Differential Calculus – CHAPTER 19

Some standard derivatives

Often we wish to differentiate expressions of the form y = sin ( 2x ) or y = e 5 x or other such

functions, where the x term only differs by a constant factor from that of the basic function. That
is, the only difference between y = sin ( 2x ) and y = sin ( x ) is the factor ‘2’. We can use the
chain rule to differentiate such expressions:
dy dy du
Let u = 2x, giving y = sin (u) and so ------ = ------ ⋅ ------ = cos ( u ) × 2 = 2 cos ( 2x )
dx du dx
Similarly,
dy dy du
Let u = 5x, giving y = e u and so ------ = ------ ⋅ ------ = e u × 5 = 5e 5 x .
dx du dx
Because of the nature of such derivatives, functions such as these form part of a set of functions
that can be considered as having derivatives that are often referred to as standard derivatives.
Although we could make use of the chain rule to differentiate these functions, they should be
viewed as standard derivatives.

These standard derivatives are shown in the table below (where k is some real constant):

dy
y ------
dx

sin ( kx ) k cos ( kx )

cos ( kx ) – k sin ( kx )

tan ( kx ) k sec 2( kx )

e kx ke kx

1
log e( kx ) ---
x

Notice, the only derivative that does not involve the constant k is that of the logarithmic function.
dy dy du 1 1 1
This is because letting u = kx, we have y = log ( u ) so ------ = ------ ⋅ ------ = --- × k = ----- × k = --- .
dx du dx u kx x

When should the chain rule be used?

A good rule of thumb:

A good first rule to follow is: If the expression is made up of a pair of brackets and a
power, then, the chances are that you will need to use
the chain rule.

As a start, the expressions in the table that follows would require the use of the chain rule. Notice
then that in each case the expression can be (or already is) written in ‘power form’. That is, of the
form y = [ f ( x ) ] n .

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Expression Express in power form Decide on what u and y are

(a) y = ( 2x + 6 ) 5 Already in power form. Let u = 2x + 6 and y = u 5

1 1
(b) y = ( 2x 3 + 1 ) --- ---
y = ( 2x 3 + 1 ) 2 Let u = 2x 3 + 1 and y = u 2

3
(c) y = ------------------2-, x ≠ 1 y = 3 ( x – 1 ) – 2, x ≠ 1 Let u = x – 1 and y = 3u –2
( x – 1)

(d) f ( x ) = sin 2 x f ( x ) = ( sin x ) 2 Let u = sin x and f ( u ) = u 2

1
(e) y = ----------------------- 1
– ---
1
– ---
3 –x
e + ex y = ( e–x + e x ) 3
Let u = e – x + e x and y = u 3

However, this isn’t always the case!

Although the above approach is very useful, often you have to recognise when the function of a
function rule is more appropriate. By placing brackets in the appropriate places, we can recognise
this feature more readily. The examples below illustrate this:

Expression Express it with brackets Decide on what u and y are

(a) y = e x2 + 1 y = e( x
2
+ 1) . Let u = x 2 + 1 and y = e u

(b) y = e sin 2 x y = e ( sin 2 x ) Let u = sin 2x and y = e u

(c) y = sin ( x 2 – 4 ) Already in bracket form. Let u = x 2 – 4 and y = sin ( u )

(d) f ( x ) = log e( sin x ) Already in bracket form. Let u = sin x and f ( u ) = log e( u )

Completing the process for each of the above functions we have:

dy dy du
(a) ------ = ------ ------ = e u × 2x = 2xe x 2 + 1 .
dx du dx
dy dy du
(b) ------ = ------ ------ = e u × 2 cos ( 2x ) = 2 cos ( 2x )e sin ( 2 x ) .
dx du dx
dy dy du
(c) ------ = ------ ------ = cos ( u ) × 2x = 2x cos ( x 2 – 4 ) .
dx du dx
dy dy du 1 cos x
(d) ------ = ------ ------ = --- × cos x = ----------- = cot x .
dx du dx u sin x

We now look at some of the more demanding derivatives, i.e., derivatives which combine at least
two rules of differentiation, for example, the need to use both the quotient rule and the chain rule,
or the product rule and the chain rule.

