DERIVATIVE OF A

FUNCTION
f a  h  f a 
lim is called the derivative of f at a.
h 0 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

 DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION
f  x “f dash x” or “the derivative of f with respect
to x”
y “y prime or dash”
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”

DERIVATIVE OF A
FUNCTION

dx does not mean d times x !

dy does not mean d times y !

 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.)
DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

d d
f  x  does not mean times f  x  !
dx dx
(except when it is convenient to treat it that way.)
 DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

The derivative is
the slope of the y  f  x
original function.

The derivative is defined

at the end points of a
function on a closed
interval. y  f x
DERIVATIVE OF A
FUNCTION
2
y  x 3

y  lim
 x  h
2

 3  x2  3 
h 0 h

y   lim 2 x  h
h 0

y  2 x
 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.
 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
 DIFFERENTIABILITY

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

 DIFFERENTIABILITY

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.
 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 

f  b 
and .
f  b   3

1 Between a and b, f  must take

f  a   1
2
on every value between 2 and 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.

 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
 RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION
Proof:
d n
dx
 x   nx n 1
d n ( x  h) n  x n
x  lim
dx h0 h
d n x n  nx n1h  ...  h n  x n
x  lim
dx h0 h
d n nx n1h  ...  h n
x  lim
dx h 0 h
d n
x  lim nx n1
dx h0
 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
 RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION
constant multiple rule: d du
cu   c
dx dx
sum and difference rules:

d du dv d du dv
u  v    u  v   
dx dx dx dx dx dx
4 2
4
y  x  12 x y  x  2 x 2
(Each term
dyis treated separately)
3
y  4 x  12
3
 4x  4x
dx
 RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION
Find the horizontal tangents of:
4 2 dy
y  x  2x  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.)
RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION

y  x4  2x2  2

y2

y 1
 RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION

y  x4  2 x2  2

dy
 4 x3  4 x
dx

First derivative
(slope) is zero at:
x  0, 1, 1
 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
d  2
dx  
x 3  
2 x3  5 x 

 x 2  3  6 x 2  5    2 x 3  5 x   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
 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 dx dx dx h 0 h

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
 RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION
quotient rule:

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

3
d 2x  5x

    
x 2  3 6 x 2  5  2 x3  5 x  2 x 
2
dx x  3
 x  3
2
2
 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.
 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.     2
 27
dx  v  dx  v  v2 1
d v d  v  uv'vu ' (5)(4)  (1)(7) 27
3.     
dx  u  dx  u  u2 52 25
 RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION

d  ho 
 
dx  hi 

(hi )d (ho)  (ho)d (hi )

(ho)(ho)
RULES FOR
DIFFERENTIATION
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE
Consider a graph of displacement (distance traveled) vs. time.
Average velocity can be found by
taking:
B change in position s
distance 
(miles) s change in time t
A
t s f t  t   f t 
Vave  
t t
time (hours)

The speedometer in your car does not measure average

velocity, but instantaneous velocity.
ds f t  t   f t  (The velocity at one
V t    lim
dt t  0 t moment in time.)
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE

Velocity is the first derivative of position.

Acceleration is the second derivative

of position.
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE
Gravitational
Example: Free Fall Equation Constants:

ft
g  32
1 2 1 sec 2
s g t s   32 t 2
2 2
m
g  9.8
ds sec 2
s  16 t 2 V  32 t
dt
cm
Speed is the absolute value of velocity. g  980
sec 2
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE
Acceleration is the derivative of velocity.

dv d 2s v  32t
a  2 example:
dt dt a  32
If distance is in: feet

feet
Velocity would be in:
sec
ft
ft
Acceleration would be in:
sec 
sec sec 2
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE
acc neg acc neg
vel pos & vel neg &
decreasing decreasing acc zero
vel neg &
acc zero constant
vel pos &
constant acc pos
distance
vel neg &
increasing
velocity
acc pos
zero
vel pos &
increasing
acc zero,
velocity zero

time
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE
Rates of Change:
f  x  h  f  x
Average rate of change =
h
f  x  h  f  x
Instantaneous rate of change = f   x   lim
h 0 h

These definitions are true for any function.

( x does not have to represent time. )

 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE

For a circle: A   r2
dA d
  r2
dr dr
dA
 2 r
dr
Instantaneous rate of change of the area with
dA  2 r dr
respect to the radius.
For tree ring growth, if the change in area is constant then dr
must get smaller as r gets larger.
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE

from Economics:
Marginal cost is the first derivative of the cost function, and
represents an approximation of the cost of producing one
more unit.
 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE
Example 13:
Suppose it costs:  
3 2
c x  x  6 x  15 x
to produce x stoves. c   x   3 x 2
 12 x  15
If you are currently producing 10 stoves,
the 11th stove will cost approximately:
c 10   3 10 2  12 10  15
 300  120  15
The actual cost is: C 11  C 10 
 $195
 113  6  112  15 11  103  6 10 2  15 10  marginal cost

 770  550  $220 actual cost

 VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE

Note that this is not a

great approximation –
Don’t let that bother you.

Marginal cost is a linear approximation of a curved

function. For large values it gives a good approximation
of the cost of producing the next item.
VELOCITY AND OTHER
RATES OF CHANGE
 DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
Consider the function y  sin  
 slope
We could make a graph of the slope:
 1

 0
2
0 1

0
2
Now we connect the dots!
The resulting curve is a cosine curve.  1

d
sin  x   cos x
dx
 DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS
Proof

d sin( x  h)  sin x
sin x  lim
dx h 0 h
d sin x cos h  sin h cos x  sin x
sin x  lim
dx h0 h
d sin x (cos h  1)  sin h cos x
sin x  lim
dx h 0 h
d sin x (cos h  1) sin h cos x
sin x  lim  lim
dx h 0 h h 0 h
 DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS = 0 =1

d sin x (cos h  1) sin h cos x

sin x  lim  lim
dx h 0 h h 0 h

d
sin  x   cos x
dx
 DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS
Find the derivative of cos x

d cos( x  h)  cos x
cos x  lim
dx h0 h
d cos x cos h  sin h sin x  cos x
cos x  lim
dx h0 h
d cos x (cos h  1)  sin h sin x
cos x  lim
dx h0 h
d cos x (cos h  1) sin h sin x
cos x  lim  lim
dx h0 h h0 h
 DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS = 0 =1

d cos x (cos h  1) sin h sin x

cos x  lim  lim
dx h0 h h0 h

d
cos  x    sin x
dx
 DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
We can find the derivative of tangent x 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
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
Derivatives of the remaining trig 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
 DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

Jerk A sudden change in acceleration

Definition Jerk
Jerk is the derivative of acceleration. If a body’s position
at time t is s(t), the body’s jerk at time t is

da d 2v d 3s
j (t )   2  3
dt dt dt
DERIVATIVES OF
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
 CHAIN RULE

Consider a simple composite function:

y  6 x  10 y  6 x  10 y  2u u  3x  5
y  2 3 x  5 
dy dy du
6 2 3
If u  3 x  5 dx du dx
then y  2u
6  23

dy dy du
 
dx du dx
 CHAIN RULE
dy dy du
Chain Rule:  
dx du dx
If f  g is the composite of y  f u  and u  g  x  ,
then:

 f  g 
  f at u  g  x   gat x  f ' ( g ( x))  g ' ( x)
example: f  x   sin x g  x   x2  4 Find:  f  g  at x  2

f   x   cos x g x   2x g 2  4  4  0

f  0  g  2  cos  0    2  2  1 4 4
 CHAIN RULE

f  g  x   sin  x 2  4  dy
 cos  x 2  4   2 x
y  sin  x 2  4  dx

y  sin u u  x2  4
dy
dy du  cos  22  4   2  2
 cos u  2x dx
du dx
dy
 cos  0   4
dy dy du dx
 
dx du dx
dy dy
 cos u  2 x 4
dx dx
 CHAIN RULE
Here is a faster way to find the derivative:

y  sin  x 2  4 

d 2
y  cos  x  4    x  4 
2
Differentiate the outside function...
dx

y  cos  x 2  4   2 x …then the inside function

At x  2, y  4
 CHAIN RULE

d d 2
cos 2 3 x  cos 3x 
dx dx
d
2 cos 3 x   cos 3 x 
dx
d The chain rule can be used
2 cos 3 x    sin 3 x   3 x  more than once.
dx
2 cos 3x   sin 3 x   3 (That’s what makes the
“chain” in the “chain rule”!)
6 cos 3 x  sin 3 x 
 CHAIN RULE
Derivative formulas include the chain rule!

d n n 1 du d du
u  nu sin u  cos u
dx dx dx dx

d du d 2 du
cos u   sin u tan u  sec u
dx dx dx dx

etcetera…
 CHAIN RULE

Find dy
dx
dy
y  cos(3x 2  x)   sin(3 x 2  x)(6 x  1)
dx
dy
y  sin(cos(x))  cos(cos x)( sin x)
dx
dy
y  cos3 (4 x3  2 x)  3 cos2 (4 x3  2 x)( sin(4 x3  2 x))(12 x 2  2)
dx
dy
 (36 x 2  6) cos2 (4 x 3  2 x)( sin(4 x 3  2 x))
dx
 CHAIN RULE

The chain rule enables us to find the slope of

parametrically defined curves:

The slope of a parametrized

dy dy dx curve is given by:
 
dt dx dt
dy
dy
dy
dt  dy  dt
dx dx
dx dx
dt
dt
 CHAIN RULE

Example: These are the equations for

an ellipse.

x  3cos t y  2sin t

dx dy dy 2 cos t 2
 3sin t  2 cos t    cot t
dt dt dx 3sin t 3
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
This is not a function,
x2  y 2  1 but it would still be
nice to be able to find
the slope.
d 2 d 2 d
x  y  1 Do the same thing to both sides.
dx dx dx
Note use of chain rule.
dy
2x  2 y 0 dy 2 x
dx  dy x
dx 2 y 
dx y
dy
2y  2 x
dx
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

2 y  x 2  sin y This can’t be solved for y.

d d 2 d dy 2x
2y  x  sin y 
dx dx dx dx 2  cos y
dy dy
2  2 x  cos y This technique is called
dx dx implicit differentiation.
dy dy
2  cos y  2x
dx dx 1 Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x.
dy dy
 2  cos y   2 x 2 Solve for .
dx dx
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Implicit Differentiation Process

1. Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x.

