Differential Calculus

The derivative, or derived function of f(x) denoted f`(x) is defined as

 f ( x  h)  f ( x ) 
f `( x)  lim  
h0
 h 
y
Q

f ( x  h)  f ( x )
P f ( x  h)  f ( x )
h mPQ 
h
x x+h x

  y  dy
Leibniz Notation: f `( x)  lim  
ho  x
  dx
Differentiation from first principles

Given that f(x) is differentiable, we can use the definition to prove

that if f ( x)  x 2 then f `(5)  10

f ( x  h)  f ( x )
f `( x)  lim
h0 h
( x  h) 2  x 2
 lim
h 0 h
x 2  2 xh  h 2  x 2 2 xh  h 2 h(2 x  h)
 lim  lim  lim
h 0 h0 h h0 h
h
 lim(2 x  h)
h0

As h  0, f `( x)  2 x
 f `(5)  10
2. From first principles determine f `( x) when f ( x)  x3  2

f ( x  h)  f ( x )
f `( x)  lim
h0 h
( x  h)3  2  ( x 3  2)
 lim
h 0 h
x3  3 x 2 h  3xh 2  h3  2  x3  2 3 x 2 h  3xh 2  h3
 lim  lim
h0 h0 h
h
h(3x 2  3xh  h 2 )
 lim
h0 h

 lim(3x 2  3xh  h2 )
h0

As h  0, f `( x)  3x 2
f `( x)  3x 2
Further practice on page 29 Exercise 1A
Questions 1, 4, 5 and 7

TJ Exercise 1

But not just Yet……..

CAUTION Not all functions are differentiable.

y
y = tan(x).
Here, tan(x) has ‘breaks’ in the graph where
x the gradient is undefined

y y x Although the graph is continuous, the

derivative at zero is undefined as the left
x
derivative is negative and the right
derivative is positive.

For a function to be differentiable, it must be continuous.

Further practice on page 29 Exercise 1A
Questions 1, 4, 5 and 7

TJ Exercise 1

Differentiation reminder:

Page 32 Exercise 3A Questions 1(a), (d), 2(a), (c), (d) 3(a), 4(a), 6(a)

TJ Exercise 2
TJ Exercise 3
 The Product Rule
If k ( x)  f ( x).g ( x) , then:

k `( x)  f `( x) g ( x)  g `( x) f ( x)

Using Leibniz notation,

If y  f ( x).g ( x), then:

dy df dg dy
 .g ( x )  . f ( x ) OR  f `g  g ` f
dx dx dx dx
1. Differentiate y  x 2 sin x

f ( x)  x 2 g ( x)  sin x
f `( x)  2 x g `( x)  cos x

dy
 f `g  g ` f
dx
 2 x sin x  x 2 cos x
2. Differentiate y  ( x  3)4 ( x  3)5

f ( x)  ( x  3)4 g ( x)  ( x  3)5
f `( x)  4( x  3)3 g `( x)  5( x  3)4

dy
 f `g  g ` f
dx
 4( x  3)3 ( x  3)5  5( x  3)4 ( x  3)4

 ( x  3)3 ( x  3)4 (4( x  3)  5( x  3))

 ( x  3)3 ( x  3)4 (4 x  12  5 x  15)

 ( x  3)3 ( x  3)4 (9 x  3)
 3( x  3)3 ( x  3)4 (3x  1)
 2. Differentiate y  x 2 ( x  1)3 sin x

f ( x)  x 2 g ( x)  ( x  1)3 h( x)  sin x
f `( x)  2 x g `( x)  3( x  1)2 h`( x)  cos x

Let y  f .( g.h)
dy
 f `( g .h)  ( g .h)` f
dx
 f `( g.h)  f ( g `h  h`g )  f `.g.h  f .h.g ` f .g.h`

 2 x( x  1)3 sin x  3x 2 sin x( x  1)2  x 2 ( x  1)3 cos x

 x( x  1)2 (2( x  1)sin x  3x sin x  x( x  1)cos x)

Page 35 exercise 4A Questions 1, 2(b) and 3
Page 36 exercise 4B Questions 1(b), 3 and 4

