Basic Calculus

Chapter 2-Derivatives
Lesson 6: Rules of
Differentiation
(Senior High School G-12)

Lesson 6 Rules of Differentiation

In this module, we will delve into the rules of differentiation, unveiling the techniques and principles
that allow us to compute derivatives efficiently and accurately. From basic differentiation rules to
more advanced concepts, each lesson will illuminate key strategies for differentiating functions of
varying complexity.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the lesson, the learner shall be able to:

1. Determine the relationship between differentiability and continuity;

2. Derive the differentiation rules; and
3. Apply the differentiation rules in computing the derivatives of algebraic,
exponential, and trigonometric functions.

TOPIC 6.1: Differentiability Implies Continuity

Recall the following definitions

Definition 1 (Continuity at a Number). A function f is continuous at a number c if all of the

following conditions are satisfied:

( i ) f ( c ) is defined, (c is in the domain of f);

( ii ) lim f ( x ) exists; and
x →c
( iii ) lim f ( x )=f (c )
x→c

If at least one of these conditions is not satisfied, the function is said to be discontinuous at c.
Example 1: The piecewise function defined by

is continuous at c = 1. This is because f ( 1 ) = 4,

 Definition 2 (Continuity on R). A function f is said to be continuous everywhere if f is
continuous at every real number.

Note:
- A function f is continuous from the left at a number c if x→ c lim ¿
−¿
f (x)=f (c)¿

- A function f is continuous from the right at a number c if x→ c lim ¿

+¿
f (x)=f (c)¿

Example 2: The function defined by

Definition 3. A function f is differentiable at the number c if

f ( c +h ) −f (c)
'
f ( c )=lim exist.
h →0 h

lim ¿ f ( x )does not exist.

is not continuous at c = 2 since x→ 2 −¿
f ( x ) =−4 ≠1= lim
+¿
¿¿ , hence the lim
x →2
x→ 2 f ( x)¿

Example 3. Consider the function ( x )=√3 x . By definition, its derivative is

Example 4: The function defined by

 If x < 1, then f(x)=5x and so x→ 1lim ¿
−¿
5 x=5¿

 If x > 1, then f(x)=2x + 3 and so x→ 1 lim ¿

+¿
2 x+3=5 ¿

Therefore f is continuous at x = 1, since the one-sided limits exist and are equal to each other, the
limit exists and equals 5. So, lim f (1)=5
x →1

Computing for the derivative

5 ( x +h )−(5 x)
- For x < 1, f ( x )=¿ 5x and f ' ( x )=¿ lim ¿5
h→ 0 h

5 ( x +h ) −( 5 x )
f ' ( x )=lim
h →0 h
5 x +5 h−5 x
¿ lim
h→ 0 h
5h
¿ lim
h→ 0 h

¿ lim 5
h→ 0

¿5
- For x > 1, f ( x )=¿ 2x + 3 and f ' ( x )=¿ lim ¿¿¿
h→ 0

'
f ( x )=lim ¿ ¿ ¿ Since the one-sided limits at x = 1 do
h →0

2 x+ 2h+ 3−2 x−3 not coincide, the limit at x = 1 does

¿ lim
h→ 0 h not exist. Since this limit is the
2h definition of the derivative at x = 1,
¿ lim
h→ 0 h we conclude that f is NOT
¿ lim 2 differentiable at x = 1.
h→ 0

¿2

Example 5: A function that is continuous at a point but not differentiable at that point is the absolute
value function f(x) = |x| at x = 0. Clearly, f(0) = 0 = lim ¿ x∨¿ ¿. However, if we look at the limit
x →0
definition of the derivative,

f ( 0+h ) −f (0)
lim =lim |0+ h|−¿ 0∨ ¿ =lim ¿ h∨ ¿ ¿¿
x →0 h x →0 h x →0 h

Note:
The absolute value function is defined differently to the left and right of 0 so we need to compute
one-sided limits.

If h approaches 0 from the left, then it approaches 0 through negative values. Since h < 0 =) |h | = -h,
it follows that,

lim ¿
x→ 0 ¿h∨ ¿ =
−¿
lim ¿¿ ¿
h x →0 −¿ −h
= lim ¿¿
h x → 0−¿ −1=−1¿

Similarly, if h approaches 0 from the right, then h approaches 0 through positive values.
Since h > 0 = |h | =h, we obtain
lim ¿
x→ 0 ¿h∨ ¿ =
+¿
lim ¿¿ ¿
h x →0 h = lim+¿
¿¿
h x → 0 +¿ 1=1¿

Hence, the derivative does not exist at x = 0 since the one-sided limits do not coincide.

The previous two examples prove that continuity does not necessarily imply differentiability. That is,
there are functions which are continuous at a point, but is not differentiable at that point. The next
theorem however says that the converse is always TRUE

Theorem 6: If a function f is differentiable at a, then f is continuous at a.

