Differentiation of Polynomials

Differentiation allows us to find rates of change. For example, it allows us

to find the rate of change of velocity with respect to time (which is
acceleration). It also allows us to find the rate of change of with respect
to , which on a graph of against is the gradient or slope of the curve.

There are a number of simple rules which can be used to allow us to

differentiate many functions easily.

If some function of (in other words if is equal to an expression

containing numbers and 's), then the derivative of (with respect to )
is written , pronounced "dee by dee " .

Differentiating to the power of something

1) If , then .

2) If , then .

Therefore to differentiate to the power of something you bring the power

down to in front of the , and then reduce the power by one.

Examples

If , 4 .

If 2 , 8 .

If 2 , 5 6 .

Example

Find the derivative of:

5 3
3

This looks hard, but it isn't. The trick is to simplify the expression first: do
the division (divide each term on the numerator by 3 ) and then use the
rules of exponents to simplify. We get:

1
Differentiating term by term we get

Notation

There are a number of ways of writing the derivative. They are all
essentially the same:

(1) If , 2

This means that if then the derivative of with respect to is 2 .

(2) 2

This means that the derivative of with respect to is 2 .

(3) If , 2 .

This says that if then the derivative of with respect to is

2 .

Finding the Gradient of a Curve at a Point

The gradient or slope of a curve can be found by differentiating the

equation of the curve.

To find the gradient at a particular point , on the curve of the

function :

Step 1 Differentiate the function to find

Step 2 Substitute the value of the point into

Example

What is the gradient of the curve 2 at the point 3, 54 ?

6
and when 3,
6 3 54

which is the gradient or slope at the point 3, 54 .

2
Tangents and Normals

The tangent to a curve at a point is the straight line which grazes the
curve at that point.

By differentiating and finding the derived or gradient function we obtain

an equation which will give the gradient at any point on the curve. This
will allow us to find the tangent at any point on the curve.

Example

Find the gradient of the

function

3 at the point
1, 2

Differentiate

2 3

Gradient at 1 is

1 2 1 3

The diagram shows this

answer.

Finding the Equation of the Tangent to a Curve

Once the gradient of a tangent to a curve has been found, the formula

can be used to find the equation of the tangent.

Example

Find the equation of the tangent to the curve 5 at the point

3, 24

Differentiating 2 5 then we substitute 3 to find the gradient

3 2 3 5 11 .

3
Using the equation is

24 11 3

24 11 33 .

Re-arranging

11 9

The equation of the tangent is

Finding the Equation of the Normal to a Curve

The normal to a curve at a point is the line perpendicular to the curve

at that point. ( 1 so 1 )
Example

Find the equation of the normal to the

curve 4 at the point 1, 5

Differentiating 2 4

Substitute 1 to find the gradient of

the tangent.

1 2 1 4 6

The gradient of the normal is

Using

5 1

6 30 1

Equation is: 6 31 0

The equation of the normal is

4
Differentiation of Polynomials Exercises

1. Find in each of the following cases.

a 10 b 5
1
c d

2. Find in each of the following cases.

a b 3 4 5
1 1
c d
3
e f 3245.2
1
g 1 h 2

2 3 10
i
2

3. If 2 3 and 12. Find .

4. The distance, s, travelled by a car can be described by the following

75

where is the time.

a Find the velocity where

b At what time is the velocity zero?

c At what time is 20 m/s

5
Tangents and Normals Exercises
1. Find the gradients of the following functions at the points indicated.

Function Point

a f(x) = x2 - 3x - 7 ( 2, -9)

b g(x) = x3 + 3x2 - 2x - 7 (1, -5)

c h(x) = 2x2 - 4 (-2, 4)

d y = 2(x2 + 2x - 1) (4, 46)

e y=x (4, 2)

f (2, 0.75)

2. Find the coordinates of the points on the curves below with the given
gradients.

Function Gradient

a f(x) = x2 - 5x + 6 7

b g(x) = x2 - 4 3

c h(x) = 2x2 - 3x + 8 5

d y = (x - 4)(x + 3) -3

e y=x 1/ 8

f 1

3. Find the equation of the tangent to the curves of the functions below
at the points indicated.

Leave the answer in the form ax + by + c = 0. (Use the gradients from

question 1 to help.)

