GEG 117

Differential Calculus
1
Differential Calculus

The two basic forms of

calculus are differential
calculus and integral
calculus.

2
Differentiation and the Derivative
The study of calculus usually
begins with the basic definition of
a derivative. A derivative is
obtained through the process of
differentiation, and the study of all
forms of differentiation is
collectively referred to as
differential
3
 If we begin with a function and
determine its derivative, we arrive
at a new function called the first
derivative. If we differentiate the
first derivative, we arrive at a new
function called the second
derivative, and so on.
4
The derivative of a function is the
slope at a given point.
y

y  f ( x)

y

x

x 5
Various Symbols for the
Derivative

dy df ( x )
or f '( x) or
dx dx

dy y
Definition:  lim
dx x 0 x
6
Piecewise Linear Segment
( x2 , y2 )

y2  y1

( x1 , y1 )
x2  x1
7
Slope of a Piecewise Linear
Segment

dy y2  y1
 slope 
dx x2  x1

8
9
10
11
Slope of a Piecewise Linear
Segment

dy y2  y1
 slope 
dx x2  x1

12
Development of a Simple
Derivative

yx 2

y  y  ( x  x) 2

y  y  x  2 xx  (x)
2 2

13
Development of a Simple Derivative
Continuation

y  2 xx  (x) 2

y
 2 x  x
x
dy y
 lim  2x
dx x 0 x
14
15
 3.1 Derivative of a Function
f a  h  f a
lim
h 0
is called the derivative of f at a.
h

f a  h  f a
We write: f   x   lim
h 0 h
“The derivative of f with respect to x is …”

There are many ways to write the derivative of y  f  x

 3.1 Derivative of a Function
f  x “f prime x” or “the derivative of f with respect
to x”
y “y prime”
dy
“dee why dee ecks” or “the derivative of y with
dx respect to x”
df
“dee eff dee ecks” or “the derivative of f with
dx
respect to x”
d
f  x  “dee dee ecks uv eff uv ecks” or “the derivative
dx
( d dx of f of x ) of f of x”

3.1 Derivative of a Function

dx does not mean d times x !

dy does not mean d times y !

 3.1 Derivative of a Function

dy
does not mean dy  dx !
dx
(except when it is convenient to think of it as division.)
df
does not mean df  dx !
dx
(except when it is convenient to think of it as division.)
3.1 Derivative of a Function

d
f  x  does not mean d
times f  x  !
dx dx

(except when it is convenient to treat it that way.)

 3.1 Derivative of a Function
4

The derivative is 2
the slope of the
1
y  f  x
original function.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
3

1
The derivative is defined
at the end points of a 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
function on a closed -1
interval. y  f  x
-2
3.1 Derivative of a Function
6

y  x 3
5
4
2
3
2
1

   
0
2
   3
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3
x 2
-1
x h 3 x
y  lim
-2
-3
6 h 0 h
5
4

y  lim 2 x  h
3
2
h 0
1
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
-1 x
-2
-3 y  2 x
-4
-5
-6
3.1 Derivative of a Function

A function is differentiable if it has a

derivative everywhere in its domain. It
must be continuous and smooth.
Functions on closed intervals must have
one-sided derivatives defined at the end
points.
 3.2 Differentiability
To be differentiable, a function must be continuous
and smooth.
Derivatives will fail to exist at:

f  x  x 2
f  x  x 3

corner cusp

1, x  0
f  x  3
x f  x  
 1, x  0
vertical tangent discontinuity
 3.2 Differentiability

Most of the functions we study in calculus will be differentiable.

 3.2 Differentiability
There are two theorems on page 110:

If f has a derivative at x = a, then f is continuous at x = a.

Since a function must be continuous to have a derivative,

if it has a derivative then it is continuous.
 3.2 Differentiability
Intermediate Value Theorem for Derivatives

If a and b are any two points in an interval on which f is

differentiable, then f  takes on every value between f a
and f   b  .
f  b  3

1 Between a and b, f  must take

f a  1
2
on every value between 2 and 3.
Basic Differentiation
Formulas
 Basic Differentiation
Formulas

If the derivative of a function is its slope, then for a

constant function, the derivative must be zero.

d example: y3 y  0
c  0
dx

The derivative of a constant is zero

Rule 1: Derivative of a constant
d c 
0 , for any constant,c.
dx
This rule states that the derivative of a constant is zero.

For example,

f ( x)  5
f ' ( x)  0
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation

If the derivative of a function is its slope, then for a

constant function, the derivative must be zero.

d example: y3
c  0
dx y  0

The derivative of a constant is zero.

 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
We saw that if y  x 2 , y  2 x .

