Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

DIFFERENTIATION OF COMMON FUNCTIONS

Why it is important to understand: Methods of differentiation Calculus is one of the most

powerful mathematical tools used by engineers; this chapter continues with explaining the basic
techniques involved. This chapter explains how to differentiate common functions, products, quotients
and function of a function – all important methods providing a basis for further study in later chapters.

At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• differentiate common functions

• differentiate a product using the product rule
• differentiate a quotient using the quotient rule
• differentiate a function of a function
• differentiate successively

DIFFERENTIATION OF COMMON FUNCTIONS

The standard derivatives summarized below were derived in Chapter 1 and are true for all real
values of x.

𝒚 or 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒚
of 𝒇′(𝒙)
𝒅𝒙
𝑎𝑥 𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑥 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑎𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑎𝑥 −𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑥
𝑒 𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑒 𝑎𝑥
1
𝑙𝑛 𝑎𝑥
𝑥

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

The differential coefficient of a sum or difference is the sum or difference of the differential
coefficients of the separate terms.

Thus, if

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑝(𝑥) + 𝑞(𝑥) − 𝑟(𝑥) (where f , p, q and r are functions),

then
𝑓’(𝑥) = 𝑝’(𝑥) + 𝑞’(𝑥) – 𝑟’(𝑥)

Differentiation of common functions is demonstrated in the following worked problems.

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

SAMPLE PROBLEM

PROBLEM (1).

Find the differential coefficient of 𝑦 = 12𝑥 3

SOLUTION (1).

Since 𝑦 = 12 𝑥 3 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛
𝑑𝑦
𝑎 = 12 = 𝑎𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

𝑛 = 3
𝑑𝑦
= (12) (3) 𝑥 3−1
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 Answer.
= 36𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (2).
12
Find the differential coefficient of 𝑦 =
𝑥3

SOLUTION (2).

12
𝑦 = 𝑥3 rewriting in the standard form 𝑎𝑥 𝑛

𝑦 = 12 𝑥 −3 and in the general rule

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 𝑎 = 12, 𝑛 = −3
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

Thus
𝑑𝑦
= (12) (−3) 𝑥 −3−1
𝑑𝑥

= −36𝑥 −4
𝑑𝑦 36 Answer.
= − 𝑥4
𝑑𝑥

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (3).

Differentiate 𝑦 = 6

SOLUTION (3).

𝑦 = 6 may be written as:

𝑦 = 6𝑥0

using the general rule

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 𝑎 = 6, 𝑛 = 0
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

Hence
𝑑𝑦
= (6) (0) 𝑥 0−1
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 Answer.
= 0
𝑑𝑥

In general, the differential coefficient of a constant

is always zero.

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (4).

Differentiate 𝑦 = 6𝑥

SOLUTION (4).

𝑦 = 6 𝑥1

using the general rule

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 𝑎 = 6, 𝑛 = 1
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

Hence
𝑑𝑦
= (6) (1) 𝑥 1−1
𝑑𝑥
= 6𝑥 0
𝑑𝑦 Answer.
= 6
𝑑𝑥

In general, the differential coefficient of kx,

where k is a constant, is always k.

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (5).

Find the derivative of 𝑦 = 3 √𝑥

SOLUTION (5).

𝑦 = 3 √𝑥 is rewritten in the standard differential form as:

1
𝑦 = 3𝑥 2

using the general rule

1
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥𝑛 𝑎 = 3, 𝑛 = 2

𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

Thus
1
𝑑𝑦 1 −1
= (3) ( ) 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 2
1
3 −2
= 𝑥
2
3
= 1 changing the denominator to radical form we have
2𝑥 2

𝑑𝑦 3 Answer.
=
𝑑𝑥 2√𝑥

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (6).
5
Find the derivative of 𝑦 = 3
√𝑥 4

SOLUTION (6).

5
𝑦 = 3
√𝑥 4

5
= 𝑥 4/3

= 5 𝑥 −4/3

using the general rule

4
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥𝑛 𝑎 = 5, 𝑛 = − 3

𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

Thus
4
𝑑𝑦 4
= (5) ( − 3) 𝑥 −3−1
𝑑𝑥

20
= − 𝑥 −7/3
3

20
= − 3𝑥 7/3

𝑑𝑦 20 Answer.
= − 3
𝑑𝑥 3 √𝑥 7

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (7).
1 1
Differentiate: 𝑦 = 5𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 − + − 3 with respect to x
2𝑥 2 √𝑥

SOLUTION (7).

1 1
𝑦 = 5𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 − 2𝑥2 + − 3 is rewritten as:
√𝑥

1
1
𝑦 = 5𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 − 2 𝑥 −2 + 𝑥 −2 − 3 When differentiating a sum, each term is
differentiated in turn. Thus,

1 𝑎=1
𝑎=5 𝑎=4 𝑎= 𝑎=3
2 1
𝑛=4 𝑛=1 𝑛=− 𝑛=0
𝑛 = −2 2

1
𝑑𝑦 1 1
= (5)(4)𝑥 4−1 + (4)(1)𝑥 1−1 − (−2)𝑥 −2−1 + (1) (− ) 𝑥 −2−1 − 0
𝑑𝑥 2 2

3
1
= 20𝑥 3 + 4 + 𝑥 −3 − 2 𝑥 −2 i.e.

𝑑𝑦 1 1 Answer.
= 20𝑥 3 + 4 − 𝑥3 − 2
𝑑𝑥 √𝑥3

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (8).

Find the differential coefficient of 𝑦 = 3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝑥 with respect to the variable

SOLUTION (8).

𝑦 = 3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 4 𝑥 using the general rule:

𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑥 ; 𝑎=4
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑎𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= (3)( 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 Answer.
= 12 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑥
𝑑𝑥

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (9).

Find the differential coefficient of 𝑓’(𝑡) = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑡 with respect to the variable

SOLUTION (9).

𝑓 (𝑡 ) = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑡 using the general rule:

𝑦 = cos 𝑎𝑥 ; 𝑎=3
𝑑𝑦
= −𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑓 ′(𝑡) = (2)(− 3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3 𝑡)

𝑓 ′(𝑡) = −6 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑡 Answer.

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (10).

Determine the derivative of 𝑦 = 3𝑒 5𝑥

SOLUTION (10).

𝑦 = 3𝑒 5 𝑥 using the general rule:

𝑦 = 𝒆𝒂𝒙 ; 𝑎=5
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎𝑒 𝑎𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= (3) (5) 𝑒 5 𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 Answer.
= 15𝑒 5𝑥
𝑑𝑥

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (11).
2
Determine the derivative of 𝑓(𝜃) =
𝑒 3𝜃

SOLUTION (11).

2
𝑓(𝜃) = 𝑒 3𝜃

= 2𝑒 −3 𝜃 using the general rule:

𝑦 = 𝒆𝒂𝒙 ; 𝑎 = −3
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎𝑒 𝑎𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑓 ′(𝜃) = (2) (−3) 𝑒 −3 𝜃

= −6𝑒 −3𝜃
−6 Answer.
𝑓 ′(𝜃) = 𝑒 3𝜃

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (12).

Determine the derivative of 𝑦 = 6𝑙𝑛 2𝑥

SOLUTION (12).

𝑦 = 6 ln 2𝑥 using the general rule:

𝑦 = ln 𝑎𝑥
𝑑𝑦 1
=𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 1
𝑑𝑥
= 6 (𝑥)

𝑑𝑦 6 Answer.
=𝑥
𝑑𝑥

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (13).

Find the gradient of the curve 𝑦 = 3𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 2 at the points (0, −2) and (1, 4)

SOLUTION (13).

The gradient of a curve at a given point is given by the corresponding value of the derivative.
Thus, since

𝑦 = 3𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 2 then the gradient;

𝑎=3 𝑎=2 𝑎=5 𝑎=2

𝑛=4 𝑛=2 𝑛=1 𝑛=0

𝑑𝑦
= (3)(4)𝑥 4−1 − (2)(2)𝑥 2−1 + 5 + 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= 12𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 5
𝑑𝑥

At the point (0, −2), where 𝑥 = 0.

Thus the gradient = 12(0)3 – 4(0) + 5

𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 5 Answer.

At the point (1, 4), where 𝑥 = 1

Thus the gradient = 12(1)3 – 4(1) + 5

𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 13 Answer.

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Calculus 1 Methods of Differentiation

PROBLEM (14).

Determine the co-ordinates of the point on the graph 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2 where the gradient is
−1

SOLUTION (14).

The gradient of the curve is given by the derivative.

𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2

𝑎=3 𝑎=7 𝑎=2

𝑛=2 𝑛=1 𝑛=0

𝑑𝑦
= (3)(2)𝑥 2−1 − 7 + 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
= 6𝑥 − 7
𝑑𝑥

Since the gradient is −1 then:

6𝑥 − 7 = −1

𝑥 = 1

When 𝑥 = 1

𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2

= 3(1)2 – 7(1) + 2

𝑦 = −2

Hence the gradient is −1 at the point (1, −2) Answer.

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