RULES OF DIFFERENTATION

Most Essential Learning Competencies

Apply the differentiation rules in computing the derivative of an algebraic, exponential,

logarithmic functions and inverse trigonometric functions (STEM_BC11D-IIIf-3);

Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the learner shall be able to:

1. demonstrate the differentiation rules; and

2. compute the derivative of transcendental functions.

Time Allotment: 4 hours

Key Concepts

DIFFERENTIATION RULES

RULE 1: The Constant Rule

(Differentiating Constant Functions)
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 where 𝑐 is a constant, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0. The derivative of a constant is equal to zero.

Example 1:

a. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 8, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0.

b. If ℎ(𝑥) = −√5, then ℎ′ (𝑥) = 0.
c. If 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝜋, then 𝑔′ (𝑥) = 0.

RULE 2: The Power Rule

(Differentiating Power Functions)
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑛 where 𝑛𝜖Ν, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 .

Example 2: Find the derivatives of the following functions.

1 3
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 5 b. 𝑔(𝑥) = c. 𝑟(𝑥) = √𝑥
𝑥3

Solution:

a. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 5𝑥 5−1 = 5𝑥 4
1 3
b. Note that 𝑔(𝑥) = 3 = 𝑥 −3 . Thus, 𝑔′ (𝑥) = (−3)𝑥 −3−1 = −3𝑥 −4 or − .
𝑥 𝑥4
1 1 2
1 1 1 1
c. Note that 𝑟(𝑥) = √𝑥 = 𝑥 3 . Thus, 𝑟 ′ (𝑥) = ( ) 𝑥 3−1 = 𝑥 −3 or
3
2 or 3 .
3 3
3𝑥 3 3 √𝑥 2
 RULE 3: The Constant Multiple Rule
(Differentiating A Constant times a Function)
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘 ∙ ℎ(𝑥) where k is constant, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑘 ∙ ℎ′(𝑥).

Example 3. Find the derivatives of the following functions.

5 3
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 4 c. ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥
5
3
b. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 d. 𝑟(𝑥) = −√10𝑥
4

Solution:
5
5 15 1
a. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3 ( ) 𝑥 4−1 = 𝑥 4.
4 4
3
b. 𝑔′ (𝑥) = (4)𝑥 4−1 = 3𝑥 3 .
4
1 1 1
3 3 3 1 3
c. ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥 = 𝑥 2 ⟹ ℎ′ (𝑥) = ( ) 𝑥 2−1 = 𝑥 −2 .
5 5 5 2 10
d. 𝑟 ′ (𝑥) = −√10𝑥 1−1 = −√10𝑥 0 = −√10(1) = −√10.

RULE 4: The Sum Rule

(Differentiating Sums and Differences of Functions)
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥) where 𝑔 and ℎ are differentiable functions, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑔′ (𝑥) + ℎ′(𝑥).

Example 4: Differentiate the following:

3
a. 𝑟(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 10 c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 + √𝑥
5
4 2 4
b. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 5 + 𝑥 d. ℎ(𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 +
3 5 𝑥4

Solution:

a. 𝑟 ′ (𝑥) = 3(2𝑥 2−1 ) + 0

= 6𝑥

4 2
b. 𝑔′ (𝑥) = (5)𝑥 5−1 + 𝑥 1−1
3 5
20 4 2 0
= 𝑥 + 𝑥
3 5
20 4 2
= 𝑥 +
3 5
1
3
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2
5
3 1 1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2(3)𝑥 3−1 + ( ) 𝑥 2−1
5 2
2
3 −1
= 6𝑥 + 𝑥 2
10
4
d. ℎ(𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 + 4
𝑥
ℎ(𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 −4
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 5(4)𝑥 4−1 + 4(−4)𝑥 −4−1
= 20𝑥 3 − 16𝑥 −5
16
= 20𝑥 3 − 5
𝑥
Example 5: Differentiate the following:

1 4 2 4
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 − b. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 5 − 𝑥 c. ℎ(𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 −
𝑥3 3 5 𝑥4

Solution. Note that 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + (−1)𝑔(𝑥)