Proof. That function f is differentiable at a implies that f ' ( a ) exists. To prove that f is continuous at a,
we must show that

lim f (x )=f (a)

x →a
or equivalently,
lim f (a+h)=f (a)
h→ a
If h ≠ 0, then

Taking the limit as h → 0 , we get

Remark 1:
(a) If f is continuous at x = a, it does not mean that f is differentiable at x = a.
(b) If f is not continuous at x = a, then f is not differentiable at x = a.
(c) If f is not differentiable at x = a, it does not mean that f is not continuous at x = a.
(d) A function f is not differentiable at x = a if one of the following is true:
i. f is not continuous at x = a.
ii. The graph of f has a vertical tangent line at x = a.
iii. the graph of f has a corner or cusp at x = a.
TOPIC 6.2: The Differentiation Rules and Examples
Involving Algebraic, Exponential, and Trigonometric
Functions

How do we find derivatives?

The procedure for finding the exact derivative directly from a formula of the function
without having to use graphical methods is called differential calculus. In practice, we use
some rules that tell us how to find the derivative of almost any function. In this lesson,
we will introduce these rules.

Recalling derivative using Limit definition:

Let’s try compute the derivatives of the following functions using the limit definition (formal
definition):

- Definition of the derivative of a function.

The derivative of the function f the function f ' whose value at a number x in the domain of f is
given by
f ( x+ h )−f ( x )
f ' ( x )=lim 2.3
h →0 h
if the limit exists.

For example, let us compute the derivative of the first function of the seatwork above f (x) =3x 2 + 4.
Let us first compute the numerator of the quotient in (2.3):

f ( x +h )−f ( x )=( 3 ( x +h )2+ 4 ) −(3 x 2 + 4)

¿ ( 3 (x2 +2 xh+h 2)+4 )−(3 x 2+ 4)
¿ ( 3 x 2+ 6 xh+3 h2 +4 )−3 x 2−4
2 2 2
¿ 3 x + 6 xh+ 3 h +4−3 x −4
2
¿ 6 xh+3 h
¿ h(6 x+3 h)
Therefore,
f ( x+ h )−f ( x )
f ' ( x )=lim
h →0 h
( 3 ( x +h )2 + 4 ) −(3 x 2 +4 )
¿ lim
h→ 0 h
 h (6 x+ 3 h)
¿ lim
h→ 0 h
¿ lim (6 x +3 h¿) ¿
h→ 0

¿6 x
We see that computing the derivative using the definition of even a simple polynomial is a lengthy
process. What follows next are rules that will enable us to find derivatives easily. We call them
Differentiation Rules.

Differentiation Rules

DIFFERENTIATING CONSTANT FUNCTIONS

- The graph of a constant function is a horizontal line and a horizontal line has zero slope. The
derivative measures the slope of the tangent, and so the derivative is zero

RULE 1: The Constant Rule

- If f ( x )=c where c is a constant, then f ' ( x )=0. The derivative of a constant is equal to zero.

Proof:

EXAMPLE 1:

a) If f ( x ) = 10, then f ' ( x )=0

b) If h ( x )= −√ 3 , then h' ( x )=0

c) If g ( x )=5 π , then g' ( x ) =0

DIFFERENTIATING POWER FUNCTIONS

- A function of the form ( x )=x k , where k is a real number, is called a power function.
Example,
a) f ( x )=x d ) p ( x )=√4 x
b) g ( x )=x 2 e )l ( x ) =x−5
1
c) h ( x )=√ x f ) s ( x )= 8
x

The definition of the derivative discussed in the previous lesson can be used to find the derivatives
of many power functions. For example, it can be shown that
 If f ( x )=x 2, then f ' ( x )=2 x
If f ( x )=x 3 , then f ' ( x )=3 x 2
If f ( x )=x 4, then f ' ( x )=4 x 3

Notice the pattern in these derivatives. In each case, the new power of f becomes the coefficient in f 0
and the power of f 0 is one less than the original power of f. In general, we have the following rule:

RULE 2: The Power Rule

n ' n−1
If f ( x )=x where n ∈ N , then f ( x )=n x

Proof: (The cases n=1 and n=2) Using the limit definition.