2. Collect the terms with dy/dx on one side of the equation.
3. Factor out dy/dx .
4. Solve for dy/dx .
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Find the equations of the lines tangent and normal to the

at (1, 2) .
2 2
curve x  xy  y 7
x 2  xy  y 2  7 Note product rule. dy y  2 x

dx 2 y  x
 dy  dy
2x   x  y  2 y 0
 dx  dx
dy dy 2  2  1 2  2 4
2x  x  y  2 y 0 m  
dx dx 2  2   1 4  1 5
dy
2 y  x   y  2x
dx
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Find the equations of the lines tangent and normal to the

curve x 2  xy  y 2  7 at (1, 2) .
4 tangent: normal:
m 5
5 4 y  2    x  1
y  2   x  1
5 4
4 4 5 5
y2 x y2  x
5 5 4 4

4 14 5 3
y  x y  x
5 5 4 4
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
d2y 3 2
Find 2 if 2 x  3 y 7 .
dx
y  2 x  x 2 y
3 2 y  
2x  3y  7 y2
6 x  6 y y  0
2 2x x 2
y   2 y
y y
6 y y  6 x 2 Substitute y
2 2
2x x x
6 x 2 y   2
y  y y y back into the
6 y equation.
x2 2x x 4
y  y   3
y y y
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Rational Powers of Differentiable Functions

Power Rule for Rational Powers of x

If n is any rational number, then

d n
x  nx n1
dx
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Proof: Let p and q be integers with q > 0.

p
q
yx Raise both sides to the q power

q p
y x Differentiate with respect to x

q 1 dy p 1
qy  px Solve for dy/dx
dx
 IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
dy px p1 Substitute for y
 q1
dx qy
dy px p1
 Remove parenthesis
dx q( x p / q ) q1
p 1
dy px
 p p / q Subtract exponents
dx qx
dy px p1( p p / q ) dy p ( p / q )1
  x
dx q dx q
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
x
Look at the graph of ye
If we assume this to be
The slope at x = 0 true, then:
appears to be 1. 0 h 0
e e
lim 1
h 0 h

definition of derivative
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
Now we attempt to find a general formula for the
x
derivative of y  e using the definition.

d x e xh  e x  e h
1 
dx
 
e  lim
h
x
 e  lim  
 h 
h 0 h 0

e x  eh  e x
 lim
h 0 h This is the slope at x = 0, which
we have assumed to be 1.
 x eh  1 
 lim  e  
h 0
 h  x
 e 1 e x
d x
dx
 
e e x


 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

x
e is its own derivative!

If we incorporate the chain rule: d u u du

e e
dx dx
x
We can now use this formula to find the derivative of a
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
d x
dx
 
a d x x
a  a ln a
dx
dx
 
d ln a x
e
Incorporating the chain rule:

d x ln a
 e  d u du
dx
dx
  u
a  a ln a
dx
d
e   x ln a 
x ln a

dx
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

So far today we have:

d u u du d du
e e
dx
 
u u
a  a ln a
dx
dx dx

Now it is relatively easy to find the derivative of ln x .

 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
dy 1
y  ln x  y
y
dx e
e x
d 1
d y d ln x 
dx
 e  x
dx
dx x
dy d 1 du
e y
1 ln u 
dx dx u dx
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
To find the derivative of a common log function, you
could just use the change of base rule for logs:

d d ln x 1 d 1 1
log x   ln x  
dx dx ln10 ln10 dx ln10 x
The formula for the derivative of a log of any base
other than e is:

d 1 du
log a u 
dx u ln a dx
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
d u u du d du
e e
dx
 
u u
a  a ln a
dx
dx dx

d 1 du d 1 du
ln u  log a u 
dx u dx dx u ln a dx
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
Find y’
2x 2x
ye y ' 2e
x2
y3 x2
y '  3 ln(3)(2 x)
3 1 2 3
y  ln x y '  3 (3 x ) 
x x
1 4x 1
y  sin (e ) y'  4x
(e )(4)
4x 2
1  (e )
 DERIVATIVES OF
EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
Logarithmic differentiation

Used when the variable is in the base and the exponent

dy
y = xx  y 1 ln x 
dx
ln y = ln xx
dy
ln y = x ln x  x x 1 ln x 
dx
1 dy 1
 x   ln x
y dx  x