TJ Exercise 4
 The Quotient Rule
f ( x)
If k ( x)  , then:
g ( x)

f `( x) g ( x)  g `( x) f ( x)
k `( x) 
( g ( x)) 2

Using Leibniz notation,

f ( x)
If y  , then:
g ( x)

df dg
.g ( x )  . f ( x )
dy dx
 dx dy f `g  g ` f
OR 
dx ( g ( x)) 2 dx g2
 d  x3 
1. Find  
dx  sin x 

f ( x)  x 3 g ( x)  sin x

f `( x)  3x 2 g `( x)  cos x

dy f `g  g ` f

dx g2
3x 2 sin x  x 3 cos x

sin 2 x

Page 37 exercise 5A Questions 1 to 4 and 7

Page 38 Exercise 5B Questions 1 to 3

TJ Exercise 5
 Sec, Cosec, cot and tan
1
sec x  the secant of x
cos x
1
cos ec x  the cosecant of x
sin x
1
cot x  the cotangent of x
tan x

Unlike the sine and cosine functions, the graphs of sec and cosec
functions have ‘breaks’ in them.

The functions are otherwise continuous but for certain values of x,

are undefined.
 1–
1
6
5
4
3
2
2
3
4
5
6– 6
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6 1–
1
6
5
4
3
2
2
3
4
5
6– 6
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6 1
2
3
4
5
6

y y y
6 6 6

5 5 5

4 4 4

3 3 3

2 2 2

1 1 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x
– 1 – 1 – 1

– 2 – 2 – 2

– 3 – 3 – 3

– 4 – 4 – 4

– 5 – 5 – 5

– 6 – 6 – 6

y  sec x y  cosec x y  cot x


In general, sec x is undefined for x   n
2
also cos ec x is undefined for x  n
 
In general, sec x is undefined for x   n
2

  1 1
sec     undefined
 2  cos    0
 
2

also cos ec x is undefined for x  n

1. Find the derivative of tan x

d d  sin x 
 tan x     (quotient rule)
dx dx  cos x 

cos x.cos x  (  sin x).sin x


cos 2 x
1

cos 2 x

 sec2 x

Page 40 Exercise 7 questions 1, 2, 3(a), (c), (e), (g). 4(a)

TJ Exercise 6 Questions 1 to 4
 d d cos x
2.  cosec x  3.  cot x  
dx dx sin x
f ( x)  1 g ( x)  sin x f ( x)  cos x g ( x)  sin x
f `( x)  0 g `( x)  cos x f `( x)   sin x g `( x)  cos x

d  cos x  sin 2 x  cos 2 x

 cosec x   2 d
 cot x  
dx sin x dx sin 2 x

 cos x 1 1
 . 
sin x sin x sin 2 x
  cos ec x cot x   cosec2 x
 Exponential and Logarithmic functions
dy
If y  e x
then  ex
dx
dy 1
If y  log e x then  x0
dx x
Proof 1. f ( x)  a x

f ( x  h)  f ( x )
f `( x)  lim
h0 h
a xh  a x
 lim
h0 h h
a x  a h  1 a 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0.00001 0.000001

 lim 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
h0 h 1.5 0.413797 0.406288 0.405547 0.405473 0.405466 0.405465

 lim a x  lim
  1
a h 2
2.5
0.717735 0.695555 0.693387 0.693171 0.69315 0.693147

0.959582 0.920502 0.916711 0.916333 0.916295 0.916291

h0 h0 h 2.7 1.044254 0.998201 0.993745 0.993301 0.993257 0.993252

2.718281
  1
1.051709 1.005016 1.0005 1.00005 1.000005 1
h 3
a 1.161232 1.104669 1.099216 1.098673 1.098618 1.098613

 ax  lim 4 1.486984 1.395948 1.387256 1.38639 1.386304 1.386295

h0 h
Let us examine this limit.
When a approaches e, the limit approaches 1.
Proof 2. f ( x)  log e x

Consider eloge x  x Differentiating both sides with respect to x.