Function Point

a f(x) = x2 - 3x - 7 ( 2, -9)

b g(x) = x3 + 3x2 - 2x - 7 (1, -5)

c h(x) = 2x2 - 4 (-2, 4)

d y = 2(x2 + 2x - 1) (4, 46)

e y=x (4, 2)

6
 f (2, 0.75)

4. Find the equation of the normal to the curves of the functions in the
table from question 3 at the points indicated.

Leave the answer in the form ax + by + c = 0. (Use the gradients from

question 1 to help.)

7
Differentiation of Polynomials Answers
1.
a 0 b 5

c d 2 1
2.
a 3 b 15 8 1

c d

e f 0

g 4 4 h 6 4
3 1 1 3
i 5 2 9 2 1 2 5 2
2 4 4 2

3. 21 6 8 .

4.

a 75 3 .

b 5 or 5.

c 4.28 or 4.28 .

Tangents and Normals Answers

1. 2. 3. 4.

a. 1 (6, 12) -x + y + 11 = 0 x + y + 7 =0

(1.5, -
b. 7 -7x + y + 12 = 0 x + 7y + 34 = 0
1.75)

c. -8 (2, 10) 8x + y + 12 = 0 x - 8y + 34 = 0

d. 20 (-1, -10) -20x + y + 34 = 0 x + 20y - 924 = 0

e. 0.25 (16, 4) -x + 4y - 4 = 0 4x + y - 18 = 0

f. -0.75 (-2, 1) 3x + 4y - 9 = 0 16x - 12y - 23 = 0

8
MORE DIFFERENTIATION EXERCISES

Exercise 1 Exercise 2
Differentiate these functions by Differentiate these functions by
sight: sight:
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3 3. 10
4. 4 1 4.
5. 5 6 5. 2 1
6. 8 6. 3 6
7. 2 5 6 7. 8 1
8. 4 2 8. 3 3
9. 3 4 9. 2 6
10. 2 10. 3 6
11. 2 1 11. 1
12. 3 6 12. 8 2
13. 4 2 13. 1
14. 6 14. 2
15. 3 2 15. 10
16. 5 1 16. 2
17. 3 17. 8 3
18. 1 18. 5 8
19. 2 19. 4 2
20. 3 4
20. 1
21. 4 2
21. 8
22.
22. 3 6
23. 2 1
23. 3
24. 4 8
24. 4 2
25.
25. 3

9
Exercise 3
By expanding out or dividing first, differentiate these expressions:
1. 3 2 9.
2. 1
10.
3. 2 3
4. 2 3 11.
5. 3 1 2
12.
6. 2 4 3
7. 3 1 13.

8. 4 7 14.

Exercise 4
Differentiate each expression, giving answers in the same form they are given
here:

1. 10. 17.
2.
11. 18.
3. 3
12.
4. 5 19.

5. 2 13. 20. 8
6. 14. 21.
7. 5
15. 22.
8.
16.
9.

Exercise 5
1-14 Differentiate and evaluate the derived functions for the given values:
1. . Calculate:
(a) 4
(b) 1
(c) 0

2. 7 4. Calculate for:

(a) 2
(b) 0

10
 (c) 3
3. 4 3. Calculate 5 .
4. 2 3 . Calculate:
(a) 1
(b) 4

(c)

5. 2 5 9. Calculate for:

(a) 0
(b) 2
(c) 5
6. 4 8 Solve 0
7. 5 3 Solve 1
8. 10 3 Solve 8
9. 3 Solve 0
10. 10 Solve 2
11. 6 24 Solve 9

12. 4 8 Solve 3

13. 2 3 17 Solve 0

14. 12 6 8 Solve 30

15-17 Evaluate the derived functions for the given values. Give all answers
in integer, fraction or mixed number form.

15. Calculate:
(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 0
16. 4 Calculate:
(a) 1
(b)
(c) 2
17. Calculate:
(a) 2
(b) 1
(c)

11
Exercise 6
1. Find the gradient of the tangent to the following curves at the points
indicated.
(a) when 1
(b) 4 1 when 8
(c) 2 when 3
(d) 3 5 4 when 5
(e) 2 1 when 4
(f) 3 2 5 when 1
(g) 3 2 when
(h) 3 2 1 when

2. Find the gradient of the following curves at the points indicated:

(a) 2 3 at the point (-2,11)
(b) 8 at the point (2,0)
(c) 3 5 at the point (-3,-5)

3. Find the gradient of the tangent to the following curves at the points
indicted.
(a) 8 1 at the point (4,-15)
(b) 2 3 at the point , 1

4. Find the gradient of the tangent to the curve

8 when 1

Exercise 7
1. Find the equation for each of these tangents:
(a) to the curve 4 7 at the point (2,5)
(b) to the curve 2 4 at the point (1,-5)
(c) to the curve 3 at the point (-2, -1)
(d) to the curve 2 3 5 at the point (1, 0)
(e) to the curve 4 at the point (-3,-15)
(f) to the curve 2 3 at the point (0,-6
2. What is the equation of the tangent to the curve 3 5 at the
point where 2?

3. What is the equation of the tangent to the curve 2 12 at the

point where 3?

4. What is the equation of the tangent to the curve 3 9 at the

point where 4?

5. Find the equations of the tangents to the curve 3 10 at the

points where the curve cuts the -axis.

12
6. What is the equation of the tangent to the curve 7 2 at
the point where it cuts the -axis?

7. What is the equation of the tangent to the curve 2 8 at the

point where the gradient is 4?

13
ANSWERS

Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3

1. 3 1. 5 1. 6 6
2. 8
2. 2 2. 2 1
3. 6
3. 40 3. 8 12
4. 4
4. 6 5 4. 12 24
5. 10 6 4 3
9
6. 0 2
5. 8 5. 6 3
7. 4 5
6. 3 6. 24 12
8. 16 2
7. 32 7. 18 2
9. 6
8. 3 8. 16 21
10. 4
9. 6 6 9. 1
11. 2 2
10. 15 6 10. 8
12. 3
11. 1 11. 1
13. 8
12. 16 2 12. 3
14.
13. 13. 2
15. 3 4
14. 2 1 14. 3
16. 20
15. -1
17. 4 6
16. 3 2
18. 2
17. 8 12
19. 4 4
18. 2 5
20. 19. 12 2
21. 5 16 20. 6 16
22. 6 6 21. 4 4
23. 6 1 22. 5 4
24. 12 2 23. 2
25. 3 24. -8
25.

14
Exercise 4 Exercise 5 Exercise 6
1. 2 1. (a)48 (b)3 (c)0
1. (a) 2
2. 4 2. (a)11 (b)7 (c)1
3. 15 (b) 12
4. 10 3. 4
(c) 12
5. 10 4. (a)-5 (b)5 (c)-4
6. 5 (d) 25
7. 10 5. (a)5 (b)29
(e) 50
8. (c) -475
(f) 4
9. 6. 2
(g) 3
10. 7. 2
11. 8. 1 (h) 3
12. 9. 1
13. 10. 2 2. (a) -6
14. 11. 5, 1 (b) 12
15. (c) -3
12. 3
16.
13. 1,3
17. or 3. (a) 0
14. 2,6
(b)
18. 15 15. (a) (b)
19. or 4. 7
(c)undefined
16. (a)12 (b)192
20. 32
(c)
21. 3
22. 17. (a) (b)

(c)-8

15
Exercise 7

1. (a) 8 11 or 8 11 0
5 or 5 0
(c) 3 7 or 3 7 0
(d) 7 7 or 7 7 0
(e) 23 54 or 23 54 0
(f) 6 or 6 0

2. 7 9 or 7 9 0
3. 4 3 or 4 3 0
4. 15 48 or 15 48 0
5. 7 14, 7 35 or 7 14 0, 7 35 0
6. 7 2 or 7 2 0
7. 4 18 or 4 18 0

16