3.4 Differentiation

iGCSE Mathematics | X801
Topic 3J
Differentiation
Unit Three:
Sequences,
Functions
& Graphs
Objectives
By the end of this section you will be able to:
Differentiate functions
Differentiation is used to find the gradient of a curve at a

certain point. This is useful especially as the gradient of a curve
is always changing and it can be difficult to find accurately.
dy
If we differentiate y = axn where n is any number: dx = naxn – 1
dy
dx
is known as the derivative of y
Example 1
Differentiate y = x3
Here n = 3 and a = 1
This means:
dy
dx
= 3 × 13 – 1
dy
dx
= 3x2
If you have a constant (a number on its own), it becomes 0.
This is because a constant number can be rewritten in terms
of x0, so when you differentiate it it becomes 0.
Example 2
Differentiate y = 6
This can be rewritten as: y = 6x0
When differentiated this becomes:

dy
dx
= 0 × 6x0 – 1
dy
dx
=0
Example 3
Differentiate y = 10x2
Here n = 2 and a = 10
This means:
dy
dx
= 2 × 10x2 – 1
dy
dx
= 20x
If you are asked to differentiate an equation with more than
one term, differentiate each term separately.
Example 4
Differentiate y = x2 + 3x + 2
Let’s take this term by term
x2 → 2x
3x → 3
+2 → 0
dy
So the derivative will be: dx = 2x + 3
Example 5
Differentiate y = x3 + 6x2 + 7x
Let’s take this term by term
x3 → 3x2
6x2 → 12x
+7x → +7
dy
So the derivative will be: dx = 3x2 + 12x + 7
Self-Check Question 1
dy
Find dx for each of the following.
a) y = x5 b) y = x7 c) y = x4 d) y = x9
Finding the Gradient of a
Point on a Curve
Sometimes you may be asked to find the gradient of a curve at
a certain point.
To do this simply differentiate the function and then substitute the

dy
x coordinate of the point into dx
.
Example 1
A curve has the equation: y = x2 + 2x + 3
Find the gradient of the curve at the point (2,5)
dy
First we differentiate the function to get: dx = 2x + 2
Substitute in x = 2:
dy
dx
= 2(2) + 2
dy
dx
=6
The gradient of the curve at the point (2,5) is 6.

The gradient at any point on a curve is equal to the gradient of the
tangent to the curve at that point.
Example 2
Find the equation of the tangent to the graph of: y = 3x2 – 7x – 5
at the point (0,-5)
dy
First we find the derivative: dx = 6x – 7
Substitute in x = 0:
dy
dx
= 6(0) – 7
dy
dx
=0–7
dy
dx
=–7
The gradient of the tangent is -7. We put this into the equation
of the straight line y = mx + c.
Substitute x = 0, y = -5:
-5 = -7(0) + c
-5 = c
So the equation of the tangent would be: y = -7x – 5
Find the gradient of the graph of:
a) y = x5 where (i) x = 5 (ii) x = -2
b) y = 6 – 3x where (i) x = 0 (ii) x = 2
c) y = x2 – 2x where (i) x = 1 (ii) x = -1

Stationary Points
Stationary points are also known as turning points. At a stationary
dy
point the gradient is 0, so dx = 0.
There are two main types of stationary points, maximum and

minimum. This is also referred to as the nature of a stationary point.
A stationary point is a maximum if the gradient changes from positive

to negative. It looks like this:
dy
dx
=0
Positive
gradient
Negative
gradient
A stationary point is a minimum if the gradient changes from

negative to positive. It looks like this:
Negative
gradient Positive
gradient
dy
dx
=0
To find the turning point of a graph:
• Find the derivative,

dy
• Let dx = 0 and solve for x
• Find the corresponding y coordinate
Example
Find the turning points of the graph of the equation:
y = x2 – 8x + 3
First we find the derivative:

dy
dx
= 2x – 8
dy
Let dx = 0
2x – 8 = 0
2x = 8
x=4
This tells us there is a turning point at x = 4. Now we find

the corresponding y coordinate by substituting x = 4 into the
equation of the graph.
y = (4)2 – 8(4) + 3
y = 16 – 32 + 3
y = -13
The turning point will be at (4,-13).

Finding the Nature of
a Stationary Point
To find the nature of a stationary point (whether it is a minimum
or maximum) we find the gradient on either side of the turning point.
Example
Find the turning points of the curve y = 2x3 – 3x2 - 36x + 15
Identify if each of these points are maximum or a minimum.
First we find the derivative:

dy
dx
= 6x2 – 6x – 36
dy
Now we let dx = 0, and solve for x.
6x2 – 6x – 36 = 0
x2 – x – 6=0
(x - 3)(x + 2) = 0
x – 3 = 0 or x + 2 = 0
x = 3 or x = -2
Now we find the corresponding y coordinates. When x = 3:
y = 2(3)3 – 3(3)2 – 36(3) + 15

y = 54 – 27 – 108 + 15
y = 69 – 135
y= -66
When x = -2:
y = 2(-2)^3 – 3(-2)^2 – 36(-2)+15

y = -16 – 12 + 72 + 15
y = -28 + 87
y = 59
Example continues
The coordinates of the turning points are (3,-66) and (-2,59).
Now we need to find the nature of each stationary point.
Let us take the point (3,-66) first. We need to take points on

