DIM5068 MATHEMATICAL TECHNIQUES 2 TOPIC 3

Topic 3: Derivatives
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Sub topics:
3.1 Derivatives
3.2 The Derivatives as a Function
3.3 Differentiation Formula
3.4 Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions
3.5 The Chain Rule
3.6 Derivatives of Exponential Functions
3.7 Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions
3.8 Implicit Differentiation
3.9 Higher Derivatives
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Objective:
The students should be able to:
1. Find the derivative of a function by definition.
2. Use differentiation formula in finding the derivatives
3. Find the derivative of a trigonometric functions
4. Use chain rule in finding the derivative of a composite function
5. Find derivatives of the exponential functions
6. Find the derivative of logarithmic functions
7. Solve the differentiation implicitly
8. Solve for the derivatives higher than one

3.1 Derivatives

 Derivatives as the Tangent Line

Definition: If P( x0 , y0 ) is a point on the graph of a function f, then the tangent line to

f ( x 0  h)  f ( x 0 )
the graph of f at P is the line through P with slope mtan  lim
h 0 h
provided the slope exist. Equation of the tangent line at x  x0 : y  y0  mtan ( x  x0 )
f ( x 0  h)  f ( x 0 )
We denote: f ( x)  lim
h 0 h
The slope of the tangent line at x is a function of x that is ‘derived’from the function f.

f ( x 0  h)  f ( x 0 )
 Definition: The function f  defined by the formula f ( x)  lim
h 0 h
is called the derivative with respect to x of the function f. The domain of f 
consists of all x for which the limit exists.

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Example:
a) Find the derivative of f ( x)  4 x
b) Find the slope of the tangent line to the graph of f ( x)  x 2  1

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3.2 The Derivatives as a Function

Differentiation – the process of finding a derivative.

Notation:

y  f ( x)
The derivative of f(x) with respect to x: d dy
f ( x)  [ f ( x)] 
dx dx

y  f (t )
The derivative of f(t) with respect to t: d dy
f (t )  [ f (t )] 
dt dt

dy d
The derivative of f at the point x  x0 :  [ f ( x)]  f ( x0 )
dx x  x0 dx x  x0

The Existence of derivatives.

If f ( x0 ) exist (the limit exist)  f is differentiable at x0  f has a derivative at x0 .

If f ( x0 ) does not exist (the limit does not exist)  derivative of f does not exist at
x  x0 .
(occurs at corner points , points of vertical tangency, points of discontinuity)

Definition:
A function f is differentiable at a if f’(a) exists. It is differentiable on an open
interval (a, b) [or (a, ) or (-, a) or (-, ) ] if it is differentiable at every number in
the interval.

Theorem:
If f is differentiable at point a, then f is also continuous at a.

How Can a Function Fail to be Differentiable?

A function f is non-differentiable if there is
1. A corner
2. A discontinuity
3. A vertical tangent

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3.3 Differentiation Formula

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Try this out!

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3.4 Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

d d d
[sin x]  cos x [cos x]   sin x [tan x]  sec2 x
dx dx dx
d d d
[csc x]   csc x cot x [sec x]  sec x tan x [cot x]   csc2 x
dx dx dx

To find the derivatives that involve trigonometric functions, use the various techniques
of differentiation and the chain rule. Sometimes, the chain rule needs to be applied
more than once.

Example: Find the f’(x) of f ( x)  x 2 cos x

Solution:

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3.5 The Chain Rule

If g is differentiable at the point x and if f is differentiable at the point g(x), then the
composition of f  g is differentiable at the point x.

If y  f [ g ( x)] and u  g (x) , then y  f (u)

dy dy du d du
and   or [ f (u)]  f (u).
dx du dx dx dx


Example: Find f ' ( x) of f ( x)  x 3  7 x  1  35

Solution:

The Power Rule Combined with the Chain Rule

If n is any real number and u  g (x) is differentiable, then
d n
dx
 
u  nu 1
du
dx
.

Alternatively,
d
dx
 n

g x   ng x   g ' x 
n 1

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TRY THIS OUT!

dy  3t 2

dt 2 7  t 3

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3.6 Exponential Functions and Their Derivatives

Definition of the Number e:

eh 1
e is the number such that lim 1
h 0 h

Derivative of the Natural Exponential Function

d x
[e ]  e x
dx
d u du
By Chain Rule: [e ]  e u .
dx dx

Example: Differentiate the function:

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TRY THIS OUT!

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3.7 Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions

y = ln x y = ln x
d 1 d 1
[ln x]  ; x  0 and: [ln x ]  if x0
dx x dx x

d 1 du
By Chain Rule: [ln u ]  .
dx u dx

Example: Differentiate the function: f ( x)  cos ln x 

Solution:

General Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

ln x
loga x 
ln a
d 1 d 1 1 1
 loga x  ln x   
dx ln a dx ln a x x ln a

Exponential Functions with Base a

d x
dx
 
a  a x ln a

2
Example:Differentiate y  2 3 x

Solution:
2 d
y' ( x)  2 3 x  ln 2 3x 2
dx
2
 2 3 x  ln 2  6 x
2
 6 x 2 3 x ln 2

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Logarithmic Differentiation
- use to find derivative of complicated function involving products, quotients or
power.
- Simplified by taking logarithms.

Step in Logarithmic Differentiation:

1. Take logarithms of both sides of an equation y = f(x).
2. Differentiate implicitly with respect to x.
3. Solve the resulting equation for y’.

dy 3
7 x  14
Example: Find if y
dx (1  x 2 ) 4

Take ln for both sides of the equation:

 3 7 x  14  1
ln y  ln  2 4
 3 ln(7 x  14)  4 ln(1  x 2 )
 (1  x ) 
Then, use implicit differentiation:
d 1 dy dy 3 7 x  14  1 8x 
[ln y ]    
dx y dx 2 
dx (1  x )  3x  6 1  x 2 

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3.8 Implicit Differentiation

- useful when it is inconvenient or impossible to solve explicitly for y in terms of x.

- consists of differentiating both sides of the equation with respect to x and then
solving the resulting equation for y’.

dy
Example: Find of 5 y 2  sin y  x 2 by using implicit differentiation
dx

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3.9 Higher Derivatives

Example: Find the fourth derivative of f (t )  t 8  7t 6  2t 4

TRY THIS OUT!

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