Derivative Rules for Functions

HW 8 is a Canvas Quiz, not Derivita

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to differentiate and use Desmos to “prove derivative rules by programing” for:

ü Constant, Linear, and Power Functions in General

ü Exponential Functions
ü Logarithmic Functions
ü Trigonometric Functions
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Example 1: What is the geometric interpretation of the derivative 𝑓 ! (2)?

Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 and use it to find 𝑓′(2).

Does the value of the derivative change for values of 𝑥 other than 2?

The Derivative of a Constant Function

The derivative of a constant function, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐, is 𝑓 ! (𝑥) = ______. Because the slope of a horizontal line is ______.

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Example 2: Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = # 𝑥 − 1 and use it to find 𝑓′(2).

Does the value of the derivative change for values of 𝑥 other than 2?

The Derivative of a Linear Function

The derivative of a line, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, is 𝑓 ! (𝑥) = ______. Because the slope of a line is ______.

The Derivative of a Power Function – Power Rule

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 $ 𝑓 ! (𝑥) = 𝑝 ∙ 𝑥 $%"

Example 3 For the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 #

a. Write the limit definition of the derivative function.

b. Then find the derivative using power rule.
c. What is the slope of the tangent line to 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 # at the point (4,4# ) = (4,64)?

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 Helpful Algebra to use before differentiating
Negative exponents Fractional exponents

Example 4: Find the derivative of each function using power rule.

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𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥&

𝑓(𝑥) = &𝑥 !

1
𝑓(𝑥) = "
𝑥!

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Example 5: Use Desmos to verify that the derivative of a power function 𝑥 $ is 𝑝 ∙ 𝑥 $%"

Our function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 $

Our derivative function: 𝑓 ! (𝑥) = 𝑝 ∙ 𝑥 $%"

The equation of the tangent line: 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑓′(𝑎)(𝑥 − 𝑎)

𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑝 ∙ 𝑎$%" (𝑥 − 𝑎)

Step 1: Type 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 $ into Desmos. Let 𝑝 be a slider.

Step 2: Type 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑝 ∙ 𝑎$%" (𝑥 − 𝑎) into Desmos. Let 𝑎 be a slider.

Step 3: Click play.

Verify that 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑝 ∙ 𝑎$%" (𝑥 − 𝑎) is the tangent line and any point (𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑎, 𝑎$ ) on the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 $ .

Also check that 𝑓 ! (𝑎) = 𝑝 ∙ 𝑎$%" by writing each expression and confirming they have the same decimal approximation.

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 The Derivative of an Exponential Function

Where the base 𝑏 is a number other than 𝑒:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 ' 𝑓 ! (𝑥) = 𝑏 ' ∙ ln 𝑏

Where the base 𝑏 = 𝑒 = 2.7

Example 5: Find the slope of the tangent line to each curve at 𝑥 = 0

𝑓(𝑥) = 2' 𝑓(𝑥) = 5'

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Example 6: Use Desmos to verify that the derivative of 𝑒 ' is 𝑒 ' .

Our function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 '

Our derivative function: 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑒 '

The equation of the tangent line: 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑓′(𝑎)(𝑥 − 𝑎)

𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑒 ( (𝑥 − 𝑎)

Step 1: Type 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 ' into Desmos.

Step 2: Type 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑒 ( (𝑥 − 𝑎) into Desmos and let 𝑎 be a slider.

Step 3: Click play.

Verify that 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑒 ( (𝑥 − 𝑎) is the tangent line and any point (𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑎, 𝑒 ( ) on the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 ' .

Also check that 𝑓 ! (𝑎) = 𝑒 ( by writing each expression and confirming they have the same decimal approximation.

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 The Derivative of a Logarithmic Function
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𝑓(𝑥) = log ) 𝑥 𝑓 ! (𝑥) =
𝑥 ∙ ln 𝑏

Example 7: Find the derivative of each logarithmic function.

𝑓(𝑥) = log & 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥

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Example 8: Use Desmos to verify that the derivative of ln 𝑥 is '.

Our function: 𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥

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Our derivative function: 𝑓′(𝑥) = '

The equation of the tangent line: 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑓′(𝑎)(𝑥 − 𝑎)

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𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = (𝑥 − 𝑎)
𝑎

Step 1: Type 𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥 into Desmos.

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Step 2: Type 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = (𝑥 − 𝑎) into Desmos and let 𝑎 be a slider.
(

Step 3: Click play.

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Verify that 𝑦 − 𝑓(𝑎) = ( (𝑥 − 𝑎) is the tangent line and any point (𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑎, ln 𝑎) on the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥.

