the tangent line at (x0, y0) on the curve y = f (x) is given by
y y 0 = f ' ( x0 )( x x0 )

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Example 3.9
Find the equation of the tangent line at (0, 2) on the curve y = x 4 + 2e x
y ' = 4 x 3 + 2e x
y ' ( 0) = 2e 0 = 2
y 2 = 2( x 0)
y = 2x + 2

(10)

Equation of the normal line at (x0, y0) on the curve y = f(x) is given by
1
y y0 =
( x x0 )
f ' ( x0 )

Example 3.10
Find the equation of the normal line at (0, 2) on the curve y = x 4 + 2e x .
y ' = 4 x 3 + 2e x
y ' ( 0) = 2e 0 = 2
1
y 2 = ( x 0)
2
1
y = x+2
2
(11)

d
sin x = cos x
dx

Proof:
Let f ( x ) = sin x, from the limit definition,

d
[ f (x )] = f ' (x )
dx
f (x + h ) f (x )
= lim
h 0
h
sin ( x + h ) sin x
= lim
h 0
h
sin x cos h + cos x sin h sin x
= lim
h 0
h
sin x cos h sin x
cos x sin h
= lim
+ lim
h 0
h 0
h
h
cos h 1
sin h
= sin x lim
+ cos x lim
h 0
h 0
h
h
= sin x(0 ) + cos x(1)
= cos x
4

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Example 3.11
dy
Find
for y = x 2 sin x
dx
dy
d
d
= x2
(sin x) + sin x ( x 2 )
dx
dx
dx
2
= x cos x + 2 x sin x
(12)

d
cos x = sin x
dx

Example 3.12
dy
for y = 2 sin x cos x
Find
dx
y ' = 2[sin x( sin x ) + cos x(cos x )]

= 2 sin 2 x + cos 2 x

cos 2 x = cos 2 x sin 2 x

= 2 cos 2 x 1
= 1 2 sin 2 x

= 2 cos 2 x
(13)

d
d sin x
tan x =
= sec 2 x
dx
dx cos x

(15)

d
d 1
sec x =
= sec x tan x
dx
dx cos x

(14)

d
d 1
csc x =
= csc x cot x
dx
dx sin x

(16)

d
d 1
d cos x
cot x =
=
= csc 2 x
dx
dx tan x dx sin x

(13)

d
d sin x
tan x =
= sec 2 x
dx
dx cos x

Proof:
d
(tan x )
dx
d sin x
=

dx cos x
cos x(cos x ) sin x( sin x )
=
cos 2 x
cos 2 x + sin 2 x
=
cos 2 x
1
=
= sec 2 x
2
cos x

1
sin x
1
sec x =
cos x
1
cos x
cot x =
=
tan x sin x
sin x
tan x =
cos x
csc x =

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Example 3.13
sec x
.
1 + tan x
d
d
(1 + tan x) (sec x) sec x (1 + tan x)
dx
dx
f '( x) =
2
(1 + tan x)

Differentiate f ( x) =

(1 + tan x)sec x tan x sec x sec2 x

(1 + tan x)2

sec x(tan x + tan 2 x sec 2 x)

(1 + tan x)2
sec x(tan x 1)
=
(1 + tan x)2

(17) The Chain Rule

If f and g are both differentiable and F = ( f o g )( x) = f ( g ( x)) , then F ' ( x) = f ' ( g ( x)) g ' ( x) .
dy dy du
[If y = f(u), u = g(x), then
=

]
dx du dx
Note:
dy
If y = ( g ( x)) n , then
= n( g ( x)) n1 g ' ( x).
dx
Example 3.14
(a)

Find F ' ( x) if F ( x) = x 2 + 1
Let u = x2 + 1 and y = u ,
dy du
1
F '( x) =
=
(2 x)
dx dx 2 u
1
x
=
(2 x) =
2
2
x +1
2 x +1

(b)

Differentiate y = sin x 2 .

