7.

Derivative and Rules for Differentiation

Tony U
University of Macau

Outline
1 Lines

Secant Lines
Tangent Lines
2 Slopes

Slope of a Straight Line

Slope of a Curve at a Point
Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit
3 Rules for Differentiation
4 Summary

Lines
Secant Lines

Secant Lines
A secant line is a line that intersects a curve at two or more points

Figure 1: The line passing through P and Q is a secant line

-1-

Lines
Tangent Lines

Tangent Lines
A line that intersects a curve at only one point
To obtain a tangent line at point P, limit concept is required.
As shown in Figure 2, when point Q approaches to P, the
required tangent can be obtained.

Figure 2: The Tangent Line is a Limiting Position of Secant Lines

-2-

Slopes
Slope of a Straight Line

Slope of a Straight Line

Recall that the slope of a straight line passing through two points
(x1 , y1 ), (x2 , y2 ) is given by the formula
Slope =

y
y2 y1
=
.
x
x2 x1

The slope is constant at any point of the straight line.

-3-

Slopes
Slope of a Curve at a Point

Slope of a Curve at a Point

In a curve (not a straight line)
Slope or steepness is not a constant but varies from point to
point
Slope at a point: slope of the tangent line if it exists and
unique

Figure
-4- 3:

Slopes
Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit

Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit

For the curve y = f (x) in Figure 4 below, we would

like to find an
expression for the slope at the point P = x, f (x) .

Figure 4: Secant line through P and Q

-5-

Slopes
Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit

Slope of point P is the slope of tangent line at point P (if it

exists and unique)
According to the limit concept, slope of secant line PQ should
be a good approximation when Q is close to P.
Following the explanation, we first find the slope of PQ (m),
m=

f (x2 ) f (x1 )
x2 x1

Let x2 = x1 + x, x 6= 0
m=

f (x1 + x) f (x1 )
x

-6-

Slopes
Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit

the slope of the actual tangent at P, if it exists, is the value

that the slope of the secant line PQ approaches as x
approaches zero.
f (x1 + x) f (x1 )
,
x0
x

mP = lim

where mP is the slope of a tangent at P.

The derivative of a function f (x) with respect to x is the
function f (x), which is defined as
f (x + x) f (x)
x0
x

f (x) = lim

and the process of computing the derivative is called

differentiation.
-7-

(1)

Slopes
Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit

Notation of derivative: given the function y = f (x), all of the

following represent the derivative of f at x:
dy
,
dx

f (x),

y ,

The slope of the

tangent line to the curve y = f (x) at the
point c, f (c) is given by
mtan = f (c).

-8-

Slopes
Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit

Example
Find the slope of the tangent line to y = f (x) = x 2 at x = 3.

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Slopes
Finding the Slope of a Curve at a Point via Limit

Example
Find the slope of the tangent line to y = f (x) = x 2 at x = 3.

f (x) =

dx 2
dx

(x + x)2 x 2
x0
x
2
x + 2xx + (x)2 x 2
= lim
x0
x
x(2x + x)
= lim
x0
x
= lim (2x + x) = 2x,
=

lim

x0

The slope of the tangent line to the curve y = f (x) = x 2 at the

point x = 3 is therefore f (3) = 2(3) = 6.
-9-

Rules for Differentiation

The Derivative of a Constant Function

If f (x) = c, a constant, then

f (x) =

dc
= 0.
dx

-10-

Rules for Differentiation

The Power Rule

If f (x) = x r , where r is real, then

f (x) =

dx r
= rx r 1 .
dx

Note: the derivative may not be valid at x = 0.

-11-

Rules for Differentiation

Examples
Find the derivatives of the following functions by using the power
rule:
1

y = x6

y = x 6

f (x) = x

f (x) =

-12-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (1)

dy
dx 6
=
= 6x 61 = 6x 5 .
dx
dx

-13-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (1)
(2)

dy
dx 6
=
= 6x 61 = 6x 5 .
dx
dx
dy
dx 6
=
= 6x 61 = 6x 7 .
dx
dx

-13-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (1)
(2)

dy
dx 6
=
= 6x 61 = 6x 5 .
dx
dx
dy
dx 6
=
= 6x 61 = 6x 7 .
dx
dx

(3) f (x) =

dx
= x 1 .
dx

-13-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (1)
(2)

dy
dx 6
=
= 6x 61 = 6x 5 .
dx
dx
dy
dx 6
=
= 6x 61 = 6x 7 .
dx
dx

(3) f (x) =

dx
= x 1 .
dx

1
d x
dx 2
1 1
1 1
(4) f (x) =
=
= x 2 1 = x 2 .
dx
dx
2
2

-13-

Rules for Differentiation

The Constant Multiple Rule

Let F (x) = cf (x), c is a constant, then

F (x) =

dcf (x)
df
=c
= cf (x).
dx
dx

-14-

Rules for Differentiation

Example 5

Find the derivatives of y = 2/x by using the constant multiple

rule, and the power rule.

-15-

Rules for Differentiation

Example 5

Find the derivatives of y = 2/x by using the constant multiple

rule, and the power rule.
Sol.:

dy
d2x 1
dx 1
=
=2
= 2x 2 .
dx
dx
dx

-15-

Rules for Differentiation

The sum (difference) rule

Let F (x) = f (x) g (x), then

F (x) = f (x) g (x) =
provided that both f and g exist.

-16-

dg
df

,
dx
dx

Rules for Differentiation

Examples

Find the derivatives of the following functions by sum (difference)

rule:
6

y = x2 + x3

f (t) = 7t 3 6t 2

y=

x3 + 1
x2

-17-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (6)

dy
d(x 2 + x 3 )
dx 2 dx 3
=
=
+
= 2x + 3x 2 .
dx
dx
dx
dx

-18-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (6)

dy
d(x 2 + x 3 )
dx 2 dx 3
=
=
+
= 2x + 3x 2 .
dx
dx
dx
dx

(7) f (t) =

d(7t 3 6t 2 )
dt 3
dt 2
=7
6
= 21t 2 12t.
dt
dt
dt

-18-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (6)

dy
d(x 2 + x 3 )
dx 2 dx 3
=
=
+
= 2x + 3x 2 .
dx
dx
dx
dx

(7) f (t) =
3

d x x+1
dy
2
(8)
=
dx
dx

d(7t 3 6t 2 )
dt 3
dt 2
=7
6
= 21t 2 12t.
dt
dt
dt


d x + x12
dx
dx 2
=
=
+
= 1 2x 3 .
dx
dx
dx

-18-

Rules for Differentiation

The Product Rule

Let F (x) = f (x) g (x), then F (x) = f (x)g (x) + g (x)f (x). More
concisely,
df g
dg
df
=f
+g .
dx
dx
dx
The identity holds provided that both and exist.

-19-

Rules for Differentiation

Examples

If y = (x 2 x 3 )(x 4 + 2x), find

10

If y = f (x) g (x) h(x), find

Hence express

dy
by using the product rule.
dx

dy
by using the product rule.
dx

d[f (x)]3
in terms of f (x) and f (x).
dx

-20-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (9)
dy
dx

d(x 2 x 3 )(x 4 + 2x)

dx

= (x 2 x 3 )

d(x 4 + 2x)
d(x 2 x 3 )
+ (x 4 + 2x)
dx
dx

= (x 2 x 3 )(4x 3 + 2) + (x 4 + 2x)(2x 3x 2 )
= 6x 2 8x 3 + 6x 5 7x 6 .

-21-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (10)
dy
dx

df (x) g (x) h(x)

dx

dg (x) h(x)
df (x)
+ g (x) h(x)
dx
dx


dh(x)
dg (x)
df (x)
= f (x) g (x)
+ h(x)
+ g (x) h(x)
dx
dx
dx
= f (x)

= f (x)g (x)h (x) + f (x)g (x)h(x) + f (x)g (x)h(x).

