METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

DERIVATIVE BY FIRST PRINCIPLE

Let y = f (x) ; y + y = f (x + x)

y f (x  x)  f (x)
 = (average rate of change of function)
x x

dy y f (x  x)  f (x)
 = Lim
x  0 x
= Lim ....(i)
dx x  0 x

(i) denotes the instantaneous rate of change of function.

Finding the value of the limit given by (i) in respect of variety of functions is called finding the derivative by first
principle / by delta method / by ab-initio / by fundamental definition of calculus.

Note that if y = f (x) then the symbols

dy
= Dy = f ' (x) = y1 or y' have the same meaning.
dx
However a dot, denotes the time derivative.
• dS • d
e.g. S ;  etc.
dt dt

Ex. Differentiate each of following functions by first principle :

(i) f(x) = tanx (ii) f(x) = esinx

tan(x  h )  tan x tan(x  h  x)1  tan x tan(x  h)

Sol. (i) f'(x) = lim = lim
h 0 h h 0 h

tanh
= lim . (1 + tan2x) = sec2x. Ans.
h 0 h

e sin(x  h )  e sin x e sin(x  h ) sin x  1   sin(x  h )  sin x 

(ii) f'(x) = lim = lim e sin x  
h 0 h h 0 sin(x  h )  sin x  h

sin(x  h)  sin x
= e sin x lim
sinx
= e cosx Ans.
h 0 h

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DERIVATIVE OF STANDARD FUNCTIONS

FUNDAMENTAL THEOREMS
Sum of two differentiable functions is always differentiable.
Sum of two non-differentiable functions may be differentiable.

There are certain basic theorems in differentiation:

d d d
1. (f ± g) = f(x) ± g(x) 2. (k f(x)) = k f(x)
dx dx dx

d d  f (x)  g(x) f (x)  f (x) g(x)

3. (f(x) . g(x)) = f(x) g(x) + g(x) f(x) 4.   =
dx dx  g(x)  g 2 (x)

d
5. (f(g(x))) = f(g(x)) g(x)
dx

This rule is also called the chain rule of differentiation and can be written as
dy dy dz
= .
dx dz dx
Note that an important inference obtained from the chain rule is that
dy dy dx dy 1
=1= .  =
dy dx dy dx dx / dy
another way of expressing the same concept is by considering y = f(x) and x = g(y) as inverse functions of
each other.
dy dx
= f(x) and = g(y)
dx dy
1
 g(y) =
f (x)

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 METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

x dy
Ex. If y = e tan x + xlogex, find .
dx
Sol. y = ex.tan x + x · logex
On differentiating we get,
dy x x 2 1
= e · tan x + e · sec x + 1 · log x + x ·
dx x

dy x 2
Hence, = e (tanx + sec x) + (logx + 1)
dx

Ex. Find the derivative of the following functions with respect to x.

x
(i) f(x) = sin(2x  3) (ii) f(x) = (iii) f(x) = x . sin x
1 x2

Sol. (i) f(x) = sin (2x  3)

d 1 d
 f(x) = ( sin (2x  3) ) = . (sin (2x + 3)) (chain rule)
dx 2 sin (2x  3) dx

cos(2x  3)
=
sin (2x  3)

x (1  x 2 )  x(2x)
(ii) f(x) =  f(x) = (Quotiant rule)
1  x2 (1  x 2 )2

1 x2
=
(1  x 2 )2
(iii) f(x) = x sin x
 f(x) = x. cos x + sin x (Product rule)

 2 
1  y  x dy
Ex. If x = exp  tan  2
  , then
 equals -
 dx
  x 

(A) x [1 + tan (log x) + sec2 x] (B) 2x [1 + tan (log x)] + sec2 x

(C) 2x [1 + tan (log x)] + sec x (D) 2x + x[1 + tan(logx)]2
Sol. Taking log on both sides, we get

 y  x2 
log x = tan–1  2   tan (log x) = (y – x2) / x2
 x 
 y = x2 + x2 tan (log x)
On differentiating, we get

dy
 = 2x + 2x tan (log x) + x sec2 (log x)  2x [1 + tan (log x)] + x sec2 (log x)
dx
= 2x + x[1 + tan(logx)]2

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Ex. If f(x) = 2x sec–1x – cosec–1(x) , then find f(–2).