dy d
=
sin
{
dx dx outer

function

({
x2 ) =
evaluated at
inner function

cos
{
derivative of
outer function

({
x 2 ) 2{x
derivative of

evaluated at
inner function

inner function

= 2 x cos( x 2 )
Let u = x 2
du
= 2x
dx

y = sin u
dy
= cos u
du
dy dy du
=

= cos u (2 x ) = 2 x cos x 2 .
dx du dx

( )

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Differentiate y = (2 x + 1) 5 ( x 3 x + 1) 4

(c)

dy
d 3
d
= (2 x + 1)5
( x x + 1) 4 + ( x 3 x + 1) 4
(2 x + 1)5
dx
dx
dx
d
= (2 x + 1)5 4( x 3 x + 1)3 ( x3 x + 1)
dx
d
+ ( x 3 x + 1) 4 5(2 x + 1)4
(2 x + 1)
dx
= 4(2 x + 1)5 ( x 3 x + 1)3 (3 x 2 1)
+5( x3 x + 1) 4 (2 x + 1) 4 2
dy
= 2(2 x + 1)4 ( x3 x + 1)3 (17 x3 + 6 x 2 9 x + 3)
dx

Differentiate y = tan x 2 + 1 .

(d)

Let u = x 2 + 1
d
tan x 2 + 1
dx
d
= [tan u ]
dx
du
= sec 2 u
dx

[ (

(
(x

)]

) dxd [x
+ 1) 2 x
(x + 1)

= sec 2 x 2 + 1
= sec 2

= 2 x sec 2
(18)

+1

d x
a = a x ln a , a > 0
dx
d
[ e x = e x ln e = e x ]
dx

Note:

By applying the chain rule,

d g ( x)
e
= e g ( x ) g ' ( x)
dx

Example 3.15
Differentiate e sin x .
d sin x
e
= e sin x cos x
dx
7

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Extension to the Chain Rule

Suppose y = f(u), u = g(x) and x = h(t), and f, g and h are differentiable, then
dy dy du dx
=

dt du dx dt
Example 3.16
Let f ( x) = sin(cos( tan x)) , find f ' ( x) .
d
(cos(tan x))
dx
d
= cos(cos(tan x)) sin(tan x) (tan x)
dx
= cos(cos(tan x)) sin(tan x) sec 2 x .
f ' ( x) = cos(cos(tan x))

Section 3.2 Implicit Differentiation

To find

dy
without solving for y.
dx

Steps:
First differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x ;
Then solve the resulting equation for y.

Example 3.17
dy
=0
dx

(a)

y=0

(c)

xy = 0, y + x

(b)

y2 = 0, 2

dy
y=0
dx
dy
=0
dx

dy
=0
dx
dy
y
=
dx
x

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Example 3.18
dy
Find
and equation of the tangent line at (3, 4) for the circle x 2 + y 2 = 25 .
dx

y = 25 x 2
d 2
d
( x + y 2 ) = (25)
dx
dx
d 2
d
(x ) + ( y2 ) = 0
dx
dx
d 2
d 2 dy
dy
(y ) =
(y )
= 2y
dx
dy
dx
dx
dy
2x + 2 y
=0
dx
dy
x
=
So, dx
y
d
1
f '( x) = 2 (25 x 2 ) 1/ 2 (25 x 2 )
dx
2 1/ 2
1
= 2 (25 x ) (2 x)
=

f ' (3) =

x
25 x 2
3
2

3
4

25 3
An equation of the tangent is 3x + 4y = 25.

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Example 3.19
dy
Find
and the points on the curve x 3 + y 3 = 6 xy that the tangent line is horizontal.
dx
Differentiating both sides of x3 + y3 = 6xy with respect to x, regarding y as a function
of x, and using the Chain Rule on y3 and the Product Rule on 6xy, we get:
3x2
+
3y2y
=
6xy
+
6y
2
2
or
x + y y = 2xy + 2y
Solved for y:
y 2 y ' 2 xy ' = 2 y x 2
( y 2 2 x) y ' = 2 y x 2
2 y x2
y' = 2
y 2x
The tangent line is horizontal if y = 0.
Using the expression from the previous result y, we see that y = 0 when 2y x2 = 0
(provided that y2 2x 0).
Substituting y = x2 in the equation of the curve, we get x3 + (x2)3 = 6x(x2) which simplifies
to x6 = 16x3.
If x = 161/3 = 24/3, then y = (28/3) = 25/3.
Thus, the tangent is horizontal at (24/3, 25/3), which is approximately (2.5198, 3.1748).

