DIFFERENTIATION & FUNCTIONS (Q 6, 7 & 8, PAPER 1)

LESSON NO. 2: DIFFERENTIATING FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES

2007
8 (b) Differentiate x 2 − 3 x with respect to x from first principles.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = x 2 − 3 x 1. f ( x) = x 2 − 3 x

2. y + Δy = ( x + Δx) 2 − 3( x + Δx) 2. f ( x + h) = ( x + h) 2 − 3( x + h)
⇒ y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 − 3 x − 3(Δx) ⇒ f ( x + h) = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 − 3 x − 3h

3. y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 − 3 x − 3(Δx) 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)

y =x 2
− 3x = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 − 3 x − 3h − x 2 + 3 x
∴Δy = 2 x ( Δx ) + ( Δ x ) 2 − 3(Δx) = 2 xh + h 2 − 3h

Δy 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 − 3(Δx) f ( x + h) − f ( x) 2 xh + h 2 − 3h

4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 2 x + Δx − 3 5. = 2x + h − 3
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim = 2 x + (0) − 3 = 2 x − 3 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 2 x + (0) − 3
x → 0 Δx x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 2x − 3
dy
7. = 2x − 3
dx dy
7. = 2x − 3
dx
2005
6 (b) Differentiate 3 x − x 2 with respect to x from first principles.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = 3 x − x 2
1. f ( x) = 3 x − x 2

2. y + Δy = 3( x + Δx) − ( x + Δx) 2 2. f ( x + h) = 3( x + h) − ( x + h) 2
⇒ y + Δy = 3 x + 3(Δx) − x 2 − 2 x(Δx) − (Δx) 2 ⇒ f ( x + h) = 3 x + 3h − x 2 − 2 xh − h 2

3. y + Δy = 3 x + 3(Δx) − x 2 − 2 x(Δx) − (Δx) 2 3. f ( x + h ) − f ( x )

y = 3x − x2 = 3 x + 3h − x 2 − 2 xh − h 2 − 3 x − x 2
∴Δy = 3(Δx) − 2 x(Δx) − (Δx) 2 = 3h − 2 xh − h 2
f ( x + h) − f ( x) 3h − 2 xh − h 2
4. =
Δy 3(Δx) − 2 x(Δx) − (Δx) 2 h h
4. = f ( x + h) − f ( x )
Δx Δx 5. = 3 − 2x − h
Δy h
5. = 3 − 2 x − Δx
Δx ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 3 − 2 x − (0)
Δy x →0
⎝ h ⎠
6. lim = 3 − 2 x − (0) = 3 − 2 x
x → 0 Δx = 3 − 2x
dy dy
7. = 3 − 2x 7. = 3 − 2x
dx dx
2004
8 (b) Differentiate x 2 + 3 x with respect to x from first principles.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:

1. y = x 2 + 3 x 1. f ( x) = x 2 + 3 x

2. y + Δy = ( x + Δx) 2 + 3( x + Δx) 2. f ( x + h) = ( x + h) 2 + 3( x + h)
⇒ y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 3 x + 3(Δx) ⇒ f ( x + h) = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 + 3 x + 3h

3. y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 3 x + 3(Δx) 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)

y = x2 + 3x = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 + 3 x + 3h − x 2 − 3 x
∴Δy = 2 x ( Δx ) + ( Δ x ) 2 + 3(Δx) = 2 xh + h 2 + 3h

Δy 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 3(Δx) f ( x + h) − f ( x) 2 xh + h 2 + 3h

4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 2 x + Δx + 3 5. = 2x + h + 3
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim
x → 0 Δx
= 2 x + ( 0) + 3 = 2 x + 3 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 2 x + (0) + 3
x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 2x + 3
dy
7. = 2x + 3
dx dy
7. = 2x + 3
dx
2003
6 (b) Differentiate x 2 − 2 x with respect to x from first principles.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = x 2 − 2 x 1. f ( x) = x 2 − 2 x

2. y + Δy = ( x + Δx) 2 − 2( x + Δx) 2. f ( x + h) = ( x + h) 2 − 2( x + h)
⇒ y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 − 2 x − 2(Δx) ⇒ f ( x + h) = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 − 2 x − 2h

3. y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 − 2 x − 2(Δx) 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)

y = x2 − 2x = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 − 2 x − 2h − x 2 + 2 x
∴Δy = 2 x ( Δx ) + ( Δ x ) 2 − 2(Δx) = 2 xh + h 2 − 2h

Δy 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 − 2(Δx) f ( x + h) − f ( x) 2 xh + h 2 − 2h

4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 2 x + Δx − 2 5. = 2x + h − 2
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim = 2 x + (0) − 2 = 2 x − 2 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 2 x + (0) − 2
x → 0 Δx x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 2x − 2
dy
7. = 2x − 2
dx dy
7. = 2x − 2
dx
2001
8 (b) Differentiate 3 x 2 − x from first principles with respect to x.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:

1. y = 3 x 2 − x 1. f ( x) = 3 x 2 − x

2. y + Δy = 3( x + Δx) 2 − ( x + Δx) 2. f ( x + h) = 3( x + h) 2 − ( x + h)
⇒ y + Δy = 3 x 2 + 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − x − (Δx) ⇒ f ( x + h) = 3 x 2 + 6 xh + 3h 2 − x − h

3. y + Δy = 3 x 2 + 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − x − (Δx) 3. f ( x + h ) − f ( x )

y = 3x 2 −x = 3 x 2 + 6 xh + 3h 2 − x − h − 3 x 2 + x
∴Δy = 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − (Δx) = 6 xh + 3h 2 − h

Δy 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − (Δx) f ( x + h) − f ( x) 6 xh + 3h 2 − h

4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 6 x + 3Δx − 1 5. = 6 x + 3h − 1
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim = 6 x + 3(0) − 1 = 6 x − 1 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 6 x + 3(0) − 1
x → 0 Δx x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 6x −1
dy
7. = 6x −1
dx dy
7. = 6x −1
dx
2000
6 (a) Differentiate 7x + 3 from first principles with respect to x.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = 7 x + 3 1. f ( x) = 7 x + 3

2. y + Δy = 7( x + Δx) + 3 2. f ( x + h) = 7( x + h) + 3
⇒ y + Δy = 7 x + 7 ( Δ x ) + 3 ⇒ f ( x + h) = 7 x + 7 h + 3

3. y + Δy = 7 x + 7(Δx) + 3 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)
y = 7x +3 = 7xx + 7 h + 3 − 7 x − 3 = 7 h
∴Δy = 7 ( Δx ) f ( x + h) − f ( x ) 7 h
4. =
Δy 7(Δx) h h
4. =
Δx Δx f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. =7
Δy h
5. =7
Δx ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
Δy 6. lim ⎜ ⎟= 7
6. lim =7
x →0
⎝ h ⎠
x → 0 Δx
dy
dy 7. =7
7. =7 dx
dx
1999
6 (b) Differentiate from first principles
x2 + 5x
with respect to x.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = x 2 + 5 x 1. f ( x) = x 2 + 5 x
2. y + Δy = ( x + Δx) 2 + 5( x + Δx) 2. f ( x + h) = ( x + h) 2 + 5( x + h)
⇒ y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 5 x + 5(Δx) ⇒ f ( x + h) = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 + 5 x + 5h
3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)
3. y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 5 x + 5(Δx) = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 + 5 x + 5h − x 2 − 5 x
y = x2 + 5x = 2 xh + h 2 + 5h
∴Δy = 2 x ( Δx ) + ( Δ x ) 2 + 5(Δx) f ( x + h) − f ( x) 2 xh + h 2 + 5h
4. =
Δy 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 5(Δx) h h
4. =
Δx Δx f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 2x + h + 5
Δy h
5. = 2 x + Δx + 5
Δx ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
Δy
6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 2 x + (0) + 5
6. lim = 2 x + (0) + 5 = 2 x + 5
x →0
⎝ h ⎠
x → 0 Δx
= 2x + 5
dy dy
7. = 2x + 5 7. = 2x + 5
dx dx
1997
6 (b) Differentiate from first principles
3x 2 − 2
with respect to x.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = 3 x 2 − 2 1. f ( x) = 3 x 2 − 2

2. y + Δy = 3( x + Δx) 2 − 2 2. f ( x + h) = 3( x + h) 2 − 2
⇒ y + Δy = 3 x 2 + 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − 2 ⇒ f ( x + h) = 3 x 2 + 6 xh + 3h 2 − 2

3. y + Δy = 3 x 2 + 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − 2 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)
y = 3x 2
−2 = 3 x 2 + 6 xh + 3h 2 − 2 − 3 x 2 + 2
∴Δy = 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 = 6 xh + 3h 2

Δy 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 f ( x + h) − f ( x) 6 xh + 3h 2
4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 6 x + 3Δx 5. = 6 x + 3h
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim = 6 x + 3(0) = 6 x 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 6 x + 3(0)
x →0 Δx x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 6x
dy
7. = 6x
dx dy
7. = 6x
dx
1996
7 (a) Differentiate from first principles
3x − 7
with respect to x.
SOLUTION
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = 3 x − 7 1. f ( x) = 3 x − 7

2. y + Δy = 3( x + Δx) − 7 2. f ( x + h) = 3( x + h) − 7
⇒ y + Δy = 3 x + 3(Δx) − 7 ⇒ f ( x + h) = 3 x + 3h − 7

3. y + Δy = 3 x + 3(Δx) − 7 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)
y = 3x −7 = 3xx + 3h − 7 − 3 x + 7 = 3h
∴Δy = 3(Δx)
f ( x + h) − f ( x) 3h
4. =
Δy 3(Δx) h h
4. =
Δx Δx
f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. =3
Δy h
5. =3
Δx
⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
Δy
6. lim ⎜ ⎟= 3
6. lim =3
x →0
⎝ h ⎠
x →0 Δx
dy
7. =3
dy dx
7. =3
dx