2x 1
Sol. f(x) = 2 sec–1(x) + 2
+
| x | x 1 | x | x2 1

2 1
Hence, f(–2) = 2.sec–1(– 2) – +
3 2 3

4 3
f(–2) = –
3 2

(A) LOGARITHMIC DIFFERENTIATION

To find the derivative of :

(i) a function which is the product or quotient of a number of functions

(ii) a function of the form [f(x)]g(x) where f & g are both derivable, it will be found convinient to take the logarithm of the
function first & then differentiate
g(x) g(x).ln  f (x) 
express y =  f (x)  e and then differentiate.

dy
Ex. If y = (sin x) n x, find
dx
Sol. n y = n x . n (sin x)

1 dy 1 cos x
= n (sin x) + n x.
y dx x sin x

dy   n  sin x  
 = (sin x) n x   cot x n x 
dx  x 

x1 / 2 (1  2 x)2 / 3
dy
Ex. If y = 3/ 4 4/ 5 find
(2  3 x) (3  4 x) dx

1 2 3 4
Sol. n y = n x + n (1 – 2x) – n (2 – 3x) – n (3 – 4x)
2 3 4 5

On differentiating we get,

1 dy 1 4 9 16
  –  
y dx 2 x 3(1  2 x) 4 (2  3 x) 5(3  4 x)

dy  1 4 9 16 
= y    
dx  2 x 3 (1  2 x) 4 (2  3 x) 5 (3  4 x)

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 METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

PARAMETRIC DIFFERENTIATION
In some situation curves are represented by the equations e.g. x = sin t & y = cos t
If x = f (t) and y = g (t) then
dy dy dt g '(t)
= · =
dx dt dx f '(t)

dy 
Ex. If y = a cos t and x = a(t – sint) find the value of at t =
dx 2

dy a sin t dy
Sol.    1
dx a(1  cos t) dx t  
2

dy
Ex. If x= a cos3t and y = a sin 3t, then find the value of .
dx
dy dy / dt  3a sin 2 t cos t
Sol. = = = – tan t
dx dx / dt 3a cos 2 t sin t

DERIVAIVE OF IMPLICIT FUNCTION :  (x , y) = 0

(i) In order to find dy/dx, in the case of implicit functions, we differentiate each term w.r.t. x regarding y as a functions
of x & then collect terms in dy/dx together on one side to finally find dy/dx.
(ii) In answers of dy/dx in the case of implicit functions, both x & y are present.
Corresponding to every curve represented by an implicit equation, there exist one or more explicit functions
representing that equation. It can be shown that dy / dx at any point on the curve remains the same whether the
process of differentiation is done explictly or implicitly.

dy
Ex. If x3 + y3 = 3xy, then find .
dx
Sol. Differentiating both sides w.r.t.x, we get

dy dy
3x2 + 3y2 = 3x + 3y
dx dx

dy y  x2
= 2
dx y x
Note that above result holds only for points where y2 – x  0

sin x dy 1  y  cos x  y sin x

Ex. If y = , prove that  .
cos x dx 1  2 y  cos x  sin x
1
sin x
1
1  cos x.....

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MATHS FOR JEE MAIN & ADVANCED

sin x (1  y)sin x
Sol. Given function is y = =
cos x 1  y  cos x
1
1y

or y + y2 + y cos x = (1 + y) sin x
Differentiate both sides with respect to x,

dy dy dy dy
 2y  cos x  y sin x = (1 + y) cosx + sin x
dx dx dx dx

dy
(1 + 2y + cosx – sinx) = (1 + y) cosx + ysinx
dx
dy 1  y  cos x  y sin x
or 
dx 1  2 y  cos x  sin x

DIFFERENTIATION USING SUBSTITUTION

In certain situations as mentioned below, substitution simplifies differentiation. For each of the following
expression, appropriate substitution is as follows
 