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Also check that 𝑓 ! (𝑎) = ( by writing each expression and confirming they have the same decimal approximation.

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Example 9

Sketch 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥.

Sketch the derivative 𝑦 = 𝑓′(𝑥). Can you guess this function?

Sketch the second derivative 𝑦 = 𝑓′′(𝑥). Can you guess this function?

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The Derivative of a Trigonometric Functions
You can verify that the rules are true using Desmos “proof by programing” J

𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥 𝑓 ! (𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = cos 𝑥 𝑓 ! (𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = tan 𝑥 𝑓 ! (𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = cot 𝑥 𝑓 ! (𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = sec 𝑥 𝑓 ! (𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑥) = csc 𝑥 𝑓 ! (𝑥) =

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Summary - Memorize the following derivative rules.
Function 𝒇(𝒙) Derivative Function 𝒇′(𝒙)

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 $

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 '

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 '

𝑓(𝑥) = log ) 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = cos 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = tan 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = cot 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = sec 𝑥

𝑓(𝑥) = csc 𝑥

You do not have to memorize the derivative rules for inverse trigonometric functions. Here they are for reference:
Function 𝒇(𝒙) Derivative Function 𝒇′(𝒙)

𝑓(𝑥) = sin%" 𝑥 1
𝑓 ! (𝑥) =
√1 − 𝑥 &

𝑓(𝑥) = cos %" 𝑥 1

𝑓 ! (𝑥) = −
√1 − 𝑥 &

𝑓(𝑥) = tan%" 𝑥
1
𝑓 ! (𝑥) =
This shows up in Integration by Partial 1 + 𝑥&
Fractions in Math 193. Memorize it then.
𝑓(𝑥) = cot %" 𝑥 1
𝑓 ! (𝑥) = −
1 + 𝑥&

𝑓(𝑥) = sec %" 𝑥 1

𝑓 ! (𝑥) =
|𝑥|√𝑥 & − 1

𝑓(𝑥) = csc %" 𝑥 1

𝑓 ! (𝑥) = −
|𝑥|√𝑥 & − 1

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We just learned derivative rules for specific functions.

In the upcoming lessons, we will learn derivative rules for combining functions. Functions can be combined in 5 ways:

• We can add functions together. (Sum Rule)

• We can subtract functions from each other. (Difference Rule)
• We can multiply functions together. (Product Rule)
• We can divide functions. (Quotient Rule.)
• And we can compose functions together. (Chain Rule)

When should you take a derivative?

• Asked to find an instantaneous rate of change

• Asked to find velocity given the position function
• Asked to find the slope of a tangent line
• Asked to write the equation of a tangent line
*+
• Asked to find 𝑦 ! , 𝑓 ! (𝑥), or
*'

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Practice Test Questions

1. Find the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 , at 𝑥 = −2

" "
2. Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = ' ! at the point K3, ,"L

3. Find the equation of the tangent line of 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 when 𝑥 = 36.

4. The position function is given by 𝑠(𝑥) = 𝑒 ' where 𝑠(𝑥) is measured in feet and 𝑥 is measured in seconds.
Find the velocity at 2 seconds.

5. The position function is given by 𝑠(𝑥) = 3' where 𝑠(𝑥) is measured in feet and 𝑥 is measured in seconds.
Find the velocity at 2 seconds.

6. Find the equation of the tangent line of 𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑒 -

7. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = log # 𝑥 when 𝑥 = 9.

.
8. Find the instantaneous rate of change of 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥 at 𝑥 = &

/. √&
9. Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = cos 𝑥 at the point K ,− L
- &

.
10. Write the equation of the tangent line to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = tan 𝑥 when 𝑥 = -

11. The position function is given by 𝑠(𝑥) = cot 𝑥 where 𝑠(𝑥) is measured in meters and 𝑥 is measured in days.
.
Find the velocity at 𝑥 =
1

.
12. Find the instantaneous rate of change of 𝑓(𝑥) = sec 𝑥 when 𝑥 =
#

"".
13. Find the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = csc 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 1

Answers

1. −1024

-
2. −
&-#

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3. 𝑦 − 6 = "& (𝑥 − 36)

4. 𝑒 & ≈ 7.4 feet per second

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5. 9 ln 3 = ln 32 ≈ 9.9 feet per second

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6. 𝑦 − 4 = ( 𝑥 − 𝑒 -)
3!

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7. 𝑦 − 2 = 2 45 # (𝑥 − 9)

8. 0

" √&
9. =
√& &

.
10. 𝑦 − 1 = 2 K𝑥 − - L

11. −4

12. 2√3

13. −2√3

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