L4 – The Quotient Rule Unit 1

MCV4U
Jensen

The Quotient Rule:

𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓′ (𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)−𝑔′ (𝑥)𝑓(𝑥)

If ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥), then ℎ′ (𝑥) = [𝑔(𝑥)]2

Proof:

𝑓(𝑥)
ℎ(𝑥) =
𝑔(𝑥)

ℎ(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)

ℎ′ (𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) + 𝑔′ (𝑥)ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓′(𝑥)

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑔′ (𝑥)ℎ(𝑥)
ℎ′ (𝑥) =
𝑔(𝑥)

𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑔′ (𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥)
ℎ′ (𝑥) =
𝑔(𝑥)

𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑔′ (𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)
ℎ′ (𝑥) = [ ][ ]
𝑔(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑓 ′ (𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) − 𝑔′ (𝑥)𝑓(𝑥)
ℎ′ (𝑥) =
[𝑔(𝑥)]2
Example 1: Find the derivative of each of the following:

3𝑥−4 6𝑥−5
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2+5 b) 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 3+4

3(𝑥 2 + 5) − 2𝑥(3𝑥 − 4) 6(𝑥 3 + 4) − 3𝑥 2 (6𝑥 − 5)

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑔 ′ (𝑥) =
(𝑥 2 + 5)2 (𝑥 3 + 4)2

3𝑥 2 + 15 − 6𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 6𝑥 3 + 24 − 18𝑥 3 + 15𝑥 2
𝑓 ′ (𝑥)
= 𝑔 ′ (𝑥) =
(𝑥 2 + 5)2 (𝑥 3 + 4)2

−3𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 15 −12𝑥 3 + 15𝑥 2 + 24

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑔 ′ (𝑥) =
(𝑥 2 + 5)2 (𝑥 3 + 4)2

−3(4𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 − 8)
𝑔 ′ (𝑥) =
(𝑥 3 + 4)2

2𝑥+8 𝑥+3
c) ℎ(𝑥) = d) 𝑟(𝑥) = √𝑥 2
√𝑥 −1

1 1
1 −
1 −1 1(𝑥 2 −1)2 −2(𝑥 2 −1) 2 (2𝑥)(𝑥+3)
2(√𝑥)−2𝑥 2 (2𝑥+8) 𝑟 ′ (𝑥) =
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 2
2
(√𝑥 2 −1)
(√𝑥)

1 1
2√𝑥−
1
(2)(𝑥+4) (𝑥 2 − 1)−2 [1(𝑥 2 − 1)1 − (2𝑥)(𝑥 + 3)]
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 2√𝑥
𝑟 ′ (𝑥) = 2
𝑥 2
𝑥 −1
1
2√𝑥− (𝑥+4) √𝑥
′ (𝑥)
ℎ = √𝑥
×
𝑥 √𝑥 [1(𝑥 2 − 1) − 1(𝑥)(𝑥 + 3)]
𝑟 ′ (𝑥) = 1
(𝑥 2 − 1)2 (𝑥 2 − 1)1
2𝑥−1(𝑥+4)
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 𝑥√𝑥
𝑥 2 − 1 − 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥
ℎ ′ (𝑥)
=
𝑥−4 𝑟 ′ (𝑥) = 3
3
𝑥2 (𝑥 2 − 1)2

−3𝑥 − 1
𝑟 ′ (𝑥) = 3
(𝑥 2 − 1)2

𝒅
Note: 𝒅𝒙 √𝑥 2 − 1 from part d) uses the ‘chain rule’. We will learn this in depth in the next lesson.
 𝑥 2 −3
Example 2: Determine an equation for the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = at 𝑥 = 2.
5−𝑥

Point on Tangent Line:

22 − 3
𝑦=
5−2

1
𝑦=
3

1
(2, )
3

Slope of tangent line:

𝑑𝑦 (2𝑥)(5 − 𝑥) − (−1)(𝑥 2 − 3)
=
𝑑𝑥 (5 − 𝑥)2

𝑑𝑦 −𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 − 3
=
𝑑𝑥 (5 − 𝑥)2

𝑑𝑦 −(2)2 + 10(2) − 3
| =
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=2 (5 − 2)2

𝑑𝑦 13
| =
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=2 9

Equation of tangent line:

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏

1 13
= (2) + 𝑏
3 9
(2, 1/3)
3 26
− =𝑏
9 9

23
𝑏=−
9

13 23
𝑦= 𝑥−
9 9
 2𝑥+8
Example 3: Determine the coordinates of each point on the graph of ℎ(𝑥) = where the tangent is
√𝑥
horizontal.

The tangent will be horizontal when ℎ ′ (𝑥) = 0

𝑥−4
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 3
𝑥2

𝑥−4
0= 3
𝑥2

0 =𝑥−4

𝑥=4

2(4) + 8
ℎ(4) =
√4

ℎ(4) = 8

There will be a horizontal tangent to the point (4, 8) on the graph of ℎ(𝑥).

h(x)

(4, 8)