THE CONSTANT MULTIPLE RULE

Example #1. Differentiate the following; y= 2 x 4

Solution:
dy
¿2 x 4 )
dx
d 4
=2 x
dx
= 2(4 x ¿ ¿ 3

= 8x3

Example #2. Differentiate the following y=-x

Solution:
dy
(−x )
dx
d
= [(-1)x]
dx
d
= -1 x
dx
= -1(1)
= -1
Example #3. Find the derivative of the function y=-x(2)
Solution:
d
[−x (2) ]
dx
= -1(2)
Example # 4. Find the derivative of the function y=3 x 7
Solution:
d 7
3x
dx
 d 7
=3 (x ¿
dx
= (3)7 x 6

= 21 x 6
Example # 5. Find the derivative of the function y=(-5x)
Solution:
d
(−5 x )
dx
d
=-5 (x)
dx
= -5(1)
=5

THE SUM AND DIFFERENCE RULES

Example #1. Differentiate f(x)= 2 x 6−3 x 5+ 7 x3 −2 x 2 +5

Solution:
f’(x)= (2 x 6−3 x 5+ 7 x3 −2 x 2 +5)’

= (2 x 6 ¿ ' −(3 x 5 )' +(7 x 3 )' −(2 x 2)' +(5)

'
= 2( x 6 ) −3 ¿ ¿

= 2• 6 x 6−1−3•5 x 5−1+7 •3 x 3−1−2 •2 x 2−1

= 12 x 5−15 x 4 +21 x2-4x

Example #2. Differentiate f(x)= x 3−12 x+23

Solution:
'
f’(x) =( x 3−12 x+ 23 )
'
= ( x 3 ) −( 12 x )' + ( 23 )'
'
= ( x 3 ) −12 ( x )' +0
 = 3 x 3−1-12•1 x 1−1

= 3 x 2-12

f’(x)= 0 when 3 x 2-12 = 0 or x=± 2.

Example #3. Differentiate s(t)=3 s4 -5 s3 + s

Solution:
s’(t)= (3 s4 -5 s3 + s)’

= (3 s4 ¿ ' - (5 s3 ¿ '+(s) '

= 3( s¿¿ 4)' ¿- 5( s¿¿ 3)' +(s) ' ¿

= 3•4 s4 −1−5 •3 s 3−1+1 • s1−1

= 12 s3−15 s2+1
Thus ,
s’(1)=12•13- 15•12+ 1 =-2

Example#4 . Differentiate the y = 3 x 7+5

Solution:
d d
¿3 x 7 ¿+ (5)
dx dx
d 7 d
=3 ( x )+ (5)
dx dx
= 3(7 x 6 ¿+ 0

= 21 x 6
Example # 5. Differentiate the y = (sin x – 6 cos x)
Solution:
d
(sin x – 6 cos x)
dx
d d
= (sin x )– (6 cos x)
dx dx
 d d
= (sin x )– 6 (cos x)
dx dx
= cos x -6 (-sin x)
= cos x + 6 sin x

The Product Rule

Example # 1. Find f’ (x)= (6 x 3 )(7 x 4 ¿

Solution: Using the product rule , we get
d 4 d
f’(x) = (6 x 3 ) (7 x 4 ¿+ (7 x ¿ (6 x 3 )
dx dx
= (6 x 3 ) (28 x 3 ¿ + (7 x 4 ¿(18 x 2 )

= 168 x 6 + 126 x 6

= 294 x 6

Example # 2. Given f(x)= (3 x 2−1 ¿(x 2+ 5 x +2) , find the derivative of f ( x)

Solution: Using the product rule , we get
d 2 2 d
f’(x) = (3 x 2−1 ) ( x + 5 x +2 ¿+ ( x + 5 x +2 ¿ (3 x 2−1 )
dx dx
= (3 x 2−1 ) (2 x+5 x ¿+ ( x 2+ 5 x +2 ¿(6x )

= 6 x 3+ 15 x 2- 2 x+5+ 6 x 3+ 3 x 2 +12 x

= 12 x 3+ 45 x 2+ 10 x−5

Example # 3. Find the derivatives of the function f(x)= 2x( x 2+ 3 x )

Solution: Using the product rule , we get
f’(x) = 2x(2x+3) +2x( x 2+ 3 x )

= 4 x 2+ 6 x+2 x 2+ 6 x

= 6 x 2+ 12 x
Simplifying the function f ( x) we have f (x)= 2 x 3+ 6 x2 .

Example # 4. Find the derivative of the function f(x)= (3x-2 x 2 ¿ (5+4 x )

Solution: Using the product rule , we get
f’(x) = (3x-2 x 2 ¿ ( 0+ 4 )+ (5+ 4 x ) (3−4 x )

= 12x – 8 x 2+ 15+! 2 x−20 x -16 x 2

= - 24 x 2+ 4 x +15

Example # 5. Find the derivative of the function f(x)= 3( x 4 −1¿(5 x 2 +2 x) .

Solution: Using the product rule , we get

f’(x) = 3[( x 4 −1¿(10 x +2)+(5 x 2+ 2 x )( 4 x 3 )¿

= 3(10 x 5+ 2 x 4 −10 x−2+20 x5 +8 x 4 )

= 3 (30 x 5+ 10 x 4 −10 x−2 ¿

THE QUOTIENT RULE

x3
Example # 1. Given that f(x) , find f’(x)
1−x 3
Solution:
d d
( 1−x 4 ) ( x 3 )−(x 3) (1−x 4 )
f’(x) = dx dx
¿¿
 4 2 3 3
= ( 1−x ) ( 3 x )−( x )(−4 x )
¿¿
2 6 6
= 3 x −3 x +4 x
¿¿
2 6
= 3x +x
¿¿
x2 +x−2
Example #2. Given that f(x) , find f’(x)
x 3 +6
Solution :

( x 3+ 6 ) d ( x2 + x−2 ) −(x 2 + x−2) d (x3 +6)

f’(x) = dx dx
3
( x +6 ) 2
( x 3+ 6 ) ( 2 x +1 )−(x 2+ x−2)(3 x 2)
=
( x 3+ 6 ) 2
( 2 x 4 + x 3 +12 x+ 6 )−(3 x 4 +3 x3 −6 x 2)
=
( x 3+ 6 ) 2
−x 4−2 x 3+ 6 x2 +12 x+ 6
=
( x 3 +6 ) 2
2
Example # 3. Find the derivative of the function y=
x
Solution:
2
y’(x) =( )’
x

2' • x−2 • x '

=
x2
0 • x−2 •1
=
x2
2
=
x2
Example # 4 find the derivative of a power function with the negative exponent y = x−n
1
Solution: We write the function in the form y (x)= and use the quotient rule.
xn
1
y’ (x) = ( )'
xn

1' • x n−1 •( xn )'

=
( x ¿¿−n)2 ¿

0 • x n−n x n−1 n
= =
(x ¿¿−n) 2¿ (x ¿¿ 2 n−n+1) ¿
n
=
¿¿¿
x+ 1
Example # 5. Find the derivative of the function y =
x−1
Solution: let u = x+ 1, v= x-1

u ' u' v−u v '

By the quotient rule () v
=
v2
x+ 1
y’ =( )'
x−1
' '
= ( x+1 ) ( x −1 )−( x+ 1 )( x−1 )
¿¿

= 1• ( x−1 )−(x +1)•1

¿¿

= x−1−x−1
¿¿
2
=
¿¿

THE CHAIN RULE

Example #1. We have the outer function f(u) = u7 and the inner function u =g(x)= x 2+ 1
Solution:
Then, f’ (u) = 7 u6 ,∧g ' ( x )=2 x2 .Then ,

f ' ( x )=7 u6 •2 x
 = 7( x 2+16 ¿ •2 x

We could of course simplify the result algebraically to 14x ( x 2+1 ¿ ¿2 but were leaving the
result as written to emphasize the chain rule term 2x at the end.
Example #2. We have y= u7 ∧u=x 2 +1
Solution:
Then ,

dy u6∧du
=7 =2 x .
du dx
Hence
dy
=7 u6 •2 x
dx
= 7( x 2+ 1¿ ¿6 •2 x

Example # 3. We have f (x) = ( stuff )7 ; stuff =x 2 +1

Solution:
Then,
df d
=7 ( stuff )6 • ( x 2 +1 )
dx dx
= 7( x 2+ 1¿ ¿6 •2 x
Note: You’d never actually write stuff…..Instead just hold in our head what that “ stuff ” is, and
proceed to write down the required derivatives.
Example #4. Differentiate f(x) = (6 x 2 +7 x ¿ ¿4
Solution:
f’(x) = 4(6 x 2 +7 x ¿ ¿3(12x +7)

= 4(12x +7 ¿( 6 x 2 +7 x ¿ ¿3

Example 5. Differentiate y= (2- x 5 ¿ 9

Solution:
dy
=−5 x 4 • 9 ¿
dx
= -45 x 4 ¿
THE HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES

Example # 1. Determine the fourth derivative of h (t)= 3t 7−¿6t 4+ 8t 3- 12t + 18

Solution:
h’ (t)= 21t 6−¿24t 3+ 24t 2- 12

h’’ (t)= 126t 5−72t 2+ 48t

h’’’ (t)= 630t 4−144 t + 48

h( 4 ) ( t )=2520 t 3 −144
Example #2 . Determine the fourth derivative of V (x)= x 3−x 2+ x−1
Solution:
V’ (x)= 3 x 2−2 x +1
V’’(x)= 6x-2
V’’’(x)=6

V ( 4) ( x )=0

Example # 3. Determine the second derivative of H (t)= cos 2 ( 7 t )

Solution:
H’ (t)= 14 cos (7 t ) si n ( 7 t )
H’’ (t)= 98 sin ( 7 t ) sin ( 7 t )−98 co s ( 7 t )

= 98sin2(7t) -98cos 2 (7 t)

Example # 4. Determine the second derivative of z=In (7- x 3 ¿

Solution:

dz −3 x 2
=
dx 7−x 3

3 2 2
d 2 z −6 x( 7−x )−(−3 x ) (−3 x )
2
= 3
dx 7−x

−42 x−3 x 4
=
( 7−x 3 ) 2
Example # 5. Determine the fourth derivative of y= e−5 z+ 8∈ ( 2 z 4 )

Solution:

dy −5 z 8 z3
=−5 e +8 4
dz 2z
= −5 e−5 z + 32 z−1

d2 y −5 z
2
=25 e + 32 z−2
dz
3
d y −5 z
3
=−125 e + 64 z−3
dz

d4 y −5 z
4
=625 e - 192 z−4
dz
Activity
sinx
# 1. Differentiate f(x)=
x
Solution:
Since the function is the quotient of two separate functions, sin x and x we must use the quotient
rule.

d d
d sinx ( dx
sinx ) x−sinx( x)
dx
(
dx x ) =
x
2

( cosx ) x −sinx (1)

= 2
x
x cos x−sinx
=
x2

#2. Determine the fourth derivative of f(w)=7sin ( w3 )+co s ( 1−2 w )

Solution:

7 w
f’(w) = cos ( ¿+2 sin ⁡(1−2 w)
3 3

−7 w
f’’(w) = sin ( ¿−4 cos ⁡(1−2 w)
9 3

7 w
f’’’(w)= - cos ( ¿−8 sin ⁡(1−2 w)
27 3

7 w
f ( 4 ) ( w )= sin ( ¿+16 cos ⁡(1−2 w)
81 3

ex
#3. Calculate the derivative of f(x)
x+1
Solution:
Since the function is the quotient of two separate functions, e x ∧( x +1)we must use the quotient
rule.
d x d
d ex
(
dx x+1
¿= dx ( )
e ( x−1 )−e x ( (x +1))
dx
2
x
 ( e x ) ( x−1 )−e x (1)
=
( x−1 )2

e x ( x +1−1 )
=
( x−1 )2

xe x
=
( x−1 )2
#4. Determine the second derivative of g(x)= sin (2 x 3−9 ¿
Solution:
g’(x)= (6 x 2−9 )cos (2 x 3−9 x ¿

g’’(x)= 12x cos (2 x 3−9 x ¿- (6 x 2−9 ¿2sin (2 x 3−9 x ¿

3x
#5. Find the derivative of f(x)
5−tanx
Solution:
Since the function is the quotient of two separate functions, 3x and (5−tanx) we must use the
quotient rule.
d d d
( 5−tan x )= ( 5 )− tan x=sec 2 x
dx dx dx
Then
d 3x d
=
dx 5−tanx dx (
(3 x ) ¿ ¿ )
= ( 3 ) ( 5−tanx )−(3 x )¿ ¿

15−3 tanx+ sec 2 x

=
( 5−tanx )2

#6. Find the derivative of x 3

Solution:
f’( x 3) = 3 x 3−1

= 3x2

#7. Find the derivative of x 2 with n=2

Solution:

x 2= 2 x
(2−1)

= 2x1
= 2x
d 1
# 8. Find the derivative of ()
dx x
also x−1

Solution:
d n
x = n x n−1
dx
d −1
x =−1 x−1−1
dx
=- x−2
#9. Differentiate y= ( x ¿¿ 3+7 x−1)(5 x +2)¿
Solution:
y’=( x ¿¿ 3+7 x−1)D(5 x +2)+ D( x¿¿ 3+7 x−1)(5 x+ 2)¿ ¿
= ( x ¿¿ 3+7 x−1)(5) ¿+ (3 x ¿¿ 2+ 7)( 5 x +2)¿
= 5 x 3+35 x−5+ 15 x 3+ 6 x2 +35 x+ 14

=20 x 3+ 6 x 2+70x +9

#10. Differentiate y= x 3 ∈x
Solution:

y’= x 3 D ( ¿ x )+ D ( x 3 ) ∈x

=x
3
( 1x )+( 3 x ) Inx
2

¿ x 2+ 3 x 2 Inx

¿ x 2 (1+ 3∈x )