MODULE 2:

DERIVATIVES
AT THE END OF THE MODULE THE STUDENTS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
1. USE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ALGEBRA
AND LIMITS TO DEFINE THE DERIVATIVE;
2. APPLY DERIVATIVES TO THE RATE OF
CHANGE OF A FUNCTION;
3. DERIVE THE DIFFERENTIATION RULES;
4. COMPUTE THE DERIVATIVE OF FUNCTIONS
USING DIFFERENTIATION RULES; AND
5. FIND THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM
VALUES OF A FUNCTION AND SOLVE
PROBLEM SET USING DIFFERENTIATION.
TANGENT LINE TO A CURVE
&
SLOPE OF A CURVE
 TANGENT LINE TO A CURVE
SLOPE OF A CURVE

❑ The slope of a line can be used to describe the rate at

which the line rises or falls. For a line, this rate (or slope)
is the same at every point on the line. For graphs (or
curves) other than lines, the rate at which the graph rises
or falls, changes from point to point.
❑ From the figure, the graph is rises more quickly at the point
(x1, y1) than it is at point (x2, y2). Then the graph levels off at
the point (x3, y3) and is falling at point (x4, y4).
❑ To determine the rate at which a curve rises or falls at a
point, we use the tangent line to the curve at the point.
❑ The tangent line to the graph of the function (f) at a point is
the line that best approximates the graph of f at that point. The slope of a curve changes
from one point to another.
 SLOPE OF A CURVE
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
❑ Slope of the graph
❑ The slope m of the graph of y = f(x) at (x, f(x))
is equal to the slope of its tangent line at (x,
f(x)), and it is determine by the formula
𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑚 = lim
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
provided this limit exists.
❑ Secant Line
❑ A line through two points on the curve.
INTRODUCTION TO
DERIVATIVES
INTRODUCTION TO DERIVATIVES
 We know from basic algebra that a line has To find the derivative of a function y = f(x),
the form f(x) = mx + b, where m is the slope. we use the slope formula:
We measure the slope as the distance 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 ∆𝑥
traveled up (along the vertical axis) divided 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = =
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦 ∆𝑦
by the corresponding distance traveled
across (along the horizontal axis): this is From the diagram below, we can see that:
what we call "rise over run." We can also call x changes from x to x + ∆x
the rise ∆y, since it is the change in y; the
run we can call ∆x, since it is the change in y changes from f(x) to f(x + ∆x)
x. Then,

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥
 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 =
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦
 DERIVATIVE
 A function is said to be differentiable at x if its
derivative exists at x, and the process of finding the Definition of DERIVATIVE:
derivative is called differentiation. The derivative of f at x is given by
 Notations: 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
lim
∆𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
; ; 𝒚′ ; 𝒇′(𝒙) ; [𝒇 𝒙 ] ; 𝑫𝒙 (𝒚)
∆𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 provided the limit exists.
𝑑𝑦
 The notation is read as the “derivative of y with
𝑑𝑥
respect to x”. Thus, Follow the steps:
𝒅𝒚 ∆𝒚 - Fill in this slope formula:
= lim
𝒅𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 ∆𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
=
 Thus, we have ∆𝑦 ∆𝑥
𝒅𝒚 ∆𝒚 𝒇 𝒙+∆𝒙 −𝒇(𝒙) - Simplify it as best we can
= lim = lim = 𝒇′ (𝒙)
𝒅𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 - Then make ∆x shrink toward zero
 INTRODUCTION TO DERIVATIVES

To find the derivative of a function y = f(x), Follow the steps:

we use the slope formula: - Fill in this slope formula:
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = = =
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦 ∆𝑦
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
- Simplify it as best we can
From the diagram, we can see that:
x changes from x to x + ∆x - Then make ∆x shrink toward zero

y changes from f(x) to f(x + ∆x)

Since the limit at both sides approaches zero (∆x → 0),
∆𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝒇 𝒙 + ∆𝒙 − 𝒇(𝒙)
= = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙 𝒅𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
EXAMPLE:
What is the Derivative of:

