DIFFERENTIATION OF

ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
 DERIVATIVE USING FORMULAS

The increment-method (four-step rule) of

finding the derivative of a function gives us the
basic procedures of differentiation. However
these rules are laborious and tedious when the
functions to be differentiated are “complex”,
that is, functions with large exponents,
functions with fractional exponents and other
rational functions
 Understanding of the theorems of
differentiation is very important. This is the
heart of differential calculus. All of the
succeeding topics such as applications of
derivatives, differentiation of transcendental
functions etc. will be dependent on these
theorems. Understanding of these theorems
will enable us to calculate derivatives more
efficiently and will make calculus easy and
enjoyable.
 
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS

Derivative of a Constant

Theorem: The derivative of a constant function

is 0; that is, if c is any real number,

then, d
[c ]  0
dx
Example : Differenti ate the following functions .
3
1. y  5 3. f(x)  -
4
y'  0 f' (x)  0

2. y   25 4. h(x)  log 3 4
dy
0 h' (x)  0
dx
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives of Power Functions
Theorem: ( Power Rule) If n is a positive integer,

then, d n 1
[ x ]  nx
n

dx
In words, to differentiate a power
function, decrease the constant exponent
by one and multiply the resulting power
function by the original exponent .
Example : Differenti ate the following functions
1. y  x 4 3. f(x)  x 8
y'  4x 41 f' (x)  -8x 81
3 9 8
y'  4x f' (x)  -8 x 
x9
6
2. y  x7 4. F(x)  x  log 3 4
6
dy 6 7 1
 x F' (x)    log 3 4   x   log 3 41
dx 7
6 7 1 7
dy 6 77 6  6 6 x6
 x  x 7  7 
dx 7 7 7 x 7x
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative of a Constant Times a Function
Theorem: ( Constant Multiple Rule) If f is a
differentiable function at x
and
c is any real number, then cf is
also ddifferentiabledat x and
 cf ( x)  c  f ( x)
dx dx
In words, the derivative of a constant
times a function is the constant times the
derivative of the function, if this derivative
exists.
Proof:
d cf ( x  x)  cf ( x)
 cf ( x)  lim
dx x 0 x

 f ( x  x)  f ( x) 
 lim c  
x 0
 x
f ( x  x)  f ( x)
 c lim
x 0 x
d
 c  f (x)
dx
Example : Differenti ate the following functions
8 4
1. y  5x 3. f(x)  9x
y'   5 8 x 7 f' (x)    9  - 4  x 41
7 5 36
y'  40x f' (x)  36x  5
x
2
4 3
2. y  5x 5 4. F(r)  r
3
2
dy 2 5 1 4 
   5 x F' (r)     3 r  2  4 r 2
dx 5 3 
2 5 3 5
dy   2  2 x2
 2x 5 5  2x 5  
5
dx x3 x
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives of Sums or Differences
Theorem: ( Sum or Difference Rule) If f and g are
both differentiable functions at x,
then so are f + g and f – g, and
d d d
 f  g   f    g or
dx dx dx
d  d d 
 f ( x)  g ( x)   f ( x)   g ( x) 
dx  dx dx 
In words, the derivative of a sum or of a
difference equals the sum or difference of
their derivatives, if these derivatives exist.
Proof:

d [ f ( x  x)  g ( x  x)  [ f ( x)  g ( x)]

[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim
dx x  0 x
[ f ( x  x)  f ( x)]  [ g ( x  x)  g ( x)]
 lim
x 0 x
f ( x  x)  f ( x) g ( x  x)  g ( x)
 lim  lim
x 0 x x 0 x
d d
 [ f ( x)]  [ g ( x)]
dx dx
Example : Differenti ate the following functions
1. y  5x 4  6x 2  4x  7 3. f(x)  2x 4  9x  4
y'  20x 3  12x  4 f' (x)  8x 5  9

