Derivative

Let a function y  f (x) be given. If the independent variable x is

given an increment x , the function y receives the
corresponding increment y  f ( x  x)  f ( x).

Definition. The limit of the ratio of the increment of a given

function y  f (x) to the increment of the independent variable as
the latter tends to zero is called the derivative of that function
(provided that this limit exists):
y f ( x  x)  f ( x)
f / ( x)  lim  lim
x0 x x0 x
Notation. The derivative of a function with respect to a variable x is denoted
df
either f ( x) or
/
dx (read ‘f dash x’ or ‘f prime x’)

Definition. The operation of finding a derivative is called differentiation.

Geometrical meaning of the derivative
Let us consider the graph of a function y  f (x) and a point P( x0 , f ( x0 )) on it.
Next we will consider a nearby point Q( x, y ) which is also on the graph.
Let us join the point Q to the point P with a straight line which is called
a secant.
Q1
Q2
Q
Q3

P
Definition. The tangent to the graph of a function at its given
point is the straight line occupying the limiting position of the
secant when the points of intersection merge.
y
Therefore f / ( x0 )  lim
x0 x
 tan  .That is the geometrical meaning of
the derivative of a function is that it is equal to the slope of
the tangent.
Theorem.The value of the derivative f / ( x0 ) is equal to the
slope of the tangent to the graph of the function y  f (x) at the
x0: ( x0 )  tan 
/
point with abscissa f ,
where  is an angle formed by a tangent and the positive
direction of x  axis .
 Equation of a tangent
We have if a function y  f (x) has a derivative f / ( x0 ) at a given point
x0 then there exist a tangent drawn to the graph of the function at
the point P ( x0 ; f ( x0 )) with the gradient f / ( x0 ) .

We now look at how to find the equation of this tangent. The

tangent is a straight line with the gradient f / ( x0 ) , so its equation is
given by y  f / ( x0 ) x  b . Since the tangent passes through the point
P we have f ( x0 )  f / ( x0 ) x0  b

Hence b  f ( x0 )  f / ( x0 ) x0

It follows that the equation of a tangent has the form

 y  f / ( x0 ) x  f ( x0 )  f / ( x0 ) x0

y  f ( x0 )  f / ( x0 )( x  x0 )

Normal. Equation of a normal

The normal to a curve at a given point is a straight line which
crosses the curve at that point and is perpendicular to the
tangent at that point.
Since the tangent and normal are perpendicular to each other,
if the gradient of the tangent is f / ( x0 ) , then the gradient of the
1
normal is 
f / ( x0 ) . Therefore the equation of the normal has the
1
form y  f ( x0 )  ( x  x0 )
f / ( x0 )

1
Or y  f ( x0 )  
f / ( x0 )
( x  x0 )
 Basic differentiation rules
Differentiation and Arithmetic Operations
Suppose the functions u  u (x) and v  v(x) have derivatives u / ( x)

/
and v ( x) .
Theorem 1. The derivative of a sum of two functions is equal
to the sum of the derivatives of that functions.
(u  v) /  u /  v / .

Theorem 2. The derivative of a difference is equal to the

difference of the derivatives (u /  v / )  u /  v /
Theorem 3. The derivative of the product of two functions is equal
to the sum of the product of the derivative of the first function by
the second function and the product of the derivative of the second
function by the first function.
(uv) /  u / v  v / u

Theorem 4. The derivative of the quotient of two functions is equal

to the fraction whose denominator is equal to the square of the
divisor and the numerator is equal to the difference between the
product of the derivative of the dividend by the division and the
product of the dividend by the derivative of the divisor
 u  u v u v
/ /
 
v v2
 Derivative of a Composite Function
Let y  f (u ) and u  g (x) , then the composite function of g
and f is ( fog )( x)  f ( g ( x))

Theorem. The derivative of a composite function

y  f ( g ( x)) can be found by the formula

y /  [ f ( g ( x))] /  f / ( g ( x))  g / ( x) or y /  f / (u )  u /  f / (u )  g / ( x)
 Derivative of an Inverse Function
Suppose the function y  f (x) has the inverse x  f 1 ( y ) . We
will prove that if the derivative of the original function
y  f (x) is known it is easy to determine the derivative of the
inverse function x  f 1 ( y ) .

Theorem. The derivative of the inverse function can be

found by the formula
1
x y/ 
1
df ( y) 1

dy df ( x ) or y x/
dx
 Derivative of a Function Specified Parametrically
Now we will study a method of how to find the derivative of a
function specified by parametric equations.
Let y as function of x be specified parametrically by equations
x   (t ) , y   (t ) .

Theorem. The derivative of a function specified

parametrically x   (t ) , y   (t ) can be found by the formula
 / (t ) yt/
yx 
/
y /

 / (t ) or
x
xt/
 Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions
 
y  arcsin x, x  sin y ,   y , 1  x  1
2 2

Applying the differentiation rule for an inverse function, we

1 1
y x/  (arcsin x) /  
x y/ cos y
get
 
Since   y , cos y  0 and hence,
2 2 then cos y  1  sin 2 y  1  x 2 .
Thus, finally, we get
1
(arcsin x) / 
1  x2
 Table of Derivatives
Differential
Suppose a function y  f (x) has the derivative at some point x
y
lim  f / ( x)
x0 x

y
This implies x
 f / ( x)  

Where    (x) is an infinitesimal as x  0 , i.e lim  (x)  0

x0

If follows that y  f / ( x)x    x

Definition. A linear function f / ( x)x )( f ( x ) -constant)

/
is called
the differential of the function y  f (x) and is denoted dy or
df (x) .
 In other words
dy  df ( x)  y /  x  f / ( x)  x  f / ( x)dx (dx  x)
Thus, the differential of the function is the product
dy  f / ( x)dx

It is clear, that the existence of the differential at a point x is

equivalent to the existence of the derivative f / ( x) at that point
x.
 Properties of Differential
The differential of a function is obtained by multiplying its
derivative by the differential of the argument and therefore
each property of the derivative obviously implies the
corresponding property of the differential.
In short, d (u  v)  du  dv
d (u  v)  du  dv
d (uv)  vdu  udv

d (Cu )  Cdu

u vdu  udv

d  
v v2