1 Definition of the derivative The definition of the derivative, also called the difference quotient, is the slope of the tangent line, which is given by
f (a + h) − f (a) f (x) − f (a)
f ′(a) = lim or f ′(a) = lim h→a h x→a x−a
Differentiability • A function is differentiable at a if f ′(a) exists
• A function is differentiable on an open interval (a, b) if it is differentiable at every
number in the interval
• If f is differentiable at a, then f is continuous at a
Derivative rules d (x ) = n x n n−1 Power rule dx
d Product rule [ f (x)g(x)] = f ′(x)g(x) + f (x)g′(x) dx
d x [ g(x) ] d f (x) f ′(x)g(x) − f (x)g′(x) Quotient rule = [g(x)] 2
d Chain rule [ f (g(x))] = f ′(g(x))g′(x) dx
Derivative of exponential functions
d d (e ) = e ln e = e (1) = e (a ) = a ln a x x x x x x dx dx
2 Derivatives of logarithmic functions d a d a (a logb ) x = ( a ln x ) = dx x ln b dx x
Derivatives of trig functions
d d dx [ a sin ( f (x))] = a cos ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ a csc ( f (x))] = − a csc ( f (x)) cot ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x)
d d dx [ a cos ( f (x))] = − a sin ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ a sec ( f (x))] = a sec ( f (x)) tan ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x)
d d dx [ a tan ( f (x))] = a sec2 ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ a cot ( f (x))] = − a csc2 ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x)
Derivatives of inverse trig functions
d a ⋅ f ′(x) d a ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ a sin−1 ( f (x))] = dx [ a csc−1 ( f (x))] = − 1 − [ f (x)] f (x) [ f (x)] − 1 2 2
d a ⋅ f ′(x) d a ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ a cos−1 ( f (x))] = − dx [ a sec−1 ( f (x))] = 1 − [ f (x)] f (x) [ f (x)] − 1 2 2
d a ⋅ f ′(x) d a ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ )] dx [ ( ( )] −1 −1 a tan f (x) = a cot f (x) = − 1 + [ f (x)] 1 + [ f (x)] 2 2
Derivatives of hyperbolic trig functions
d d dx [ a sinh ( f (x))] = a cosh ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ acsch(f(x))] = − acsch(f(x))coth(f(x)) ⋅ f′(x)
d d dx [ a cosh ( f (x))] = a sinh ( f (x)) ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ asech(f(x))] = − atanh(f(x))sech(f(x)) ⋅ f′(x)
3 d d dx [ a tanh ( f (x))] = asech2(f(x)) ⋅ f′(x) dx [ a coth ( f (x))] = − acsch2(f(x)) ⋅ f′(x)
Derivatives of inverse hyperbolic trig functions
d a ⋅ f ′(x) d a ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ a sinh−1 ( f (x))] = dx [ acsch−1(f(x))] = − 1 + [ f (x)] [ f (x)] + 1 2 2 | f (x) |
d a ⋅ f ′(x) d a ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ a cosh−1 ( f (x))] = − dx [ asech−1(f(x))] = − [ f (x)] − 1 f (x) 1 − [ f (x)] 2 2
d a ⋅ f ′(x) d a ⋅ f ′(x) dx [ ( f (x))] = dx [ ( f (x))] = −1 −1 a tanh a coth 1 − [ f (x)] 1 − [ f (x)] 2 2
Definitions of hyperbolic trig functions
e x − e −x 1 sinh x = cschx = 2 sinh x
e x + e −x 1 cosh x = sechx = 2 cosh x
sinh x cosh x tanh x = coth x = cosh x sinh x
Hyperbolic trig identities
sinh(−x) = − sinh x cosh(−x) = cosh x
cosh2 x − sinh2 x = 1 1 − tanh2 x = sech2x
sinh(x + y) = sinh x cosh y + cosh x sinh y cosh(x + y) = cosh x cosh y + sinh x sinh y