2
𝑓 𝑥 =𝑥
Substitute 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 to 𝑥:
𝒇 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 = (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)𝟐 = 𝑥 2 + 2 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2

𝑑𝑦 𝒇 𝒙+∆𝒙 −𝒇(𝒙)
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝑥 2 +2𝑥∆𝑥+ ∆𝑥 2 −(𝒙𝟐 )
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝑥 2 +2𝑥∆𝑥+ ∆𝑥 2 −𝒙𝟐 It means that, for the function x2,
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ∆𝒙 the slope or “rate of change” at any
∆𝒙→𝟎
2𝑥∆𝑥+ ∆𝑥 2 2𝑥∆𝑥 ∆𝑥 2 point is 2x.
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ∆𝒙
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙→𝟎
= 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟎
So when x = 2, the slope is 2x = 4.
Or when x = 5, the slope is 2x = 10, and
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 𝟐𝒙 so on.
EXAMPLE:

What is the Derivative of:

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥3

Answer:

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 𝟑𝒙𝟐
EXAMPLE:

What is the Derivative of:

𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3

Answer:

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟐
 DERIVATIVES OF
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

An algebraic function is any function that can be built from the

identity function y = x by forming linear combinations, products,
quotients, and fractional powers.
DIFFERENTIATION RULES

The derivative of a constant is 𝒅

equal to zero (0) [𝒌] =𝟎
𝒅𝒙

Differentiate: Proof:
𝑑𝑦
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒇 𝒙+∆𝒙 −𝒇(𝒙)
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝒇 𝒙 =𝟓 𝟓−𝟓
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝟎
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
Answer: ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝑓′ 𝑥 = 0 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟎
∆𝒙→𝟎

=𝟎
DIFFERENTIATION RULES

General Rule for 𝒅

Differentiation
𝒙=𝟏
𝒅𝒙
Differentiate: Proof:
𝑑𝑦
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒇 𝒙+∆𝒙 −𝒇(𝒙)
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝒇 𝒙 =𝒙 𝒙+∆𝒙−𝒙
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

∆𝒙
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
Answer: ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝑓′ 𝑥 = 1 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟏
∆𝒙→𝟎

=𝟏
DIFFERENTIATION RULES

𝒅 𝒏
(Simple) Power Rule 𝒙 = 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏 where n   and n  0
𝒅𝒙
Proof:
Differentiate: ∆𝒙(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟑𝒙∆𝒙+∆𝒙𝟐 )
𝟑 𝑑𝑦 𝒇 𝒙+∆𝒙 −𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒇 𝒙 =𝒙 𝑑𝑥
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝒙+∆𝒙 𝟑 −𝒙𝟑 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙∆𝒙 + ∆𝒙𝟐 )

∆𝒙→𝟎
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
Answer: = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟑𝒙∆𝒙+
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙→𝟎
𝒙𝟑 +𝟑𝒙𝟐 ∆𝒙+𝟑𝒙∆𝒙𝟐 +∆𝒙𝟑 −𝒙𝟑
2 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 3𝑥 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ∆𝒙𝟐
∆𝒙→𝟎
𝟑𝒙𝟐 ∆𝒙+𝟑𝒙∆𝒙𝟐 +∆𝒙𝟑 = 𝟑𝒙 𝟐
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
DIFFERENTIATION RULES

The derivative of a constant

multiplied by a function is equal to 𝒅 𝒅
the constant multiplied by the [𝒌 •𝒇 𝒙 ]=𝒌• [𝒇 𝒙 ]
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
derivative of the function

Differentiate: Proof:
𝑑𝑦
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒇 𝒙+∆𝒙 −𝒇(𝒙)
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟓𝒙 𝟓(𝒙+∆𝒙)−𝟓𝒙
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝟓𝒙+𝟓∆𝒙−𝟓𝒙
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
Answer: ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝑓′ 𝑥 = 5 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝟓∆𝒙
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

=𝟓
DIFFERENTIATION RULES

The derivative of a 𝒅 𝒅 𝒅
sum is equal to the 𝒇 𝒙 +𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝒙 + [𝒈 𝒙 ]
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
sum of the derivatives
𝑑𝑦 𝒙+∆𝒙 𝟑 +𝟓 𝒙+∆𝒙 +𝟐 −[𝒙𝟑 −𝟓𝒙+𝟐]
Differentiate: Proof: = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟓𝒙 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎
𝒙𝟑 +𝟑𝒙𝟐 ∆𝒙+𝟑𝒙∆𝒙𝟐 +∆𝒙𝟑 +𝟓𝒙+𝟓∆𝒙+𝟐 −[𝒙𝟑 +𝟓𝒙+𝟐]
∆𝒙

𝟑𝒙𝟐 ∆𝒙+𝟑𝒙∆𝒙𝟐 +∆𝒙𝟑 +𝟓∆𝒙

= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
Answer:
∆𝒙(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟑𝒙∆𝒙+∆𝒙𝟐 +𝟓)
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
′ 𝑥 2
𝑓 = 3𝑥 + 5 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓)
∆𝒙→𝟎

= 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓
DIFFERENTIATION RULES
The derivative of a sum
is equal to the 𝒅 𝒅 𝒅
difference of the 𝒇 𝒙 −𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝒙 − [𝒈 𝒙 ]
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
derivatives
𝑑𝑦 𝒙+∆𝒙 𝟑 −𝟓 𝒙+∆𝒙 −[𝒙𝟑 −𝟓𝒙]
Differentiate: Proof: = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟓𝒙 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎
𝒙𝟑 +𝟑𝒙𝟐 ∆𝒙+𝟑𝒙∆𝒙𝟐 +∆𝒙𝟑 −𝟓𝒙−𝟓∆𝒙 −[𝒙𝟑 −𝟓𝒙]
∆𝒙

𝟑𝒙𝟐 ∆𝒙+𝟑𝒙∆𝒙𝟐 +∆𝒙𝟑 −𝟓∆𝒙

= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
Answer:
∆𝒙(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟑𝒙∆𝒙+∆𝒙𝟐 −𝟓)
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
′ 𝑥 2
𝑓 = 3𝑥 − 5 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓)
∆𝒙→𝟎

= 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓
EXAMPLE:

1. Find the derivative: 2. Find the derivative: 3. Find the derivative:

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑. 𝟓 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟒
EXAMPLE:

4. Find the derivative: 5. Find the derivative:

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙𝟔 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐
EXAMPLE:

6. Find the derivative:

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗𝒙 − 𝟏𝟐

Answer:

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 𝟖𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟗
EXAMPLE:

7. Find the derivative:

𝟐
𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙

Answer:

𝑑𝑦 𝟐
𝑑𝑥
= − 𝒙𝟐
EXAMPLE:

8. Find the derivative:

𝟑 𝟐
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑− 𝟐
𝒙 𝒙

Answer:

𝟗 𝟒
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= − 𝒙𝟒 + 𝒙𝟑
EXAMPLE:

9. Find the derivative:

𝟏 𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐

Answer:

𝟏 𝟏
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 𝟐 − 𝟏
𝟑𝒙𝟑 𝒙𝟐
THE PRODUCT RULE

The derivative of a product of two

functions is the first times the
derivative of the second, plus the
second times the derivative of the 𝒅(𝒖𝒗) 𝒅𝒗 𝒅𝒖
first. =𝒖 +𝒗
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
If u and v are two functions of x,
then the derivative of the product
uv is given by:
 Example:

Find the derivative:

𝑓 𝑥 = (2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥)(2𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 )

Answer: 𝒅(𝒖𝒗) 𝒅𝒗 𝒅𝒖
=𝒖 +𝒗
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒖 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙
𝒅𝒖 = 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟔
𝒅(𝒖𝒗)
= 2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 6𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + (2𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 )(4𝑥 + 6)
𝒅𝒙
𝒗 = 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟓𝒙𝟐 = 12𝑥 4 + 20𝑥 3 + 36𝑥 3 + 60𝑥 + 8𝑥 4 + 12𝑥 3 + 20𝑥 3 + 30𝑥 2
𝒅𝒗 = 𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙
= 𝟐𝟎𝒙𝟒 + 𝟖𝟖𝒙𝟑 + 𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟐
EXAMPLE:

