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    Rules For Differentiation

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    Paula Fana
    The document provides rules for differentiation that allow derivatives to be found more simply than using the definition of a derivative directly. It gives general rules for differentiating constants, powers of x, sums, differences, products, and quotients. It emphasizes that when a question does not specify the method, the rules of differentiation should be used. When first principles are required, it will be stated in the question. Examples are provided to demonstrate applying the rules to find derivatives of various functions.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Rules For Differentiation

    Uploaded by

    Paula Fana
    32 views7 pages
    The document provides rules for differentiation that allow derivatives to be found more simply than using the definition of a derivative directly. It gives general rules for differentiating constants, powers of x, sums, differences, products, and quotients. It emphasizes that when a question does not specify the method, the rules of differentiation should be used. When first principles are required, it will be stated in the question. Examples are provided to demonstrate applying the rules to find derivatives of various functions.

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    RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION

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    The document provides rules for differentiation that allow derivatives to be found more simply than using the definition of a derivative directly. It gives general rules for differentiating constants, powers of x, sums, differences, products, and quotients. It emphasizes that when a question does not specify the method, the rules of differentiation should be used. When first principles are required, it will be stated in the question. Examples are provided to demonstrate applying the rules to find derivatives of various functions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    32 views7 pages

    Rules For Differentiation

    Uploaded by

    Paula Fana
    The document provides rules for differentiation that allow derivatives to be found more simply than using the definition of a derivative directly. It gives general rules for differentiating constants, powers of x, sums, differences, products, and quotients. It emphasizes that when a question does not specify the method, the rules of differentiation should be used. When first principles are required, it will be stated in the question. Examples are provided to demonstrate applying the rules to find derivatives of various functions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 7

    RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION

    Determining the derivative of a function from first principles requires a long


    calculation and it is easy to make mistakes. However, we can use this method of finding
    the derivative from first principles to obtain rules which make finding the derivative of
    a function much simpler.
    RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION
    General rule for differentiation:

    𝒅
    [𝒙𝒏 ] = 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏 , where 𝒏 ∈ 𝑹 and 𝒏 ≠ 𝟎
    𝒅𝒙

    The derivative of a constant is equal to zero.


    𝒅
    [𝒌] = 𝟎
    𝒅𝒙

    The derivative of a constant multiplied by a function is


    equal to the constant multiplied by the derivative of the
    function.

    𝒅 𝒅
    [𝒌 ∙ 𝒇(𝒙)] = 𝒌 [𝒇(𝒙)]
    𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
    The derivative of a sum is equal to the sum of the
    derivatives.

    𝒅 𝒅 𝒅
    [𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)] = [𝒇(𝒙)] + [𝒈(𝒙)]
    𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
    𝒅 𝒅 𝒅
    [𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)] = [𝒇(𝒙)] − [𝒈(𝒙)]
    𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙

    Use the rules of differentiation to find the derivative of


    each of the following:
    1. 𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙𝟓
    2 𝟏 𝟐
    𝒑= 𝒒
    𝟒
    3 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟔𝟎
    4 𝒚 = 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟕𝒙
    5 𝟑 𝟒
    𝒎= 𝒏 −𝟏
    𝟐
    SOLUTION:
    1. 𝒅𝒚
    = 𝟑(𝟓𝒙𝟓−𝟏 ) = 𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟒
    𝒅𝒙
    2 𝒅𝒑 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏
    = (𝟐𝒒𝟐−𝟏 ) = 𝒒𝟏 = 𝒒
    𝒅𝒒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟐
    3 𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝟎
    4 𝒅𝒚
    = 𝟏𝟐(𝟑𝒙𝟑−𝟏 ) + 𝟕(𝟏𝒙𝟏−𝟏 ) = 𝟑𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙𝟎 = 𝟑𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕
    𝒅𝒙
    5 𝒅𝒎 𝟑 𝟏𝟐 𝟑
    = (𝟒𝒏𝟒−𝟏 ) − 𝟎 = (𝒏 ) = 𝟔𝒏𝟑
    𝒅𝒏 𝟐 𝟐

    RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION

    QUESTION
    Differentiate the following with respect to t:
    1 𝑔(𝑡) = 4(𝑡 + 1)2 (𝑡 − 3)
    2 (𝑡 + 2)3
    𝑘 (𝑡 ) =
    √𝑡

    SOLUTION
    1. Expand the expression and apply the rules of differentiation
    We have not learnt a rule for differentiating a product, therefore we must expand the
    brackets and simplify before we can determine the derivative:
    𝑔(𝑡) = 4(𝑡 + 1)2 (𝑡 − 3) = 4(𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 + 1)(𝑡 − 3) = 4(𝑡 3 − 3𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 2 − 6𝑡 + 𝑡 − 3)
    = 4𝑡 3 − 4𝑡 2 − 20𝑡 − 12
    ∴ 𝑔′ (𝑡) = 12𝑡 3−1 − 8𝑡 2−1 − 20𝑡 1−1 − 0 = 12𝑡 2 − 8𝑡 − 20

    2. Expand the expression and apply the rules of differentiation


    We have not learnt a rule for differentiating a quotient, therefore we must first simplify
    the expression and then we can differentiate:
    (𝑡 + 2)3 𝑡 3 + 6𝑡 2 + 12𝑡 + 8 1
    𝑘 (𝑡) = = 1 = 𝑡 −2(𝑡 3 + 6𝑡 2 + 12𝑡 + 8) =
    √𝑡 𝑡2
    1 1 1 1 6−1 4−1 2−1 1
    3−2 2−2 1−2 −2 −2
    =𝑡 + 6𝑡 + 12𝑡 + 8𝑡 =𝑡 2 + 6𝑡 2 + 12𝑡 2 + 8𝑡 =
    5 3 1 1
    −2
    = 𝑡2 + 6𝑡 2 + 12𝑡 2 + 8𝑡
    5 3 1 1
    5 3 1 1
    ∴ 𝑔 𝑡) = 𝑡 2−1 + 6 ∙ 𝑡 2−1 + 12 ∙ 𝑡 2−1 + 8 ∙ (− ) 𝑡 −2−1 =
    ′(
    2 2 2 2
    5 3 1 1 3
    = 𝑡 2 + 9𝑡 2 + 6𝑡 −2 − 4𝑡 −2
    2
    IMPORTANT: ALWAYS WRITE THE FINAL ANSWER WITH POSITIVE EXPONENTS!
    5 3 1 6 4
    = 𝑡 + 9𝑡 2 + 1 − 3
    2
    2
    𝑡2 𝑡2
    WHEN TO USE THE RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION:
    If the question does not specify how we must determine the derivative, then we use
    the rules for differentiation.
    WHEN TO DIFFERENTIATE USING FIRST PRINCIPLES:
     If the question specifically states to use first principles.
     If we are required to differentiate using the definition of a derivative, then we
    use first principles.
    EXAMPLE
    QUESTION
    𝒅
    Find 𝒇(𝒙) using the rules for differentiation:
    𝒅𝒙

    𝒇(𝒙) = −𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟔
    SOLUTION
    - Apply the rules of differentiation
    𝒇′(𝒙) = −𝟑 ∙ 𝟐𝒙𝟐−𝟏 − 𝟔 ∙ 𝟏𝒙𝟏−𝟏 + 𝟎 = −𝟔𝒙 − 𝟔
    The rules for differentiation:
    𝑑
    𝑎𝑥 𝑛 = (𝑎𝑛)𝑥 𝑛−1
    𝑑𝑥
    In words: for each term we multiply the coefficient by the exponent and subtract one
    from the exponent.
    Let's consider the first term of the function and apply the rule:
    𝑑
    (−3𝑥 2) = 2(−3)𝑥 (2−1) = −6𝑥 1
    𝑑𝑥
    We repeat this process for each of the remaining terms that make up the given
    function.
    Therefore, the final answer is:
    𝑑
    𝑓(𝑥) = −6𝑥 − 6
    𝑑𝑥
    IMPORTANT: the derivative of a constant term, such as 3, will always be zero.
    We can apply the rule to see why this is true:
    QUESTION
    Find 𝐷𝑥 ℎ(𝑥) using the rules for differentiation:
    ℎ (𝑥 ) = 6𝑥 4 − 6𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2
    SOLUTION
    The rules for differentiation:
    𝑑
    𝑎𝑥 𝑛 = (𝑎𝑛)𝑥 𝑛−1
    𝑑𝑥
    In words: for each term we multiply the coefficient by the exponent and subtract one
    from the exponent.
    Let's consider the first term of the function and apply the rule:
    𝐷𝑥 (6𝑥 4 ) = 4(6)𝑥 (4−1) = 24𝑥 3
    We repeat this process for each of the remaining terms that make up the given
    function.
    Therefore, the final answer is:
    𝐷𝑥 ℎ (𝑥 ) = 24𝑥 3 − 18𝑥 2 − 10𝑥
    QUESTION
    Adapted from DBE Nov 2016 Grade 12 ,P1,Q8.3
    5
    Given 𝑦 = √𝑥 7 −
    𝑥3

    Which of the following is equivalent to y?

    Correct answer : C
    Reason:
    Identify the correct expression for y�
    Looking at the first term:
    1 7
    𝑦1 = √𝑥 7 = (𝑥 7 )2 = 𝑥 2
    And then looking at the second term:
    5
    𝑦2 = − = −5𝑥 −3
    𝑥3
    Putting these together gives us:
    7
    𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 = 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 −3
    So the correct choice is Option C.

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