(i) x2  a 2  x = a tan  , where  << or x = a cot , where 0 <  < 
2 2

 
(ii) a2  x2  x = a sin  , where   or x = a cos , where 0    
2 2

   
(iii) x2  a 2  x = a sec , where  [0 –   or x = a cosec , where    ,  – {0}
2   2 2

xa
(iv)  x = a cos , where 0    
ax

 1 x2 1 
Ex. Differentiate y = tan –1   with respect to x.

 x 
  
Sol. Let x = tan  , where    ,  – {0}
 2 2

 | sec  | 1      
y = tan –1    | sec  | sec      ,  
 tan     2 2 

 1  cos    
 y = tan –1    y = tan –1  tan 
 sin    2
  1    
 y=  tan (tan x)  x for x    ,  
2   2 2 

1 dy 1
 y= tan –1 x  = 2(1  x 2 )
2 dx

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 METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

DERIVATIVE OF f (x) w.r.t. g (x)

If y = f (x) and z = g (x) then derivative of f (x) w.r.t. g (x) is given by

dy dy dx f '(x)
= · =
dz dx dz g '(x)
derivative of f(x) w.r.t. x f '(x)
 Differential coefficient of f (x) w.r.t. g(x) = =
derivative of g(x) w.r.t. x g '(x)

Ex. Find derivative of y = n x with respect to z.

dy dy / dx 1
Sol. = =
dz dz / dx xex

Ex. Differentiate loge(tan x) with respect to sin–1(ex).

d
d(log e tan x) dx
(loge tan x) cot x. sec 2 x e  x 1  e2 x
Sol. = = =
d(sin 1 (e x )) d
sin 1 (e x ) e x .1 / 1  e 2 x sin x cos x
dx

DERIVATIVE OF INVERSE FUNCTION

Theorem : If the inverse functions f & g are defined by y = f(x) & x = g(y) & if f (x) exists & f (x)  0 then g (y) =
1 dy dy
. This result can also be written as, if exists &  0,
f  (x) dx dx
dx 1 dy dx dy 1 dx
then  or . =1 or  [  0]
dy dy dx dy dx dx dy
dx dy

If g is inverse of f, then
(A) g{f(x)} = x (B) f{g(x)} = x
g'{f(x)}f'(x)=1 f '{g(x)}g'(x) = 1

1
Ex. If g is inverse of f and f'(x) = , then g'(x) equals :-
1  xn
n n n
(A) 1 + x (B) 1 + [f(x)] (C) 1 + [g(x)] (D) none of these
Sol. Since g is the inverse of f. Therefore
f(g(x)) = x for all x
d
 f(g(x))  1 for all x
dx

1 n
 f'(g(x)) g'(x) = 1  g'(x) = = 1 + (g(x))
f '(g(x))

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HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES

Let a function y = f(x) be defined on an open interval (a, b). It’s derivative, if it exists in (a, b) is a certain
function f (x) [or (dy/dx) or y ] & is called the first derivative of y w. r. t. x.
If it happens that the first derivative has a derivative in (a, b) then this derivative is called the second
derivative of y w. r. t. x & is denoted by f (x) or (d2y/dx2) or y . While the first derivative denotes slope of
the graph, the second derivative denotes it's concavity.
d3 y d  d2 y 
Similarly, the 3rd order derivative of y w. r. t. x, if it exists, is defined by 3    , it is also denoted by
dx dx  d x 2 
f (x) or y .
It must be carefully noted that in case of parametric functions

dy dy / dt d2 y d 2 y / dt 2 d2 y d  dy / dt 
although = but 2  2 2 rather 2 =  
dx dx / dt dx dx / dt dx dx  dx / dt 

which on applying chain rule can be resolved as

 dx d 2 y dy d 2 x 
 . 2  . 2 
d2 y d  dy / dt  dt d2 y  dt dt dt dt  dt
2 =
 .  = 2 .
dx dt  dx / dt  dx dx 2  dx  dx
 
 dt 
 dx d 2 y dy d 2 x 
 dt . dt 2  dt . dt 2 
d2 y  
= 3
dx 2  dx 
 
 dt 

Ex. If y = x3 n x, then find yand y

1
Sol. y = 3x2 n x + x3 = 3x2 n x + x2
x
1
y = 6x n x + 3x2 . + 2x = 6x n x + 5x
x
y = 6 n x + 11

Ex. If f(x) = x3 + x2 f '(1) + xf ''(2) + f '''(3) for all x  R. Then find f(x) independent of f '(1), f ''(2) and f '''(3).