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 −3
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2(3)𝑥 3−1 − (−3)𝑥 −3−1
= 6𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 −4

4 2
b. 𝑔′ (𝑥) = (5)𝑥 5−1 − 𝑥 1−1
3 5
20 4 2 0
= 𝑥 − 𝑥 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑥 0 = 1
3 5
20 4 2
= 𝑥 −
3 5
4
c. ℎ(𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 − 4
𝑥
ℎ(𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 −4
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 5(4)𝑥 4−1 − 4(−4)𝑥 −4−1
= 20𝑥 3 + 16𝑥 −5
16
= 20𝑥 3 + 5
𝑥

RULE 5: The Product Rule

(Differentiating Product of Two Functions)
If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are differentiable functions, then
𝐷𝑥 [𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔′ (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)𝑓′(𝑥).

Example 6: Differentiate the following:

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = (2𝑥 2 − 4)(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥)

b. 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥(2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1)
c. ℎ(𝑥) = (𝑥 3 − 1)(𝑥 4 + 2)

Solution:

a. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = (2𝑥 2 − 4)𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥) + (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥)𝐷𝑥 (2𝑥 2 − 4)

= (2𝑥 2 − 4)(2𝑥 + 2) + (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥)(4𝑥)
= 4𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 8 + 4𝑥 3 + 8𝑥 2
= 8𝑥 3 + 12𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 8

b. 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥(2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1)
1
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1)
1 1
𝑔′(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 𝐷𝑥 (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1) + (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1)𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 2 )
1 1 1
𝑔′ (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 (4𝑥 − 3) + (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1) ( 𝑥 −2 )
2
3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= 4𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 2 ( 𝑥 −2 ) − 3𝑥 ( 𝑥 −2 ) + 1 ( 𝑥 −2 )
2 2 2
3 1
2−
1 3 1−1 1 −1
= 4𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2
2 2
3 1 3 3 1 1 −1
= 4𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2
2 2
3 9 1 1 −1
= 5𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2
2 2
c. ℎ(𝑥) = (𝑥 3 − 1)(𝑥 4 + 2)
ℎ′ (𝑥) = (𝑥 3 − 1) 𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 4 + 2) + (𝑥 4 + 2)𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 3 − 1)
= (𝑥 3 − 1)(4𝑥 3 ) + (𝑥 4 + 2)(3𝑥 2 )
= 4𝑥 6 − 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 6 + 6𝑥 2
= 7𝑥 6 − 4𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2

RULE 6: The Quotient Rule

(Differentiating Quotient of Two Functions)
Let 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) be two differentiable functions with 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0. Then
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔′ (𝑥)
𝐷𝑥 [ ]=
𝑔(𝑥) [𝑔(𝑥)]2

Example 7: Differentiate the following:

2𝑥+4 𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2
a. ℎ(𝑥) = b. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥 2 −2 𝑥4

Solution.

(𝑥 2 −2)𝐷𝑥(2𝑥+4)−(2𝑥+4)𝐷𝑥(𝑥 2 −2) (𝑥 4 )𝐷𝑥 (𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2)−(𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2)𝐷𝑥(𝑥 4 )

a. ℎ′ (𝑥) = (𝑥 2 −2)2
b. 𝑓′(𝑥) = (𝑥 4 )2
(𝑥 2
− 2)(2) − (2𝑥 + 4)(2𝑥) (𝑥 4 )(2𝑥
+ 3) − (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2)(4𝑥 3 )
= =
(𝑥 2 − 2)2 𝑥8
2𝑥 − 4 − (4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥)
2 2𝑥 5 + 3𝑥 4 − (4𝑥 5 + 12𝑥 4 + 8𝑥 3 )
= =
(𝑥 2 − 2)2 𝑥8
2𝑥 − 4 − 4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥
2 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 4𝑥 5 − 12𝑥 4 − 8𝑥 3
5 4
= =
(𝑥 2 − 2)2 𝑥8
2
−2𝑥 − 8𝑥 − 4 −2𝑥 − 9𝑥 − 8𝑥 3
5 4

