Math 135 Business Calculus Spring 2009

Class Notes
1.5 Differentiation Techniques: The Power and Sum-Difference Rules
LEIBNIZ NOTATION
So far we’ve been using the notation f 0 (x) for the derivative of a function f (x), a notation which
was introduced by Sir Isaac Newton. The German mathematician Wilhelm Gottfried Leibniz used the
dy
alternative notation for the derivative. Both notations are used today and each has advantages in
dx
certain situations. The derivative of a function y = f (x) can be written in either form
dy
f 0 (x) = .
dx
d
The symbol is called a differentiation operator. When placed in front of a function, it means
dx
“the derivative of what comes after it with respect to x.” Therefore
d £ §
f (x) means “the derivative of f (x) with respect to x.”
dx
d 2
For instance, (x ) means the derivative of x2 with respect to x, so
dx
d 2
(x ) = 2x.
dx
To specify the derivative at a specific number x = a, we write
Ø
dy ØØ
f 0 (a) in Newton’s notation or in Leibniz’ notation
dx Øx=a
THE POWER RULE
In the previous section, we showed that
d 2 d 3
(x ) = 2x and (x ) = 3x2 .
dx dx
These are special cases of the following general differentiation rule:

THEOREM 1 The Power Rule

For any real number k,
d k
(x ) = k · xk−1 .
dx
According to the Power Rule, to obtain the derivative of xk we “pull” the exponent out in front and
write it as a coefficient and subtract 1 from the exponent.
EXAMPLE Differentiate each of the following:
a) y = x5

1
b) y =
x4

√
c) y = x

19
20 Chapter 1 Differentiation

THE DERIVATIVE OF A CONSTANT FUNCTION

Suppose f (x) is a constant function f (x) = ck. The graph of f (x) is a horizontal line. Since a horizontal
line has slope 0 at all points, then f 0 (x) = 0.

THEOREM 2 Derivative of a Constant

The derivative of a constant function is 0. That is, for any constant c,
d
(c) = 0.
dx

THE DERIVATIVE OF A CONSTANT TIMES A FUNCTION

The limit of a constant multiple of a function equals the contant multiple of the limit. It follows from
this Limit Principle that the derivative of a constant multiple of a function is the constant multiple of
the derivative.
THEOREM 3 The Constant Multiple Rule
The derivative of a constant times a function is the constant times the derivative of the function. For
any constant c and differentiable function f (x),
d £ § d £ §
c · f (x) = c · f (x) .
dx dx

EXAMPLE Find each of the following derivatives:

d
a) (7x4 )
dx

µ ∂
d 2
b)
dx 3x5

EXAMPLE For a spherical tumor, its volume V can be approximated by V (r) = 43 πr3 , where r is
the radius of the tumor, in centimeters.
a) Find the rate of change of the volume with respect to the radius.

b) Find the rate of change of the volume at r = 1.2 cm.

 1.5 Differentiation Techniques: The Power and Sum-Difference Rules 21

THE DERIVATIVE OF A SUM OR A DIFFERENCE

The limit of a sum is the sum of the limits. It follows from this Limit Principle that the derivative of
a sum of two functions is the sum of the derivatives, with a similar result for differences.
THEOREM 4 The Sum-Difference Rule
For any differentiable functions f (x) and g(x),
Sum. The derivative of a sum is the sum of the derivatives:
d £ § d £ § d £ §
f (x) + g(x) = f (x) + f (x) .
dx dx dx
Difference. The derivative of a difference is the difference of the derivatives:
d £ § d £ § d £ §
f (x) − g(x) = f (x) − f (x) .
dx dx dx

EXAMPLE Find each of the following derivatives:

d 3
a) 5x − 7x)
dx

d ° √ 5¢
b) 24x − x +
dx x

SLOPES OF TANGENT LINES

The slope of the tangent line to a graph at a point equals the derivative at that point. We can use this
to determine points at which the tangent line has a certain slope and to obtain detailed information
about the graph.
EXAMPLE Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f (x) = − 13 x3 + 2x2 at the point
(3, 9).
y
12

11

10

x
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
–1

–2
22 Chapter 1 Differentiation

EXAMPLE Find the points on the graph of f (x) = − 13 x3 +2x2 at which the tangent line is horizontal.
y
12

11

10

x
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
–1

–2

EXAMPLE Find the points on the graph of f (x) = − 13 x3 + 2x2 where the tangent line has slope −5.
y
12

11

10

x
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
–1

–2