Combining Functions – Constant Multiple,

Sum & Difference Derivative Rules

Derivita HW 9

Learning Objectives

ü Students will prove the constant multiple differentiation rule

ü Students will be able to read both prime and derivative operator notations
ü Students will be able to differentiate functions put together with addition using the sum rule
ü Students will be able to differentiate functions put together with subtraction using the difference rule
ü Students will find higher order derivatives, such as the second derivative 𝑓′′(𝑥) and third derivative 𝑓′′′(𝑥)
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In the last lesson, we learned the following derivative rules for specific functions. Make flashcards and practice
memorizing these rules. For now, it is okay to refere to this table as we learn derivative rules for combining functions.

Function 𝒇(𝒙) Derivative Function 𝒇′(𝒙)

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 𝑓′(𝑥) = 0

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑚

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 ! 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑝𝑥 𝑝−1

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 " 𝑓 # (𝑥) = 𝑏 " ∙ ln 𝑏

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 " 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑒 "

𝑓(𝑥) = log $ 𝑥 1
𝑓 # (𝑥) =
𝑥 ∙ ln 𝑏

𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥 1
𝑓′(𝑥) =
𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥 𝑓′(𝑥) = cos 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = cos 𝑥 𝑓′(𝑥) = − sin 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = tan 𝑥 𝑓′(𝑥) = sec 2 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = cot 𝑥 𝑓′(𝑥) = − csc% 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = sec 𝑥 𝑓′(𝑥) = sec 𝑥 ∙ tan 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = csc 𝑥 𝑓′(𝑥) = − csc 𝑥 ∙ cot 𝑥

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 Constant Multiple Rule

Let 𝑐 be any constant and 𝑓(𝑥) be a differentiable function. Then

#
In prime notation: >𝑐 ∙ 𝑓(𝑥)? = 𝑐 ∙ 𝑓′(𝑥)

% %
In derivitive operator notation: [𝑐 ∙ 𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑐 ∙ [𝑓(𝑥)]
%" %"

This means that the derivative of a constant times a function is the constant times the derivative of the function.

Proof:

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Example 1 𝑓(𝑥) = 6√𝑥.

Write the Limit Definition of the Derivative at 𝑥 = 25. Then use constant multiple and power rules to find 𝑓′(25)

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 Sum Rule

If 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both differentiable, then

&
In prime notation: &𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝑓 & (𝑥) + 𝑔′(𝑥)

In derivitive operator notation:

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
[𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)] = [𝑓(𝑥)] + [𝑔(𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

This means that the derivative of the sum of functions is the sum of their derivatives.

Difference Rule

If 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both differentiable, then

&
In prime notation: &𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝑓 & (𝑥) − 𝑔′(𝑥)

In derivitive operator notation:

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
[𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)] = [𝑓(𝑥)] − [𝑔(𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

This means that the derivative of the difference of functions is the difference of their derivatives.

Example 2 Use the Sum and Difference Rules to differentiate the following function “term-by-term.”

𝑥 3
𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 & + − − 2𝑒 " + 𝑒 '
2 𝑥'

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Example 3 Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 + tan 𝑥 − 7 sec 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝜋

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Example 4 The position of a particle is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = (3𝑥 − 4)' where 𝑓(𝑥) is measured in centimeters and 𝑥 is
measured in seconds. Find the velocity at 3 seconds.

Hint: First multiply out 𝑓(𝑥) = (3𝑥 − 4)' . Then find 𝑓′(3).

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 Higher Order Derivatives
When we take a derivative multiple times, we get a higher order derivative.

• First derivative

• Second derivative

• Third derivative

• Fourth derivative

• nth derivative

Example 5 Find 𝑓′′(𝑥) given 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 ln 𝑥 − log ( 𝑥

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Example 6 In a hypothetical experiment, the position function is given by 𝑠(𝑥) = 2sin 𝑥 − 5 cos 𝑥.

Find the velocity, acceleration, and jerk functions.

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Example 7

Let ℎ(𝑥) = 3𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)

Use the graphs to find ℎ′(1)

Example 8 Lesson 3, Example 6 you showed that the following limit was equal to −12.

