Module 3: Derivatives of Algebraic and Trigonometric Functions and

Higher-Order Derivatives
The Derivative and the Slope of the Tangent Line
Basic Differentiation Rules
Derivative as a Rate of Change
General Power Rule/Chain Rule
Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions
Higher-order Derivatives
Implicit Differentiation
1. The Derivative and the Slope of the Tangent Line
Consider the function f continuous at x1 . We want to find the slope
of the tangent line at a point P(x1, f(x1)). Let Q(x2, f(x2)) be
another point on the graph. Draw a line passing through P and Q ;
this is called a secant line.
Tangent line Let x 2 – x 1 = x.
y
Secant line So, x 2 = x 1 +  x.
Q y = f(x)
f(x2)- Also, if y 1 = f(x 1 ) and
P f(x ) y 2 = f(x 2 ), then
x2 – x1 1
y2 – y1 = y which is
x also f(x2) - f(x1) = y.
 Observe that the slope of the line PQ is
f ( x 2 ) − f ( x1 ) f ( x1 + x ) − f ( x1 )
m PQ = =
x 2 − x1 x
y
(or simply ), which is the slope of the secant line.
x

We see that as Q approaches P,

x → 0, and
slope of secant line approaches the slope of the tangent line.
And so,
mPQ → m(x1) where m(x1) is the slope of the tangent line at x1.
Thus, f ( x1 + x ) − f ( x1 )
lim
m(x1) = x → 0 if this limit exists.
x
Definition of the Tangent Line to the Graph of a Function
Suppose the function f is continuous at x1. The tangent line to the
graph of f at the point P(x1, f(x1)) is the line through P having slope
m(x1), given by f (x1 + x) − f (x1 )
m(x1 ) = lim
x →0 x
if this limit exists.

Example:
2
Find an equation of the tangent line to the graph of f(x) = x + 4 at the point
(-1, 5).
Solution: f ( x + x ) − f ( x )
m( x ) = lim 1 1

First, find the slope, x

1
x → 0

f ( −1 + x ) − f ( −1)
m( −1) = lim
x → 0 x
( −1 + x ) + 4 − 5
2
= lim
x → 0 x
1 − 2x 2 + ( x ) 2 − 1
= lim
x → 0 x
 1 − 2x + ( x ) − 1
2
m( −1) = lim
x → 0 x
= lim ( −2 + x )
x → 0
= -2 + 0
m(-1) = -2.
Since m = -2 and (-1, 5) is a point on the line, the equation of the
tangent line is
y – 5 = -2(x + 1)
2x + y – 3 = 0.

Refer to the graph .

Definition of a Derivative of a Function
The derivative of the function f is that function, denoted by f’, such that its
value at a number x in the domain of f is given by
f ( x + x ) − f ( x )
f ' ( x ) = lim
x → 0 x
If this limit exists.

If x1 is a particular number in the domain of f, then

f ( x1 + x ) − f ( x1 )
f ' ( x1 ) = lim if this limit exists.
x → 0 x

This is actually the slope of the tangent line at x1.

Equivalently, we can write f ' ( x ) = lim f ( x ) − f ( x1 )
x − x1
1
x → x1
Differentiability and Continuity
We will use the following terminologies:
Differentiation - process of finding/computing the derivative.
Differentiable at a number x1 – if a function has a derivative at x1 or the
derivative exists at x1.
Differentiable open interval – if a function is differentiable at every number
in the open interval.
Differentiable function – if a function is differentiable at every number
in its domain.

Example: Let f(x) = x − 1 . The domain of f is [1, + ). It can be checked that the
derivative of f is 1
f ’(x) = 2 x − 1 .
Since f ‘(1) does not exist, f is not differentiable at 1. But it is differentiable on the
open interval (1, + ).
Theorem: If a function f is differentiable at x1, then f is continuous at x1.
2. Basic Differentiation Rules
Theorems on Differentiation of Algebraic Functions
Theorem 1: The Constant Rule (The Derivative of a Constant)
If f(x) = c where c is a constant, then f ’(x) = 0
Example:
If f(x) = -10, then f ‘(x) = 0.

Theorem 2: The Power Rule (The Derivative of a Power)

If f(x) = xn where n is a positive integer, then f ’(x) = nxn-1.
Example:
4 3
The derivative of x is 4x .

Note: In general, we will use Power Rule for any rational

number n.
Theorem 3: The Constant Multiple Rule
If g(x) = c f(x) where f is a function and c is a constant,
then g’(x) = c f’(x).
Example:
If y = 2x , then y’ = -6x .
-3 -4

Theorem 4: The Sum and Difference Rule

Let f and g be functions where f ‘(x) and g ‘(x) exist. If h (x) = f(x) + g(x),
then h ‘(x) = f ‘(x) + g ‘(x).
In similar manner, If h (x) = f(x) - g(x), then h ‘(x) = f ‘(x) - g ‘(x).
Example:
5
If g(t) = 4t - 2t + 8, then
g ‘(t) = 4 – 10t .
4
Theorem 5: The Product Rule
Let f and g be functions where f ‘(x) and g ‘(x) exist. If h (x) = f(x) g(x),
then
h’(x) = f(x)g’(x) + g(x)f ‘(x).

Note: if y = u(x)v(x) or simply y = uv, then

dy dv du
= u dx + v dx
dx

Example: Let y = (3x – 4

x )(3x– 3x + 5). By Product Rule,
2

y’ = (3x – x )(6x – 3) + (3x – 3x + 5)(3 – 4x ).

4 2 3

Simplifying, y’ = 18x – 6x – 9x + 3x + 9x – 9x + 15 – 12x + 12x

2 5 4 2 5 4

– 20x .
3

y’ = -18x + 15x – 20x + 27x – 18x + 15.

5 4 3 2
Theorem 6: The Quotient Rule f (x)
Let f and g be functions where f ‘(x) and g ‘(x) exist. If h (x) = g( x )
where g(x)  0, then
g ( x )f ' ( x ) − f ( x )g ' ( x )
h’(x) = .
g( x ) 2

u(x) u
Note: if y = or simply y = , then
v( x ) v

du dv
v −u
dy dx dx
=
dx v 2
Example:

 w 2 − w + 4  (1 − 2 w 2 )D ( w 2 − w + 4) − ( w 2 − w + 4)D (1 − 2 w 2 )
Dw  = w w
 1 − 2 w 2  2
(1 − 2 w ) 2

2 2
(1 − 2 w )(2 w − 1) − ( w − w + 4)(−4 w )
=
2
(1 − 2 w ) 2

3 2 3 2
2 w − 4 w − 1 + 2 w − (−4 w + 4 w − 16w )
=
2
(1 − 2 w ) 2

2
2 w + 18w − 1
=
2
(1 − 2 w ) 2
Exercises:
A. Differentiate the following functions: Answer:

1. 7x6 – 10x4 + 15x2 - 7

9
2. x −2
4
x

3. 64x3 + 48x

4. 10t4 + 12t3 – 12t2 – 8t + 3

5
5. (3y + 4) 2

4 x − 15 x − 4
2
6. 5
x
2
4a s
7.
(s + a )
2 2 2
Please see our Schoolbook for the answer.
DERIVATIVE AS A RATE OF CHANGE
 Tangent line
y
Secant line

Q(x+h, f(c+h)
f(c+h) - f(c)
P(c,f(c)
h

x
y = f(x)

Average rate of change is the slope of the secant line.

Instantaneous rate of change is the slope of the tangent line at P.
Note that a positive rate means a quantity increases with respect to the other quantity,
that is y increases with x. If it is negative, then the quantity decreases with respect to
other quantity.

Some of the few quantities that maybe analyzed through derivatives:

heat, velocity, density, current, temperature, pressure, molar concentration, fluid
flow, bacterial growth, reaction rate, blood flow and cost are just
Given a set of data, we may approximate instantaneous rate of change in values using average
values or the graph representing the set of data.

Example:

1.
2.
If a cylindrical tank holds 100,000 liters of water, which can be drained from the bottom of the
tank in an hour, then Torricelli’s law gives the volume V of water remaining in the tank after t
minutes as
2
 t 
V (t ) = 100,000 1 − 
 60 

a) Find the rate of change at which the water is flowing out of the tank (the instantaneous rate of
change of V with respect to t) as a function of t.
b) For times t = 0, 20, 40, and 60,find the flow rate and the amount of water remaining in the
tank.
3. A solid consists of a right circular cylinder and a hemisphere on each end, and the length of
the cylinder is twice its radius. Let r units be the radius of the cylinder and the two hemispheres,
and V(r) cubic units be the volume of the solid. Find the instantaneous rate of change in V(r) with
respect to r.

Solution:
If the height of the cylinder is twice its radius r, then h = 2r. Thus, the volume of the
cylinder is V1 = r2h = r2(2r) = 2r3.
Since two hemispheres are equal to a sphere, the volume is
V2 = 4/3 r .
3

So the volume of the solid is V(r) = 2r 3 + 4/3 r 3 = 10/3 r .

3 The instantaneous rate of
change is
V ’(r) = 10r2.

Note that the rate of change of the volume with respect to r can be obtained when r is
given.
4. Sand is being dropped onto a conical pile in such a way that the height of the pile is
always twice the base radius. Find the rate of change of the volume of the pile with respect
to the radius when the height of the pile is (a) 4 m and (b) 8 m.

Solution:
If the height of the cone is twice its radius, then h = 2r. So, the volume of the cone is
V = 1/3r2h
V = 1/3 r2(2r)
So,
V(r) = 2/3 r .
3

The rate of change of the volume with respect to r is

V ’(r) = 2 r2.

When a) h = 4m, r = 2 then V’(2) = 2  (2)2 = 8 m2.

b) h = 8m, r = 4, then V’(4) = 2  (4)2 = 32 m2.
In manufacturing companies, the costs of producing their products is a major concern.
The following terms are useful in dealing with problems involving costs.
Total Cost Function, C(x) – expression giving the total amount needed to produce x units
of a certain product.
Marginal Cost Function, C’(x) – Rate of change in cost when x units of product is
produced.

In a similar sense, we may consider the revenue of the company. Thus, we have
Total Revenue Function, R(x) – expression giving the total amount earned in the sales of x
units of a certain product.
Marginal Revenue Function, R’(x) – Rate of change in revenue when x units of product is
sold.

24
5. The number of dollars in the total cost of manufacturing x watches in a certain plant is
given by C(x) = 1500 + 3x + x2. Find (a) the marginal cost function and (b) the
marginal cost when x = 40.

Solution:
a. Since C(x) = 1500 + 3x + 2
x then C’(x) = 3 + 2x
b. When x = 40, C’(x) = 3 + 2(40) = 83 dollars/watch.
Exercises:

1.

2.

3.

4.