If f ( x )=x
' f ( x +h )−f (x)
f ( x )=x =f ( x )=lim
h→0 h
( x +h ) −(x )
¿ lim
h→ 0 h
x +h−( x )
¿ lim
h→ 0 h
h 1−1
¿ lim =lim 1=1=1 x
h→ 0 h h →0

If f ( x )=x 2
f ( x +h )−f (x)
f ( x )=x =f ' ( x )=lim
h→0 h
¿ lim ¿ ¿ ¿
h→ 0
2 2 2
x +2 xh−h −x
¿ lim
h→ 0 h
2
2 xh−h
¿ lim
h→ 0 h
h (2 x +h)
¿ lim =lim 2 x +h=2 x =2 x 2−1
h→ 0 h h→ 0

For the function f ( x )=x n, in computing f ( x +h )=( x +h)n, we need to invoke the
Binomial Theorem:

Note that in the binomial expansion,

i there are n + 1 terms;
ii the coefficient of the rth term is the binomial coefficient and
iii the sum of the exponent of x and the exponent of h is always equal to n
 Remark 1:
Observe that the statement of the power rule restricts the exponent to be a natural number (since
the Binomial Theorem is invoked). However, this formula holds true even for exponents r ∈ R

f ( x )=x r ⇒ f ' ( x )=r x r −1for all r∈ R

For example, If f ( x )=x −π , then f ' ( x )=(−π ) x(− π−1)

EXAMPLE 2:
1. If f ( x )=x 3 ,then f ' ( x)=3 x 3−1=3 x 2
1
2. Find g ' ( x ) where g ( x )= 2
x
1 −2
g ( x )= 2
=x
x
g ' ( x )=x−2
= −2 x−2−1
−3
¿−2 x
−2
¿ 3
x

1
3. Ifh ( x )=√ x , then we can writeh( x)=x 2 . So we have

1
1 −1
h( x)= x 2
2
−1
1 1
h ( x )= x 2 ∨
2 2 √x
DIFFERENTIATING A CONSTANT TIMES A FUNCTION

RULE 3: The Constant Multiple Rule

If f ( x )=kh(x ) where k is a constant, then f ' ( x)=kh' (x)

Use Rule 3 in conjunction with Rule 2
3 13
1. f ( x )=5 x 4 2. g ( x )= √ x 3. h ( x )=−√ 3 x
3
3 1
3 −1 1
f ' ( x )= .5 x 4 h ' ( x )=− √ 3 x
1−1
g ' ( x )= x 3
4 3
−1 1
15 1 1 −1
¿ x 4
¿ . x3 ¿−√ 3
4 3 3

−2
1 3
¿ x
9
DIFFERENTIATING SUMS AND DIFFERENCES OF FUNCTIONS

RULE 4: The Sum Rule

If f ( x )=g ( x ) +h(x ) where g and h are differentiable functions, then f ' ( x )=g ' ( x ) +h ' (x)

EXAMPLE 4: Refer to Example 3 above.

3 13
1. f ( x )=5 x 4 2. g ( x )= √ x 3. h ( x )=−√ 3 x
3

A. Differentiate the following:

i. f ( x ) + g(x )
ii. g ( x )+ h(x)
iii. f ( x ) +h ( x )

B. Use Rules 3 and 4 to differentiate the following: Hint: ( x )−g( x )= f ( x ) +(−1) g(x )¿
i. f ( x )−g (x)
ii. g ( x )−h(x )
iii. f ( x )−h( x)

Remark 2:
a.) The Sum Rule can also be extended to a sum of a finite number of functions. If

f ( x )=f 1 ( x )+ f 2 ( x ) +¿ … + f n ( x )

Where f 1 , + f 2 , …………+ f nare differentiable function, then

f ' ( x )=f 1 ' ( x )+ f 2 ' ( x )+ ¿… + f n ' ( x )
DIFFERENTIATING PRODUCTS OF FUNCTIONS

RULE 5: The Product Rule

If f and g are differentiable functions, then

D X [ f ( x ) g ( x ) ] =f ( x ) g ( x )+ g ( x ) f ' (x)
'

Rule 5 states that the derivative of the product of two differentiable functions is the first function
times the derivative of the second function plus the second function times the derivative of the first
function.
The derivative of the product is NOT the product of their derivatives! Indeed, if f ( x )=x and g ( x )=x 2
D X [ f ( x ) ∙ g ( x ) ] =D X [ x ∙ x 2 ]=D X [ x3 ] =3 x 2
However,
DX ¿

Clearly, 3 x 2 ≠ 2 x , and therefore

DX [ f (x ) ∙ g ( x )] ≠ DX ¿
Example 5:
(a) Find f ' ( x ) if f ( x )=(3 x 2−4 )( x2 −3)

Solution:
f ' ( x)=( 3 x 2−4 ) Dx ( x 2−3 x ) + ( x 2−3 x ) Dx ( 3 x 2−4 )
¿ ( 3 x 2−4 ) ( 2 x −3 ) + ( x 2−3 x ) (6 x )
2 2 3 2
¿ 6 x −9 x −8 x +12+6 x −18 x
3 2
¿ 12 x −27 x −8 x+12

Remark 3:
In the above example, we could have also multiplied the two factors and get
4 3 2
f ( x )=3 x −9 x −4 x +12 x

Then, by the Rules 2, 3 and 4, the derivative of f is

3 2
f ' (x)=12 x −27 x −8 x +12

which is consistent with the one derived from using the product rule.