 3
y'  4 5x  3x  1  f' (x) 
-8
x 5
9

3
4 3
2. y  6x 4  2x 2  4x  5x 2 9 4. F(r)  r 2
 r
3
1
dy 15 2 4 
5
 24x - 4x - 4 - x F' (r)  - 2r     3 r  2
-3
dx 2 3 
1
dy 24 15 2 - 2
 5
- 4x - 4 - x F' (r)   4r 2
dx x 2 r3
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS

Derivative of a Product
Theorem: (The Product Rule) If f and g are both
differentiable functions at x, then so
is the product f ● g, and
d dg df
 f  g  f  g or
dx dx dx
d d d
 f ( x)  g ( x)  f ( x) [ g ( x)]  g ( x)  f ( x)
dx dx dx
In words the derivative of a product of two
functions is the first function times the derivative
of the second plus the second function times the
derivative of the first, if these derivatives exist.
Proof:
d f(x  x)  g(x  x)  f(x)  g(x)
[f(x)  g(x)]  lim
dx x 0 x
f(x  x)  g(x  x)  f(x  x)  g(x)  f(x  x)  g(x)  f(x)  g(x)]
 lim
x 0 x
 g(x  x)  g(x) f(x  x)  f(x) 
 lim f(x  x)   g(x)  
x 0  x x

g(x  x)  g(x) f(x  x)  f(x)

 lim f(x  x)  lim  lim g(x)  lim
x 0 x0 x x 0 x 0 x


 lim f(x) d
 
g(x)  lim g(x) d
 f(x)
x0  dx x0  dx
Example : Differenti ate the following functions and simplify.

1. y   3x  4  4x 2  3 
y'   3x  4 8x    4x 2  3 3
y'  24x 2  32x  12x 2 - 9
y'  36x 2  32x - 9

 
2. y  x 3  1  5 - 2x 
y'  x 3  1 - 2   5 - 2x  3x 2 
y'  -2x 3  2  15x 2 - 6x 3
y'  -8x 3  15x 2  2
  
3. y  2  x 3   10x  5
y'   2  x 3   10     10x  5   3x 2 
y'  -20  10x 3  30x 3  15x 2
y'  40x 3  15x 2 - 20

y'  5 8x 3  3x 2  4 
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative of a Quotient
Theorem: (The Quotient Rule) If f and g are both
differentiable functions at x, and if
g(x) ≠ 0 then f/g is differentiable at x
and
df dg
g f
d f 
   dx 2 dx or
dx  g  g
d d
g ( x)  f ( x)  f ( x)  g ( x)
d  f ( x)  dx dx
  
dx  g ( x)   g ( x) 2
 In words, the derivative of a quotient of
two functions is the fraction whose
numerator is the denominator times the
derivative of the numerator minus the
numerator times the derivative of the
denominator and whose denominator is
the square of the given denominator
Note:
The proof is left for the students .
Example : Differenti ate the following functions and simplify.
4x 2  3
1. y 
1  2x
1  2x  8x    4x 2  3  2
y' 
 1  2x  2
8x  16x 2  8x 2  6
y' 
 1  2x  2
2
 8x  8x  6
y' 
 1  2x  2
y' 

2  4x 2  4x  3 
 1  2x  2
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives of Composition
Theorem: (The Chain Rule) If g is differentiable at
x and if f is differentiable at g(x), then
the composition f ◦ g is differentiable
at x. Moreover, if y=f(g(x)) and u=g(x)
then y=f(u) and
  dy dy du
 
dx du dx
or
 
d un
 nu n 1 du

dx dx
Example : Differenti ate the following functions and simplify.

 2
1. y  3x  10x  15  5

 2
y'  5 3x  10x  15   6x - 10
4

3
 5 
2. G(x)   
 x -1 
2
 5   5   125 
G' (x)  3    

 x -1    x  1 2   3  x  1 4 
   
3. y    3x  1 4x  5  4
y  4  3x  1 4x  5  3   3x  1 4    4x  5 3 
y  4  3x  1 4x  5  3  12x  4  12x - 15
y  4 24x - 11   3x  1 4x  5  3
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS

Derivative of a Radical with index equal to 2

If u is a differentiable function of x, then
du
 
d
dx
u  dx
2 u
The derivative of a radical whose index
is two, is a fraction whose numerator is
the derivative of the radicand, and whose
denominator is twice the given radical, if
the derivative exists.
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative of a Radical with index other than 2
If n is any positive integer and u is a
differentiable function of x, then
d  1
  1
1
1 du
u
 
n
  u n

dx   n dx
The derivative of the nth root of a given
function is the exponent multiplied by the
product of u whose power is diminished by
one and the derivative of u, if this derivative
exists.
Differenti ate the following and simplify.
1. H x   3x  5
3 3x  5 3 3x  5
H'  x    
2 3x  5 3x  5 2 3x  5

2. y  5  2x  4 x  5
1
y    2x  4  x  5  5
1 1
y'    2x  4 x  5  5 1   2x  41   x  5 2 
5
1 4
y'    2x  4 x  5  5  2x  4  2x  10 

5
1 4
y'    2x  4 x  5  5  4x  14

5
 2 2 x  7
y'  4
5  2 x  4  x  5  5
HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES
AND
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
 HIGHER DERIVATIVES
The derivative f’ of a function f is itself a
function and hence may have a derivative of
its own. If f’ is differentiable, then its
derivative is denoted by f” and is called the
second derivative of f. As long as we have
differentiability, we can continue the process
of differentiating to obtain the third, fourth,
fifth, and even higher derivatives of f.
These successive derivatives are denoted by
f ' , f ' '  ( f ' )' , f ' ' '  ( f ' ' )' , f  ( f ' ' ' )' , f  ( f )' ,......
4 5 4
Other common notations for higher derivatives
are the following:
dy d
first derivative: , y ' , f ' ( x ), f ( x ), Dx f ( x )
dx dx

d2y d2 2
second derivative: 2
, y ' ' , f ' ' ( x ), 2
f ( x ), D x f ( x)
dx dx
dny n n dn n
nth derivative: n
, y , f ( x ), n
f ( x ), D x f ( x)
dx dx
dy d 2 y d n y
The symbols , 2
,
n
are called Leibniz notations.
dx dx dx
EXAMPLE:
1. Find all the derivatives of the function.
y  6 x 5  5 x 4  2 x 3  3 x 2  10 x  5

SOLUTION:
y'  30 x 4  20 x 3  6 x 2  6 x  10
y"  120 x 3  60 x 2  12 x  6
y'''  360 x 2  120 x  12
y  4   720 x  120
y  5   720
y6   0
 2 4
2. Find the second derivative of y  x  5  x  4 x
4
.

when x  1 .
SOLUTION:
y'  4 x 3  2 x 3  16 x 5
y"  12 x 2  6 x 4  80 x 6
when x=1;
y"  12 1  6  1  80 1
2 4 6

 12  6  80
y"  98
 2
d y x
3. Find of y
dx 2
1 x
SOLUTION:

dy  1  x  1  x  1 1  x  x 1
  
dx 1  x 2
1  x 1  x
2 2

d y  1  x   0   1 2 1  x   1  2 1  x 
2 2
 
dx 2
1  x 4
1  x 4

d2y 2

dx 2
1  x 3
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
FUNCTIONS DEFINED EXPLICITLY AND IMPLICITLY
There are two ways to define functions, implicitly
and explicitly. Most of the equations we have dealt
with have been explicit equations, such as y = 2x-3,
so that we can write y = f(x) where f(x) = 2x-3. But
the equation 2x-y = 3 describes the same function.
This second equation is an implicit definition of y as a
function of x. As there is no real distinction between
the appearance of x or y in the second form, this
equation is also an implicit definition of x as a
function of y.
 An implicit function is a function in which
the dependent variable has not been given
"explicitly" in terms of the independent
variable. To give a function f  explicitly is to
provide a prescription for determining
the output value of the function y in terms
of the input value x: y = f(x). By contrast, the
function is implicit if the value of y is
obtained from x by solving an equation of
the form: R(x,y) = 0.
 