Sol. Here, f(x) = x3 + x2 f '(1) + xf ''(2) + f '''(3)

put f '(1) = a, f ''(2) = b, f '''(3) = c .......(i)

 f(x) = x3 + ax2 + bx + c

 f '(x) = 3x2 + 2ax + b or f '(1) = 3 + 2a + b .......(ii)

 f ''(x) = 6x + 2a or f ''(2) = 12 + 2a .......(iii)

 f '''(x) = 6 or f '''(3) = 6 .......(iv)

from (i) and (iv), c = 6

from (i), (ii) and (iii) we have, a = –5, b = 2

 f(x) = x3 – 5x2 + 2x + 6

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 METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

d2 y
Ex. If x = t + 1 and y = t 2 + t 3, then find .
dx 2
dy dx
Sol. = 2t + 3t 2 ; =1
dt dt
dy
 = 2t + 3t 2
dx
d2 y d dt
 2 = (2t + 3t 2) .
dx dt dx
d2 y
= 2 + 6t.
dx 2

DERIVATIVE OF A DETERMINANT

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

If F(x) = l(x) m(x) n(x) , where f, g, h, l, m, n, u, v, w are differentiable functions of x, then
u(x) v(x) w(x)

f '(x) g'(x) h '(x) f (x) g(x) h(x) f (x) g(x) h(x)

F (x) = l(x) m(x) n(x) + l '(x) m'(x) n '(x) + l(x) m(x) n(x)
u(x) v(x) w(x) u(x) v(x) w(x) u '(x) v'(x) w '(x)

x x2 x3
2
Ex. If f(x) = 1 2 x 3 x , find f'(x).
0 2 6x

x x2 x3
2
Sol. Here, f(x) = 1 2 x 3 x
0 2 6x

On differentiating, we get,

d d d x x2 x3 x x2 x3
(x) (x2 )  x3  1 2x 3 x2
dx dx dx d d d
 f'(x) = + 1  2 x   3 x2  +
1 2x 3 x2 dx dx dx d d d
0  2  6 x 
0 2 6x 0 2 6x dx dx dx

1 2 x 3 x2 x x2 x3 x x2 x3
2 2
or f'(x) = 1 2 x 3 x  0 2 6 x  1 2 x 3 x
0 2 6x 0 2 6x 0 0 6
As we know if any two rows or columns are equal, then value of determinant is zero.

x x2 x3
2
= 0 + 0 + 1 2x 3x  f'(x) = 6 (2x2 – x2)
0 0 6

Therefore, f'(x) = 6x2

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L'HOSPITAL’S RULE
0 
(A) This rule is applicable for the indeterminate forms of the type , . If the function f(x) and g(x) are differentiable
0 
in certain neighbourhood of the point 'a', except, may be, at the point 'a' itself and g'(x)  0, and if

lim f(x)  lim g(x)  0 or lim f(x)  lim g(x)   ,

x a xa x a xa

f(x) f '(x)
then lim  lim
xa g(x) x  a g '(x)

f '(x)
provided the limit lim exists (L' Hôpital's rule). The point 'a' may be either finite or improper (+  or –).
xa g '(x)
0 
(B) Indeterminate forms of the type 0.  or –  are reduced to forms of the type or by algebraic transformations.
0 
(C) Indeterminate forms of the type 1, 0 or 00 are reduced to forms of the type 0 ×  by taking logarithms or by the

transformation [f(x)](x) = e(x).nf(x).

sin x
Ex. Evaluate lim x
x0

loge x
sin x sin x loge x lim
x  0 cosecx
Sol. lim x = lim e e
x0 x 0

1/x
lim
x 0  cosecxcot x
= e (applying L'Hôpital's rule)