EXAMPLE 19.19 Differentiate the following

x
(a) y = 1 + sin 2 x (b) y = e x 3 sin ( 1 – 2x ) (c) x ------------------
x2 + 1

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 Differential Calculus – CHAPTER 19
1⁄2
S (a) Let y = ( 1 + sin 2 x ) = ( 1 + sin 2 x ) . Using the chain rule we have
dy 1 d 1 1
------ = --- × ------ ( 1 + sin 2 x ) × ( 1 + sin 2 x ) –1 / 2 = --- × ( 2 sin x cos x ) × -------------------------------
o
l dx 2 dx 2 ( 1 + sin 2 x )
u
sin x cos x
t = -------------------------------
i ( 1 + sin 2 x )
o (b) Let y = e x 3 sin ( 1 – 2x ) . Using the product rule first, we have
n
dy d d
------ = ------ ( e x 3 ) × sin ( 1 – 2x ) + e x 3 × ------ ( sin ( 1 – 2x ) )
dx dx dx
= 3x 2 e x 3 sin ( 1 – 2x ) + e x 3 × – 2 cos ( 1 – 2x )
= e x 3 ( 3x 2 sin ( 1 – 2x ) – 2 cos ( 1 – 2x ) )
d d
------ ( x ) × x 2 + 1 – x × ------ ( x 2 + 1 )
x dx dx
(c) Let f ( x ) = ------------------ ⇒ f ' ( x ) = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (Quotient rule).
( x2 + 1 )
2
x2 + 1
1
1 – ----
1 × x 2 + 1 – x × --- × 2x × ( x 2 + 1 ) 2
2
= ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
x2 + 1
x2
x 2 + 1 – ------------------
x2 + 1
= -------------------------------------------
( x + 1)
2

( x2 + 1 ) – x2
2
-------------------------------------
x2 + 1
= -------------------------------------
( x2 + 1 )
1
= --------------------------------------
( x + 1 ) x2 + 1
2

EXAMPLE 19.20 Differentiate the following

x
(a) y = ln  ------------ , x > 0 (b) y = sin ( ln t ) (c) y = x ln ( x 2 )
 x + 1

S
x dy 1 1 ( x + 1) – x 1
y = ln  ------------ = ln ( x ) – ln ( x + 1 ) ∴------ = --- – ------------ = ------------------------- = -------------------- .
o
l (a)  x + 1 dx x x+1 x( x + 1) x( x + 1)
Notice that using the log laws to first simplify this expression made the differentiation
u
process much easier.
t
i
x
o The other approach, i.e., letting u = ------------ , y = ln ( u ) and then using the chain rule
n x+1
would have meant more work – as not only would we need to use the chain rule but also
du
the quotient rule to determine ------ .
dx
(b) Let u = ln t so that y = sin u .
dy dy du 1 cos ( ln t )
Using the chain rule we have ------ = ------ ⋅ ------ = cos ( u ) × --- = ---------------------
dt du dt t t

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MATHEMATICS – Higher Level (Core)

(c) Here we have a product x × ln ( x 2 ) , so that the product rule needs to be used and then we
need the chain rule to differentiate ln ( x 2 ) .

Notice that in this case we cannot simply rewrite ln ( x 2 ) as 2 ln ( x ) . Why?

Because the functions ln ( x 2 ) and 2 ln ( x ) might have different domains. That is, the
domain of ln ( x 2 ) is all real values excluding zero (assuming an implied domain) whereas
the domain of 2 ln ( x ) is only the positive real numbers. However, if it had been specified
that x > 0, then we could have ‘converted’ ln ( x 2 ) to 2 ln ( x ) .

dy d d 2x
So, ------ = ------ ( x ) × ln ( x 2 ) + x × ------ ( ln ( x 2 ) ) = 1 × ln ( x 2 ) + x × -----2- = ln ( x 2 ) + 2
dx dx dx x

A short cut (?)

Once you have practiced the use of these rules and are confident in applying them, you can make
use of the following table to speed up the use of the chain rule. Assuming that the function f ( x )
is differentiable then we have:

dy
y ------
dx

sin [ f ( x ) ] f ' ( x ) cos [ f ( x ) ]

cos [ f ( x ) ] – f ' ( x ) sin [ f ( x ) ]

tan [ f ( x ) ] f ' ( x ) sec 2[ f ( x ) ]

e f ( x) f ' ( x )e f ( x )

f '( x)
log e[ f ( x ) ] ------------
f ( x)

[ f ( x ) ]n nf ' ( x ) [ f ( x ) ] n – 1

19.3.7 DERIVATIVE OF RECIPROCAL CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS

Dealing with the functions sec ( x ), cot ( x ) and cosec ( x ) is a straight foward matter – simply
1 1
rewrite them as their reciprocal counterparts. That is, sec ( x ) = ----------------, cot ( x ) = ---------------- and
cos ( x ) tan ( x )
1
cosec ( x ) = --------------- . Once this is done, make use of the chain rule.
sin ( x )

d d 1 d cos x
For example, ------ ( cosecx ) = ------  ---------- = ------ [ ( sin x ) –1 ] = – 1 × cos x × ( sin x ) –2 = – -----------------2- .
dx dx  sin x dx ( sin x )
cos x
We could leave the answer as is or simplify it as follows; – --------------------- = – cot xcosecx .
sin x sin x
So, rather than providing a table of ‘standard results’ for the derivative of the reciprocal circular

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trigonometric functions, we consider them as special cases of the circular trigonometric
functions.