This is part of a pattern.

examples:
d n
dx
 x   nx n 1

f  x  x 4 y  x8

f   x   4x 3 y  8 x 7

power rule
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
Proof:
d n
 x   nx n 1 d n ( x  h) n  x n
dx x  lim
dx h 0 h
d n x n  nxn1h  ...  h n  x n
x  lim
dx h0 h
d n nxn1h  ...  h n
x  lim
dx h0 h
d n
x  lim nxn1
dx h 0
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation

constant multiple rule:

examples:
d du
 cu   c d n
cx  cnx n 1
dx dx
dx
d
7 x 5  7  5 x 4  35 x 4
dx
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
d du
constant multiple rule:  cu   c
dx dx
sum and difference rules:

d du dv d du dv
u  v    u  v   
dx dx dx dx dx dx

y  x  12 x
4 y  x 4
 2 x 2
2
(Each term
dyis treated separately)
y  4 x  12
3
 4x  4x
3

dx
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
Find the horizontal tangents of:
dy
y  x  2x  2
4 2
 4 x3  4 x
dx
Horizontal tangents occur when slope = zero.
4 x3  4 x  0 Substituting the x values into the
x3  x  0 original equation, we get:
y  2, y  1, y  1
x  x  1  0
2

(The function is even, so we

x  x  1 x  1  0 only get two horizontal
x  0, 1, 1 tangents.)
3.3 Rules for Differentiation
4
y  x4  2x2  2
3

2 y2

1 y 1

-2 -1 0 1 2

-1

-2
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
4
y  x4  2x2  2
3

dy
1  4 x3  4 x
dx
-2 -1 0 1 2

-1

First derivative -2
(slope) is zero at:
x  0, 1, 1
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
product rule:
d dv du
 
uv  u  v Notice that this is not just the
dx dx dx
product of two derivatives.
This is sometimes memorized as: d  uv   u dv  v du

dx 
d  2
x  3  2 x 3
 5 x    x 2  3  6 x 2  5   2 x3  5x   2x 


d
dx

2 x 5  5 x 3  6 x 3  15 x 
d
dx

2 x 5  11x 3  15 x  6 x 4  5 x 2  18 x 2  15  4 x 4  10 x 2

10 x 4  33 x 2  15 10 x 4  33 x 2  15
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
product rule:
d u ( x  h )v ( x  h )  u ( x )v ( x )
d
 
uv  u
dv
 v
du (uv)  lim
dx h 0 h
dx dx dx

Proof add and subtract u(x+h)v(x)

in the denominator
d u ( x  h )v ( x  h )  u ( x )v ( x )  u ( x  h )v ( x )  u ( x  h )v ( x )
(uv)  lim
dx h0 h
d  u( x  h)v( x  h)  v( x)   v( x)u ( x  h)  u( x) 
(uv)  lim 
dx h 0
 h 
d dv du
(uv)  u  v
dx dx dx
41
Find

42
Find

43
44
45
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
quotient rule:

du dv
v u  u  v du  u dv
d u dx dx d 
   or
 
2
dx  v  v2 v v

d 2 x  5x
3


    
x 2  3 6 x 2  5  2 x3  5 x  2 x 
dx x  3
 x  3
2 2
2
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
Higher Order Derivatives:
dy
y  is the first derivative of y with respect to x.
dx
dy d dy d 2 y is the second derivative.
y   
dx dx dx dx 2 (y double prime)
dy 
y   is the third derivative.
dx We will learn
 4 d later what these
y  y is the fourth derivative. higher order
dx
derivatives are
used for.
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation
Suppose u and v are functions that are differentiable at
x = 3, and that u(3) = 5, u’(3) = -7, v(3) = 1, and v’(3)= 4.
Find the following at x = 3 :
d d
1. (uv) (uv)  uv' vu' 5(3)  (1)(7)  8
dx dx
d u d  u  vu'uv' (1)(7)  (5)(4)
2.      27
dx  v  dx  v  v2 1 2

d v d  v  uv'vu' (5)(4)  (1)(7) 27

3.     
dx  u  dx  u  u2 52 25
 3.3 Rules for Differentiation

d  ho 
 
dx  hi 

(hi)d (ho)  (ho)d (hi)

(ho)(ho)
3.3 Rules for Differentiation
 2.3 Basic Differentiation
Formulas

If the derivative of a function is its slope, then for a

constant function, the derivative must be zero.

d example: y3 y  0
c  0
dx

The derivative of a constant is zero.

 Power Rule:

 
If n is any real number, then d n n 1
x  nx
dx

Examples: f  x   x 4 f   x   4 x3
y  x8 y  8 x 7

Constant Multiple Rule:

If c is a constant and f is differentiable function, then d du
 cu   c
Examples: d n dx dx
cx  cnx n 1
dx
d
7 x 5  7  5 x 4  35 x 4
dx
The Sum Rule:
d du dv
u  v   
dx dx dx

