SECTION 2.

1: THE TANGENT LINE AND THE DERIVATIVE

Many important problems in

Calculus depend on determining the

At the end of the lesson, you should be able
to:
tangent line to the graph of a function
 define the slope of a tangent line;
 define the derivative as a rate of change, at a specific point on the graph. In
and
 find the slope of a tangent line from a
order to arrive at a suitable definition
curve using the definition of a tangent
line (derivative).
of the tangent line to the graph of the

function at a point, we proceed by

using defining some important terms in which left for students as an

assignment.

Answer the following questions. Prepare your answers and

graded recitation will be conducted during the session:
1. What is a function?
2. What is a Secant Line?
3. What is a Tangent Line?
4. Define the slope of a tangent line?
5. Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve y=5−x2 at
the point (1,4) on the curve.

In the tangent line problem, you are given a function f and a point P on its

graph and are asked to find an equation of the tangent line to the graph at point

P. The problem of finding the tangent line at a point P is equivalent to finding

the slope of the tangent line at P. You can approximate this slope by using a line
through the point of tangency and a second point on the curve. This line is called

a secant line. As the slope of the secant line approaches the slope of the tangent

line, a "limiting position" exists. Therefore, the slope of the tangent line is said

to be the limit of the slope of the secant line. This situation was illustrated below:
To understand further, let us define formally the slope of the tangent line:

DEFINITION: SLOPE OF THE TANGENT LINE

Given a point Pa, f a  on the graph of the function with

equation y  f x  , the slope of the line tangent to the graph of f

at point P is given by

f a  x   f a 
m  lim
x 0 x
If this limit exists.

Illustration 1: Find the slope of the graph of y  2x  3 at the point (2,1).

Solution:

To find the slope of the graph of f when a = 2, you can apply the definition of

the slope of the tangent line, as shown:

Hence the slope of the tangent line at the point (2, 1) is 2.

Illustration 2: Find the slopes of the tangent lines to the graph of f  x   x  1
2

at the point (0,1) and (-1,2).

Illustration 3: Find the slope of the tangent lines to the graph of f x   x at

the point (1, 1).

Solution: By rationalizing the numerator, we have

Using the definition, Thus, the slope of the tangent line at (1,1) is
f  x  x   f  x 
 lim
x 0 x @1,1
x  x  x 1 1
 lim
x 0 x m 
 x  x  x  x  x  x  2 1 2
 lim   
x 0 x  x  x  
  x 

 x  x   x
lim
x 0 x  x  x  x 
x
 lim
x 0 x  x  x  x 
1
 lim
x 0 x  x  x
1

2 x
 DEFINITION: NORMAL LINE TO A GRAPH

The normal line to a graph at a given point is the line

perpendicular to the tangent line at that given point. The figure below
shows the normal line:

Illustration 1: Find the equation of the normal line to the graph of the parabola
y  x 2  1 at the point (2,3).
Solution: We first compute the slope of the tangent line at (2,3). With
f  x   x 2  1 , we have from the definition:
f 2  x   f 2  The slope of tan gent line is 4.
 lim
x 0 x
 
1
2  x 2  1  3 Thus the slope of the normal line is 
 lim 4
x 0 x and the equation of the normal line is
4  4x  x   4
2
 lim
x 0 x
y 3  
1
x  2
4
4x  x  4 y  12   x  2
2
 lim
x 0 x x  4 y  14  0
 lim 4  x 
x 0

4

Find the equation of the tangent and normal lines to the graph of y  x 1
at the point (3,2).
 DEFINITION: Derivative of the Function

The derivative of the function f is that function, denoted by f '

such that its value at a number x in the domain of f is given by
f x  x   f x 
f ' x   lim
x 0 x
If this limit exists.

If x1 is a particular number in the domain of f , then

f x1  x   f x1 
f ' x1   lim
x 0 x
If this limit exists.

Illustration 1: Find the derivative of f if f x  

3
.
x
Solution: If x is a number in the domain of f , then
f  x  x   f  x 
 lim
x 0 x
3 3

 lim x  x x
x 0 x
3 x  3 x  x 
 lim
x 0 x  x  x  x 

 3x
 lim
x 0 x  x  x  x 

3
 lim
x 0 x  x  x 

3
  2
x

Hence, the derivative of f is f ' x   

3
.
x2
Illustration 2: Find the derivative of y  x  2 x .
3

Solution:
f ( x  x)  f ( x)
f ' ( x)  lim x 0
x
( x  x)  2( x  x)  ( x 3  2 x)
3
 lim x 0
x
( x  x)( x  2 xx  (x) 2 )  2 x  2x  x3  2 x
2
 lim x 0
x
x  2 x x  x(x)  x 2 x  2 x(x) 2  (x)3  2x  2x  x3 - 2x
3 2 2
 lim x 0
x
3x x  3x(x)  (x)  2x
2 2 3
 lim x 0
x
x(3x  3xx  (x) 2  2)
2
 lim x 0
x
 lim x 0 3x 2  3x(0)  (0) 2  2
f ' x   3x 2  2

Other Notations of Derivatives

Note that the process of getting the derivative of the function is called differentiation. To differentiate
a function means to obtain its derivative with respect to an independent variable. Other notations
commonly used to denote derivatives of the function defined by y  f x  are the following:
dy d
y' , , Dx ,
dx dx

You will be grouped randomly into fives (5) and do the tasks below:
1. Find the derivatives of the following functions using the definition of the
derivative.
8
a) y  7  6 x  x b) y  
2

2. Find derivative of f x  
8
where x1  6 using two different methods.
x2
3. Pose two (2) problems showing two (2) different methods of solving the
derivative of the function.
 SECTION 2.2: THEOREMS OF DIFFERENTIATION

As we observed in the previous

sections, the process of finding the
At the end of the lesson, you should be able derivatives using the limit definition.
to: The good news is that we have an
 Apply appropriate differentiation alternative method of getting
formulas in finding the derivatives of the
constant functions, power functions, derivatives.
polynomial functions, product and The use of shortcuts is
quotient functions.
sometimes a necessity in dealing with
mathematical problems since it
facilitates reaching one’s desired
result.
In order to use such formulas, remember that they can be established or
proven using foundational definitions, in the case of derivatives by using the
limit definition. As you can see earlier, the process of computing derivatives of
a function from the definition is quiet lengthy. With that, let us consider an
algebraic function as a function that can be written using a finite number of the
basic operations of arithmetic (i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
and exponentiation). In order to take the derivative of these functions, we need
to discuss some theorems that enable us to find derivatives more easily. The
theorems are as follows: (a) Constant Rule, (b) Power Rule, (c) Constant Multiple
Rule, (d) Sum/Difference Rule (e) Product Rule, (f) Quotient Rule.

Find the derivatives of the following functions:

1. g x   9  
4. f  x   x  2 x 3 x  4 
2

8x 2  2 x  1
2. f x   5 x  4 5. y 
4x  5
3. y  4 x  3 x  x  1
3 2
In summary, we have the following formulas in finding the derivative of a
function:
Derivative of a Constant The Constant Multiple Rule
𝑑 𝑑
(𝑐) = 0 𝑐 • 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 • [𝑓 ′ (𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Power Rule for Positive Integers The Sum and Difference Rule

𝑑 𝑑
[𝑓(𝑥)]𝑛 = 𝑛 • 𝑓(𝑥)𝑛−1 (𝑓 ± 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓′(𝑥) ± 𝑔′(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

The Product Rule The Quotient Rule

𝑑 𝑑 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) • 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔′ (𝑥)

(𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) • 𝑔(𝑥) + 𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔′ (𝑥) ( ) (𝑥) =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑔 [𝑔(𝑥)]2
You will be group differently this time into fives (5) and tasked to answer the
following problems and discuss the answers in the class. The grouping should
not consist of the same students as in the previous groupings that we have made.
Anybody from the group will be asked to discuss in front of the class.
A.

𝑥2−1
B. Find the equation of the tangent line of the function 𝑡(𝑥) = at
𝑥2+𝑥−2
(2,1).

C. Pose a problem showing the application of three (3) theorems in one problem
and solve the problem in many different ways.