EXAMPLE 19.21 Differentiate the following

ln ( cosecx )
(a) f ( x ) = cot 2x , x > 0 (b) y = sec 2 x (c) y = ---------------------------
x

S
1
f ( x ) = cot 2x = -------------- = ( tan 2x ) –1 ∴ f ' ( x ) = – 1 × 2sec 2 2x × ( tan 2x ) –2
o
(a)
l tan 2x
2sec 2 2x
u
= – -------------------
tan 2 2x
t
i
2sec 2 2x 1 1 1 cos 2 2x
o Now, ------------------- = 2 × ---------------- - = 2 × ----------------
× --------------- × ---------------- = 2cosec 2 2x .
n tan 2x 2 cos 2x tan 2x
2 2 cos 2x sin 2 2x
2

And so, f ' ( x ) = – 2 cosec 2 2x .

1 dy 2 sin x
(b) y = sec 2 x = ------------------2- = ( cos x ) –2 ∴------ = – 2 × – sin x × ( cos x ) –3 = ------------------3- .
( cos x ) dx ( cos x )
2 sin x sin x 1 dy
Now, ------------------3- = 2 × ----------- × ------------------2- = 2 tan xsec 2 x ∴------ = 2 tan xsec 2 x .
( cos x ) cos x ( cos x ) dx

cos x
 ----------- × x – 1 × ln ( sin x )
ln ( cosecx ) ln [ ( sin x ) –1 ] ln ( sin x ) dy  sin x 
(c) y = --------------------------- = ------------------------------ = – --------------------- ∴------ = – --------------------------------------------------------------
-
x x x dx x2
x cos x – sin x ln ( sin x )
-----------------------------------------------------
sin x
= – -----------------------------------------------------
x2
x cos x – sin x ln ( sin x )
= – -----------------------------------------------------
x 2 sin x

An interesting result

A special case of the chain rule involves the case y = x . By viewing this as an application of the
dy dy du
chain rule ------ = ------ ⋅ ------ we have (after setting y = x ):
dx du dx
d( x) dx du dx du dx du
----------- = ------ ⋅ ------ ⇒ 1 = ------ ⋅ ------ i.e., ------ = 1 ⁄ ------
dx du dx du dx du dx
This important result is often written in the form
dy 1
------ = -----------
dx dx
 ------
 dy

We find that this result is very useful with problems that deal with related rates.

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EXERCISES 19.3
1. Use the product rule to differentiate the following and then verify your answer by
first expanding the brackets
(a) ( x 2 + 1 ) ( 2x – x 3 + 1 ) (b) ( x3 + x2 )( x3 + x2 – 1 )
1
 ---- 1
(c) - – 1  ----- + 1 (d) ( x3 + x – 1 )( x3 + x + 1 )
 x2   x2 

2. Use the quotient rule to differentiate the following

x+1 x x+1
(a) ------------ (b) ------------ (c) -------------
-
x–1 x+1 x2 + 1
x2 + 1 x2 x
(d) -------------
- (e) --------------- (f) ---------------
x3 – 1 2x + 1 1 – 2x

3. Differentiate the following

(a) e x sin x (b) x log ex (c) e x ( 2x 3 + 4x )
(d) x 4 cos x (e) sin x cos x (f) ( 1 + x 2 ) tan x
4
(g) ----2- × sin x (h) xe x sin x (i) xe x log ex
x

4. Differentiate the following

x cos x ex
(a) ---------- (b) ------------ (c) -------------
-
sin x x+1 e +1
x

sin x x log ex
(d) ---------- (e) ------------ (f) ------------
x log ex x+1
ex – 1 sin x + cos x x2
(g) ------------- (h) ----------------------------- (i) ----------------------
x+1 sin x – cos x x + log ex

5. Differentiate the following

1
1 – --- x
(a) e –5 x + x (b) sin 4x – --- cos 6x (c) e 3 – log e( 2x ) + 9x 2
2
(d) 5 sin ( 5x ) + 3e 2 x (e) tan ( 4x ) + e 2 x (f) cos ( – 4x ) – e –3 x
x
(g) log e( 4x + 1 ) – x (h) log e( e – x ) + x (i) sin  --- + cos ( 2x )
 2

(j) sin ( 7x – 2 ) (k) x – log e( 9x ) (l) log e( 5x ) – cos ( 6x )

6. Differentiate the following

1
(a) sin x 2 + sin 2 x (b) tan ( 2θ ) + ----------- (c) sin x
sin θ
1
(d) cos  --- (e) cos 3 θ (f) sin ( e x )
 x

