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Derivatives of Polynomial and Exponential Functions

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9 views

Derivatives of Polynomial and Exponential Functions

Uploaded by

jennifervanrooyenpc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

(Please refer to section 3.1 on pages 174–184 of the recommended textbook.

Unit 3-1: Derivative of polynomials and


exponential functions

On completion of this unit you should


(1) be able to write down and use the rule to find the deriv-
ative of a constant function, power functions, the natural
exponential function, constant multiple of a function, sum
of functions, difference of functions;
(2) be able to use the rules and formulas in problems.

1
2

Example Find the derivative of the function f (x) = c, where c


is a constant.
3

The power rule. If n ∈ N, then


d n
(x ) = nxn−1.
dx

Example: Find the derivative of the following functions.


(1) f (x) = x
(2) f (x) = x2
1
(3) f (x) =
x
√
(4) f (x) = x (Recall that we used the definition to calculate
√ 1
the derivative of f (x) = x and f ′(x) = √ )
2 x
4

The power rule (general version). If n ∈ R, then


d n
(x ) = nxn−1.
dx
5

Derivative of the natural exponential function is given


by
d x
(e ) = ex
dx
Exercise: Use the definition of a derivative and the fact that
h
limh→0 e h−1 = 1 to prove
d x
(e ) = ex.
dx
6

New derivatives from old

Let c be a constant and f and g are both differentiable functions.


Then
d d
The constant multiple rule: (cf (x)) = c f (x).
dx dx
d d d
The sum rule: [f (x) + g(x)] = f (x) + g(x).
dx dx dx
d d d
The difference rule: [f (x) − g(x)] = f (x) − g(x).
dx dx dx

Example: Find derivative of the following functions


d
(1) 5
dt

d 4 1
(2) (x + 4 )
dx x

d u
(3) e
du

d 4
(4) (2ex − 2 )
dx x
7

d 1
(5) (x 2 )
dt

(6) Find the x−values where you can draw a horizontal tangent
line to f (x) = (x − 4)(x − 2)
8

Exercise Find
d
• e2 .
dt
d 4
• (2ex − 2 )
dx x
4
• Find the equation of the tangent line to f (x) = 3ex − x at
x = 2.

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