Differentiation

𝑑𝑦
 If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) represents a line or a curve, 𝑑𝑥 represents the gradient of a line or the
curve at a points. The gradients of the curve at different points will have different
gradients
𝑑𝑦
 or 𝑓′(𝑥) is also called the first derivative, the derived function of y with
𝑑𝑥
respect to x
𝑑2 𝑦
o or 𝑓′′(𝑥) is called the second derivative
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑3 𝑦
o or 𝑓 ′′′ (𝑥) is called the third derivative, etc
𝑑𝑥 3

The gradient function

If 𝑦 = 𝑘, where k is a constant then
𝑑𝑦
=0
𝑑𝑥
𝑛
If 𝑦 = 𝑥 , where n is a constant, then
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

Function of a Function, Composite Function

𝑑 𝑛 𝑑𝑢
(𝑢 ) = 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 ×
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Product of Two Function

𝑑 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
(𝑢𝑣) = 𝑢 +𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Quotient of Two Function

𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑 𝑢 𝑣 −𝑢
( )= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑣 𝑣2

Differentiation of Trigonometric Functions

Differentiation of sin 𝑥, cos 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 tan 𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
(sin 𝑥) = cos 𝑥 (sin(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)) = 𝑎 cos(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
(cos 𝑥) = − sin 𝑥 (cos(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)) = −𝑎 sin (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
(tan 𝑥) = sec 2 𝑥 (tan(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)) = 𝑎 sec ^2 (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑
(sin𝑛 𝑥) = 𝑛 sin𝑛−1 𝑥 cos 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
(cos 𝑛 𝑥) = −𝑛 cos𝑛−1 sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
(tan𝑛 𝑥) = 𝑛 tan𝑛−1 𝑥 sec 2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