Chapter 3

The Derivative, Slope and Rate of Change

3.1 The Derivative of Constant, Sum, Product, Quotient and

 The derivative of constant is zero.
 The derivative of the sum of two functions is equal to the sum of their derivatives
If y = u + v where u = f(x) and v = g(x), then
= = +
 The derivative of the product of two functions is equal to the first function multiplied by the
derivative of the second function plus the second function multiplied by the derivative of the first
function.
If y = uv where u = f(x) and v = g(x), then y= )(
v u
= = +
If convenient, expand the product and determine the derivative of the sum.
 The derivative of the quotient of two functions is equal to the denominator multiplied by the
derivative of the numerator minus the numerator multiplied by the derivative of the
denominator, all divided by the square of the denominator.
If y = where u = f(x) and v = g(x), then

= =

 If y = , then =n
Example 3-1 Differentiate the following functions.
a) y = 5 + 3 – 6x + 8
Solution: y = , then =n

=5 + – 6 + 0 = 15 + 6x – 6

b) y = − + 1000
Solution:
= −3 +0= −

c) y = − + − 16 – 25x
Solution:
−
= − + −16 −

=2 − + − 48 – 25

d) y =

Solution: y = , then = =

= = =

e) y =
Solution:
( ) ( ) ( )
= = =

=
( )
f) y =
Solution:
( )( ) ( )( )
=
( )
=

( − − )
= or =−
( ) ( − )

g) y = − +
Solution:
y=3 − +
=3 − − − − =− + −

= + −
h) y = −
v u
Solution: y = uv, then = = + where u = − and v =

= − + − =2 − +3 − +9 – 15

=5 − – 15
Or expand. y = − = +3 − − = − −
=5 − – 15
Example 3.2 ( Problem 34 on page 44 of Love and Rainville)
Find the slope on the curve y = 2 + 3 + 2 – 1 where the curve crosses Ox
Solution: = ’= 8 +9 + 4x
Where the curve crosses Ox, y = 0
2 +3 +2 –1=0
By synthetic division, x = −1 / 3 2 2 0 −1
− − −
x = 0.5/ 2 1 −
1 1 1
2 2 2 0
+ 2x + 2 = 0 ( no real roots)
At = − , s ope, = 8 − +9 − − = −8 9 − = −3
At x = 0.5, slope, m = 8 +9 + 4(0.5) = 1 + 2.25 + 2 = 5.25
Example 3.3 Find the points where the tangent is parallel to Ox ( Problems on pages 44-45 of Love and
Rainville)

40) y = 2 −3 −
Solution: A line parallel to Ox ( or the x-axis) is a horizontal line. Horizontal lines have zero slope so to
solve example 3.3, determine = ’ an equate t to zero
’ = 6 − 6x− = 0; − x− = 0
By trial and error, − x− = (x – 2)( x + 1) = 0;
x – 2 = 0; x+1=0
x=2 =−
y=2 −3 − y=2 − −3 − − −
y = −14 y = 13
,− − ,

42) y = −8 + 22 − 9
So ut on: ’ = − – 24 = 0; − –6=0
By synthetic division, x = 1 / − −
− 6
x = 2/ − 6 0
2 −6
− 0
− = ; x=3
When x = 1
y= −8 + 22 − 9 = 0; ,
When x = 2
y= −8 + 22 − 9 = 1; ,
When x = 3
y= −8 + 22 − 9 = 0; ,

47) y =

So ut on: ’ = = = =0
− = 0; − – 3 = (x – 3)(x + 1) = 0
x–3=0 x+1=0
x=3 =−
y= = = y= = =−

( , ) (− , − )

3.2 The Chain Rule and the General Power Formula

For the function y = √ , let u = so that y =√ . To differentiate such function, use the chain
rule which is mathematically stated as:
= ------ ( Chain rule)
For the function y = , by the chain rule,
=n ------- ( The General Power Formula)
3.3 Higher Derivatives
The derivative of the first derivative is named the second derivative and the derivative of the second
derivative is named the third derivative . The second, third and derivatives are called higher
derivatives and are written respectively as or ”) , or ”’) and or [ .

Example 3.4. Find the first derivative of the following functions.

a) y =
Solution: The function is in the form y = where u = 5x + 6, n = 3 and = 5.By using the general

power formula, =n ,
=3 = 15

b) y = 8 −
Solution: ’ = ( ) 8 − − 8

’= 8 − (12) −

’ = 102( − )( − )

c) y = √ 8 −
Solution:
= 8 −
’ = 8 − − 8

’ = 8 − −
 ( − )
’ =
√ −

=( )
−
Solution:
−
− ( )− ( )
= ( )
− −
− − − −
= ( )
− −
( ) −
=
−
−
( )
= −
−
Example 3.5 Find the second derivative ’’
y= −
Solution:
’= − = (6x + 6) −
’’ = − + −
=( − −
=( − − 8
’’ = − −

3.4 Implicit Functions and Derivatives in Implicit Form

In the equation = , y can not be solved in terms of x and y is called an implicit function
of x. To find the derivative of a function defined implicitly, differentiate each term with respect to the
chosen variable ( usually x if variables are x and y )

Example 3.6. Find the derivative of y with respect to x

a. =
Solution:
=

Take note that = 1 and need not be written anymore. Express ’ = .

Therefore: ’= ’
(2y – ’= − an ’= or ’=

b. − −8 =
Solution:
2x – ’– ’–8 ’= ; − ’=− 8

’= ; ’=

c. − =
Solution:
2( − − =

( − − =

3 − − + =

− − = −
 − −
’ = = ( )
− − − −

Assignment: