Scribd
Upload
92 views6 pages

LP2 - Unit 8

The document discusses higher order derivatives. It defines higher order derivatives as the derivatives of previous derivatives, such as the second derivative being the derivative of the first derivative. It provides examples of calculating second, third, and fourth order derivatives. It also discusses the meaning and interpretation of higher order derivatives, such as the second derivative indicating whether a function is concave up or down. Examples are given of using higher order derivatives to find velocity and acceleration at certain times. Exercises are provided for students to practice calculating higher order derivatives and using them to find velocity and acceleration.

Uploaded by

Razel Mae Layson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
92 views6 pages

LP2 - Unit 8

The document discusses higher order derivatives. It defines higher order derivatives as the derivatives of previous derivatives, such as the second derivative being the derivative of the first derivative. It provides examples of calculating second, third, and fourth order derivatives. It also discusses the meaning and interpretation of higher order derivatives, such as the second derivative indicating whether a function is concave up or down. Examples are given of using higher order derivatives to find velocity and acceleration at certain times. Exercises are provided for students to practice calculating higher order derivatives and using them to find velocity and acceleration.

Uploaded by

Razel Mae Layson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

2 | Calculus 1

1
1

UNIT VIII: HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES

8.0 Learning Outcomes


At the end of this lesson packet, the students are expected to attain the
following intended learning outcomes:
8.0.1 Find the higher-order derivative of a function

8.1 Introduction

The derivative of y with respect to x is itself a function of x,


and may in turn be differentiated. The derivative of the first
𝑑2 𝑦
derivative is called the second derivative and is written 𝑑𝑥2 ; further
𝑑3 𝑦 𝑑4 𝑦
differentiation gives 3 , 4 , etc. Other symbols for the higher
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
derivatives are y’, y”, y’’’,𝑦 4 ,…, and f’(x), f’’(x), f’’’(x), f (4) (x), …
Since y” is the derivative of y’, we see that by rate of change that the
second derivative of a function is the rate of change of slope of the
graph.

8.2 Topics and Discussion

8.2.1. What do Derivatives Tells Us?

Recall that the derivative of a function is increasing or decreasing:


 If 𝑓 ′ > 0 on an interval, then 𝑓 is increasing over that that
interval.
 If 𝑓 ′ < 0 on an interval, then 𝑓 is decreasing over that interval.
 If 𝑓 ′ is always positive on an interval or always negative, then 𝑓
is monotonic over that interval.
Since 𝑓 ′′ is the derivative of 𝑓 ′,
 If 𝑓 ′′ > 0 on an interval, then 𝑓 ′ is increasing over that interval.
 If 𝑓 ′′ < 0 on an interval, then 𝑓 ′ is decreasing over that interval.
 If 𝑓 ′′ > 0 on an interval, then 𝑓 ′ is increasing, so the graph of 𝑓 is
concave up there.
 If 𝑓 ′′ < 0 on an interval, then 𝑓 ′ is decreasing, so the graph of 𝑓
is concave down there.
2 | Calculus 1
2
2

Meaning of 𝑓 ′′:The slope of 𝑓 increases from left to right, 𝑓 ′′ is positive, and 𝑓


concave up

Meaning of 𝑓 ′′:The slope of 𝑓 decreases from left to right, 𝑓 ′′ is negative, and 𝑓


concave down

8.2.2 Interpretation of the Second Derivative as a Rate of Change

If we think of the derivative as a rate of change, then the second


derivative is a rate of change of a rate of change. If the second derivative
is positive, the rate of change of 𝑓 is increasing; if the second derivative is
negative, the rate of change of 𝑓 of change is decreasing.
Velocity is an example of a first derivative of a function. It is the rate of
change of position or displacement with respect to time. If we take the
derivative of the velocity, it will give us acceleration. Acceleration, therefore, is
an example of a second derivative of a function.

8.2.2.1 Velocity and Acceleration

When a car is speeding up, we say that it is accelerating. We define


acceleration as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. If 𝑣(𝑡) is
the velocity of an object at a time t, we have
2 | Calculus 1
3
3

If the term velocity or acceleration is used alone, it is assumed to be


instantaneous. Since velocity is the derivative of position, acceleration is
the second derivative of position. Summarizing:

Let us take a look at some example of higher order derivatives.

Example: 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑦 ′′′ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 3𝑥 4 + 5𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 7

First, examine if you can do explicit differentiation to the function. If not,


perform implicit differentiation.