= =
(𝑥 2 − 2)2 𝑥8
−𝑥 3 (2𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 8)
−2(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2) =
= 𝑥8
(𝑥 2 − 2)2 2
−(2𝑥 + 9𝑥 − 8)
=
𝑥5

RULE 7: Derivatives of trigonometric Functions

(Differentiating Trigonometric Functions)

𝐷𝑥 (sin 𝑥) = cos 𝑥 𝐷𝑥 (cot 𝑥) = −csc 2 𝑥

𝐷𝑥 (cos 𝑥) = − sin 𝑥 𝐷𝑥 (sec 𝑥) = sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥
𝐷𝑥 (tan 𝑥) = sec 2 𝑥 𝐷𝑥 (csc 𝑥) = − csc 𝑥 cot 𝑥

Example 8: Differentiate the following functions:

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 tan 𝑥 + cot 𝑥 c. ℎ(𝑦) = cos 𝑦 cot 𝑦

2 cos 𝑧
b. 𝑔(𝑥) = 2 sec 𝑥 − 4 csc 𝑥 d. 𝑟(𝑧) =
𝑧+1
Solution:

a. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3(sec 2 𝑥) + (− csc 2 𝑥) = 3 sec 2 𝑥 − csc 2 𝑥

b. 𝑔′ (𝑥) = 2(sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥) − 4(− csc 𝑥 cot 𝑥) = 2 sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥 + 4 csc 𝑥 cot 𝑥

c. ℎ′ (𝑦) = (cos 𝑦) 𝐷𝑦 (cot 𝑦) + (cot 𝑦) 𝐷𝑦 (cos 𝑦)

= cos 𝑦 (− csc 2 𝑦) + cot 𝑦 (− sin 𝑦)
= − cos 𝑦 csc 2 𝑦 − cot 𝑦 sin 𝑦

(𝑧+1)𝐷𝑧 (2 cos 𝑧)−(2 cos 𝑧)𝐷𝑧 (𝑧+1)

d. 𝑟 ′ (𝑧) = (𝑧+1)2
(𝑧 + 1)(2(− sin 𝑧) − (2 cos 𝑧)(1)
=
(𝑧 + 1)2
−2 (𝑧 + 1) sin 𝑧 − 2 cos 𝑧
=
(𝑧 + 1)2

RULE 8: Derivative of an Exponential Function

(Differentiating an Exponential Function)
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 , then 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 .

Example 9:

a. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑒 𝑥 , then
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2 𝐷𝑥 (𝑒 𝑥 ) = 2𝑒 𝑥 .

b. If 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 3 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑥𝑒 𝑥 − 5𝑒 𝑥 , then
𝑔′ (𝑥) = [(3𝑥 3 )𝐷𝑥 (𝑒 𝑥 ) + (𝑒 𝑥 )𝐷𝑥 (3𝑥 3 )] + [𝑥 𝐷𝑥 (𝑒 𝑥 ) + 𝑒 𝑥 𝐷𝑥 (𝑥)] − 5 𝐷𝑥 (𝑒 𝑥 )
= [3𝑥 3 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 (9𝑥 2 )] + [𝑥𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 (1)] − 5𝑒 𝑥
= 3𝑥 3 𝑒 𝑥 + 9𝑥 2 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑥𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 − 5𝑒 𝑥
= 3𝑥 3 𝑒 𝑥 + 9𝑥 2 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑥𝑒 𝑥 − 4𝑒 𝑥

References

Balmecada, J. P. et. al. (2016). Basic Calculus Teacher's Guide (1st ed.). Philippines: Department
of Education.
Leithold, L. (1976). The Calculus with Analytic Geometry (3rd ed.). New York: Harper & Row.

Writer: Reviewers:

IJEAN C. ESGUERRA ELMER R. ANDEBOR AMALIA B. RINGOR, DevEdD

Secondary School Teacher III STEM Group Head Academic Track Head
Agusan National High School Agusan National High School Agusan National High School

RUTH A. CASTROMAYOR ISRAEL B. REVECHE, PhD

Principal IV Education Program Supervisor
SHS Assistant Principal Butuan City Division SHS Coordinator
Agusan National High School