deln x dx
 Using the chain rule.
dx dx
eln x .d ln x
1
dx
d ln x
e 
ln x
1
dx
d 1
ln x  ln x
dx e
d 1
ln x 
dx x
 d 3x
1. Find e
dx

d 3x
e  3e3 x
dx

d x
2. Find xe
dx

d x
xe  e x  xe x  e x (1  x)
dx
d
3. Find ln 3 x
dx
d 1 1
ln 3 x  .3 
dx 3x x
 d  ln x 
4. Find  
dx  x 2 

1 2
 x  2 x ln x
d  ln x  x
 2 
dx  x  x4

x  2 x ln x

x4
1  2ln x

x3
 Higher derivatives
Function 1st derivative 2nd Derivative………..nth Derivative

f ( x) f '( x) f ''( x) f n ( x)

y dy d2y dny
dx dx 2 dx n

1. y  3x 4
dy
 12 x 3
dx
d2y
 36 x 2

dx 2
d3y
3
 72 x etc. etc. etc.
dx
Page 43 Exercise 8A Questions 1(b), (d), 2(b), (c), (d), 3(a), (b),(c).
4(d), (e), 5(a), (c), (e), 6(b), (c),(e)

TJ Exercise 6

Page 46 Exercise 9A Qu. 1 to 6

Review Chapter 2.1
 Applications of Differential Calculus
Let displacement from an origin be a function of time.
x  f (t )
Velocity is a rate of change of displacement.
dx
v
dt
Acceleration is a rate of change of velocity.

dv d 2x
a  2
dt dt

Note: The use of units MUST be consistent.

A particle travels along the x axis such that
x(t) = 4t3 – 2t + 5,
where x represents its displacement in metres from the origin ‘t’
seconds after observation began.

(a) How far from the origin is the particle at the start of
observation?
(b) Calculate the velocity and acceleration of the particle after 3
seconds.

(a) When t  0, x(0)  5

Hence the particle is 5m from the origin at the start of the observation.
dx
(b) v   12t 2  2 v(3)  12  9  2  106ms 1
dt
d 2x a(3)  24  3  72ms 2
a  2  24t
dt
A body travels along a straight line such that
S = t3 – 6t2 + 9t + 1,
where S represents its displacement in metres from the origin after
observation began.

(a) Find when (i) the velocity and (ii) the acceleration is zero.
(b) When is the distance S increasing?
(c) When is the velocity of the body decreasing?
(d) Describe the motion of the particle during the first 4 seconds of
observation.
 ds
(a) v   3t 2  12t  9 Let v  0
dt

3t 2  12t  9  0
3(t 2  4t  3)  0
3(t  1)(t  3)  0  t  1 or t  3

The velocity is zero when t = 1 or 3 seconds.

d 2s
(ii ) a  2  6t  12 Let a  0
dt
6t  12
t2

The acceleration is zero when t = 2 seconds.

 ds
(b) S is increasing when 0  3(t  1)(t  3)  0
dt
ds
10
y
This occurs when the graph of is
9
8 above the x axis dt
7
6
5

t 1 t 3
4
3
2
1
– 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 –– 11 1 2 3 4 5 x
– 2
– 3
– 4
– 5

Hence the distance S is increasing when t < 1 and when t > 3 seconds.
d 2s t 2
(c) V is decreasing when 2
0 6t  12  0
dt

Hence the velocity is decreasing when t < 2 seconds.

S  t 3  6t 2  9t  1
ds
 3t 2  12t  9
dt
d 2s
2
 6t  12
dt
At t = 0, the particle is 1m from the origin with a velocity of 9ms-1
decelerating at a rate of 12ms-2.
At t = 1, the particle is 5m from the origin at rest decelerating at a
rate of 6ms-2.
At t = 2, the particle is 3m from the origin with a velocity of -3ms-1
with zero acceleration.
At t = 3, the particle is 1m from the origin at rest accelerating at a
rate of 3ms-2.
At t = 4, the particle is 5m from the origin with a velocity of 9ms-1
accelerating at a rate of 12ms-2.
Page 51 Exercise 1 Questions 1(a), (b), (d), (f), 2(a), (c), (e), 3,
4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12.