Find the derivative:

𝒚 = (𝒙𝟑 − 𝟔𝒙)(𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 )

Answer:

𝑦′ = −𝟐𝟒𝒙𝟓 + 𝟗𝟔𝒙𝟑 + 𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟐

THE QUOTIENT RULE

The quotient rule is a formula for

taking the derivative of a quotient of
two functions. If you have function 𝒅𝒖 𝒅𝒗
𝒅 𝒖 𝒗 −𝒖
f(x) = u in the numerator and the = 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
function g(x) = v in the 𝒅𝒙 𝒗 𝒗𝟐
denominator, then the derivative is
found using the formula:
 Example:

Find the derivative:

𝟐𝒙𝟑
𝒚=
𝟒−𝒙
𝒅𝒖 𝒅𝒗
𝒅 𝒖 𝒗 −𝒖
= 𝒅𝒙 𝟐 𝒅𝒙
Answer:
𝒅𝒙 𝒗 𝒗

𝑑 𝑢 (4−𝑥)(6𝑥 2 )−(2𝑥 3 )(−1)

𝒖 = 𝟐𝒙𝟑
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑣 (4−𝑥)2
𝒅𝒖 = 𝟔𝒙𝟐
24𝑥 2 −6𝑥 3 +2𝑥 3
=
𝒗=𝟒−𝒙 (4−𝑥)2
𝒅𝒗 = −𝟏
𝟐𝟒𝒙𝟐 −𝟒𝒙𝟑
=
(𝟒−𝒙)𝟐
EXAMPLE:

Find the derivative:

𝟒𝒙𝟐
𝒚= 𝟑
𝒙 +𝟑

Answer:

𝟐𝒙𝟑 −𝟑𝒙𝟐 −𝟐
𝑦′ =
(𝒙−𝟏)𝟐
EXAMPLE:

Find the derivative:

𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙
𝒚=
𝒙−𝟏

Answer:

𝟐𝒙𝟑 −𝟑𝒙𝟐 −𝟐
𝑦′ = (𝒙−𝟏)𝟐
THE CHAIN RULE

Suppose that we have two functions f(x) and g(x) and they are
The chain rule states both differentiable.
that the derivative of
f(g(x)) is 1. If we define 𝐹 𝑥 = (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥), then the derivative
f’(g(x))•g’(x). of F(x) is
𝑭′ 𝒙 = 𝒇′(𝒈 𝒙 ) • 𝒈′(𝒙)
2. If we have y = f(u) and u = g(x) then the
In other words, it helps derivative of y is
us differentiate 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒖
composite functions. = •
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒖 𝒅𝒙
 Example:

Use the chain rule to differentiate

𝑹(𝒛) = 𝟓𝒛 − 𝟖

𝑅′(𝑧) = 𝑓 ′ 𝑔 𝑧 𝑔′(𝑧)
Answer:
= 𝑓 ′ 5𝑧 − 8 𝑔′ 𝑧
𝒇 𝒛 = 𝒛 1
1 −
= 5𝑧 − 8 2 5
𝟏 2
𝒇′(𝒛) =
𝟐 𝒛
1
𝒈 𝒛 = 𝟓𝒛 − 𝟖 = 5
2 5𝑧−8
𝒈′ 𝒛 = 𝟓
𝟓
=
𝟐 𝟓𝒛−𝟖
EXAMPLE:

Differentiate:
𝟒
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙

Answer:

𝟑
𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕 𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙
EXAMPLE:

Differentiate:
𝟑
𝒚= 𝟏 − 𝟖𝒛

Answer:

𝟐
𝟖 −
𝑦′ =− 𝟏 − 𝟖𝒛 𝟑
𝟑
EXAMPLE:

Differentiate:

𝟏𝟐
𝒚= 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 −𝟓

Answer:

𝟏𝟏
𝑦′ = 𝟏𝟐 𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓
EXAMPLE:

Differentiate:

𝒚 = 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟓

Answer:

𝟕
𝑦′ =
𝟐 𝟕𝒙−𝟓