 An equation of the form y=f(x) is said to
define explicitly as a function of x because the
variable y appears alone on one side of the
equation and does not appear at all on the
other side. However, sometimes functions are
defined by equations in which is not alone on
one side; for example the equation yx+y+1=x
is not of the form y=f(x), but still
defines y as a function of x since it can be
x 1
y
rewritten as
x 1
. Thus we say that yx+y+1=x defines y
x 1
f ( x )  as a function of x , the function being
implicitly
x 1
 Suppose we have an equation f(x, y) = 0 where
neither variable could be expressed as a function of
the other. In other words, it wouldn’t be possible, by
rearranging f(x, y) = 0, to separate out one of the
variables and express it as a function of the other.
Often we can solve an equation f(x, y) = 0 for one of
the variables obtaining multiple solutions
constituting multiple branches. Consider the
equation x 2
 y 2
 1  0 which defines y as an implicit
function of x. If we solve for y in terms of x, we
obtain two solutions y   1  x 2
and
and y   1  x 2

thus we have found two functions that are defined

implicitly by x 2
 y 2
1  0 .
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
In general, it is not necessary to solve an
equation for y in terms of x in order to
differentiate the functions defined implicitly
by the equation.
To find the derivative of functions defined
implicitly we use implicit differentiation.
Steps in Implicit Differentiation:

1. Differentiate both sides of the equation with

respect to x.
dy
2. Collect all the terms with on one side of
the equation. dx
dy
3. Factor out .
dx
dy
4. Solve for .
dx
EXAMPLE:
1. Find y' and y' ' of x 2  4 y 2  4 by implicit differenti ation.
Solution:
x2  4 y2  4 Find y' '
Take the derivative of 1  y - xy'  x
y' '   2

 then replace y' 
each term implicitly , 4  y  4y
 x  4 y2  x2
2 x  8 yy'  0 y  x 
1  4y  1 4y
8 yy'  2 x y"   2
 
4 y 4 y2
Solve for y' ,
1 4 y2  x2   x2  4 y2 
2x y"   
y'  4 4y 3
16 y 3
8y
x but x 2  4 y 2  4
y' 
4y 4 1
y"  3
 3
16 y 4y
2. Show that if x y  1, then y' '  x' '  4
Solution:
Differenti ate the given dy  y
then substitute 
dx x
equation x y  1 wrt x.
  y
dy x   y
x  y  1  0 y y
2
d y  x 
dx 2
 2
 2
dx x x
dy dy  y d2y 2y
x  y    2  this is y"
dx dx x dx 2
x
Different iate again wrt x
 dy   dy 
2 x      y  1  x    y
d y  dx   dx 
2
 2

dx x x2
 dx dx  x
Now find in x y  1. then substitute 
dy dy y
dx  x
x 1  y 0 y    x
dy
2
d x  y  xx
 
dx dx  x dy 2 y2 y2
y  x  
dy dy y d 2 x 2x
2
 2  this is x"
dy y
Differenti ate again wrt y.
Therefore ,
dx
2 y(  )    x 1  2 y 2x 4
d x dy y"  x"  2  2 
 x y xy
dy 2 y2
y"  x"  4 sin ce xy  1
 dx 
2
y    x
d x  dy 
2

dy y2
EXERCISES:
A. Find the indicated derivative for the following functions.

1. y  10x 5  21x 4  13 x 4  6 x 2  5 x  1000 ; y  6 

2. y  3  1  2 x  ; y' ' 5. x   1  y   3 y  1 ; y' '

5 2

x  t
x2 
3. y  ; y 4 6.  1 ; y' '
x y 
 1  t 2

4
4. f  x   2 ; y  3 
x
 dy
B . Find by implicit differenti ation .
dx
1. 2 x 2  2 y 2  17
2. x 3 y  xy 3  a 3b 3
1 1
3.   1
x y
4. x y xy
C . Find the indicated derivative of the following.
1. x 2  4 y 2  5 ; y' '
2. y  y  x
3 4
; y' '
1 1
3.  x  y    x  y   a ; y' ' '
2 2

4.  x  y   2ax ; y' ' '

2