The function above can be differentiated explicitly and the first derivative is,

𝑦′ = 12𝑥 3 + 15𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4

Differentiate 𝑦′ to get 𝑦′′,

𝑦′′ = 36𝑥 2 + 30𝑥 − 4

Differentiate 𝑦′′ to get 𝑦′′′,

𝑦′′′ = 72𝑥 + 30

Example: 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑦 (4) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = (𝑥 2 + 2)(3𝑥 3 − 1)

Get the first derivative by using the applicable differentiation rules. Thus, we
have

𝑦 ′ = (𝑥 2 + 2)(9𝑥 2 ) + (3𝑥 3 − 1)(2𝑥) By product, power and chain rule

𝑦 ′ = 9𝑥 4 + 18𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 By distributive law

𝑦 ′ = 15𝑥 4 + 18𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 Simplify by combining like terms


2 | Calculus 1
4
4

Differentiate 𝑦′ to get 𝑦′′,

𝑦 ′′ = 60𝑥 3 + 36𝑥 − 2

Differentiate 𝑦′′ to get 𝑦′′′,

𝑦′′′ = 180𝑥 2 + 36

Differentiate 𝑦′′′ to get 𝑦 (4),

𝑦 (4) = 360𝑥

Example: 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑦 ′′ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 4 = 10

We will perform implicit differentiation to the function

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 4 = 10 Original function

2𝑥 + 4𝑦 3 𝑦 ′ = 0 By implicit differentiation
𝑥
𝑦 ′ = − 2𝑦3 Isolate 𝑦 ′ at the left side of the equation and simplify

𝑥
Now, take the derivative of 𝑦 ′ = − 2𝑦3 implicitly

2𝑦 3 −𝑥(6𝑦 2 𝑦′)
𝑦 ′′ = − Using quotient rule
(2𝑦 3 )2

2𝑦 3 −6𝑥𝑦 2 𝑦′
𝑦 ′′ = − By distributive law
4𝑦 6

2𝑦 2 (𝑦−3𝑥𝑦 ′ )
𝑦 ′′ = − Factor out 2𝑦 2
2𝑦 2 (2𝑦4 )

𝑦−3𝑥𝑦 ′
𝑦 ′′ = − Divide out 2𝑦 2
2𝑦 4

𝑥
𝑦−3𝑥(− )
′′ 2𝑦3
𝑦 =− Substitute the value of 𝑦 ′
2𝑦 4

3
𝑦+ 𝑥𝑦 −3
𝑦 ′′ = − 2
Simplify
2𝑦 4
2 | Calculus 1
5
5

Example: The displacement (in meters) of a particle moving in a straight line is


given by the equation of motion
𝑠(𝑡) = 5𝑡 3 + 3𝑡 + 8
where t is measured in seconds.
a.) Find the velocity after t = 2 seconds.
b.) Find the acceleration after t = 2 seconds.

Solution:

a.) To get the velocity, we need to take derivative of the displacement


𝑠(𝑡) = 5𝑡 3 + 3𝑡 + 8 Equation of the displacement
2
𝑠′(𝑡) = 15𝑡 + 3 Equation of the velocity, 𝑠 ′(𝑡) = 𝑣(𝑡)
𝑣(𝑡) = 15𝑡 2 + 3

To find the velocity after t = 2 seconds, just plug in 2 to t in the velocity


equation.
𝑣(2) = 15(2)2 + 3
𝑚
𝑣(2) = 63 𝑠

b.) To get the acceleration, take the derivation of the velocity


𝑣(𝑡) = 15𝑡 2 + 3 Equation of the velocity
𝑣′(𝑡) = 30𝑡 Equation of the accelwration, 𝑣 ′(𝑡) = 𝑎(𝑡)
𝑎(𝑡) = 30𝑡

To find the acceleration after t = 2 seconds, just plug in 2 to t in the


acceleration equation.
𝑎(2) = 30(2)
𝑚
𝑎(2) = 60 𝑠 2

👉 Exercise 1: Perform differentiation to get the required higher-order derivatives.


1. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 7 − 5𝑥 5 + 6𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 + 2; 𝑦 (4)
2. ℎ(𝑡) = 𝑡 3 − 4𝑡 2 + 𝑡 − 2; ℎ(4) (𝑡)
5 1
3. 𝑦 = 4√𝑥 3 − 8𝑥2 − √𝑥; 𝑦′′′
4. 2𝑥 3 + 𝑦 2 = 1 − 4𝑦; 𝑦′′
5. 6𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 = 1; 𝑦′′
2 | Calculus 1
6
6

👉 Exercises 2: Velocity and Acceleration


1. A particle moves along x-axis. The function v(t) gives the
particles velocity at any time t > 0:
𝑣(𝑡) = 𝑡 2 − 8𝑡 + 16
a.) What is the particle’s velocity v(t) at t=3?
b.) What is the particle’s acceleration a(t) at t=3?
2. A particle moves along x-axis. The function x(t) gives the
particles position at any time t > 0:
𝑥 (𝑡) = 5𝑡 3 − 3𝑡 2 + 4𝑡 + 10
a.) What is the particle’s velocity v(t) at t=2?
b.) What is the particle’s acceleration a(t) at t=4?
3. A particle moves along x-axis. The function x(t) gives the
particles position at any time t > 0:
𝑥 (𝑡) = 2𝑡 2 − 3𝑡 + 5
a.) What is the particle’s acceleration a(t) at t=1?

8.3 References

1. Hughes-Hallet, Gleason, McCallum, et. al., “Calculus: Single and


Multivariable, 6th ed., 2013
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFeuGMMiZWw
3. https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/calci/higherorderderi
vatives.aspx

Note: Should you have questions about the topics discussed in this module, please feel
free to text or call me thru this cellphone number, 09173233507. I will appreciate if
you’ll ask questions for clarifications to have sufficient learning.

You might also like