Example 3.20
dy
Find
if sin( x + y ) = y 2 cos x.
dx
Differentiating implicitly with respect to x and remembering that y is a function of x, we get:
cos( x + y ) (1 + y ') = y 2 ( sin x) + (cos x)(2 yy ')
cos( x + y ) + y 2 sin x = (2 y cos x) y ' cos( x + y ) y '
2
So, y ' = y sin x + cos( x + y )
2 y cos x cos( x + y )

10

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Section 3.3 Inverse Functions

(1)

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

(a)

y = sin 1 x sin y = x and

dy
1
=
, -1< x < 1
dx
1 x2

Prove:
Differentiating sin y = x implicitly with respect to x, we obtain:
dy
cos y
=1
dx
dy
1
=
dx cos y

cos y 0 since /2 y /2, so

cos y = 1 sin 2 y = 1 x 2

Therefore

(b)

1 x2

1
1
dy
=
=
dx cos y
1 x2

y = cos 1 x cos y = x and 0 y

dy
1
=
, -1< x < 1
dx
1 x2

1 x2

Prove:
cos y = x
dy
( sin y ) = 1
dx
dy
1
1
=
=
dx
sin y
1 x2

11

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

y = tan 1 x tan y = x and

(c)

dy
1
=
dx 1 + x 2

Prove:
tan y = x
dy
(sec 2 y ) = 1 ;
dx

1
dy
1
2

cos
y
=
=
=

2
dx sec 2 y
1+ x

1
=

1+ x2

Example 3.21
a) Differentiate y =

1
sin 1 x

dy
d
=
(sin1 x )1
dx dx
d
= (sin1 x )2
(sin1 x )
dx
1
=
(sin1 x )2 1 x 2

b) Differentiate y = x tan 1 x
f '( x ) = x
=

1
1 + ( x )2

( 21 x 1/ 2 ) + arctan x

x
+ arctan x
2(1 + x )

(2)

Logarithmic Functions
dy
1
y = log a x
=
,a>0
dx x ln a

Prove:
log a x =

ln x
ln a

d
d ln x
1 d
1
(log a x) =
=
(ln x) =
dx
dx ln a ln a dx
x ln a

12

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Special case: y = ln x

dy
1
1
=
=
dx x ln e x

Example 3.22
(a)
y = ln( x 3 + 1)
Let u = x3 + 1, then, y = ln u.

(b)

dy dy du 1 du
1
=
=
= 3 (3 x 2 )
dx du dx u dx x + 1
3x 2
= 3
x +1

y = ln sin x

1 d
d
ln(sin x) =
(sin x)
dx
sin x dx
1
=
cos x = cot x
sin x
y = (ln x) 2

(c)

f '( x) = 12 (ln x)1 2

(d)

d
1
1
(ln x) =

dx
2 ln x x
1
=
2 x ln x

f ( x) = log10 (2 + sin x)

d
log10 (2 + sin x)
dx
d
1
=
(2 + sin x)
(2 + sin x) ln10 dx
cos x
=
(2 + sin x) ln10
Note:

1
x
Logarithmic differentiation is used when y = f (x) involves complicated functions

f ( x) = ln x f ' ( x) =

13

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Example 3.23
Differentiate
(a)

y=

x3/ 4 x 2 + 1
(3 x + 2) 5

ln y = 34 ln x + 12 ln( x 2 + 1) 5 ln(3 x + 2)
1 dy 3 1 1 2 x
3
= + 2
5
y dx 4 x 2 x + 1
3x + 2
dy
x
15
3
= y + 2

dx
4 x x + 1 3x + 2

(b)

y = a g ( x ) , where a is constant.
d g ( x)
a
= a g ( x ) (ln a ) g ' ( x)
dx

(c)

y = [ f ( x)] g ( x )

ln y = g ( x ) ln[ f ( x )]
1 dy
1
= g (x )
f ' ( x ) + ln[ f ( x )]g ' ( x )
y dx
f (x )

f ' (x )
dy
= [ f ( x)] g ( x ) g ( x )
+ g ' ( x ) ln[ f ( x )]
dx
f (x )

