SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

CHAPTER 2
DIFFERENTIATION
________________________________________________________________________
At the end of chapter, the students are able to
use the concept of limit to find the derivative of a function (C3)
trace the derivative rule to find the differentiation of the polynomial, trigonometric,
exponential, and logarithmic function (P3, C1)
trace and use the Chain Rule to find the derivative of the composite function (P3, C3)
find the high order derivative (C1)
trace the high order derivative to find the critical point and justify the extreme relative of
a function (P3, C1, A3)
solve the implicit differentiation problem (C3)
________________________________________________________________________

2.1

Derivatives of A Function

Definition 2.1: Let a function f be defined in an open interval (a, b) . For x (a, b) , the
derivative of f at x is
f ( x h) f ( x )
f ( x) lim
h 0
h
if the limit exists and f is differentiable.

Method:
Using definition to find the derivative of the function f (x) , we need to the
follow:
Step 1:
Find f ( x h)
f ( x h) f ( x )
Step 2:
Find and simply
h
f ( x h) f ( x )
Step 3:
Solve lim
h 0
h
Step 4:
Make a conclusion:
f ( x h) f ( x )
(a) If the limit exist, f ( x) lim
;
h 0
h
(b) If the limit does not exist, then function f (x) is not
differentiable.

12

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

Example 2.1(a): Use the definition to find the derivative of functions f ( x) 3x 2 .

Solution:
Step 1:
f ( x h) 3( x h) 2 3( x 2 2 xh h2 ) 3x 2 6 xh 3h2

f ( x h) f ( x) (3x 2 6 xh 3h 2 ) (3x 2 ) 6 xh 3h 2

6 x 3h
h
h
h
f ( x h) f ( x )
Step 3:
lim
lim 6 x 3h 6 x
h 0
h 0
h
Conclusion: The limit exist, thus f ( x) 6 x .
Example 2.1(b): Use the definition to find the derivative of the functions f ( x) x 2 x .
Step 2:

Notation for The Derivative: If y f (x) , then the derivative of f with respect to x can be
dy
df ( x)
written as; y, , f ( x),
, Dx f
dx
dx
Proposition 2.1 (Derivative Rules): The derivative of a function can be found directly by the
following formulas.
a) f ( x) c
f ' ( x) 0
b) f ( x) ax
f ' ( x) a
n
c) f ( x) ax
f ' ( x) n ax n1
d) f ( x) u( x) v( x)
f ' ( x) u ' ( x) v' ( x)
e) f ( x) u( x) v( x)
f ' ( x) u' ( x) v( x) u( x) v' ( x)
v( x) u ' ( x) u ( x) v' ( x)
u ( x)
f ' ( x)
f) f ( x)
v( x)
v( x)2
g)

f ( x) u( x)

f ' ( x) n u( x)

n 1

u ' ( x)

13

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

Example 2.2: Find the derivative of function f (x) .

a) f ( x) 5
Solution: f ' ( x) 0
b) f ( x) 3x
Solution: f ' ( x) 3
c) f ( x) 2 x5
Solution: f ' ( x) 5 2 x51 10 x 4
d) f ( x) x3 2 x 2 4 x 3
Solution: f ' ( x) 3x31 2 2 x 21 4 0 3x 2 4 x 4
e) f ( x) ( x 2 x) (3x 4)
Solution: f ' ( x) (2 x 1) (3x 4) ( x 2 x) (3) (6 x 2 11x 4) (3x 2 3x)
9 x 2 14 x 4
5x3 4
f) f ( x) 2
x 2x 4
( x 2 2 x 4) (15 x 2 ) (5 x 3 4) (2 x 2)
Solution: f ' ( x)
2
x2 2x 4

g)

f ( x) 2 x 3

(15 x 4 30 x 3 60 x 2 ) (10 x 4 10 x 3 8 x 8)

2x 4

5 x 4 40 x 3 60 x 2 8 x 8

2x 4

Solution: f ' ( x) (4) 2 x 3

41

(2) 8(2 x 3) 5

Example 2.3: Find the derivative of function f (x) .

a) f ( x) 67

b)

f ( x) 7 x

c)

f ( x) 4 x 4

d)

f ( x) 5 x 3 3 x 2 7 x 8

14

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

e)

f ( x) ( x 2 2 x 3) ( x 2 5x 2)

f)

