Solution. (b.

) Computing the instantaneous rate of change of the unit price when x = 5000 tires
boils down to a problem of evaluating the difference quotient as h approaches 0. We have that
D(x + h) − D(x)
D� (x) = lim = lim (−2x − h) = −2x.
h→0 h h→0

We conclude that the instantaneous rate of change for the unit price of tires when exactly 5000
tires are demanded is D� (5) = −$10. �

2.6.4 Differentiability and Continuity

Consider the function f (x) = |x|. We note that f (x) is piecewise-defined as x for x ≥ 0 and −x
for x < 0. Evaluating the difference quotient of f (x) for x < 0, we find that f � (x) = −1. On
the other hand, evaluating the difference quotient for x > 0, we find that f � (x) = 1. We wish to
determine the derivative of f (x) when x = 0. Because the left- and right-hand limits at 0 do not
exist, we conclude that the function has no derivative when x = 0. On the other hand, we could
demonstrate that f is continuous. Our above example is enough to conclude that continuity does
not always imply differentiability; however, the converse implication is always true.
Differentiability Implies Continuity. Given that a function f is differentiable at x = a, it
follows that f is continuous at x = a.
f (x) − f (a)
Proof. Observe that for all x �= a, we can rewrite f (x) − f (a) as · (x − a). By taking
x−a
the limit as x approaches a on both sides of this equality, we have that
� �
f (x) − f (a) f (x) − f (a)
lim [f (x) − f (a)] = lim · (x − a) = lim · lim (x − a) = f � (a) · 0 = 0,
x→a x→a x−a x→a x−a x→a

from which it follows that lim f (x) = f (a). We conclude that f is continuous at x = a.
x→a

3 Differentiation
3.1 Basic Rules of Differentiation
3.1.1 Four Basic Rules
Recall that in the prequel, our method for computing derivatives of functions was to tediously
hash out the definition of the derivative as a limit of a difference quotient. Our goal in this chap-
ter is to provide rules of differentiation that expedite the process. We note that all of these rules
can be established by using the limit definition of the derivative. Given a differentiable func-
d
tion f (x), i.e., any function whose derivative exists, we will use the notation dx f (x) to denote
the derivative of f (x) with respect to the variable x. Often, it is more convenient to simply write
f � (x) for the derivative of f (x) with respect to x when the variable of differentiation x is clear.
Derivative of a Constant. The derivative of a constant function is equal to zero. Explicitly,
d
given a constant function f (x) = C for some real number C, we have that dx f (x) = 0.
Proof. Using the limit definition of the derivative, we have that
d f (x + h) − f (x) C −C
f (x) = lim = lim = lim 0 = 0.
dx h→0 h h→0 h h→0

24
Compute the derivatives of the following constant functions.
(a.) f (x) = 27

(b.) g(x) = e2

(c.) h(x) = √1
2π

d n
Derivative of a Power Function. Let n be any real number. We have that dx
x = nxn−1 .

Proof. Consider the case when n is a positive integer. Using the limit definition of the derivative
and the Binomial Theorem, we have that
d n (x + h)n − xn
x = lim
dx h→0 h
�n � �n � � n
�
xn + 1
xn−1 h + 2
xn−2 h2 + · · · + n−1
xhn−1 + hn − xn
= lim
h→0 h
��n� �n � � n
� �
h 1
xn−1 + 2
xn−2 h + · · · + n−1
xhn−2 + hn−1
= lim
h→0 h
�� � � � � � � � �
n n−1 n n−2 n n−2 n−1 n n−1
= lim x + x h + ··· + xh +h = x = nxn−1 .
h→0 1 2 n−1 1
We note that our proof establishes the case where n is a positive integer; however, our theorem
claims that the result holds for all real numbers. We will return to prove this fact after we have
visited the topic of implicit differentiation. Compute the derivatives of the following functions.

(a.) f (x) = x6

(b.) g(x) = x−3

√
(c.) h(x) = 5 x

(d.) p(x) = xe

Derivative of a Constant Multiple of a Function. Given any differentiable function f (x)

d d
and any real number C, we have that dx [C · f (x)] = C · dx f (x).

Proof. Consider the function g(x) = C · f (x). We will assume that f � (x) exists. Using the limit
definition of the derivative, we have that
g(x + h) − g(x) C · f (x + h) − C · f (x) f (x + h) − f (x)
g � (x) = lim = lim = C · lim = C · f � (x).
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h
d d
Using our alternative notation, we conclude that dx
[C · f (x)] = C · dx
f (x).
Compute the derivatives of the following functions.
(a.) f (x) = 5x3

25
(b.) g(x) = √3
x

Derivative of a Sum or Difference of Functions. Given any two differentiable functions

d d d
f (x) and g(x), we have that dx [f (x) ± g(x)] = dx f (x) ± dx g(x).

Proof. Like usual, we will defer to the limit definition of the derivative. Because it is not very
enlightening, we leave the proof as an exercise for the reader.
Compute the derivatives of the following functions.

(a.) f (x) = 2x2 + 3x + 5

1
(b.) g(x) = x
+ 4x

Recall that the derivative of a function f (x) at a point (x, f (x)) gives the equation of the slope
of the line tangent to f (x) at the point (x, f (x)). For instance, we have seen that the slope of the
line tangent to f (x) = 7x + 1 is f � (x) = 7 for every real number x. We have justified this fact both
heuristically and with calculus. We now extend this notion to a more complicated function.

Equation of the Tangent Line. Compute the slope of the line tangent to the function f (x) =
2x + √1x at the point (1, 3). Use this slope to find the equation of the tangent line at (1, 3).

Solution. We must first compute the derivative of f (x) = 2x + √1 . We have that

x
� �
� d 1 d d 1 1
f (x) = 2x + √ = (2x) + (x−1/2 ) = 2 − x−3/2 = 2 − 3/2 .
dx x dx dx 2 2x

We note that f � (x) gives the slope of the line tangent to f (x) at any point (x, f (x)). We are con-
cerned with the point (1, 3), in particular, hence we wish to find the slope of the line tangent to
f (x) when x = 1. We have that f � (1) = 2 − 12 = 32 . Our problem is now reduced to a question of
algebra. Using the point-slope form y − y1 = m(x − x1 ) with (x1 , y1 ) = (1, 3) and m = 32 , we find
that the equation of the tangent line at (1, 3) is given by y − 3 = 32 (x − 1). Cleaning this up a bit,
we find that y = 32 x + 32 . Graphing both of these equations should corroborate our result. �

3.2 The Product and Quotient Rules

We have just discussed four basic rules of differentiation: (1.) the derivative of a constant func-
tion is always zero; (2.) the derivative of a power function is the product of the power and the
function raised to the power decreased by one; (3.) the derivative of a constant multiple of a
function is the constant multiple of the derivative of the function; and (4.) the derivative of a
sum (difference) of functions is the sum (difference) of the derivatives of the functions. We now
discuss two more very useful but less obvious differentiation rules.

3.2.1 The Product Rule

The Product Rule. Given any two differentiable functions f (x) and g(x), we have that
d
dx
[f (x) · g(x)] = f (x) · g � (x) + f � (x) · g(x).

Proof. We omit the proof here on the grounds that it is tricky and tedious, but we note that Tan
provides an excellent exposition on pages 176 and 177 in the textbook.

26