CHAPTER FOUR

DERIVATIVE
Why Do We Need Derivatives?
In physics, and life too, things are constantly “changing.”
Specifically, what we’ll be interested with in the physics context
is how physical quantities change. For example, how does an
object’s velocity change over time, or how does the force acting
on an object change over a distance traveled. Such changes are
described mathematically by derivatives. A “derivative” is just a
fancy name that describes how something is changing with
respect to something else. What follows will be a brief summary
and insight into this world of ever changing quantities called
derivatives.
 f a  h  f a 
lim
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 ”
 DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

f  x “f dash x” or

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
dx


DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

dx does not mean d times x !

dy does not mean d times y !

DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

dy
dx does not mean dy  dx

df does not mean df  dx

dx
The derivative is the slope of the tangent line to a
graph f(x), and is usually denoted f’(x). To calculate
the slope of the tangent line we will use the difference
quotient.

The derivative is the formula which gives the slope of the tangent line at
any point x for f (x), and is denoted

f ( x  x)  f ( x)
f '( x)  lim
x0 x
provided this limit exists.
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 1, x  0
f  x  
 1, x  0
corner discontinuity
 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.
RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION
If the derivative of a function is its slope, then for a constant
function, the derivative must be zero.

d
c  0 y 3
dx

example: y  0
The derivative of a constant is zero.
 RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION

We saw that if y  x, 2
y   2. x
d n
dx
 x   nx n 1
This is part of a pattern.

examples:

power rule f  x  x 4 y  x8

f   x   4x 3 y  8 x 7
 RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION

d n
dx
 x   nx n 1 Proof:
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  ...  hn
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 d n
 cu   c dx
cx  cnx n 1
dx dx
d
7 x5  7  5 x 4  35 x 4
dx
RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION
d du
constant multiple rule:  cu   c
dx dx
sum and difference rules:
d du dv
d du dv
u  v   
u  v    dx dx dx
dx dx dx
y  x  2x  2
4 2

y  x  12 x
4

dy
y  4 x  12
3  4x  4x
3

dx
 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 x 3
 5x 
 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 dv du (uv)  lim
 uv   u v dx h0 h
dx dx dx

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
v u
dv  u  v du  u dv
d u or d 
 dx dx  
v v 2
 
dx  v  v2
d 2 x  5x
3


    
x 2  3 6 x 2  5  2 x3  5 x  2 x 
dx x 2  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.      27
dx  v  dx  v  v2 12
d v d  v  uv'vu' (5)( 4)  (1)( 7) 27
3.     
dx  u  dx  u  u2 52 25
 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 cot x   csc 2 x
sin x  cos x dx
dx

d
d sec x  sec x  tan x
cos x   sin x dx
dx

d
d csc x   csc x  cot x
tan x  sec 2 x dx
dx
 CHAIN RULE

Consider a simple composite function:

y  6 x  10 y  6 x  10 y  2u u  3x  5
y  2  3x  5 
dy dy du
6 2 3
If u  3x  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 
  fat 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 
 cos  x 2  4   2 x
dy
y  sin  x 2  4  dx

y  sin u u  x2  4
 cos  22  4   2  2
dy
dy du
 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 

y  cos  x  4    x  4 
2 d 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  cos  3 x  
2
cos 2  3x 
dx dx
d
2 cos  3x    cos  3x 
dx
d The chain rule can be used
2 cos  3 x    sin  3 x    3 x  more than once.
dx
2cos  3x   sin  3x   3 (That’s what makes the
“chain” in the “chain rule”!)
6cos  3x  sin  3x 
 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 du
cos u   sin u tan u  sec u
2

dx dx dx dx
 CHAIN RULE

Find dy
dx
dy
y  cos(3x  x)
2
  sin( 3x 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 cos 2 (4 x3  2 x)(  sin( 4 x3  2 x))(12 x 2  2)
dx
dy
 (36 x 2  6) cos 2 (4 x3  2 x)(  sin( 4 x3  2 x))
dx
 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
 2  cos y   2 x 2 Solve for
dy
.
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

curve x 2  xy  y 2  7 at (1, 2) .
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
2  2  1 22 4
dy
2x  x  y  2 y
dy
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

d2y
Find 2 if 2 x 3
 3 y 2
7 .
dx
y  2 x  x 2 y
y  
2x  3 y  7
3 2
y2
6 x  6 y y  0
2
y 
2x x 2
 2 y
y y
6 y y  6 x 2 Substitute y
2x x 2 x 2
6 x 2 y   2 back into the
y  y y y equation.
6 y
2x x 4
y 
x2 y   3
y y y
 DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC
FUNCTIONS

ye x 3
Look at the graph of

2
If we assume this to be
The slope at x = 0 true, then:
appears to be 1. 0 h
1 e e 0
lim 1
h 0 h
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
x

-1
definition of derivative
 DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

Now we attempt to find a general formula for the

derivative of y  e using the definition.
x

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


 DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

x
e is its own derivative!

d u u du
If we incorporate the chain rule:
e e
dx dx

We can now use this formula to find the derivative of ax

 DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

dx
 
d x
a d x
a  a ln a
x

dx
dx
 
d ln a x
e
Incorporating the chain rule:

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

dx
 DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
So far today we have:

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

d 1
ln x 
dx
 
d y d
e   x
dx
dx x

y dy
d 1 du
e 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
e e u du d
dx
 
a  a ln a
u u du
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’

ye 2x
y' 2e 2x

y 3 x2
y'  3 ln( 3)(2 x)
x2

1 3
y  ln x 3
y '  3 (3 x ) 
2

x x
1 1
y  sin (e ) 4x
y'  4x
(e )( 4)
1  (e )
4x 2
 DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

Logarithmic differentiation

Used when the variable is in the base and the exponent

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