2(−3 + ℎ)' − 18
lim = −12
)→, ℎ

This limit is calculating a slope of a tangent line to a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at a particular point in the domain, 𝑥 = 𝑎.

a. What is the function being differentiated? That is, what is 𝑓(𝑥)?

b. What is the point of tangency >𝑎, 𝑓(𝑎)??

c. Use a derivative rule to verify that the slope of the tangent line is −12.

d. Write the equation of the tangent line in point-slope-form and check your work on Desmos.

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Practice Test Questions (Answers on back)
-
1. Find 𝑦′ given 𝑦 = ln 𝑥 + "

2. Find 𝑔# (2𝜋) given 𝑔(𝑥) = 7cos 𝑥 + tan 𝑥

% ! "
3. T √𝑥 & + √32U
%"

4. Suppose that 𝑓(2) = −3, 𝑓 # (2) = −2, 𝑔(2) = 4, and 𝑔# (2) = 7.

Find ℎ′(2) where ℎ(𝑥) = 5𝑓(𝑥) − 4𝑔(𝑥)

5. Let ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)

a. Use the graphs to find ℎ′(3)

b. Use the graphs to find ℎ′(4)

6. Find 𝑓 # (𝑥), 𝑓′′(𝑥) and 𝑓′′′(𝑥) given 𝑓(𝑥) = 6𝑒 " − 4"

7. A boat at anchor is bobbing up and down in the bay. The vertical distance, 𝑑(𝑡), in feet between the floor of the
bay and the boat is a function of time 𝑡 in minutes, where 𝑑(𝑡) = 16 + sin(𝑡).
a. Find the velocity function.
b. Find the velocity of the boat at time 𝑡 = 3 minutes. Round to the nearest whole number and include units.
c. Find the velocity of the boat at time 𝑡 = 6 minutes. Round to the nearest whole number and include units.

8. Find an equation of the tangent line to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + tan(𝑥) at the point (𝜋, 𝜋)

.
9. Find the equation of tangent line to 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥 + cot 𝑥 at 𝑥 = &

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Answers

1. 𝑦 = ln 𝑥 + 𝑥 /-

1 1
𝑦# = −
𝑥 𝑥'

2. 𝑔# (𝑥) = −7 sin 𝑥 + sec ' 𝑥

𝑔# (2𝜋) = −7 sin 2𝜋 + (sec 2𝜋)' = 0 + 1 = 1

Type equation here.

# $ !
% & & √"
3. ^𝑥 ! + 2_ = ( 𝑥 ! =
%" (

4. ℎ′(2) = 5𝑓′(2) − 4𝑔′(2)

ℎ# (2) = (5)(−2) − (4)(7) = −38

5. 𝑓′(3) is undefined because of the sharp corner on the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) at 𝑥 = 3.

Therefore ℎ′(3) is undefined also.

ℎ# (4) = 𝑓 # (4) + 𝑔# (4) = 1 + 0 = 1

6. 𝑓 # (𝑥) = 6𝑒 " − ln 4 ∙ 4"

𝑓′′(𝑥) = 6𝑒 " − (ln 4)' ∙ 4"

𝑓′′(𝑥) = 6𝑒 " − (ln 4)( ∙ 4"

7. a. 𝑑# (𝑡) = 𝑣(𝑡) = cos 𝑡

b. 𝑣(3) ≈ −1
At 3 minutes, the boat is moving down at approximately 1 foot per minute.
c. 𝑣(6) ≈ 1
At 6 minutes, the boat is moving up at approximately 1 foot per minute.

8. Equation of the tangent line is 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 𝜋

. . . √'1'
9. Point: (𝑥- , 𝑦- ) = b& , 𝑓 c & de = c & , '
d

. . . √' ' ' √'/&

Slope: 𝑓 # c& d = cos & − csc ' & = '
−c d = '
√'

√'1' √'/& .
Equation of tangent line: 𝑦 − '
= '
c𝑥 − & d
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