2
sin 2 x  sin x   x 
lim  lim     2 
x 0 x cosx x 0  x   cos x 
= e = e = e 1 0
 e0  1

ANALYSIS AND GRAPHS OF SOME INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

2 tan 1 x | x| 1
1  2 x 
 1
(A) y  f(x)  sin     2 tan x x 1
 1  x 2  
1
 (  2 tan x) x  1

Important points
  
(i) Domain is x  R & range is   , 
 2 2
(ii) f is continuous for all x but not differentiable
at x = 1, –1

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 METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

2
 for | x|  1
1  x2
dy 
(iii)  non existent for | x|  1
dx 
 2
 for | x|  1
1  x2

(iv) Increasing in ( –1 , 1) & Decreasing in (, 1)  (1,  )

 1  x2  2 tan 1 x if x 0
(B) Consider y  f(x)  cos 1    
 1  x2   2 tan 1 x if x0
Important points

(i) Domain is x  R & range is [0, )

(ii) Continuous for all x but not differentiable
at x = 0

2
 2
for x 0
1  x
dy 
(iii)  non existent for x0
dx 

 2 for x0
1  x2

(iv) Increasing in (0, ) & Decreasing in (, 0)

2 tan 1 x | x|  1
1 2x 
(C) y  f(x)  tan     2 tan 1 x x  1
1  x2  1
 (  2 tan x) x 1

Important points
  
(i) Domain is R – {1, – 1} & range is   , 
2 2
(ii) It is neither continuous nor differentiable
at x = 1, –1
2
 | x|  1
dy  1  x 2
(iii) 
dx 
 non existent | x |  1
(iv) Increasing  x in its domain
(v) It is bounded for all x

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MATHS FOR JEE MAIN & ADVANCED

 1 1
 (  3 sin x) if 1  x  
2

1 1
(D) y  f(x)  sin 1 (3 x  4 x 3 )  3 sin 1 x if  x
2 2

   3 sin 1 x 1
if  x 1
 2
Important points
  
(i) Domain is x  [1, 1] & range is   , 
 2 2
(ii) Continuous everywhere in its domain
1 1
(iii) Not derivable at x   ,
2 2

 3 1 1
 if x  ( , )
2 2 2
(iv) dy   1  x
dx  3 1 1
 if x  (1,  )  ( ,1)
 1  x
2 2 2

 1 1  1 1 
(v) Increasing in   ,  and Decreasing in  1,  2    2 ,1
 2 2

 1 1
3 cos x  2  if 1  x  
2

1 1
(E) y  f(x)  cos 1 (4 x 3  3 x)  2   3 cos 1 x if  x
2 2

3 cos 1 x 1
if  x 1
 2
Important points
(i) Domain is x  [1, 1] & range is [0, ]
(ii) Continuous everywhere in its domain

1 1
(iii) Not derivable at x   ,
2 2

 3  1 1
 if x   , 
dy  1  x2  2 2
(iv)  
dx 3  1  1 
 if x   1,     ,1 
 1  x2  2  2 

 1 1 
(v) Increasing in   1 , 1  & Decreasing in  1,  2    2 ,1 
 2 2  

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 METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

GENERAL NOTE
Concavity is decided by the sign of 2nd derivative as :

d2 y d2 y
 0  Concave upwards ;  0  Concave downwards
dx2 dx2

d  2  1 1  x  
Ex.  sin  co t  =
dx   1  x  

 1 1  x 
 
Sol. Let y = sin2  cot 1  x  . Put x = cos 2    0, 
  2

 1  cos 2  
 y = sin2 cot–1  1  cos 2   = sin2 cot–1 (cot )
 

1  cos2  1  x 1 x
 y = sin2  = = = 
2 2 2 2

dy 1
  .
dx 2

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MATHS FOR JEE MAIN & ADVANCED

1. Derivative of f(x) from the First Principle

y f(x  x)  f(x) dy

Obtaining the derivative using the definition Lim  Lim  f '(x)  is called calculating
 x 0  x  x 0 x dx
derivative using first principle or ab initio or delta method.