(d)

d
d
( x x ) = (e
dx
dx

x ln x

d
( x ln x)
dx
2 + ln x
=x x

2 x

)=e

x ln x

14

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

Section 3.4 Linear Approximation and Differentials

(1)

Linear Approximation

Recall:
The equation of the tangent line at (a, f(a)) on the curve y = f(x) is
y f (a ) = f ' (a )( x a ) y = f (a ) + f ' (a )( x a )
When x is near a, the curve y = f(x) can be approximated by the equation of the tangent line at (a,
f(a)), i.e.
f ( x) f (a ) + f ' (a )( x a )
The linear function whose graph is this tangent line, that is L( x) f (a ) + f ' (a )( x a ) is called
the linearization of f at a.

Example 3.24
Find the linearization of the function f ( x) = x + 3 at a = 1. Use it to approximate

3.98 and

4.05 .
1
2 x+3
So, we have f(1) = 2 and f(1) = .
f '( x) = 12 ( x + 3) 1/ 2 =

L( x) = f (1) + f '(1)( x 1)
= 2 + 14 ( x 1)
7 x
+
4 4
7 x
x+3 +
4 4
7 0.98
3.98 +
= 1.995
4
4
7 1.05
4.05 +
= 2.0125
4
4
We see that:
 The tangent line approximation is a good approximation to the given function
when x is near 1.
 Our approximations are overestimates, because the tangent line lies above the
curve.
=

15

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

(2)
Differentials
If y = f(x) is differentiable, then the differential
dy = f ' ( x)dx
(1)
where dx is an independent variable and dy is a dependent variable.

Let P(x, f(x)) and Q(x + x, f(x + x)) be points on the graph of f and let dx = x .
 The corresponding change in y is y = f(x + x) f(x)

 The slope of the tangent line PR is the derivative f (x) , and so the directed distance from S
to R is f(x)dx = dy .
 Thus, dy represents the amount that the tangent line rises or falls (the change in the
linearization), whereas y is the amount that the curve y = f(x) rises or falls when x changes
by an amount dx .
 Note from Fig. 6 that the approximation y dy improves as x becomes smaller.
 If we let dx = x a , then x = a + dx and we can rewrite our linear approximation in the
notation of differentials:
f(a + dx) f(a) + dy f (a ) + f ' (a )dx
Example 3.25
Given f ( x) = x + 3 , use differential to estimate

4.05 .

Let dx = x a
x = a + dx
From linear approximation, we have:
f ( x) f (a ) + f ' (a )( x a )
f (a + dx) f (a ) + f ' (a )( x a )
f(a + dx) f(a) + dy
f ( x) = x + 3

f ' ( x) =

1
1
( x + 3) 2
2

16

UCCM 1153 Introduction to Calculus and Applications

4.05 = 1.05 + 3 , x = 1.05

when x near to a, a = 1
dx = x a = 1.05 1 = 0.05
1
1
11 1

f ' (1) = (1 + 3) 2 = =
2
22 4
1
f (a + dx) f (a ) + f ' (a )( x a ) = f (1) + f ' (1)dx = 1 + 3 + (0.05) = 2.0125
4

Example 3.26
The radius of a sphere was measured and found to be 21cm with a possible error in measurement
of at most 0.05cm. What is the maximum error in using this value of the radius to compute the
volume of the sphere?
If the radius of the sphere is r, then its volume is V = 4/3r3.
If the error in the measured value of r is denoted by dr = r, then the corresponding
error in the calculated value of V is V.
This can be approximated by the differential
dV = 4r2dr
When r = 21 and dr = 0.05, this becomes:
dV = 4(21)2 0.05 277. The maximum error in the calculated volume is about 277 cm3.

17