CHAPTER 2 DIFFERENTIATION

2.1 LIMIT AND ITS RELATION TO DIFFERENTIATION

The Value of Limit of a Function When Its Variable Approaches zero

𝑓(4) =

𝑓(2) =

𝑓(0.1) =

𝑓(0) =

𝑓(−0.1) =

𝑓(−2) =

𝑥 2 + 3𝑥
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim =
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥

Example:
1. lim (3𝑥 − 1) 𝑥−6
𝑥→0 2. lim
𝑥→6 𝑥 2 −36

3.

[Self Exercise 2.1: No. 2bcf, 3ae]

First Derivative of a Function 𝑓(𝑥) by Using First Principles

Example:
1. 𝑦 = 4𝑥

2. 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 + 5

[Formative Exercise 2.1: No. 5acd]

2.2 THE FIRST DERIVATIVE

Example:
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥.
1. 𝑦 = 4

2. 15𝑥

3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 3

10
4. 𝑦=
𝑥2

4
5. 𝑓(𝑥) =
3√𝑥
Example:
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥.
6. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 −2 + 5𝑥 − 10

7. 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 4)2

1 2
8. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − )
𝑥

3
9. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 ( + 4 − 2𝑥)
𝑥

𝑥 4 −5𝑥
10. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2

[Self Exercise 2.3: No. 4abc]

The Chain Rule

Example:
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥.
1. 𝑦 = (3𝑥 + 5)5

Alternative:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢
If 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑛 , then = 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 [ ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Example:
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥.
2. 𝑦 = (3𝑥 + 5)5

6
3. 𝑦=
(𝑥 2 −2)4

[Self Exercise 2.4: No. 3abc]

The Product Rule

Example:
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥.
1. 𝑦 = (𝑥 2 − 3𝑥)(2𝑥 + 5)

2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 (4𝑥 2 − 3)4

[Self Exercise 2.5: No. 1df, 4]

The Quotient Rule

Example:
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥.
𝑥 2 +1
3. 𝑦=
1−𝑥

3𝑥+4
4. 𝑦=
𝑥2

[Self Exercise 2.5: No. 5ch, 6]

2.3 THE SECOND DERIVATIVE

Example:
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥.
5. 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 7

6. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 (2𝑥 − 4)3

[Self Exercise 2.6: No. 3]

[Formative Exercise 2.3: No. 1, 5]
2.4 APPLICATION OF DIFFERENTIATION
(A1) Gradient of Tangent to a Curve at Different Points

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2𝑥

f’(a) < 0 f’(a) > 0

The tangent line The tangent line
slants to the left slants to the right

f’(a) = 0
The tangent line
is horizontal

Example:

[Self Exercise 2.7: No. 2]

(A2) The Equation of Tangent and Normal to a Curve at a Point

normal

tangent

If given a curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥),

𝑥1 , 𝑦1 gradient = 𝑚 =
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑓 ′ (𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

Equation of tangent: 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

1
Equation of normal: 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

Example:
3. Find the equation of tangent and normal to 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 1 at (1, −3).

4. Find the equation of tangent and normal to y= 2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 3 at 𝑥 = 1.

[Self Exercise 2.8: No. 3, 4]

(A3) Solving Problems involving Tangent and Normal

Example:

[Self Exercise 2.9: No. 3, 4]

(B1) Turning Points and Their Nature
Stationary points: maximum point, minimum point, point of inflection
Turning points: maximum point, minimum point

When 𝑥 increases,
𝑑𝑦
the sign of 𝑑𝑥 changes from positive (+) to negative (-).
➢ point S is a maximum point

Note:
𝑑𝑦
➢ 𝑑𝑥
=0
𝑑2 𝑦
➢ 𝑑𝑥 2
<0
➢ 𝑎<0
When 𝑥 increases,
𝑑𝑦
the sign of 𝑑𝑥 changes from negative (-) to positive (+).
➢ point S is a minimum point

Note:
𝑑𝑦
➢ =0
𝑑𝑥
2
𝑑 𝑦
➢ 𝑑𝑥 2
>0
➢ 𝑎>0
When 𝑥 increases,
𝑑𝑦
the sign of 𝑑𝑥 does not
change.
➢ point S is a
point of
inflection
Note:
𝑑𝑦
➢ 𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑑2 𝑦
➢ 𝑑𝑥 2
=0

Example:
1. Find the turning points of 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥 − 2)2 . Hence, determine whether the turning points are
maximum or minimum points.
 2. Find the stationary points for 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 1 and determine the nature of each
stationary points.

[Self Exercise 2.10: No. 1bf]

(B2) Solving Problems involving Maximum and Minimum Values and Interpreting the Solutions

Example:

[Self Exercise 2.11: No. 2, 3]

(C1) Interpreting and Determining Rates of Change for Related Quantities

If two variables, 𝑦 and 𝑥 change with time, 𝑡 and are related by the equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥),
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
then rate of change 𝑑𝑡 and 𝑑𝑡 can be related by:

𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙
= × (chain rule)
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒕

Example:
1. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 4
Given that the rate of change of 𝑥 is 2 units per second, find the rate of change of 𝑦 when
1
𝑥=2.

2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
Given that the rate of change of 𝑦 is 6 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠 −1, find the rate of change of 𝑥 when 𝑥 = 1 .

[Self Exercise 2.12: No. 3]

(C2) Solving Problems involving Rates of Change for Related Quantities and Interpreting the
Solutions
Example:

[Self Exercise 2.13: No. 4, 5]

(D1) Interpreting and Determining Small Changes and Approximations of Certain Quantities

𝑑𝑦 𝛿𝑦
at point A = lim
𝑑𝑥 𝛿𝑥→0 𝛿𝑥

𝛿𝑦 𝑑𝑦
If 𝛿𝑥 → 0, then 𝛿𝑥 is the best approximation for 𝑑𝑥 .
𝛿𝑦 𝑑𝑦
So, 𝛿𝑥 ≈ 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝛿𝑦 = 𝑑𝑥 × 𝛿𝑥

If 𝑥 changes from 𝑥 to 𝑥 + 𝛿𝑥 , then

𝛿𝑥
• The percentage change in 𝑥 = × 100%
𝑥

𝛿𝑦
• The percentage change in 𝑦 = 𝑦
× 100%

Example:
1. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 𝑥
If 𝑥 changes from 3 to 3.01, find the small corresponding change in 𝑦. Hence, find the
percentage change in 𝑦.
 3
2. 𝑦 =
𝑥
(a) Find the small change of 𝑥 when 𝑦 change from 3 to 2.9.
(b) Find the percentage change in 𝑥 and percentage change in 𝑦.

3 𝑑𝑦 3
3. Given 𝑦 = √𝑥 , find when 𝑥 = 8. Hence, find approximate value of √7.99.
𝑑𝑥

[Self Exercise 2.14: No. 1a, 2a, 3, 4]

(D2) Solving Problems Involving Small Changes and Approximations of Certain Quantities.

Example:
1. Find the small change in volume of a sphere when its radius decreases from 5cm to
4.98cm.

[Self Exercise 2.15: No. 2, 3]