TJ Exercise 7.
 Extreme Values of a Function
(Extrema)

Critical Points

A critical point of a function is any point (a, f(a)) where f `(a) = 0

or where f `(a) does not exist.
 y
Consider the function: 5


 x2  2  x  1 3


f ( x)   x 1 x  2
2

1 1

 x 1 2  x  4
2
– 2 – 1 1 2 3 4 x

– 1

Domain [2, 4) – 2


2 x  2  x 1

f `( x)  1 1 x  2
1
 2 x4
2
  
 x2  2  x  1 2 x  2  x 1
 
f ( x)   x 1 x  2 f `( x)  1 1 x  2
1 1
 x 1 2  x  4  2 x4
2 2
y
Critical points are:
5

A 4
A (-2,4) f `(-2) does not exist.
E (Right differentiable at x = -2)
3

2
D B (0,0) f `(0) = 0. (Turning point)
1 C C (1,1) f `(1) does not exist. Left
– 2 – 1 x derivative =2, right derivative = 1
B 1 2 3 4

– 1
D (2,2) f `(2) does not exist. Left
– 2
derivative = 1, right derivative = 0.5

E is not a critical point as it is not in the domain of f.

Local extrema
5– 1
Local extreme values occur either at the end points of the function,
1
2
3
4
3
2
1– 3
2 1
2

turning points or critical points within the interval of the domain.

y

Consider the function, 5

 x2  2x  3  x  1
 3
3

f ( x)   x 1  x  1 2

2 x 2  8 x  5 1  x  3

1

Domain [3,3)
– 3 – 2 – 1 1 2 3 x

– 1

– 2
3 is the local maximum value
-1 is the local minimum value
If extrema occurs at end points then they are end point maximums or
end point minimums.
 In short,

(i) Local maximum / minimum turning points

(ii) End point values
(iii) Critical points

The Nature of Stationary Points.

If f `(a) = 0 then a table of values over a suitable interval centred at a

provides evidence of the nature of the stationary point that must exist
at a.

A simpler test does exist.

It is the second derivative test.

 f `( x )  0 and f ``( x )  0 then minimum turning point.
f `( x )  0 and f ``( x )  0 then maximum turning point.
f `( x )  0 and f ``( x )  0 then draw a table of signs.

If the second derivative test is easier to determine than making a

table of signs then this provides an efficient technique to finding the
nature of stationary points.

Page 56 Exercise 2 Questions 1, 3(a), (c), (e), (g), (i)

Page 60 Exercise 3 Questions 1(a), (c), (e), 5(a) to (d)

TJ Exercise 8
 Optimisation Problems
Optimisation problems appear in many guises – often in the context
in which they are set can be somewhat misleading.

1. Read the question at least TWICE.

2. Draw a sketch where appropriate. This should help you
introduce any variables you are likely to need. It may be that
you come back to the diagram to add in an extra ‘x’ etc.
3. Try to translate any information in the question into a
mathematical statement.
4. Identify the variables to be optimised and then express this
variable as a function of one of the other variables.
5. Find the critical numbers for the function arrived at in step 4.
6. Determine the local extrema and if necessary the global
extrema.
1. An open box with a rectangular base is to be constructed from a
rectangular piece of card measuring 16cm by 10cm. A square is to
be cut out from each corner and the sides folded up. Find the size of
the cut out squares so that the resulting box has the largest possible
volume.

16 – 2x x
x

10 – 2x

v  lbh
 (16  2x )(10  2x )x
dV
 4 x 3  52x 2  160 x (max / min V occurs when = 0)
dx
 V  4 x 3  52x 2  160 x
dV
 12 x 2  104 x  160  0 for s.p.
dx

12x 2  104 x  160  0

4(3 x 2  26 x  40)  0
4(3 x  20)( x  2)  0

x  2, or 6 2
3
d 2V d 2v
2
 24 x  104 When x  2, 2
0
dx dx
 maximum volume at x  2
Hence the cut out squares should be 2cm in length.
Page 63 Exercise 4A. Note Question 8 can’t be done but try to
prove me wrong!!

Page 64 Exercise 4B is VERY Difficult. (VERY)

TJ Exercise 9