Let g (x) = h(x) = f (x), then

d[f (x)]3
= 3f 2 (x)f (x).
dx

-22-

Rules for Differentiation

The Quotient Rule

Let F (x) =

f (x)
with g (x) 6= 0, then
g (x)
F (x) =

g (x)f (x) f (x)g (x)

.
[g (x)]2

More concisely,
df
f
d  f  g dx
=
dx g
g2

-23-

dg
dx

Rules for Differentiation

Examples

x3 + 1
using the
x2

11

Find the derivatives of the function, y =

quotient rule.

12

Find f (1), the derivative of the function f (x) =

x = 1.

-24-

2x + 5
at
x2 + 3

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (11) Let f (x) = x 3 + 1 and g (x) = x 2 ,

dy
dx

d x x+1
2
dx

x 2 d(xdx+1) (x 3 + 1) dx
dx
(x 2 )2

x 2 (3x 2 ) (x 3 + 1)(2x)
x4

x 4 2x
2
= 1 3.
x4
x

-25-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (12) Let f (x) = 2x + 5 and g (x) = x 2 + 3,

f (x) =

d 2x+5
x 2 +3
dx
2

(x 2 + 3) d(2x+5)
(2x + 5) d(xdx+3)
dx
(x 2 + 3)2

(x 2 + 3)(2) (2x + 5)(2x)

(x 2 + 3)2

2x 2 + 6 4x 2 10x
2x 2 10x + 6
=
(x 2 + 3)2
(x 2 + 3)2

f (1) =

2(1)2 10(1) + 6
3
=

2
8
(1)2 + 3
-26-

Rules for Differentiation

Derivative of Logarithmic Function

d ln x
1
= .
dx
x
Note that the above formula is valid only if x > 0.
One may extend the above to
d ln |x|
1
= ,
dx
x
for x 6= 0.
Derivative of Logarithmic Function to the Base a:
d loga x
1
=
.
dx
x ln a
-27-

Rules for Differentiation

Derivative of Exponential Function

de x
= ex .
dx
Moreover,

de ax
= ae ax ,
dx

a R.

Derivative of Exponential Function to Base a

dax
= ax ln a.
dx

-28-

Rules for Differentiation

Examples
13. Determine the derivatives of the following functions:
a. f (x) =

ex
.
x

b. f (x) =

10x
ln x

c. f (x) = xe x
d. f (x) = e x ln x

-29-

Rules for Differentiation

Sol.: (a) Using quotient rule

x

f (x) =

d ex
dx

x dx
x de
dx e dx
x2

xe x e x
e x (x 1)
=
.
2
x
x2

-30-

Rules for Differentiation

(b) Using quotient rule

f (x) =

d 10x
ln x
dx

d ln x
ln x d10x
dx 10x dx
(ln x)2

10 ln x 10x x1
10(ln x 1)
=
.
2
(ln x)
(ln x)2

-31-

Rules for Differentiation

(c) Using product rule

f (x) =

dxe x
dx

= x

de x
dx
+ e x
dx
dx

= e x (1 x).

-32-

Rules for Differentiation

(c) Using product rule

f (x) =

dxe x
dx

= x

de x
dx
+ e x
dx
dx

= e x (1 x).
(d) Using product rule
f (x) =

de x ln x
dx

d ln x
de x
+ ln x
dx
dx
1

= ex
+ ln x .
x

= ex

-32-

Summary

Summary

Derivative: slope of the tangent line. Let y = f (x), the

definition is

f (x) =

df (x)
dy
f (x + x) f (x)
=
= lim
.
x0
dx
dx
x

Differentiation: process of computing derivative

-33-

Summary

Let a, b and c are constant and a > 0, f (x) and g (x) are functions
where their derivatives exist


bf (x) cg (x) = bf (x) cg (x)


f (x)g (x) = f (x)g (x) + f (x)g (x)



f (x)
g (x)

g (x)f (x)f (x)g (x)

g 2 (x)

(x b ) = bx b1
(loga x) =
ax

1
x ln a ,

if a = e, (ln x) =

= ax ln a, if a = e, (e x ) = e x
-34-

1
x