DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

ENR. NICKMAR N. BALVEZ

THE DERIVATIVE AND DIFFERENTIATION OF
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
OBJECTIVES:
• to define the derivative of a function
• to find the derivative of a function by increment method (4-step
rule)
‘-
• to identify the different rules of differentiation and distinguish one
from the other;
• prove the different rules of differentiation using
the increment method;
• find the derivative of an algebraic function using
the basic rules of differentiation; and
• extend these basic rules to other “complex” algebraic functions. 2
Derivative of a Function

• The process of finding the derivative of a function is

called differentiation and the branch of calculus that
deals with this process is called differential
‘-
calculus.
Differentiation is an important mathematical tool in
physics, mechanics, economics and many other
disciplines that involve change and motion.

3
Limit Laws
Assume that lim 𝑓(𝑥) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) exists; then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
➢ The limit of the sum (or difference) of two (or more) functions is equal to the sum (or
difference) of their limits.
lim [𝑓(𝑥) ± g(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

‘- to the product of their limits.

➢ The limit of the product of two (or more) functions is equal
lim [𝑓(𝑥) g(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) . lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

➢ The limit of the quotient of two (or more) functions is equal to the quotient of their
limits, provided the limit of the denominator is not zero.

lim 𝑓(𝑥)
lim [𝑓(𝑥) /g(𝑥)] = 𝑥→𝑎
if lim 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑥→𝑎 lim 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎
𝑥→𝑎

4
Tangents to Plane Curve
Secant – is a straight line that intersects a curve in two or more distinct points.
Secant (PP’)
y P’
P T (PT-Tangent to the curve)
‘-

0 x

➢ the slope of the tangent to the curve at any point is called – “Slope of the Curve”
at the point.

5
Derivative interpreted as slope (m)
(1) Equation of the line of slope (m)
y = mx + b

From (1) we obtain

y + Δy = m(x + Δx) + b ‘-
y + Δy = mx + mΔx + b
-y = -mx -b
Δy = mΔx
Δx Δx
Δy/Δx = m (1)
(2) dy/dx = m (hence equation for the straight line)
6
‘-

7
 If we let x2 approach x1, then the point Q
will move along the curve and approach
point P. As point Q approaches P, the value
of Δx approaches zero and the secant line
through P and Q approaches a limiting ‘-
position, then we will consider that position
to be the position of the tangent line at P.

8
 y
tangent line

P( x1 , f ( x1 )) Q( x2 , f ( x2 ))

secant line

y y = f (x)
‘-

x = x 2 − x1
x 2 = x1 + x 9
 Thus, we make the following definition.
DEFINITION:
Suppose that x1 is in the domain of the
function f, the tangent line to the curve y=f(x)
at the point P(x1,f(x1)) is the line with equation,
‘-
y − f ( x1 ) = m( x − x1 )
f ( x1 + x ) − f ( x1 )
where m = lim
provided
x →0 x
P( x1 , f ( x1 ))
the limit exists, and is the
point of tangency. 10
DEFINITION
The derivative of y = f(x) at point P on the
curve is equal to the slope of the tangent line
at P, thus the derivative of the function f
given by y= f(x) with respect to x at any‘- x in
its domain is defined as:
dy y f ( x + x) − f ( x)
= lim = lim
dx x→0 x x→0 x
provided the limit exists.
11
Other notations for the derivative of a
function are:
d
Dx y, Dx f ( x), y ' , f ' , f ' ( x), and f ( x)
dx
Note:
To find the slope of the tangent line to the curve at point
‘-
P means that we are to find the value of the derivative at
that point P.

There are two ways of finding the derivative of a

function:
1. By using the increment method or the four-step
rule
2. By using the differentiation formulas 12
THE INCREMENT METHOD OR THE FOUR-
STEP RULE
One method of determining the derivative of a
function is the increment method or more
commonly known as the four-step rule.
‘-
The procedure is as follows :

STEP 1: Substitute x + Δx for x and

y + Δy for y in y = f(x)
STEP 2: Subtract y = f(x) from the result of
step 1 to obtain Δy in terms of x
and Δx 13
STEP 3: Divide both sides of step 2 by Δx.

STEP 4: Find the limit of step 3 as Δx

approaches 0.

‘-

14
EXAMPLE
dy
1. Find u sin g the four − step rule given y = 1 − x 2 .
dx
a . y + y = 1 − ( x + x ) y
= lim (− 2 x − x )
2
d . lim
x →0 x x →0
b. y + y − y = 1 − ( x + x ) − y
2
dy
2 = −2 x
y = 1 − x − 2 xx − x − y
2
dx ‘-
y = 1 − x − 2 xx − x − (1 − x 2 )
2 2

2
y = 1 − x − 2 xx − x − 1 + x 2
2

2
y = −2 xx − x

y x(− 2 x − x )
c. =
x x
15
EXAMPLE2. Find dy u sin g the four − step rule given y = 2 x − 1
dx 1 + 2x
2( x + x ) − 1
a. y + y =
1 + 2( x + x )
2( x + x ) − 1 2 x − 1
b. y = −
1 + 2( x + x ) 1 + 2 x

y =
(2 x + 2x − 1)(1 + 2 x ) − (2 x − 1)(1 + 2 x + 2x ) ‘-
(1 + 2 x + 2x )(1 + 2 x ))
2 x + 2x − 1 + 4 x 2 + 4 xx − 2 x − 2 x − 4 x 2 − 4 xx + 1 + 2 x + 2x
y =
(1 + 2 x + 2x )(1 + 2 x ))
y 4 x
c. =
x x( 1 + 2 x + 2x )( 1 + 2 x )
y 4
d . lim = lim dy 4
x →0 x x →0 ( 1 + 2 x + 2 x )( 1 + 2 x )  =
dx ( 1 + 2 x )2 16
EXAMPLE
dy
3. Find u sin g the four − step rule given y = x − 1 when x = 10
dx
a . y + y = x + x − 1 b. y = x + x − 1 − x − 1 when x = 10,
dy 1 1 1
y x + x − 1 − x − 1 = = =
c. = dx 2 10 − 1 2( 3 ) 6
x x
y x + x − 1 − x − 1 x + x − 1 + x − 1 ‘-
d. lim = lim •
x →0 x x →0 x x + x − 1 + x − 1
x + x − 1 − x + 1
= lim
(
x →0 x x + x − 1 + x − 1)
x
= lim
(
x →0 x x + x − 1 + x − 1)
y 1
lim = lim
x →0 x x →0 x + x − 1 + x − 1
dy 1
 = 17
dx 2 x − 1
DIFFERENTIATION‘- OF
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

18
• DERIVATIVE USING FORMULAS

• The increment-method (four-step rule) of finding the

derivative of a function gives us the basic procedures of
differentiation. However these rules are laborious and tedious
when the functions to be differentiated are “complex”, that is,
‘-
functions with large exponents, functions with fractional
exponents and other rational functions

19
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS

Derivative of a Constant

Theorem: The derivative of a constant‘- function

is 0; that is, if c is any real number,
then,
d
[c ] = 0
dx
20
Example : Differentiate the following functions.
3
1. y = 5 3. f(x) = -
4
y' = 0 f' (x) = 0
‘-

2. y = − 25 4. h(x) = log3 4
dy
=0 h' (x) = 0
dx

21
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives of Power Functions
Theorem: ( Power Rule) If n is a positive
integer,
then, d [ x n ] = nx n −1 ‘-
dx
In words, to differentiate a power
function, decrease the constant
exponent by one and multiply the
resulting power function by the
original exponent .
22
Example : Differentiate the following functions
1. y = x 4 3. f(x) = x −8
4 −1 − 8 −1
y' = 4 x f' (x) = -8 x
−9 −8
y' = 4 x 3
f' (x) = -8 x = 9
x ‘-
6
2. y = x 7
4. F(x) = x log3 4
6
dy 6 7 −1
F' (x) = ( log3 4 )( x )
 log 3 4 −1
= x
dx 7
6 7 1
dy 6 − 6 − 6 6 7 x6
= x 7 7
= x 7
= 7 =
dx 7 7 7 x 7x 23
‘-

24
Proof:
cf ( x + x) − cf ( x)
d
cf ( x) = lim
dx x →0 x

 f ( x + x) − f ( x) ‘-
= lim c  
x →0
 x 
f ( x + x) − f ( x)
= c lim
x →0 x

= c  f (x)
d
dx
25
Example : Differentiate the following functions
−4
1. y = 5 x 8
3. f(x) = −9 x
y' = (5 )(8 )x7 f' (x) = (− 9 )(- 4 )x −4 −1
−5 36
y' = 40 x7 f' (x) = 36 x = 5
x
2
‘-
4 3
2. y = −5 x 5
4. F(r) = r
3
4 
2
−1
= (− 5 ) x F' (r) =   (3)(r ) = 4 r
dy 2 5 2 2

dx 5 3 
−2 − 25 x 2
2 5 3
dy − −
= −2 x 5 5
= −2 x 5
= =
dx 5
x3 x 26
‘-

27
Proof:

d [ f ( x + x)  g ( x + x) − [ f ( x)  g ( x)]

[ f ( x)  g ( x)] = lim
dx x →0 x
[ f ( x + x) − f ( x)]  [ g ( x + x) − g ( x)]
= lim ‘-
x →0 x
f ( x + x) − f ( x) g ( x + x) − g ( x)
= lim  lim
x →0 x x →0 x
d d
= [ f ( x)]  [ g ( x)]
dx dx

28
Example : Differentiate the following functions
1. y = 5 x 4 + 6 x 2 − 4x + 7 3. f(x) = 2 x −4 + 9 x − 4
y' = 20 x 3 + 12 x − 4 f' (x) = −8 x −5 + 9

(
y' = 4 5x 3 + 3 x − 1 ) -8
f' (x) = 5 + 9
x

3
‘-
4 3
−4
2. y = −6 x − 2 x − 4x − 5 x + 9
2 2
4. F(r) = r + r
−2

3
4 
1
F' (r) = - 2r +   (3)(r )
dy 15
= 24 x −5 - 4x - 4 - x 2 -3 2

dx 2 3 
dy 24 15 21 - 2
= 5 - 4x - 4 - x F' (r) = + 4r 2

dx x 2 r3
29
‘-

30
‘-

31
Example : Differentiate the following functions and simplify.
(
1. y = (3 x + 4 ) 4 x − 32
)
y' = (3 x + 4 )(8 x ) + (4 x 2
)
− 3 (3)
y' = 24x 2 + 32x + 12x 2 - 9
y' = 36x 2 + 32x - 9 ‘-

( )
2. y = x 3 − 1 (5 - 2x )
y' = (x 3
− 1)(- 2 ) + (5 - 2x )(3x )
2

y' = -2x 3 + 2 + 15x 2 - 6x 3

y' = -8x 3 + 15x 2 + 2
32
 ( )
3. y = 2 − x 3 (− 10 x + 5 )
y' = (2 − x )(− 10 ) + (− 10 x + 5 )(− 3 x )
3 2

y' = -20 + 10 x 3 + 30 x 3 − 15 x 2
y' = 40 x 3 − 15 x 2 - 20
(
y' = 5 8x 3 − 3 x 2 − 4 ) ‘-