Example: y  x  12 x
4
y  4 x  12
3

The Difference Rule:

d du dv
u  v   
dx dx dx
dy
Example: y  x  2x  2
4 2
 4x  4x
3

dx
Example:
Find the horizontal tangents of: y  x  2 x  2
4 2

dy
 4 x3  4 x
dx
Horizontal tangents occur when slope = zero.
4 x3  4 x  0 Plugging the x values into the
original equation, we get:
x3  x  0
y  2, y  1, y  1
x  x  1  0
2

x  x  1 x  1  0
x  0, 1, 1
 4
y  x4  2x2  2
3

2 y2

1 y 1

-2 -1 0 1 2

-1

-2
Consider the function y  sin  
We could make a graph of the slope:  slope
 1

 0
2
0 1

0
Now we connect the dots! 2
The resulting curve is a cosine curve.  1

d
sin  x   cos x
dx
We can do the same thing for y  cos  
 slope
 0

 1
2
0 0

1
2
The resulting curve is a sine curve that has
been reflected about the x-axis.  0

d
cos  x    sin x
dx
2.4 The Product and
Quotient Rules
The Product Rule:
d dv du
 uv   u  v Notice that this is not just the
dx dx dx product of two derivatives.

This is sometimes memorized as: d  uv   u dv  v du

dx 

d  2
x  3 2 
x 3
 5 x    
  x 2  3  6 x2  5   2 x3  5x   2x 

6 x 4  5 x 2  18 x 2  15  4 x 4  10 x 2

10 x 4  33 x 2  15
The Quotient Rule:

du dv
v u  u  v du  u dv
d u dx dx or d 
  
 
2
dx  v  v2 v v

Example:

d 2 x  5x
3

    
x 2  3 6 x 2  5  2 x3  5 x  2 x 
dx x  3  x  3
2 2
2
 We can find the derivative of the tangent function by
using the quotient rule.

d cos 2 x  sin 2 x
tan x
dx cos 2 x

d sin x 1
dx cos x cos 2 x

cos x  cos x  sin x    sin x 

sec 2 x
cos 2 x

d
tan  x   sec 2 x
dx
Derivatives of the remaining trigonometric functions
can be determined the same way.

d d
sin x  cos x cot x   csc 2 x
dx dx

d d
cos x   sin x sec x  sec x  tan x
dx dx

d d
tan x  sec 2 x csc x   csc x  cot x
dx dx
3.3 Rules for Differentiation
More Examples: Find d
dx
 x
You’ll notice none of the basic rules specifically mention
radicals, so you should convert the radical to its exponential
form, X1/2 and then use the power rule.

d
dx
  d  12  1 12 1 1 21
 
x  x   x  x  1 
dx   2 2
1 1
2 x
2
2x
More Examples: Find d  1 
 2
dx  x 

Again, you need to rewrite the expression so that you can use
one of the basic rules for differentiation. If we rewrite the
fraction as x-2 ,then we can use the power rule.

2
 2   x   2 x  2 x  3
d  1  d 2  21 3

dx  x  dx x
More Examples: Find d  4 x3  2 x  7 
 
dx  x 

Rewrite the expression so that you can use the basic rules of
differentiation.

4 x3  2 x  7 4 x3 2 x 7
    4 x 2  2  7 x 1
x x x x

Now differentiate using the basic rules.

d  4 x3  2 x  7  d

dx 
  
4 x 2  2  7 x 1 
x  dx

d
dx
4x2  d
dx dx

2  d 7 x 1 
 4  2 x  0  7  1x 11
 8 x  7 x 2
7
 8x  2
x
Another example: Find the slope and equation of the tangent
line to the curve y  2 x 2  1 at the point (1,3).

Recall from the previous chapter, the derivative gives the slope
of the tangent to the curve. So we will need to find the
derivative and evaluate it at x = 1 to find the slope
at the point (1,3). Then we’ll use the slope and the
point to write the equation of the tangent line
using the point slope form.
Find the slope and equation of the tangent line to the curve
y  2 x 2  1 at the point (1,3).

First find the derivative of the function.

d
dx

dx
2
 dx
 
 y   2 x  1  2 x  1
d d 2 d
dx
 2  2 x 21  0
 4x

Now, evaluate the derivative at x = 1 to find the slope at (1,3).

m  4 1  4
Example continued: Now we have the slope of the tangent line at
the point (1,3) and we can write the equation of the line.

Recall to write the equation of a line, start with the point slope form
and use the slope, 4 and the point (1,3).

y  y1  m x  x1 
y  3  4 x  1
y  3  4x  4
y  4x 1
The graph below shows the curve y  2 x  1 in blue and the tangent
2

line at the point (1,3), y  4 x  1 in red.

Another example: Find all the x values where y  x 3  2 x 2  x
has a horizontal tangent line.

Find the derivative.

d 3
dx
 
x  2 x 2  x  3x 2  4 x  1

Since horizontal lines have a slope of 0, set the derivative equal

to 0 and solve for x.
Thus the x values where
the function has horizontal
3x 2  4 x  1  0
tangents is at x = -1 , -1/3.
3x  1x  1  0
3x  1  0 or x  1  0
1
x or x  1
3
The graph below shows the function from the last example and the
horizontal tangent lines at x=-1 and x=-1/3.
3.3 Rules for Differentiation