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 Differential Calculus – CHAPTER 19
(g) tan ( log ex ) (h) cos ( 2x ) (i) cos ( sin θ )
(j) 4 sec θ (k) cosec ( 5x ) (l) 3 cot ( 2x )

7. Differentiate the following

(a) e2 x + 1 (b) 2e 4 – 3 x (c) 2e 4 – 3 x 2 (d) ex

1 2x + 4 1 2 x2 + 4 2
(e) e x (f) --- e (g) --- e (h) -------------
2 2 e x+1
3

(i) e3 x (j) e sin ( θ ) (k) e – cos ( 2θ ) (l) e 2 log e( x )

2
– 6x + 1

2
(m) ---------------
- (n) ( e x – e–x )3 (o) e2 x + 4 (p) e– x
2
+ 9x – 2
e–x + 1

8. Differentiate the following

(a) log e( x 2 + 1 ) (b) log e( sin θ + θ ) (c) log e( e x – e – x )

1
(d) log e ------------ (e) ( log ex ) 3 (f) log ex
 x + 1
1
(g) log e( x – 1 ) (h) log e( 1 – x 3 ) (i) log e ----------------
 x + 2

x
(j) log e( cos 2 x + 1 ) (k) log e( x sin x ) (l) log e -----------
 cos x

9. Differentiate the following

(a) x log e( x 3 + 2 ) (b) xsin 2 x (c) cos 2 θ

(d) x3e– 2 x (e) cos ( x log ex ) (f) log e( log ex )
2
+3

x 2 – 4x 10x + 1 cos ( 2x )
(g) -----------------
- (h) --------------------------------- (i) -------------------
-
sin ( x 2 ) log e( 10x + 1 ) e1 – x
(j) x 2 log e( sin 4x ) (k) e – x sin x (l) cos ( 2x sin x )
e5 x + 2 log e( sin θ ) x
(m) --------------- (n) -------------------------- (o) ----------------
1 – 4x cos θ x+1
(p) x x2 + 2 (q) ( x3 + x )3 x + 1 (r) ( x3 – 1 ) x3 + 1
1 x2  x–1
(s) --- log e( x 2 + 1 ) (t) log e ----------------- (u) ----------------
x  x + 2x
2 x
(v) e–x x2 + 9 (w) ( 8 – x3 ) 2 – x (x) x n ln ( x n – 1 )

10. Find the value of x where the function x xe – x has a horizontal tangent.

1 2
Find the gradient of the function x sin  --- , where x = --- .
 x π
11.

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12. Find the gradient of the function x log e( x 2 + 4 ) at the point where the function
crosses the y–axis.

13. For what value(s) of x will the function x ln ( x 2 + 1 ) have a gradient of 1.

Find the rate of change of the function x e – x at the point ( 1, e ) .

2
14. +2

d d d
15. Find (a) ------ ( sin x cos x ) (b) ------ ( sin x° ) (c) ------ ( cos x ° )
dx dx dx

16. (a) If y is the product of three functions, i.e., y = f ( x )g ( x )h ( x ) , show that

dy
------ = f ' ( x )g ( x )h ( x ) + f ( x )g' ( x )h ( x ) + f ( x )g ( x )h' ( x ) .
dx
(b) Hence, differentiate the following i. x 2 sin x cos x
ii. e – x 3 sin ( 2x ) log e( cos x )

17. (a) Given that f ( x ) = 1 – x 3 and g ( x ) = log ex , find i. ( f o g )' ( x )

ii. ( g o f )' ( x )
(b) Given that f ( x ) = sin ( x 2 ) and g ( x ) = e–x , find i. ( f o g )' ( x )
ii. ( g o f )' ( x )

cos kθ π
Given that T ( θ ) = --------------------------, k ≠ 0 , determine T'  ------ .
 2k
18.
2 + 3 sin kθ

19. If f ( x ) = ( x – a ) m ( x – b ) n , find x such that f ' ( x ) = 0 .

20. If f ( θ ) = sin θ m cos θ n , find θ such that f ' ( θ ) = 0 .

21. Differentiate the following

(a) f ( x ) = cot 4x (b) g ( x ) = sec 2x (c) f ( x ) = cosec3x
π π
(d) y = sin  3x + --- (e) y = cot  --- – x (f) y = sec ( 2x – π )
 2 4 

22. Differentiate the following

(a) secx 2 (b) sin x sec x (c) ln ( sec x )
x cosecx
(d) cot 3 x (e) ---------------- (f) ----------------
cosecx sin x
(g) x 4 cosec ( 4x ) (h) tan 2xcotx (i) sec x + cos x

23. Differentiate the following

(a) e sec x (b) sec ( e x ) (c) e x sec x
(d) cot ( ln x ) (e) ln ( cot 5x ) (f) cot x ln x
(g) cosec ( sin x ) (h) sin ( cosecx ) (i) sin xcosecx

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