33
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative of a Quotient
Theorem: (The Quotient Rule) If f and g are
both differentiable functions at x,
and if g(x) ≠ 0 then f/g is
differentiable at x and ‘-
df dg
g −f
d f dx dx or
  =
dx  g  g2
g ( x)  f ( x) − f ( x) g ( x)
d d
d  f ( x)  dx dx
=
dx  g ( x)  g ( x)2
34
Example : Differentiate the following functions and simplify.
4 x2 − 3
1. y =
1 − 2x

y' =
( ( )
1 − 2 x )(8 x ) − 4 x 2 − 3 (− 2 )
(1 − 2 x )2

8 x − 16 x 2 + 8 x 2 − 6 ‘-
y' =
(1 − 2 x )2
− 8 x2 + 8 x − 6
y' =
(1 − 2 x )2
y' =
(
2 − 4 x2 + 4 x − 3 )
(1 − 2 x )2

35
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives of Composition
Theorem: (The Chain Rule) If g is
differentiable at x and if f is
differentiable at g(x), then the ‘-
composition f ◦ g is differentiable
dy dy du
at x. Moreover, if y=f(g(x)) and = 
u=g(x) then y=f(u) and dx du dx
or
( )
d un
= nu n −1 du

dx dx 36
Example : Differentiate the following functions and simplify.
(
1. y = 3x − 10 x + 15
2
)5

(
y' = 5 3x − 10 x + 15 (6x - 10 )
2
)
4

3
 5 
2. G(x) =  
 x -1
‘-
 5   125 
2
 5   −  = −3 
G' (x) = 3  2  4 
 x -1  ( x − 1)   (x − 1) 
3. y = (3x + 1)(4 x − 5 )
4

y = 4(3x + 1)(4 x − 5 ) (3x + 1)(4 ) + (4 x − 5 )(3 )

3

y = 4(3x + 1)(4 x − 5 ) (12x + 4 + 12x - 15 )

3

y = 4(24x - 11) (3x + 1)(4 x − 5 )

3
37
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative of a Radical with index
equal to 2
If u is a differentiable function of x, du
then
‘-
d
dx
( )
u = dx
2 u
The derivative of a radical whose
index is two, is a fraction whose
numerator is the derivative of the
radicand, and whose denominator is
twice the given radical, if the derivative
38
exists.
 DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative of a Radical with index other
than 2
If n is any positive integer and u is a
differentiable function of x, then
d  1
 1
1 n −1 du ‘-
u  =  u 
n
dx   n dx
The derivative of the nth root of a given
function is the exponent multiplied by the
product of u whose power is diminished by
one and the derivative of u, if this
derivative exists. 39
Differentiate the following and simplify.
1. H ( x ) = 3 x − 5
3x − 5 3 3x − 5
H' (x ) =
3
• =
2 3x − 5 3 x − 5 2(3 x − 5 )

2. y = 5 (2 x − 4 )(x − 5 ) ‘-

y = ((2 x − 4 )( x − 5 ))
1
5

y' = ((2 x − 4 )(x − 5 ))5 ((2 x − 4 )(1) + ( x − 5 )(2 ))

1 1
−1

5
y' = ((2 x − 4 )(x − 5 )) 5 (2 x − 4 + 2 x − 10 )
1 −
4

5
y' = ((2 x − 4 )(x − 5 )) 5 (4 x − 14 )
1 −
4
40
y' = ((2 x − 4 )(x − 5 )) 5 (2 x − 4 + 2 x − 10 )
1 −
4

5
y' = ((2 x − 4 )(x − 5 )) 5 (4 x − 14 )
1 −
4

5
2(2 x − 7 )
y' = ‘-
5((2 x − 4 )(x − 5 )) 5
4

41
EXERCISES
I. Find the derivative of the following functions
using the four-step rule .

6. y = (ax + b )
2
1. f ( x ) = 4 x − 5 x
2

2. f ( x ) = x
1
2
−2 (
7. y = x − 3 x + 3‘- x − 1
3 2
) 1
3

−2 2x + 3
3. f ( x ) = 8. y =
x+1 1 − 2x
x+1 9. y = ( −2 + x )( x + 3 )
4. y =
x
5. y = 4 x + 3 10. y = 1 − x 3 42