dy
either side of x = 3 and see what dx is.
Let x = 2.5
dy
dx
= 6(2.5)^2 – 6(2.5) – 36
dy
dx
= -13.5
dy
At this point the gradient or dx is negative.
Let x = 3.5
dy
dx
= 6(3.5)2 – 6(3.5) – 36
dy
dx
= 16.5
dy
At this point the gradient dx is positive.
Therefore the point (3,-66) is a minimum.
Now let us take the point (-2,59) first. We need to take points
dy
on either side of x= -2 and see what dx is.
Let x = -2.5
dy
dx
= 6(-2.5)2 – 6(-2.5) – 36
dy
dx
= 16.5
dy
At this point the gradient ( dx ) is positive
Let x = -1.5
dy
dx
= 6(-1.5)2 – 6(-1.5) – 36
dy
dx
= -13.5
dy
At this point the gradient or ( dx ) is negative.
Therefore the point (-2,59) is a maximum.

Find the coordinates of the minimum point of the graphs of
each of the following equations.
a) y = x2 – 6x + 11
b) y = x2 – 2x + 5
c) y = 2x2 + 4x + 1
Using Differentiation
dy
The derivative dx gives the rate of change of y with respect to x.
Velocity and acceleration are rates of change. Velocity is the rate of

change of distance with respect to time. Acceleration is the rate of
change of velocity with respect to time.
So, if you differentiate distance with respect to time you get velocity.
ds
v= dt
Where s is distance, t is time and v is velocity.
Likewise, if you differentiate distance with respect to time you

get velocity.
dv
a= dt
Where a is acceleration, t is time and v is velocity.

Example 1
An object travels along a straight line. Its displacement from
its starting point after time t seconds (t ≥ 0) is s metres.
s is given by the formula: s = 5t2 + 8t – t3

a) Find the velocity of the object after 5 seconds
b) Find the acceleration of the object after 3 seconds
Answers:
ds
a) v = dt
ds
dt
= 10t + 8 – 3t2
Let t = 5
ds
dt
= 10(5) + 8 – 3(5)2
ds
dt
= 50 + 8 – 3(25)
ds
dt
= 50 + 8 – 75
ds
dt
= 58 – 75
ds
dt
= -17
This means the velocity is -17ms-1

dv
b) a = dt
dv
dt
= 10 – 6t
When t = 3
dv
dt
= 10 – 6(3)
dv
dt
= 10 – 18
dv
dt
= -8
This means the acceleration is -8ms-2

Example 2
The displacement (s metres) of a moving object from its
starting point at time t seconds is given by the equation
s = 10t – t2 for t ≥ 0.
a) Find the velocity at time t = 2
b) Find the time when velocity is 0
Answers:
ds
a) v = dt
ds
dt
= 10 – 2t
Let t = 2
ds
dt
= 10 – 2(2)
ds
dt
= 10 – 4
ds
dt
=6
This means the velocity is 6ms-1
ds
b) Let dt = 0
ds
dt
= 10 – 2t = 0
10 = 2t
t=5
The velocity is 0 at 5 seconds
An object is thrown up into the air. Its height (s meters) above
the ground after t seconds is given by s = 2 + 4t – 5t2.
ds
a) Work out dt .
b) Find the maximum height the object reaches.
The mass, y kg, of a child aged x years old is given by the
formula y = x3 – 5x2 + 10x + 3.3 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 3.
dy
a) Work out dx .
b) Find the rate, in kg per year, at which the child’s mass is

increasing when the child is one year old.

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iGCSE Mathematics | X801

Differentiation is used to find the gradient of a curve at a

This can be rewritten as: y = 6x0

When differentiated this becomes:

To do this simply differentiate the function and then substitute the

Find the gradient of the curve at the point (2,5)

The gradient of the curve at the point (2,5) is 6.

So the equation of the tangent would be: y = -7x – 5

a) y = x5 where (i) x = 5 (ii) x = -2

b) y = 6 – 3x where (i) x = 0 (ii) x = 2

c) y = x2 – 2x where (i) x = 1 (ii) x = -1

There are two main types of stationary points, maximum and

A stationary point is a maximum if the gradient changes from positive

A stationary point is a minimum if the gradient changes from

• Find the derivative,

• Find the corresponding y coordinate

First we find the derivative:

This tells us there is a turning point at x = 4. Now we find

The turning point will be at (4,-13).

Identify if each of these points are maximum or a minimum.

First we find the derivative:

y = 2(3)3 – 3(3)2 – 36(3) + 15

y = 2(-2)^3 – 3(-2)^2 – 36(-2)+15

Now we need to find the nature of each stationary point.

Let us take the point (3,-66) first. We need to take points on

Therefore the point (3,-66) is a minimum.

Therefore the point (-2,59) is a maximum.

Velocity and acceleration are rates of change. Velocity is the rate of

Where s is distance, t is time and v is velocity.

Likewise, if you differentiate distance with respect to time you

Where a is acceleration, t is time and v is velocity.

s is given by the formula: s = 5t2 + 8t – t3

b) Find the acceleration of the object after 3 seconds

This means the velocity is -17ms-1

This means the acceleration is -8ms-2

a) Find the velocity at time t = 2

b) Find the time when velocity is 0

This means the velocity is 6ms-1

b) Find the maximum height the object reaches.

b) Find the rate, in kg per year, at which the child’s mass is

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b) Find the rate, in kg per year, at which the child’s mass is