5x 2 4
f ( x)
2x 3

g)

f ( x) 3x 1

Proposition 2.2 (Derivative of Trigonometric Functions): If the function f (x) is a

trigonometric function, then the derivative of the function can be found as follow.
a) f ( x) sin x
f ' ( x) cos x
b) f ( x) cos x
f ' ( x) sin x
sin x
1
c) f ( x) tan x
f ' ( x) sec 2 x
cos x
cos 2 x
1
cos x
d) f ( x) csc x
f ' ( x) csc x cot x 2
sin x
sin x
1
sin x
e) f ( x) sec x
f ' ( x) sec x tan x
cos x
cos 2 x
1
cos x
f ' ( x) csc 2 x 2
f) f ( x) cot x
sin x
sin x
Example 2.4: Find the derivative of function f (x) .
a) f ( x) x 2 sin x
Solution: f ' ( x) 2 x cos x
b) f ( x) 3x cos x
Solution: f ' ( x) 3 cos x 3x ( sin x) 3 cos x 3x sin x
15

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

c)

f ( x) sin x cos x

Solution: f ' ( x) sin x ( sin x) cos x cos x sin 2 x cos 2 x

d) f ( x) sec x tan x
Solution: f ' ( x) sec x sec2 x tan x (sec x tan x) sec3 x sec x tan2 x
sin x
e) f ( x) tan x
cos x
cos x cos x sin x ( sin x) cos 2 x sin 2 x
1
Solution: f ' ( x)

sec 2 x
2
2
2
cos x
cos x
cos x
Note: sin 2 x cos 2 x 1
f) f ( x) x 2 cos x sin x

g)

f (t )

sin t
1 cos t

h)

f (t )

1 csc t
1 csc t

16

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

Proposition 2.3 (Derivative of Exponential Functions): If the function f (x) is a exponential

function, then the derivative of the function can be found as follow.
a) f ( x) e x
f ' ( x) e x
b) f ( x) e g ( x )
f ' ( x) g ' ( x ) e g ( x )
Example 2.5: Find the derivative of function f (x) .
a) f ( x) e 2 x
Solution: f ' ( x) 2e 2 x
b)

f ( x) e x

Solution: f ' ( x) 2 x e x
c) f ( x) e sin x
Solution: f ' ( x) cos x esin x
d) f ( x) x 2 e x
Solution: f ' ( x) x 2 e x 2 x e x ( x 2 2 x)e x
e) f (t ) cos t e sin t 3e t te 2t
2

Proposition 2.4 (Derivative of Logarithmic Functions): If the function f (x) is a logarithmic

function, then the derivative of the function can be found as follow.
1
a) f ( x) ln x
f ' ( x)
x
1
b) f ( x) ln g ( x)
f ' ( x) g ' ( x)
g ( x)

17

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

Example 2.5: Find the derivative of function f (x) .

a) f ( x) ln( x 2)
1
Solution: f ' ( x)
x2
2
b) f ( x) ln( x 1)
1
Solution: f ' ( x) 2 x 2
x 1
c) f ( x) ln(sin x)
1
Solution: f ' ( x) cos x
cot x
sin x
d) f ( x) x 2 ln x
1
Solution: f ' ( x) x 2 2 x ln x x 2 x ln x
x
e) f (t ) cos t ln(sin t ) 3 ln t t ln(2t )

2.2

Chain Rule

If the function is a composite function ( f g )( x) f g ( x) , then we can use chain rule to find
the derivative of the composite function.
Theorem 2.1 (Chain Rule): If f (u ) is differentiable at the point u g (x) and g (x) is
differentiable at x , then the composite function ( f g )( x) f g ( x) is differentiable at x and
( f g )' ( x) f ' g ( x) g ' ( x) .
In other word, if y f (u) and u g (x) , then
dy dy du
.

dx du dx

18

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

Method: Case 1
To find the derivative of the composite function

dy
, for y f (u) and u g (x) ,
dx

we need to the follow:

dy
du
Step 1:
Find
and
du
dx
dy dy du
Step 2:
Calculate

dx du dx
Step 3:

Replace u g (x) into

dy
dx

dy
.
dx
a) y u 3 and u x 1
Solution:
dy
du
Step 1:
3u 2 and
1
du
dx
dy dy du
Step 2:

3u 2 1 3u 2
dx du dx
dy
dy
Step 3: Replace u x 1 into
, thus
3( x 1) 2
dx
dx

Example 2.6: Find

b) y sin u and u x 2 x
Solution:
dy
du
Step 1:
cos u and
2x 1
du
dx
dy dy du
Step 2:

cos u (2 x 1)
dx du dx
dy
dy
Step 3: Replace u x 2 x into
, thus
(2 x 1) cos( x 2 x)
dx
dx
c) y u 2 2u 5 and u x 2 x
Solution:
dy
du
Step 1:
2u 2 and
2x 1
du
dx
dy dy du
Step 2:

(2u 2) (2 x 1)
dx du dx
dy
Step 3: Replace u x 2 x into
, thus
dx
dy
(2( x 2 x) 2)(2 x 1) (2 x 2 2 x 2)(2 x 1) 2( x 2 x 1)(2 x 1)
dx
19

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

d) y tan u e2u and u 3x3 6 x

Method: Case 2
To find the derivative of the composite function ( f g )' ( x) , we need to the
follow:
Step 1:
Find f ' ( x) and g ' ( x)
Step 2:
Calculate ( f g )' ( x) f ' g ( x) g ' ( x)

Example 2.7: Find ( f g )' ( x) .

a) f ( x) x3 and g ( x) x 1
Solution:
Step 1: f ' ( x) 3x 2 and g ' ( x) 1
Step 2: ( f g )' ( x) f ' ( g ( x)) g ' ( x) 3( g ( x))2 1 3( x 1) 2
b) f ( x) sin x and g ( x) x 2 x
Solution:
Step 1: f ' ( x) cos x and g ' ( x) 2 x 1
Step 2: ( f g )' ( x) f ' ( g ( x)) g ' ( x) cos( g ( x)) (2 x 1) (2 x 1) cos( x 2 x)
c) f ( x) x 2 2 x 5 and g ( x) x 2 x
Solution:
Step 1: f ' ( x) 2 x 2 and g ' ( x) 2 x 1
Step 2: ( f g )' ( x) f ' g ( x) g ' ( x) 2 g ( x) 2 (2 x 1) 2( x 2 x) 2 (2 x 1)
(2 x 2 2 x 2)(2 x 1) 2( x 2 x 1)(2 x 1)

20

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

d)

2.3

f ( x) tan x e2 x and g ( x) 3x3 6 x

Higher Order Derivative

Definition 2.2: If function f (x) is a differentiable function, then its derivative f ' ( x) is also a
function. If f ' ( x) is also differentiable, then we can differentiate f ' ( x) to get new function of
x denoted by f ' ' ( x) . The function f ' ' ( x) is called the second derivative of f (x) .

d 2 y d dy
2
Note: f ' ' ( x) 2 y ' ' Dx f
dx dx
dx
Definition 2.3: The function f (x) derivative 3 times becomes third derivative, denoted by
f ' ' ' ( x) .
Definition 2.4: The function f (x) derivative n times becomes n -th derivative, denoted by
f ( n ) ( x) .
Example 2.8: Find the first four derivative of the function f ( x) 3x 3 4 x 2 6 x 2 .
Solution:
First derivative:
f ' ( x) 9 x 2 8 x 6
Second derivative:
f ' ' ( x) 18x 8
Third derivative:
f ' ' ' ( x) 18
Fourth derivative:
f ( 4 ) ( x) 0
Example 2.9: Find the first four derivative of the function f ( x) sin x .

21

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

2.4

Critical Point

Definition 2.5: Let f is a function defined in an open interval (a, b) and c (a, b) , then
(c, f (c)) is a critical point if and only if f ' (c) 0 or f ' (c) does not exist.

f(x)

f(x)

f(c)

x
c

x
c

Figure 2.1: Critical Point

Method:
To find the critical point and critical point value of the function f (x) , we need to
the follow:
Step 1:
Find f ' ( x)
Step 2:
Let f ' ( x) 0 , find the value of x c
Step 3:
Replace x c into f (x)
Conclusion: Critical point is (c, f (c)) .

Example 2.10: Find the critical point and critical point value of the following functions:
a) f ( x) 3x 4
Solution:
Step 1:
f ' ( x) 3 .
Conclusion: Because of f ' ( x) 0 for all x , thus that is no critical point for
f ( x) 3 x 4 .
2
b) f ( x) 3x 4
Solution:
Step 1:
f ' ( x) 6 x .
Step 2:
If f ' ( x) 0 , then 6 x 0 x 0 .
Step 3:
When x 0 , f (0) 3(0) 2 4 4
Conclusion: Thus, the critical point is (0,4) .