(b) Find f ' ( x ) if f ( x )= √ x (6 x 3 +2 x−4)

Solution. Using product rule,

DIFFERENTIATING QUOTIENTS OF TWO FUNCTIONS

2
x +2
What is the derivative of ? More generally, we would like to have a formula to compute the
x−3
f (x )
derivative of if we already know f ' ( x )and g' ( x )
g (x)

We derive the Quotient Rule using the Product Rule

RULE 6: The Quotient Rule

Let f ( x )and g ( x ) be two differentiable functions with g ( x )≠ 0. Then

[ ]
'
f ( x ) g ( x ) f ( x )−f ( x ) g ' (x )
Dx =
g ( x) 2
[ g (x ) ]

The rule above states that the derivative of the quotient of two functions is the fraction having as its
denominator the square of the original denominator, and as its numerator the denominator times the
derivative of the numerator minus the numerator times the derivative of the denominator.

Note: The derivative of a quotient is NOT equal to the quotient of their derivatives, that is,

Dx
[ ]
f ( x ) Dx [ f ( x ) ]
≠
g ( x ) D x [g ( x ) ]

Since subtraction is not commutative, it matters which function you first copy and which one
you first differentiate. A very common mnemonic for the quotient rule is

Dx [ ]
High Low D ( high )−hich D( Low)
Low
=
Low squared
Example 6:
3 x+5
a) Let h ( x )= 2 Compute h '( x)
x +4
3 x+5
Solution: If h ( x )= 2 , then f(x) = 3x + 5 and g(x) = x2 + 4 and therefore f’(x) = 3 and g’(x) = 2x. Thus,
x +4

h '( x)

4 2
2 x +7 x −4
b) Find g ( x ) if g ( x )=
'
5 4
3 x + x −x+1
Solution:

DIFFERENTIATING TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

This time we will look at the derivatives of the trigonometric functions:

sin x , cos x , tan x , sec x , csc x , cot x

Trigonometric functions:

sin x cos x 1 1
tan x= cot x= sec x= csc x ¿
cos x sin x cos x sin x

And some important limits previously discussed such as,

sin t cos −1
lim =1∧¿ lim =0
t →0 t t →0 t

RULE 7: Derivatives of trigonometric functions

(a) Dx(sin x )=cos x ( d ) Dx ( cot x )=−csc 2 x

(b) Dx(cos x)=−sin x (e )Dx(sec x)=sec x tan x
( c ) Dx ( tan x )=sec 2 x (f ) Dx(csc x )=−csc x cot x
EXAMPLE 7: Differentiate the following functions:

a. f ( x )=sec x+ 3 csc x
b. g( x )=x 2 sin x−3 x cos x +5 sin x

Solution : Applying the formulas above , we get

( a ) If f (x)=sec x +3 csc x , then

f ' (x)=sec x tan x+3 (−csc x cot x )=sec x tan x−3 csc x cot x .

( b ) If g(x )=x 2 sin x−3 x cos x +5 sin x , then

2
g '( x )=[(x )(cos x )+(sin x )(2 x )]−3 ¿ ¿
2
¿ x cos x+2 x sin x +3 x sin x−3cos x+5 cos x
2
¿ x cos x+5 x sin x +2 cos x .

Remark 4:
a. Whenever Rule 7 is applied to problems where the trigonometric functions are viewed as
functions of angles, the unit measure must be in radians.
b. Every trigonometric function is differentiable on its domain. In particular, the sine and
cosine functions are everywhere differentiable.

DIFFERENTIATING AN EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

RULE 8: Derivative of an exponential function

EXAMPLE 8:
(a) Find f ' ( x ) if f ( x ) = 3ex.
Solution. Applying Rules 3 and 7, we have

f ( x )=3 D X ( e x )=3 e x

(b) Find g ' ( x )if g ( x )= - 4x2ex + 5xex - 10ex.

Solution. Applying Rule 5 to the first two terms and Rule 3 to the third
term, we have
g ( x )= - 4x2ex + 5xex - 10ex
(c) Find h ' ( x )if h ( x ) = e x sin x - 3 e x cos x .
Solution. We apply the Product Rule to each term.

h ' ( x ) ¿ [(e x )(cos x)+(sin x)( e x )]−3 [(e x )(−sin x)+(cos x )(e x )]
x x x x
¿ e cos x +e sin x +3 e sin x — 3 e cos x
x
¿ e (4 sin x — 2 cos x).

Remark 5:
d x
Since the domain of the exponential function is the set of real numbers, and [ e ]=e x , it
dx
follows that the exponential function is differentiable everywhere.
EXERCISES: