Chapter 4

Differentiation

Introduction:
Calculus is one of the important branches of Mathematics. We have already studied the concept
of limit in the last chapter. This concept can also be used for various applications in Geometry
and Physics. We will study the gradient of a curve and velocity at a point using limits. The
concept and notation of the derivative of a function were introduced by Sir Isaac Newton
(1642–1727) and Goddfried Leibnitz (1646–1716)

8. Definition of Derivative at a point:

Suppose a function f (x) is defined in a neighborhood of a.
If a and a + h belong to the domain set of a
f (a  h)  f (a)
Function f and lim exists, then this limit is called the derivative of f(x) at x=a
h0 h
 df 
and is denoted by fl (a) or  
 dx  x a
f (a  h)  f (a)
Thus, fl (a)= lim
h0 h
In general, the derivative of function at any point x is

f ( x  h)  f ( x) df
fl (x)= lim 
h0 h dx

This is known as the first principle of derivative

Remarks:
(1) If the derivative of f(x) exists then the function f is said to be derivable or differentiable.
(2) The process of finding the derivative is called differentiation.
(3) Leibnitz's notation of derivative
Let y = f(x) be the function of x.
Let  x be the small increment in x and  y be the corresponding increment in y.
y +  y = f(x +  x)
 y = f(x +  x) – Y.
i.e  y = f(x +  x) – f(x)
Dividing by Ox on both the sides, we get
y f ( x  x)  f ( x)
  x  0
x x

Taking the limit as x  0 on both the sides, we get

y f ( x  x)  f ( x)
lim  lim
x 0 x x 0 x
If this limit exists, then it is denoted by f '(x) and is called as the derivative of f w.r.t. x.
dy
This limit is also written as
dx
dy y
Thus = lim  f ' ( x)
dx x0 x

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Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 dy
is also called the derivative of y w.r.t.x.
dx
d
It is also written as  f x
dx
Geometrical Interpretation of Derivative:
Consider the function f(x) defined on an open interval (a, b). Let P[c, f(c)] be a point on the
curve y = f(x) and let Q[(c–h), fCc–h)] and R [(c+h), f(c+h)] be two neighbouring points on
either sides of point P as shown in fig 8.1.

f (c  h)  f (c) f (c  h)  f (c)
Slope of chord PQ= and slope of chord PR=
h h
We know that the tangent to a curve at a point P is the limiting position of secant PQ when Q
tends to P. Also it is the limiting position of secant PR when R tends to P. Therefore, as h. 
O points Q and R both tend to P from left and right hand sides respectively.

:. slope of tangent at point P = lim (slope of secant PQ)

Q P

 lim (Slope of secant PQ)

h 0

f (c  h)  f (c)
 lim
h0 h
If these limits exist and are equal, there is a unique tangent at point P.
dy
The slope of the tangent is denoted by
dx
i.e. f’(x)

Thus,

f c  h  f (c)
F’(x) = lim
h0 h

54
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 f c  h  f (c)
 lim
h0 h

Physical significance of a derivative

Let s = f(t) be a function of t.
Let  t be a small increment in t and s be the corresponding increment in s.
 s  s  f t  t 
s  f t  t  –s
 f (t  t )  f t 
Dividing by t on both the sides, we get
s f t  t   f t 
  t  0
t t
Taking the limit as t  0 on both the sides, we get

s f t  t   f t 
lim  lim
t 0 t t 0 t
= f’ (t), if the limit exists.
s f t  t   f (t )
If s= f(t) gives the displacement at time t, = is the average velocity for the
t t
time interval (t, t+ t )

s ds
The lim , if it exists then =f’ (t) and it gives the instantaneous velocity at t.
t 0 t dt

Derivatives of Standard Functions

(1) Constant function:

Let f(x) =k where k is any constant

 f ( x  h)  k
f ( x  h)  f ( x)
Consider lim
h0 h
k k
 lim
h 0 h
0
 lim
h 0 h

=0
𝑑
∴ (𝑘) = 0
𝑑𝑥

(2) Power Function:

Let f(x) = xn  f ( x  h)  ( x  h) n , n  R

55
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 f ( x  h)  f ( x)
Consider lim
h0 h
( x  h)  x
n n
 lim
h 0 h
 n n 1 n(n  1) x 2 2 n
 x  nx h  2! x h  ....  h   x
n

 lim
h 0 h
n(n  1) n 2 2
nx n 1 h  x h  ....  h n
 lim 2!
h 0 h
h  n 1 n(n  1) n 2 
 lim  nx  x h  .....  h n 1   h  0
h 0 h
 2! 
 n(n  1) n  2 
 lim nx n 1  x h  ....  h n 1 
h 0
 2! 

 nx n1  0  ......  0 
 nx n 1
𝒅 𝒏
∴ (𝒙 ) = 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏
𝒅𝒙

d k
Note: ( x )  kx k 1 , for any real number k
dx
Illustrative Examples:
dy
(1) If y = x7 then  7 x 71  7 x 6
dx
3
dy  3 43 1  3 47
4
(2) If y = x then  x  x
dx 4 4
dy 1 12 1 1  12
(3) If y = x then = x  x
dx 2 2
2
(4) If y = then  2(1) x 11  2 x 2
x

3. Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

(a) Let f(x) = sin x f ( x  h)  sin( x  h)
f ( x  h)  f ( x)
Here, lim
h0 h
sin( x  h)  sin x
 lim
h0 h
 xh x  xh x
2 cos  sin  
 lim  2   2 
h 0 h
2  2x  h  sin h 2
 lim cos  lim
2 h  0
 2  h  0 h2
 cos(x  0).1

56
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
  cos x
𝑑
(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥) = cos 𝑥
𝑑𝑥

(b) Let f(x) = cos x f ( x  h)  cos(x  h)

f  x  h   f ( x)
Now, lim
h0 h
cos(x  h)  cos x
 lim
h0 h
 xh x  xh x
 2 sin   sin  
= lim  2   2 
h 0 h
sin h 2 h

 2x  h  h2 2
  2 lim sin   lim
h 0
 2  h 0 h
1
=  2 sin( x  0).1.
2
= –sin x
d
(cos x)   sin x
dx

(c) Let f (x) = ten x  f ( x  h)  tan( x  h)

f ( x  h)  f ( x)
Here, lim
h0 h
tan( x  h)  tan x
 lim
h0 h
sin( x  h) sin x

cos(x  h) cos x
 lim
h 0 h
sin( x  h) cos x  cos(x  h) sin x
 lim
h 0 h cos(x  h) cos x
sin( x  h  x)
 lim
h 0 h cos(x  h). cos x

sinh 1
 lim lim
h0 h h0 cos(x  h) cos x

1
 1.
cos x. cos x
 sec 2 x
d
 (tan x)  sec 2 x
dx

(d) Let f(x) = cot x f ( x  h)  cot(x  h)

f ( x  h)  f ( x)
Again, lim
h0 h

57
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 cot(x  h)  cot x
 lim
h0 h
cos(x  h) cos x

sin( x  h) sin x
 lim
h 0 h
sin x. cos(x  h)  cos x. sin( x  h)
 lim
h0 h sin( x  h). sin x

sin x  ( x  h)
 lim
h 0 h sin( x  h). sin x

sin( h) 1
 lim lim
h0 h h 0 sin( x  h). sin x
sinh 1
=  lim lim
h0 h h0 sin( x  h). sin x
1
 1
sin x. sin x
  cos ec 2 x
d
 (cot x)   cos ec 2 x
dx

(e) Let f(x) =sec x f ( x  h)  sec(x  h)

f ( x  h)  f ( x)
Here, lim
h0 h

sec(x  h)  sec x
 lim
h0 h
1 1

cos(x  h) cos x
 lim
h 0 h
cos x  cos(x  h)
 lim
h 0 h cos(x  h). cos x

 x xh  x xh
 2 sin   sin  
 lim  2   2 
h 0 h. cos(x  h). cos x
h
sin  
 2x  h  2
 2 lim sin   lim
h 0
 2  h 0  h 
 
2
1 1 
 lim 
 2 h0 cos(x  h). cos x 
 2x  0   1 
 sin  .1. 
 2   cos x. cos x 

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Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
  1  sin x 
  
 cos x  cos x 

 sec x. tan x

d
 (sec x)  sec x. tan x
dx

(f) Let f(x) =cosec x f ( x  h)  cos ec( x  h)

cos ec( x  h)  cos ecx
Now lim
h0 h
cos ec( x  h)  cos ecx
 lim
h0 h
1 1

sin( x  h) sin x
 lim
h 0 h
sin x  sin( x  h)
 lim
h 0 h sin( x  h). sin x

 x xh  x xh
2 cos  sin  
 lim  2   2 
h 0 h. sin( x  h) sin x
h
sin  
 2x  h   2  1
 lim 2 cos  lim
h 0
 2  h 0 h 2 2
1
 lim
h0 sin( x  h) sin x

h
sin  
 2 cos x lim 2 1
h 0  h  2
 
2
1
lim
h 0 sin( x  h) sin x

1 1
 2. cos x.1. ,
2 sin x. sin x
 1  cos x 
   
 sin x  sin x 
  cos ecx. cot x
d
 (cos ecx)   cos ex cotx
dx

59
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
Rules of Differentiation

If u and v are the differentiable functions of x and

1. If y = u + v
dy du dv
then,  
dx dx dx
2. If y = u – v
dy du dv
then,  
dx dx dx
3. If y = u × v
dy dv du
then, u v
dx dx dx
u
4. If y =
v
du dv
v u
dy
then,  dx 2 dx , v  0
dx v

1. Derivative of sum:

Theorem 1: If u and v are differentiable functions

dy du dv
Of x and if y= u + v then  
dx dx dx
Proof: Let u . v and y be the small increments in u, v and y respectively, corresponding to
the increment x in x.

As x  0 , u  0 , v  0 , y  0 .
Since u and v are differentiable functions of x,
du u dv v
  lim and  lim …… (i)
dx x0 x dx x0 x
y = u + v …… (1)
y  y  u  u   v  v …… (2)
Subtracting (1) from (2), we get y  u  v
Dividing both the sides by x , we get
y u v
 
x x x
Taking the limit as x  0 , on both sides, we get
y  u v 
lim  lim   
x 0 x x 0 x x 

y u v
lim  lim  lim
x 0 x x 0 x x 0 x

  from(i)
du dv

dx dx
y dy
 lim exists and is equal to
x 0 x dx

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Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 dy du dv
  
dx dx dx

2. Derivative of Difference

Theorem 2: If u and v are differentiable functions

dy du dv
Of x and if y = u –v then  
dx dx dx
Corollary:

If y = ul ± u2 ±…….. ± un' where u1,u2….un are differentiable functions of x then

dy du1 du
  .......... n
dx dx dx
d d
Note: (ku )  k (u) where k is any constant.
dx dx

3. Derivative of Product:
dy dv du
Theorem 3: If u and v are differentiable Function of x and if y = u v then u v
dx dx dx
Proof: Let u, v and y be the small increments in u, v and y respectively, corresponding to
the
increment x in x

As x  0, u  0, v  0, y  0
du u dv v
Since u and v are differentiable functions of x, = lim and  lim
dx x0 x dx x0 x
y= uv ……(1)

 y  y  (u  u)(v  v)
 uv  uv  vu  uv ………(2)
Subtracting (1) from (2), we get

y  uv  vu  uv

Diving both the sides by x, we get

y v u u
 u  v  v
x x x x

Taking the limit as x  0, we get

y v u u
lim  u lim  v lim + lim lim v
x 0 x x 0 x x 0 x x0 x x 0

dv du du
 u  v  0
dx dx dx

As R.H.S. exists

61
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 y dy
 lim exists and is equal to
x 0 x dx
dy dv du
 u v
dx dx dx

Thus, the derivative of product of two functions = first function x derivative of second function
+second function x derivative of first function.

Corollary: If u, v, and w are the differentiable functions of x, then

d
uvw  uv dw  wu dv  vw du
dx dx dx dx

4. Derivative of quotient:
u
Theorem 4: If u and v are differentiable functions of x and if y= then
v
du dv
v u
dy
 dx 2 dx , v  0
dx v
Proof: Let u, v and vandy be the small increments in u. v and y respectively,
corresponding to the increment x in x.
As x  0, u  0, v  0, y  0 since u and v are differentiable functions of x,
du u
 lim and
dx x0 x
dv v
 lim
dx x  0 x
u
y  ……(1)
v
u  u
 y  y  ……(2)
v  v
Subtracting (1) from (2), we get

u  u u
y+ y  y  
v  v v

uv  vu  uv  uv
y 
v 2  vv

vu  uv
y 
v 2  vv
Dividing both the sides by x, we get
u v
v u
y
 2x x
x v  vv
Taking the limit as x  0 , we get

62
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 u v
v lim  u lim
y x 0x x  0 x
lim 
x 0 x v  v lim v
2
x 0
du dv
v u
 dx dx
v  v(0)
2

y dy
 lim exists and is equal to
x 0 x dx
du dv
v u
dy
  dx 2 dx , v  0
dx v
Corollary: If k is a constant and v is a differentiable function of x then
d  k   k dv
  v0
dx  v  v 2 dx
d d
v ( k )  k (v )
d k dx dx
Proof:  
dx  v  v 2

d
v(0)  k (v)
 dx
v2
d  k   k dv
  = 2
dx  v  v dx

Find the derivative of the following Or Differentiate the following functions with respect to
x.
1. 5𝑥 6
3
2. 2𝑥 2
3. 6𝑥 4 − 𝑥 3
4. 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 1
1
5. 4𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 – 7
6. y 9x 3 7x 2
7. y x2 4x6
8. y 5x2 4x3/2
9. y (3/2)x2/3 (2/3)x -3/2
10. y = 32x5-(1/4)x4
11. y 2x 1 4x 3
3
12. y 4x 2 3x
13. y =(8x + ½)2
14. If A x2 20x , find dA/dx.
15. If V x 2 x3 , find dV/dx.
16. If P at 2 bt , find dP/dx.
17. If W 6kh1/2 h , find dW/dh.
18. If N at b 2 , find dN/dt.
3
19. 𝑦 = 4√𝑥 − √𝑥
5 3
20. 𝑦 = 5 √𝑥 + 4 √𝑥

63
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli
 3𝑥 5
21. 𝑦 = 2 + 3 √𝑥
√ 𝑥
1
22. 𝑦 = 𝑥√𝑥 − 𝑥 −3
3 3
23. 𝑦 = 3 √𝑥 + 3
√𝑥
1
24. 𝑦 = 5√𝑥(3√𝑥 − 5𝑥 5 + 4𝑥 2 )
3 4𝑥+5𝑥 −3
25. 𝑦 = −
2𝑥 3 3 √𝑥
26. 𝑦 = (7 + 3√𝑥)2

64
Notes compiled by Dr Amit Deogirikar, DBSKKV, Dapoli