22

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

c)

2.5

f ( x) x 3 9 x

Extreme Relative

Proposition 2.5: By second derivative of the function, the extreme relative of the function can
be conclude as follow:
a) if f ' (c) 0 and f ' ' (c) 0 , then f (x) has a maximum point at x c ;
b) if f ' (c) 0 and f ' ' (c) 0 , then f (x) has a minimum point at x c ;
c) if f ' (c) 0 and f ' ' (c) 0 , then f (x) do not have maximum or minimum point at x c
Method:
To find the extreme relative of the function, we need to the follow:
Step 1:
Find f ' ( x) and f ' ' ( x)
Step 2:
Find all possible value of x for f ' ( x) 0 , let say c
Step 3:
Find f (c) and f ' ' (c)
Conclusion: if f ' ' (c) 0 , then (c, f (c)) is maximum point;
if f ' ' (c) 0 , then (c, f (c)) is minimum point;
if f ' ' (c) 0 , then f (x) do not have maximum or minimum
point at x c
Example 2.11: Find the extreme relative of the following function.
a) f ( x) x3 3x 2 3x 1 .
Solution:
Step 1:
f ' ( x) 3x 2 6 x 3 and f ' ' ( x) 6 x 6 .
Step 2:
If f ' ( x) 0 , then 3x 2 6 x 3 0 3( x 1) 2 0 . Thus, x 1 .
Step 3:
When x 1, then f ' ' (1) 6(1) 6 0 .
Conclusion: There is no maximum or minimum point at x 1 .
b) f ( x) x 4 2 x 2 2
Solution:
Step 1:
f ' ( x) 4 x3 4 x and f ' ' ( x) 12 x 2 4 .
Step 2:
If f ' ( x) 0 , then 4 x3 4 x 0 4 x( x 2 1) 0 4 x( x 1)( x 1) 0 .
Thus, x 1, x 1 and x 0 .
23

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

When x 1, then f (1) 1 and f ' ' (1) 12(1) 2 4 8 0 ;

When x 1 , then f (1) 1 and f ' ' (1) 12(1) 2 4 8 0 ;
When x 0 , then f (0) 2 and f ' ' (1) 12(0) 2 4 4 0
Conclusion: Thus, the minimum points are (1,1) and (1,1) ; and maximum point is
(0,2) .
Step 3:

c)

2.6

f ( x) 2 x3 15x 2 36 x 4

Implicit Differentiation

Definition 2.6: The implicit differentiation is used to derivative the function F ( x, y) 0 which
is not able to transform in the form y f (x) .
Example 2.12: Find the derivative of the following function.
a) y 2 x 0

d ( y 2 x) d ( y 2 )
dy

1 2y 1 0
dx
dx
dx
dy
1

dx 2 y
b) y 2 3 y 5x 2 0
Solution:

Solution:

d ( y 2 3 y 5 x 2 ) d ( y 2 ) d (3 y) d (5 x 2 )
dy
dy

2 y 3 10 x
dx
dx
dx
dx
dx
dx
dy
(2 y 3) 10 x 0
dx
dy
10 x

dx
2y 3
24

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

c) x 3 y 3 3xy 0
Solution:

d ( x 3 y 3 3xy ) d ( x 3 ) d ( y 3 ) d (3xy )
dy
dy

3x 2 3 y 2
(3 y 3x )
dx
dx
dx
dx
dx
dx
dy
dy

(3 y 2 3x) 3x 2 3 y 3( y 2 x) x 2 y 0
dx
dx

dy
x2 y
2
dx
y x
3
2
2 3
d) x y 2 x y 0

dy
of the function F ( x, y) 0 is
dx
d F ( x, y )
dy
dx

d F ( x, y )
dx
dy

Proposition 2.6: The formula of the derivative

Method:
To find the derivative of the function F ( x, y) 0 , we need to the follow:
d F ( x, y )
d F ( x, y )
Step 1:
Find
and
.
dx
dy
d F ( x, y )
d F ( x, y )
dy
Step 2:
Replace
and
in to equation
.
dx
dx
dy

Example 2.13: Find the derivative of the following function.

a) y 2 x 0
Solution:
d F ( x, y ) d ( y 2 x)
d F ( x, y ) d ( y 2 x)

2 y and

1
Step 1:
dx
dx
dy
dy
dy
1 1
Step 2:

dx
2y 2y

25

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

b) y 2 3 y 5x 2 0
Solution:
d F ( x, y ) d ( y 2 3 y 5 x 2 )

2 y 3 and
Step 1:
dy
dy

d F ( x, y) d ( y 2 3 y 5 x 2 )

10 x
dx
dx
dy
10 x
Step 2:

dx
2y 3
3
3
c) x y 3xy 0
Solution:
d F ( x, y ) d ( x 3 y 3 3xy )

3 y 2 3x and
Step 1:
dy
dy
d F ( x, y ) d ( x 3 y 3 3xy )

3x 2 3 y
dx
dx
2
dy
3x 3 y
x2 y
2
2
Step 2:
dx
3 y 3x
y x
3
2
2 3
d) x y 2 x y 0

26

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

Exercise 2:
1. Find the following first derivative by using derivative's definition:
(a) y x 2 6 x
(b)
y x2 x 1
5
(c) y x 3 2 x 2 1
(d)
y
x
1
(e) y x
(f)
y
x 1
2. Find

dy
using the rules of derivatives.
dx
y 2x 2

(b)

y x( x 2 1)

(d)
(f)
(h)
(j)
(l)

y 3x( x 3 1)

(n)

y ( x 2 17)( x 3 3x 1)

(p)

y ( x 4 2 x)( x 3 2 x 2 1)

(r)

y (5x 2 7)(3x 2 2 x 1)

(t)

y (3x 2 2 x)( x 4 3x 1)

y x 2 2x

(v)

(w) y 3x 4 x 3

(x)

(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)
(i)
(k)

y 3x 3
y x
y x 3
y 2 x 2

y 3x 4

(m) y
x

(o) y 3
x
100
(q) y 5
x
3
(s) y 5
4x
(u)

(y)
3. Find
(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)
(i)

y (2 x 1) 2
y (3x 1) 2

y ( x 2 2)( x 3 1)
y ( x 4 1)( x 2 1)

3x 1
2
y 2
5x 1
1
y 2
4 x 3x 9
2

y x4 x3 x 2 x 1

(z)

dy
.
dx
y sin x cos x

(b)

y 2 sin x tan x

(d)
(f)

y 2 sin 3 x 3 cos x

y 6 sin x 4 cos x
y x sin x cos x
sin x
y
x
4 cos x
y
x2

(h)
(j)

y sin x x 2 cos x
cos x
y
x
sin x
y
1 cos x

27

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 2 Differentiation

4. Find f ' ( x) .
(a) f ( x) 9e x 3e 2 x
x 1

(c)

f ( x) e x

(e)

x5 4 x 4 6 x 2 3
f ( x)
ex

(b)

f ( x) xe x

(d)

f ( x) ( x 3 3x e)e x2

(f)

ex ex e
f ( x)
x
3

5. Find f ' ( x) . logarithmic

(a) f ( x) ln x
(c) f ( x) ln( x 2 3x 4)

(b)
(d)

f ( x) x ln x

(f)

(e)

f ( x) ln 4 x

f ( x) ln( x3 3x e) ln( x 2)
ln x
f ( x)
x

6. Differentiate the following function by using Chain Rule.

(a) f ( x) ( x 2 7 x 1) 35
hints: let u x 2 7 x 1
dy
(b) y u 2 u 1 and u x 3 3x 2 7
hints: find
dx
4
3
2
(c) f ( x) 4 x 3x 2 x x and g ( x) x 2 hints: find ( f g )' ( x) and ( g f )' ( x)

7. Find the first four derivative of the following function.

(a) f ( x) ln x
(b)
y x4 x3 x 2 x 1
(c) f ( x) 9e x 3e 2 x
(d)
y x sin x cos x
8. Find the critical points (if any) and justify the extreme relative of the following function.
(a) f ( x) 4 x 3
(b)
f ( x) x 2 2 x 1
(c) f ( x) x 3 2 x 2 x 3

9. Solve the implicit differentiation of the following function

(a) y 2 x 2 1
(b)
9 x 2 4 y 2 36
(c) xy 1
(d)
x 2 2 y 2 4 2 , where is a constant.
(e) xy 2 x 8
(f)
x 2 2 x 2 y 3xy 0
(g) 4 x 3 7 xy 2 2 y 3
(h)
x 2 y 1 y 2 x

28