Trigonometry is the branch of Mathematics that has made itself indispensable

for other branches of higher Mathematics may it be calculus, vectors, three dimensional
 SECTION 2.3: DERIVATIVES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
geometry, harmonic functions and simple
and otherwise just cannot be processed
At the end of the lesson, you should be able without encountering trigonometric
to: functions. Further within the specific limit,
 Identify the formulas of the derivatives trigonometric functions give us the
of trigonometric functions. inverses as well. In the previous section we
 Compute derivatives involving
have shown that trigonometric functions
trigonometric functions by applying the
theorems of differentiation. are continuous on their domains. In this
section, we can show that the
trigonometric functions are differentiable
in their domains.

Find the derivatives of the following functions:

4. h x  
sin x
1. g  x   x sin x
2

1  cos x
tan x  1
2. f x   4 sec x  5 csc x 5. y 
tan x  1
3. y  3cosu cot u

Illustration 1: Differentiate
Solutions: Using the derivative formula for sinx and cosx;
Illustration 2: Differentiate g ( x)  x sin x
Solutions: Using product rule,

g ' ( x)  xDx sin x   sin xDx x 

 x cos x  sin x(1)
 x cos x  sin x
Hence, g ' ( x)  x cos x  sin x

Illustration 3: Differentiate

(Using the Pythagorean identity.)

1
Hence, f ' x   .
1  sin x

Illustration 4: Differentiate f x   3sin x using two (2) different solutions:

Solutions:
Solution 1: Solution 2:
Using the derivative formula of Using the limit definition of the derivative, that is,
trigonometric functions: f  x  x   f  x 
f ' x   lim
x
f x   3 sin x
x  0

3 sin x  x   3 sin x
f ' ( x)  3Dx sin x  f ' x   lim
x  0 x
f ' ( x)  3 cos x 3sin x cos x  cos x sin x   3 sin x
 lim
x  0 x
3 sin x cos x  3 cos x sin x  3 sin x
 lim
x  0 x
3 sin xcos x  1  3 cos x sin x
 lim
x  0 x
3 sin xcos x  1 3 cos x sin x
 lim  lim
x  0 x x  0 x
cos x  1 sin x
 3 sin x lim  3 cos x lim
x  0 x x  0 x

cos x  1 sin x
Since lim  0 and lim 1
x  0 x x  0 x

 0  3 cos x
 3 cos x

You will be group randomly into fours (4) and answer the following differentiation
problems of trigonometric functions.
1. f x   4 sin x cos x

2. f x   3sin x  x cos x
3. h y   cos y cot y
d  cot x 
4.  
dx  1  sin x 

 2 csc x  1 
5. Dx  
 csc x  2 
 SECTION 2.4: HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES
We have learned from the previous
sections that the derivative, which is
sometimes referred to as the first
derivative, is also a function; thus, it
At the end of the lesson, you should be able
to: follows that we can also obtain its
 find higher order derivatives of derivative – which we can call the
functions.
derivative of the derivative or simply, the
second derivative. Now the second
derivative being a function, gives us an
opportunity to also get its derivative which
is called the third derivative. And the
process can be continued successively up to the point that a problem requires.
At this point, you have been exposed to different rules of differentiation. With
this, you can already continue getting derivatives up to a particularly targeted
result. Bear in mind that since derivatives is also a function, you can always get
its derivative by the usual process of differentiation.

Find the indicated derivative:

1. f "  x  if f  x   x 4  4 x 3  3 x 2

2. g" x  if g x   x sin x

3. nth derivative of f  x   2 x  x  3 x  x  4
4 3 2

Because the derivative of a function y  f x  is itself a function y ' f ' x  , you can
take the derivative of f′(x), which is generally referred to as the second derivative of
f(x) and written f "  x  or f x  . This differentiation process can be continued to find
2

the third, fourth, and successive derivatives of f  x  , which are called higher order

derivatives of f  x  . Because the “prime” notation for derivatives would eventually

become somewhat messy, it is preferable to use the numerical notation y n  f n
x  to

denote the nth derivative of f(x).

Illustration 1: Consider the polynomial function P  x   2 x 5  3 x 3  5 x  10 . Find all

derivatives of the polynomial function.
Solution:

P x   2 x 5  3 x 3  5 x  10
P ' ( x)  10 x 4  9 x 2  5
P"  x   40 x 3  18x
P 3  x   120x 2  18
P 4  x   240x
P 5  x   240
P 6 x   0
.
.
.
P n  x   0 n  6
4x
Illustration 2: Find the second derivative of the function defined by y  .
2x  1
Solution:
Since the given function is a rational function where the numerator and the
denominator contain the independent variable x, we apply the quotient rule.
Thus, computing for the second derivative, we have:
dy 2 x  14  4 x2  4
 
dx 2 x  12
2 x  12
d2y 

4


 2 x  12 0   4 Dx 2 x  12 
dx 2  2 x  12  2 x  14

 
 4 Dx 4 x 2  4 x  1
2 x  14
 48 x  4  442 x  1 16
  
2 x  14
2 x  14
2 x  13
d2y 16
Hence,  .
dx 2
2 x  13

Find the indicated higher order derivative of the following functions.

1. Find all derivatives of the function f x   2 x 7  x 5  5 x 3  8 x  4

d4  5 1 
2. 4 
x  
dx  15x 5 

3. Find h"   if hx   2  cos x

 SECTION 2.5: THE CHAIN RULE FOR DERIVATIVES
In this section, we will introduce
another way of getting the derivative of a
At the end of the lesson, you should be able function in an easier and quicker manner.
to:
Such technique is called the chain rule for
 perform differentiation using the chain differentiation.
rule;
 obtain higher order derivative using Suppose you are getting the derivative

of a function given b f x   2 x  1 . At
chain rule and 9
 show different solutions of the
derivative of the function. first, you might try to expand the binomial
by multiplying it nine times or applying the
binomial expansion theorem. After
expansion you can now compute the
derivative but the whole process might be very tedious or tiresome and time-
consuming. However, to find the derivative of the above function conveniently without
expanding the binomial, chain rule for differentiation will be very useful. Before we
show the chain rule process in computing the derivative, we will first define this
technique.
Students need to show first their solutions in the following assignment problems:

Find the derivative of the following functions in at least two different methods:

1. 
f x   x 2  1 2

2. g x   5 sin 2 x

d  x 1 
2

3.  
dx  x  2 
There are instances when a function is written in composite form, that is, f x   F Gx 

, where F is a function of u, say y  F u  and G is function of x, say u  Gx  . The

function mentioned above f x   2 x  1 is an example of the composite function.

9

This function can be viewed as a composition of f x   F Gx  where u  Gx   2 x  1

and F u   u 9 . The following theorem will help us understand the process of getting
the derivative of a composite function using chain rule:

THEOREM: The Chain Rule for Differentiation

If there are functions defined by the equations u  Gx  and y  F u  ,

such that G' x  and F ' u  both exist, then y can be expressed as a function
of x , that is, y  hx   F Gx  and the derivative of y with respect to x
can be computed using any of the following formulas:
dy  dy  du 
    or h' x   F ' Gx   G' x 
dx  du  dx 

Illustration 1: Find the derivative of the function f x   2 x  5 using chain rule.

2

Exhibit also a method which do not use the chain rule for comparison.
Method 1: Using Binomial Expansion, Method 2: Using Chain Rule,
Solutions: Expanding the binomial Solutions: Applying the chain rule, we

f x   2 x  5  4 x 2  20x  25 have u  Gx   2 x  5 and y  F u   u

2 2

f ' x   42 x   20  0 Thus, using the formula

f ' x   8 x  20 f ' x   F ' Gx   G' x  we have
f ' x   2u   2  4u but u must be a
function of x, thus we substitute
u  2 x  5 hence,
f ' x   42 x  5  8 x  20
Illustration 2: Find the derivative of the function f x   sin 2 x using chain rule. Exhibit

also a method which do not use the chain rule for comparison.
Method 1: Using Chain Rule, Method 2: Using Trigonometric Identity
Solutions: for sine double angle function and
f x   sin 2 x product rule for derivatives

f ' x   cos 2 xDx 2 x  Solutions: Recall that sin 2 x  2 sin x cos x

 2 cos 2 x Thus, f x   sin 2 x  2 sin x cos x

Hence, Now,

f ' x   2 cos 2 x f '  x   2sin xDx cos x   cos xDx sin x 

 2sin x sin x   cos xcos x 

 2  sin 2 x  cos2 x 
 2cos 2
x  sin 2 x 
But cos 2 x  cos2 x  sin 2 x
 2 cos 2 x

Hence, f ' x   2 cos 2 x

 3x  1 
2

Illustration 3: Find the derivative of the function g  x     using chain rule.

 2x  1 

Exhibit also a method which do not use the chain rule for comparison.
Method 1: Using Chain Rule, Method 2: Using Binomial Expansion

Solutions: g  x   
3x  1 
2
Solutions: g x   
3x  1 

3x  12 2

 
 x 1
2  2x 1  2 x  12
3x  1 9x2  6x  1
Let u  thus g u   u 2 Now, g x  
2x  1
4x2  4x  1
g ' u   2udu
Applying Quotient Rule g ' x  
4x 2
   
 4 x  1 Dx 9 x 2  6 x  1  9 x 2  6 x  1 Dx 4 x 2  4 x  1   
du 
2 x  1Dx 3x  1  3 x  1Dx 2 x  1 4x 2
 4x  1  2

2 x  12
2 x  13  3x  12 g ' x  
4x 2
 
 4 x  1 18x  6  9 x 2  6 x  1 8 x  4 

2 x  1 2 4x 2
 4x  1  2

6x  3  6x  2
 6 2 x  1 3x  1  43x  1 2 x  1
2 2
2 x  12 g ' x  

1 
2 x  12 2 
2 x  12
Now,

 3 x  1   1  22 x  13 x  132 x  1  23 x  1

g ' x   2  g ' x  

 2 x  1  2 x  1
2

  
2 x  12 2
 23 x  1
 22 x  13x  16 x  3  6 x  2
2 x  1 3 g ' x  
 23x  1
2 x  1 4
Hence, g ' x  
2 x  1 3 22 x  13x  1 1  23x  1
g ' x   
2 x  1 4 2 x  1 3
 23x  1
Hence, g ' x  
2 x  1 3

Illustration 4: Determine the derivative of f x   2x  3 .

Solution: Note that f  x   2 x  3  2 x  32 . Since the radicand is a function of x, the

1

chain rule must be applied in obtaining the required derivative.

Thus, we have:

f ' x   2 x  32 1  Dx 2 x  3
1 1

2
 2 x  3 2 2 
1 1

2
1 1
 1 
2 x  32 2x  3

Hence,

f ' x  
1
2x  3
 SECTION 2.6: DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
In this section, we will discuss another
important transcendental function known
At the end of the lesson, you should be able
to: as the natural logarithmic functions. The
 find the derivative of natural logarithmic definition of this function was stated using
functions;
the Second Fundamental Theorem of
 apply chain rule for finding derivatives
of natural logarithmic functions; Calculus however, for this section we will
 show different methods in finding the
not use that definition instead we will use
derivatives of natural logarithmic
functions the basic definition of the natural
logarithmic functions as a member of the
class of logarithmic functions. We will then
discuss the derivative of the natural
logarithmic functions using chain rule and also use its basic properties. Before
discussing it, students need to show first their solutions of the following assignment
problems:

Find the derivative of the following functions:

1. f x   ln4  5x 

2. F x   ln 2 x  9

3. g x   lncos 2 x  sin 2 x 

The natural logarithmic function is defined for all x  0 , that is,

y  loge x  x  e y

The alternative notation ln x (pronounced as “ell-en” x ) is often used instead of loge x

. The graph of the function was shown below:
In summary, the natural logarithmic function satisfies the following properties:
(a) The domain is the set of all positive numbers.
(b) The range is the set of all real numbers.
(c) The function is increasing on its entire domain.
(d) The function is continuous at all numbers in its domain.
(e) The graph of the function is concave downward at all points.
(f) The graph of the function is asymptotic to the negative part of the y-axis through
the fourth quadrant.

In evaluating the derivative of the natural logarithmic functions, the following theorems
might be useful:

Theorem:
If a and b are any two positive numbers, then

(a) lnab  ln a  ln b
a
(b) ln   ln a  ln b
b
(c) ln a  r ln a where r is any rational number.
r

(d) ln1  0
In computing the derivative of the natural logarithmic function, we use the following
theorem:

Theorem:
If u is a differentiable function of x and u x   0 , then

Dx ln u    Dx u 
1
u


Illustration 1: Find f ' x  if f  x   ln 3 x  6 x  8 .
2

Solutions: From the above theorem,

f  x   ln 3 x 2  6 x  8 
f ' x   2
1
3x  6 x  8

Dx 3 x 2  6 x  8 
6x  6
 2
3x  6  8
6x  1
Hence, f ' x   .
3x 2  6 x  8

Illustration 2: Find
dy
dx
2
 
if y  ln 4 x  32 x  1 using three different methods.

Method 1: Transformation using Product of Binomials first and then differentiate.

   
y  ln 4 x 2  3 2 x  1  ln 8 x 3  4 x 2  6 x  3 
 8 x  6 x  3
dy 1 d
 3 3
 4x2
dx 8 x 2
 4 x  6 x  3 dx
dy 24 x 2  8 x  6
 3
dx 8 x  4 x 2  6 x  3
dy 
2 12 x 2  4 x  3
 3 
 
2 12 x 2  4 x  3 

dx 8 x  4 x 2  6 x  1 4 x 2  3 2 x  1 
dy 212 x 2  4 x  3

dx 4 x 2  32 x  1
Hence, .
Method 2: Using Product Rule for Derivatives

y  ln 4 x 2  3 2 x  1  
dy
dx

2
1

4 x  3 2 x  1 dx

d
4 x 2  3 2 x  1   

4x2  3
d
dx

2 x  1  2 x  1 d 4 x 2  3
dx
 


4 x 2  3 2 x  1 

4 x 2

 3 2   2 x  18 x 
 
4 x 2  3 2 x  1


8 x 2  6  16 x 2  8 x

24 x 2  8 x  6

2 12 x 2  4 x  3  
 
4 x 2  3 2 x  1 4 x 2  3 2 x  1 4 x 2  3 2 x  1   
dy 212 x  4 x  3 2

dx 4 x  32 x  1
Hence, 2 .

Method 3: Using the logarithmic properties.

Recall: lnab  ln a  ln b

Thus the function can be transformed as y  ln 4 x  3  ln2 x  1

2
 
Differentiating,
 
y  ln 4 x 2  3  ln2 x  1

 8 x    2 
dy 1 1
 2
dx 4 x  3 2x  1
8x 2
 2 
4x  3 2x  1

Combining them by taking the LCD (least common denominator),


8x

2

8 x2 x  1  2 4 x 2  3 16x 2  8 x  8 x 2  6

 
4x2  3 2x  1 4 x 2  3 2 x  1  
4 x 2  3 2 x  1  

24x  8 x  6 2

2 12x  4 x  3  2

 
4 x  3 2 x  1 4 x 2  3 2 x  1
2
 
dy 212 x 2  4 x  3

dx 4 x 2  32 x  1
Hence, .

Thus, in the above example, we have shown the derivative of the function in three
different methods.
 dy  x 
Illustration 3: Find if y  ln  using two different methods.
dx  x  1
Solutions:
Method 1: Using quotient rule for derivatives.
 x 
y  ln 
 x 1
dy 1 d  x 
  
dx x dx  x  1 
x 1
x  1   x  11  x1 
 
x  x  12 
x  1 x  1  x 
  
x  x  12 
1

x x  1
dy 1
Hence, 
dx xx  1
.

Method 2: Using logarithmic properties.

a
Recall: ln   ln a  ln b
b
 x 
y  ln   ln x  ln x  1
 x 1
 1  1
dy 1 1
dx x x 1
1 1
 
x x 1
x 1 x

x x  1
1

x x  1
dy 1
Hence, 
dx xx  1
.
 SECTION 2.7: DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
In this section, we will discuss the
derivative of another transcendental
At the end of the lesson, you should be able
to: function called the natural exponential

 find the derivative of natural exponential function. Exponential functions, with all
functions their properties of sudden growth and
 apply chain rule for finding derivatives of
natural exponential functions decay, arise in many natural phenomena,
from the growth of living cells to the
expansion of animal populations, to
economic development, to radioactive decay. The inverses of exponential
functions namely, logarithmic functions occur prominently in fields as diverse as
acoustics and seismology. To understand these natural processes of growth and decay,
it is important, then, to understand the properties of exponential functions. The natural
exponential function is the inverse of the natural logarithmic function which was
discussed in the previous section. The laws of exponents are very useful in the section
thus we need to recall those properties and apply whenever needed in the computation
of the derivative involving exponential functions. Before we formally define, state the
properties of exponential functions and state the theorem on the derivative of the
natural exponential function, students are tasked to answer the following assignment
problems.

Find the derivative of the following natural exponential functions:

1. h x   e
2x

2.
dx
e
d x cos x

e x  e x
3. y 
e x  e x
Since the natural exponential is the inverse of the natural logarithmic function; it is
therefore defined by
exp x   e x  y if and only if x  ln y
The symmetry between the graph of the natural exponential and its inverse, the natural
logarithmic function was shown in the figure below:

In evaluating the derivative of the natural exponential functions, the following

theorems might be useful:

Theorem:
If a and b are any real numbers, then
a b
(e) e  e  e
a b

a b
(f) e  e  e
a b

(g) e 
a b
 eab
(h) ln e  1

The next theorem will be used to differentiate the natural exponential function.

Theorem:
If u is a differentiable function of x, then  
Dx eu  eu Dx u  .
Illustration 1: Find f ' x  if f x   e
x 2
3
.

Solutions: From the above theorem,

f x   e x 3
2

f ' x   e x
2
3

Dx x 2  3 
 ex 3
2 x 
2

3
 2 xex
2

Hence, f '  x   2 xe
x 2
3
.

dy
Illustration 2: Find if y  tan e .
x
dx

y  tan e x
dy
dx
 sec e x
D e 
x
x

 x  1  1 
 sec e e  2  x  2  
x

  
x x
e sec e

2 x

dy e x sece x

Hence,  .
dx 2 x

if y  lne  e .
dy x
Illustration 3: Find
x
dx
Solutions:

y  ln e x  e  x 
dy
 x
dx e  e
1
x
Dx e x  e  x  
e x  e x
 x
e  e x
dy e x  e x
Hence,  .
dx e x  e x
Answer the following as directed.

dy
if y  x e
2 3 ln x
1. Find .
dx
x
2. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve y  e at the point where
x  ln 2.
3. Pose a natural exponential function in which the derivative can be obtained by
applying either product or quotient rule for differentiation.
 SECTION 2.8: IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
There are instances when a function
defined by a given equation cannot be
At the end of the lesson, you should be able written explicitly; that is, the dependent
to:
variable of the function is isolated in one
 find the derivative using implicit
side and written in terms of the
differentiation
 obtain the second derivatives of independent variable. Certain problems
functions using the implicit
can be encountered when we try to obtain
differentiation.
the derivatives of such functions. In this
section, we will focus on the technique of
implicit differentiation, or the process of
finding the derivatives of a dependent
variable in an implicit function. Before we explicitly discuss the process of implicit
differentiation, students are tasked to answer the following assignment problems.

dy
Find using implicit differentiation.
dx
1. 4 x  3 y  6
2 2

2. tan x  tan y  xy
x y
3. e  e  e
x y

Implicit differentiation is the procedure of differentiating an implicit function/ relation

with respect to the desired variable 𝑥 while treating the other variables as unspecified
functions of 𝑥.
POSING ACTIVITY: Pose two (2) functions (algebraic and trigonometric) in which the
dependent variable cannot be expressed explicitly as y in terms of the independent
variable x.

In evaluating the derivative of an implicit function, the following suggested steps are
followed:
You will answer the following problems and anyone will be called to discuss the answer
dy
of each items below. You are tasked to find using implicit differentiation.
dx

1. x  y  16 .
2 2

2. x sin y  y cos x  1
3. Find the equation of the normal line to the curve 9 x  y  1 at the point (1,2).
3 3

dy
4. Pose an equation of the parabola or hyperbola and solve using implicit
dx
differentiation.