2. Fundamental Theorems

If f and g are derivable functions of x, then,

d df dg d df
(A) (f  g)   (B) (cf)  c , where c is any constant
dx dx dx dx dx
d dg df
(C) (fg)  f g known as “Product Rule”
dx dx dx

 df   dg 
g    f 
 dx   dx 
(D) d  f   where g  0 known as “Quotient Rule”
dx  g  g 2

dy dy du
(E) If y = f(u) & u = g (x) then  . known as “Chain Rule”
dx du dx
dy du
Note : In general if y = f(u) then  f '(u). .
dx dx

3. Derivative of Standard Functions

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 METHOD OF DIFFERENTIATION

4. Logarithmic Differentiation
To find the derivative of :
(A) A function which is the product or quotient of a number of functions or
(B) A function of the form [f(x)] g (x) where f & g are both derivable.
It is convenient to take the logarithm of the function first & then differentiate.

5. Differentiation of Implicit Functions

(A) Let function is (x, y)  0 then to find dy /dx, in the case of implicit functions, we differentiate each term w.r.t.

x regarding y as a functions of x & then collect terms in dy/dx together on one side to finally find dy/dx.

dy  / x  
OR  where & are partial differential coefficient of f(x, y) w.r.t to x & y respectively..
dx  / y x y

(B) In answer of dy/dx in the case of implicit functions, generally, both x & y are present.

6. Parametric Differentiation

dy dy / d 
If y  f() & x  g() where  is a parameter, then  .
dx dx / d

7. Derivative of a Function w.r.t. another Function

dy dy / dx f '(x)
Let y= f (x) ; z = g (x) then  
dz dz / dx g '(x)

8. Derivative of a Function and its Inverse Function

If inverse of y = f(x)

x = f–1 (y) is denoted by x = g(y) then g(f(x)) = x

g'(f(x))f'(x)=1

9. Higher Order Derivatives

Let a function y = ƒ (x) be defined on an open interval (a, b). It’s derivative, if it exists on (a,b) is a certain function
ƒ '(x) [or (dy/dx) or y'] is called the first derivative of y w.r.t. x. If it happens that the first derivative has a derivative
on (a,b) then derivative is called second derivative of y w.r.t. x & is denoted by ƒ "(x) [or d2y/dx2 or y"] . Similarly, the

d3 y d  d2 y 
3rd order derivative of y w.r.t x, if it exists, is defined by    . It is also denoted by ƒ '''(x) or y''' and so
dx3 dx  dx2 
on.

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MATHS FOR JEE MAIN & ADVANCED

10. Differentiation of Determinants

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

If F(x)  l (x) m(x) n(x) , where f, g, h. l, m, n, u, v, w are differentiable functions of x then
u(x) v(x) w(x)

f' (x) g ' (x) h ' (x) f(x) g(x) h(x) f(x) g(x) h(x)
F '(x)  l (x) m(x) n(x) + l '(x) m '(x) n '(x) + l (x) m(x) n(x)
u(x) v(x) w(x) u(x) v(x) w(x) u '(x) v '(x) w '(x)

11. L'HOSPITAL’S RULE

0 
(A) Applicable while calculating limits of indeterminate forms of the type , . If the function f(x) and g(x) are
0 
differentiable in certain neighbourhood of the point 'a', except, may be, at the point 'a' itself and g'(x)  0, and if

lim f(x)  lim g(x)  0 or lim f(x)  lim g(x)   ,

x a xa x a xa

f(x) f '(x)
then lim  lim
xa g(x) x  a g '(x)

f '(x)
provided the limit lim exists (L' Hospital's rule). The point 'a' may be either finite or improper (+  or –).
x a g '(x)

0 
(B) Indeterminate forms of the type 0.  or –  are reduced to forms of the type or by algebraic transformations.
0 
(C) Indeterminate forms of the type 1, 0 or 00 are reduced to forms of the type 0 ×  by taking logarithms or by the
transformation [f(x)](x) = e(x).nf(x).

218