1.

4 The Derivative as a Function

Definition The derivative of the function f (x) with respect to the variable x is the
function f 0 whose value at x is

f (x + h) − f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim
h→0 h

provided the limit exists.

Notations

There are many ways to denote the derivative of a function y = f (x), where the in-
dependent variable is x and the dependent variable is y. Some common alternative notations
for the derivative are

dy df d
f 0 (x) = y 0 = = = f (x) = D(f )(x) = Dx f (x)
dx dx dx

Example 1.4.1 Differentiate f (x) = 2x2 − 16x + 35

x
Example 1.4.2 Differentiate f (x) =
x−1

1
 √
Example 1.4.3 Differentiate f (x) = 5x − 8

Example 1.4.4 Differentiate f (x) = 4 − x2 ; f 0 (−3), f 0 (0), f 0 (1)

1.4.2 Differentiation Rules

1.4.2.1 Derivative of a Constant Function

If f has the constant value f (x) = c, then

df d
= (c) = 0
dx dx

Illustration:

a). f (x) = 1
1
b). y = −
8
√
c). f (x) = 3

2
1.4.2.2 Power Rule

If n is any real number, then

d n
x = nxn−1 ,
dx

for all x where the powers xn and xn−1 are defined.

Example 1. Differentiate the following powers of x.

a) f (x) = x3

b) g(x) = x2/3

1
c) y =
x4

d) f (x) = x−4/3

√
e) f (x) = x2+π

3
1.4.2.3 Derivative Constant Multiple Rule

If u is a differentiable function of x, and c is a constant, then

d du
(cu) = c
dx dx
.

In particular, if n is any real number, then

d
(cxn ) = cnxn−1 .
dx

 
d
Example 1. 3x2 =
dx

 
d 5
Example 2. =
dx x2

 
d −7
Example 3. =
dx x−2/7

1.4.2.3 Derivative Sum Rule

If u and v are differentiable functions of x, then their sum u + v is differentiable at

4
every point where u and v are both differentiable. At such points,

d du dv
(u + v) = +
dx dx dx
.

Example 1. If y = x4 + 12x, then find y 0 =

Example 2. Find the derivative of the polynomial function y = x3 + 34 x2 − 5x + 1.

√ √
3 2
Example 3. Find f 0 (x) if f (x) = x + 9 x7 − √
5
x2

5
1.4.2.3 Derivative Product Rule

If u and v are differentiable at x, then so is their product uv, and

d dv du
(uv) = u + v .
dx dx dx

The derivative of the product uv is u times the derivative of v plus v times the
derivative of u. in prime notation, (uv)0 = uv 0 + vu0 . In function notation,

d
[f (x)g(x)] = f (x)g 0 (x) + g(x)f 0 (x).
dx

Example 1. Find the derivative of y = (x2 + 1)(x3 + 3)

√
Example 2. Find the derivative of f (x) = x3 (2 x + x1/4

6
1.4.2.3 Derivative Quotient Rule

If u and v are differentiable at x and if v(x) 6= 0, then the quotient u/v is differen-
tiable at x, and

u du dv
− u dx
 
d u dx
=
dx v v2

t2 − 1
Example 1. Find the derivative of y =
t3 + 1

(x − 1)(x2 − 2x)
Example 2. Find the derivative of y =
x4

1.4.2.3 Derivative in the form un

If u is a differentiable function of x and n is any integer except 0, then

d n du
u = nun−1
dx dx

7
Example 1. Find the derivative of f (x) = (x3 − 2x + 3)3

p
Example 2. Find the derivative of y = (2x3 + 1)5

r
3 x−3
Example 2. Find the derivative of y =
x+3

Example 3. Find the derivative of y = (x − 1)3 (x + 1)4

8
Second- and Higher-Order Derivatives

If y = f (x) is differentiable function then its derivative f 0 (x) is also a function. If f 0 is also
differentiable, then we can differentiate f 0 to a get a new function of x denoted by f 00 . So
f 00 = (f 0 )0 . The function f 00 is called the second derivative of f because it is the derivative
of the first derivative. It is written in several ways:

d2 y dy 0
 
00 d dy
f (x) = 2 = = = y 00 = D2 (f )(x) = Dx2 f (x).
dx dx dx dx

The symbol D2 means the operation of differentiation is performed twice.

dy 0 d
y 00 = = (6x5 ) = 30x4 .
dx dx

Thus, D2 (x6 ) = 30x4 .

dy 00 d3 y
If y 00 is differentiable, its derivative, y 000 =
= 3 is the third derivative of y
dx dx ,
with respect to x. The name continue as we imagine, with

d (n−1) dn y
y (n) = y = n = Dn y
dx dx

denoting the nth derivative of y with respect to x for any positive integer n.

Example 1. Find the first fourth derivatives of y = x3 − 3x2 + 2

Example 2. Find all the derivatives of the function f defined by f (x) = 8x4 + 5x3 − x2 −
7x + 13

9
CHAIN RULE

dy dy du
= ·
dx du dx

dy u2 − 1 √
Example 1. Find , given y = 2 and u = 3 x2 + 2
dx u +1

dy √
Example 2. Find , given y = x3 − 3x + 5 and x = 12 t + 3.
dt

√ dy √
Example 3. If y = x2 − 4x and x = 2t2 + 1, find when t = 2
dt

10
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
Implicit Functions. An equation f (x, y) = 0, on perhaps certain restricted ranges of the
variables, is said to define y implicitly as a function of x.

The derivative y 0 may be obtained by one of the following procedures:

1. Solve, when possible, for y and differentiate with respect to x. Except for very simple
equations. This procedure is to be avoided.

2. Thinking of y as a function as a function of x, differentiate both sides of the given

dy
Example 1. Find if y 2 = x
dx

√ √ dy
Example 2. x+ y = 4;
dx

dy
Example 3. 3x4 y 2 − 7xy 3 = 4 − 8y; find
dx

11
Exercises. Do as indicated.
A. Find the derivative by applying the appropriate rule of differentiation.

1. y = x5 + 5x4 − 10x2 + 6

2. y = 3x1/2 − x3/2 + 2x−1/2

1 4
3. y = 2
+√
2x x

√ √
4. y = 2x + 2 x

12
 2 6
5. y = √ + √
3
t t

6. y = (1 − 5x)6

7. y = (3x − x3 + 1)4

8. g(x) = (3 + 4x − x2 )1/2

13
 3r + 2
9. v =
2r + 3

 5
x
10. f (s) =
1+x

√
11. v = 2x2 2 − x

√
12. f (x) = x 3 − 2x2

14
 √
13. y = (x − 1) x2 − 2x + 2

x
14. y = √
1 − 4x2

√
q
15. y = 1+ x

r
x−1
16. f (x) =
x+1

15
17. y = (x2 + 3)4 (2x3 − 5)3

t2 + 2
18. y =
3 − t2

4
x3 − 1

19. y =
2x3 + 1

16
 B. Find the first and the second derivative of the following functions

x3 + 7
20. y =
x

(θ − 1)(θ2 + θ + 1)
21. r =
θ3

 
1 + 3z
22. w = (3 − z)
3z

17
 dy
C. Use Chain Rule to find .
dx

u−1 √
23. y = ,u = x
u+1

24. y = u3 + 4, u = x2 + 2x

√ √
25. y = 1 + u, u = x

√
26. y = u, u = v(3 − 2v), v = x2

18
 dy
D. Find using implicit differentiation.
dx

27. x2 y − xy 2 = 6

28. 2xy + y 2 = x + y

29. x2 (x − y)2 = x2 − y 2

19
 d2 y
E. Find using implicit differentiation.
dx2

30. x2 + y 2 = 1

31. x2/3 + y 2/3 = 1

d2 y
32. If x3 + y 3 = 16, find the value of at the point (2, 2).
dx2

20