CHAPTER 3

SHORT-CUTS TO DIFFERENTIATION
 Section 3.3
The Product and
Quotient Rules

Calculus, 6th edition, Hughes-Hallett et. al., Copyright

2013 by John Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved
 Difference of a Product
f(x + h)g(x + h) − f(x)g(x)
= (Area of whole rectangle) − (Unshaded area)
= Area of the three shaded rectangles
= Δ f ・ g(x) + f(x) ・ Δ g + Δ f ・ Δ g.

Figure 3.13: Illustration for the product rule (with Δf, Δg positive)

Calculus, 6th edition, Hughes-Hallett et. al., Copyright

2013 by John Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved
Theorem 3.3: The Product Rule
If u = f(x) and v = g(x) are differentiable, then
(f g)′ = f′ g + f g′.
The product rule can also be written

In words:
The derivative of a product is the derivative of the
first times the second plus the first times the
derivative of the second.

Calculus, 6th edition, Hughes-Hallett et. al., Copyright

2013 by John Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved
Exercise 6
Find the derivative of y = (t2 + 3) et
Solution
dy/dt = (2t) et + (t2 + 3) et = (t2 + 2t +3) et

Exercise 54
Let f(3) = 6, g(3) = 12, f′(3) = 1/2 , and g′(3) = 4/3 .
Evaluate the following when x = 3.
(f(x)g(x))′ − (g(x) − 4f′(x))
Solution
At x = 3, (fg)’= f’(3)g(3) + f(3)g’(3) = (1/2)(12)+6(4/3) = 6+8 =14
So at x = 3, (f(x)g(x))′ − (g(x) − 4f′(x)) = 14 – (12-4·(1/2))
= 14 – 10 = 4

Calculus, 6th edition, Hughes-Hallett et. al., Copyright

2013 by John Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved
Theorem 3.4: The Quotient Rule
If u = f(x) and v = g(x) are differentiable, then
(f /g)′ = (f′ g - f g′)/g2

or equivalently,

In words:
The derivative of a quotient is the derivative of the
numerator times the denominator minus the numerator
times the derivative of the denominator, all over the
denominator squared.

Calculus, 6th edition, Hughes-Hallett et. al., Copyright

2013 by John Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved
Example 2a
Differentiate 5x2 /(x3 + 1)
Solution

Calculus, 6th edition, Hughes-Hallett et. al., Copyright

2013 by John Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved