HIGHER-ORDER

DERIVATIVES
 Higher-Order Derivative
Recall: Given a function 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 , its derivative, 𝑦 ′ = 𝑓′ 𝑥 .
The derivative of 𝑦 ′ , will then be referred to as the second derivative of 𝑦
𝑦′′ = 𝑓′′ 𝑥
Taking its derivative or the third derivative of 𝑦 and it can go on and on.
Higher-Order Derivative

Function 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 𝑦 y
𝑑𝑦
1st derivative 𝑦′ 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝐷𝑥 (𝑦)
𝑑𝑥
𝑦′′ 𝑑2 𝑦 𝐷𝑥2 (𝑦)
2nd derivative 𝑓′′ 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑦′′′ 𝑑3 𝑦 𝐷𝑥3 (𝑦)
3rd derivative 𝑓′′′ 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 3
𝑦 (4) 4 𝑑4 𝑦 𝐷𝑥4 (𝑦)
4th derivative 𝑓 (𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 4
⁞ ⁞ ⁞ ⁞ ⁞
𝑑𝑛 𝑦
nth derivative 𝑦 (𝑛) 𝑓 4 (𝑥) 𝐷𝑥𝑛 (𝑦)
𝑑𝑥 𝑛
Example 1: For the function 𝑦 = 2𝑥 5 − 𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3, let us
find the 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th derivatives.

Solution:
𝑦 ′ = 10𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 − 10𝑥 + 2
𝑦 ′′ = 40𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 10
𝑦 ′′′ = 120𝑥 2 − 24𝑥
𝑦 4 = 240𝑥 − 24
Example 2: If 𝐺(𝑟) = 3
𝑟, find 𝐺’(8) and 𝐺’’(8).

Solution:
3 1ൗ
𝐺 𝑟 = 𝑟=𝑟 3

1 −2ൗ 1 1 2 5 2
𝐺′ 𝑟 = 𝑟 3 𝐺’ 8 = 2 𝐺 ′′ 𝑟 = ∙ − 𝑟 − ൗ3 𝐺’′ 8 = − 𝟓
3
3 3 8 3 3 𝟑
9 𝟖
1 1 2
= 2 = 3 =− 5 𝟏
3𝑟 ൗ3 3 64 9𝑟 ൗ3 𝐺’′ 8 = −
𝟏𝟒𝟒
𝟏 1 2
𝐺′ 𝑟 = = 𝐺 ′′ 𝑟 =−
𝟑𝟑 𝒓
𝟐 3(4) 9𝟑 𝒓
𝟓

𝟏
𝐺’ 8 =
𝟏𝟐
Example 3: Find 𝐻 ′′′ 𝑦 , given the function 𝐻 𝑦 = 3
2𝑦 − 7

Solution:
3 1ൗ
𝐻 𝑦 = 2𝑦 − 7 = 2𝑦 − 7 3

1 2 𝟐
−2ൗ3 −2ൗ3 =
𝐻′ 𝑦 = 2𝑦 − 7 2 = 2𝑦 − 7 𝟐ൗ
3 3 𝟑 𝟐𝒚 − 𝟕 𝟑

2 2 8 −5ൗ3
𝟖
−5ൗ3 = − 2𝑦 − 7 =−
𝐻′′(𝑦) = ∙ − 2𝑦 − 7 2 9 𝟓ൗ
3 3 𝟗 𝟐𝒚 − 𝟕 𝟑

8 5 80 𝟖𝟎
−8ൗ3 −8ൗ3 =
𝐻′′′(𝑦) = − ∙ − 2𝑦 − 7 2 = 2𝑦 − 7 𝟖ൗ
9 3 27 𝟐𝟕 𝟐𝒚 − 𝟕 𝟑
Example 4: Find 𝑦 ′′ , given the function 𝑦 = 2 − 3𝑥 3 2𝑥 − 1 2

Solution:

𝑦 ′ = 2 − 3𝑥 3 2 2𝑥 − 1 2 + 2𝑥 − 1 2 3 2 − 3𝑥 2 (−3)
= 4 2 − 3𝑥 3 (2𝑥 − 1) + (−9) 2𝑥 − 1 2
2 − 3𝑥 2

= (2𝑥 − 1) 2 − 3𝑥 2 4 2 − 3𝑥 + (−9)(2𝑥 − 1)
= (2𝑥 − 1) 2 − 3𝑥 2 8 − 12𝑥 − 18𝑥 + 9
𝑦′ = (2𝑥 − 1) 2 − 3𝑥 2 17 − 30𝑥
General Form (Product Rule):
𝑢 𝑣 𝑤 𝑑 𝑢𝑣𝑤 = 𝑢𝑣𝑑𝑤 + 𝑢𝑤𝑑𝑣 + 𝑣𝑤𝑑𝑢
 𝑦′ = (2𝑥 − 1) 2 − 3𝑥 2 17 − 30𝑥
𝑢 𝑣 𝑤
𝑦 ′′ = 2𝑥 − 1 2 − 3𝑥 2
−30 + 2x − 1 17 − 30x 2 2 − 3x −3 + 2 − 3𝑥 2
17 − 30𝑥 [2]
…

𝑦′ = (2𝑥 − 1) 2 − 3𝑥 2 17 − 30𝑥
𝑦′ = 2 − 3𝑥 2 (−60𝑥 2 + 64𝑥 − 17)

𝑦 ′′ = 2 − 3𝑥 2 −120𝑥 + 64 + (−60𝑥 2 + 64𝑥 − 17) 2(2 − 3𝑥)(−3)

= (−8) 2 − 3𝑥 2 15𝑥 − 8 + (−6)(−60𝑥 2 + 64𝑥 − 17)(2 − 3𝑥)
= (−2)(2 − 3𝑥) (4) 2 − 3𝑥 15𝑥 − 8 + (3)(−60𝑥 2 + 64𝑥 − 17)
= (−2)(2 − 3𝑥) −180𝑥 2 + 216𝑥 − 64 − 180𝑥 2 + 192𝑥 − 51
𝒚′′ = (−𝟐)(𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙) −𝟑𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝟎𝟖𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏𝟓
 IMPLICIT
DIFFERENTIATION
EXPLICIT FUNCTION is a function where the dependent variable, y is given in terms of an
independent variable, x.
sec 4𝑥
𝑦= 𝑥3 − 3𝑥 2
+ 2𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 =
tan 4𝑥
1 −1 1
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 = sin 3𝑥 + 𝑒 −2𝑥 + ln 7𝑥
2 𝑥

IMPLICIT FUNCTION is given in terms of both the independent and dependent variables.

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 9 𝑦 = ± 9 − 𝑥2 3𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 4𝑥 3 𝑦 3 = 𝑦 4 − 18
2 𝑥 2 tan 𝑦 + 𝑦 2 sec 𝑥 = 2𝑥
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 9 𝑦 = 𝑥−3
3
Implicit Differentiation is the process of finding the derivative of a function that is implicitly
defined.

Example 5: Differentiate 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 9 in terms of 𝑥

Solution 1 (express in explicit form):

𝑦2 = 9 − 𝑥2 Solving for the derivative of
1
𝑦 = ± 9 − 𝑥2 𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥 2 = 9 − 𝑥 2 ൗ2 ,

1 −1ൗ2
we can differentiate either 𝑦′ = 9 − 𝑥 2 −2𝑥
2
𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥 2 or 𝑦 = − 9 − 𝑥 2 −𝑥
𝑦′ =
using chain rule. 9 − 𝑥2
Example 5: Differentiate 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 9 in terms of 𝑥

Solution 2 (by implicit differentiation):

2𝑥 + 2𝑦 ∙ 𝑦′ = 0
2𝑦 ∙ 𝑦 ′ = −2𝑥
The answer from Solution is
2𝑦 ∙ 𝑦 ′ −2𝑥 −𝑥
= 𝑦′ =
2𝑦 2𝑦 9 − 𝑥2
−𝒙
′
𝒚 = but 𝑦 = ± 9 − 𝑥2
𝒚
Example 6: Find the derivative of 𝑦 in the given function
𝟑𝒙 − 𝟒𝒚 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟑 = 𝒚𝟒 − 𝟏𝟖

Solution: 3 − 4 ∙ 𝑦′ − 4 𝑥 3 3𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦 ′ +𝑦 3 3𝑥 2 = 4𝑦 3 ∙ 𝑦′
3 − 4 ∙ 𝑦 ′ − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦 ′ − 12𝑥 2 𝑦 3 = 4𝑦 3 ∙ 𝑦′
−4 ∙ 𝑦 ′ − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦 ′ − 4𝑦 3 ∙ 𝑦 ′ = 12𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 3
𝑦′ −4 − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 3 = 12𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 3
𝑦′ −4 − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 3 12𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 3
=
−4 − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 3 −4 − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 3
12𝑥 2 𝑦 3 − 3
𝑦′ =
−4 − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 3
 𝟑𝒙𝟐
Example 7: Find the derivative of 𝑦 in the given function 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 =
𝟐𝒚𝟑

1 3𝑥 2
Solution: 𝑥2 − 𝑦 2 ൗ2 = 3
2𝑦
1 2 −1ൗ 2𝑦 3 6𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 6𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦′
𝑥 − 𝑦2 2 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 ∙ 𝑦′ =
2 2𝑦 3 2
12𝑥𝑦 3 − 18𝑥 2 𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦′
1 2 −1ൗ 1 2 −1
𝑥 − 𝑦2 2 2𝑥 − 𝑥 − 𝑦 2 ൗ2 2𝑦 𝑦 ′ =
2 2 4𝑦 6
𝑥 𝑦 ′
3𝑥 9𝑥 2
2 2 1ൗ − 2 2 1ൗ ∙ 𝑦 = 𝑦 3 − 2𝑦 4 ∙ 𝑦′
𝑥 −𝑦 2 𝑥 −𝑦 2
9𝑥 2 𝑦 ′ =
3𝑥 𝑥
∙ 𝑦′ − 1 ∙ 𝑦 − 1
2𝑦 4 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 ൗ2 𝑦3 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 ൗ2
 9𝑥 2 𝑦 3𝑥 𝑥
Continuation: ∙ 𝑦′ − 1ൗ ∙ 𝑦′ = − 1ൗ
2𝑦 4 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 2 𝑦3 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 2

9𝑥 2 𝑦 3𝑥 𝑥
𝑦′ − 1ൗ = 3− 1ൗ
2𝑦 4 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 2 𝑦 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 2

1 1ൗ
9𝑥 2 𝑥2 − 𝑦 2 ൗ2 − (𝑦) 2𝑦 4 3𝑥 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 2 − 𝑥𝑦 3
𝑦′ = 1ൗ
1
2𝑦 4 𝑥2 − 𝑦 2 ൗ2 𝑦3 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 2

1ൗ 1ൗ
2𝑦 4 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 2 3𝑥 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 2 − 𝑥𝑦 3
𝑦′ = 1ൗ 1ൗ
9𝑥 2 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 2 − (𝑦) 2𝑦 4 𝑦3 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 2

1ൗ 𝟏ൗ
2x𝑦 3 x 2 − y 2 2 − y3 𝟐𝒙𝒚 𝟑 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒚𝟑
𝑦′ = 1 = 𝟏ൗ
9x 2 x2 − y 2 ൗ2 − 2y 5 𝟗𝒙𝟐 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 𝟐 − 𝟐𝒚𝟓
 Higher-Order Derivatives and
#6: Implicit Differentiation

A. Solve the ff:

(1)Find 𝑓′′′(𝑥), if 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 + 8
(2)Find 𝑓’’(0), if 𝑓 𝑥 = 2(2𝑥 − 3)4
3
(3)Find 𝑦′′′ of the function 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 + 2 𝑥 7
5−2𝑤
(4)A function 𝑔 is defined by 𝑔 𝑤 = , find 𝑔′′ (𝑤)
𝑤
3𝑝
(5)Find the 3rd derivative of the function 𝐽 𝑝 =
(𝑝−4)2
B. For the given functions: (a) express as explicit function and find 𝑦’ and
(b) find 𝑦’ by implicit differentiation.

1 𝑥4 + 𝑦2 = 5
𝑥2
(2) 3 =2
𝑦
(3) 𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 0

C. For the following functions, use implicit differentiation to find 𝑦 ′ .

4 4 𝑥 2 = 2𝑦 3 − 4𝑦
5 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥 2 − 2y