LECTURE 1 (12th March, 2024)

MTH 281
MATHEMATICAL METHODS I
COURSE FACILITATOR: Dr. R. O. Folaranmi; B.Sc, M.Sc., Ph.D (Ilorin)

E-mail: rotimifolaranmi@gmail.com

3.3 Differentiability
3.3.1 Tangent and Secant of a Curve

A tangent is a straight line that touches a curve at only one point.

FIG.(2.1)

From the above; the line PQ is a tangent to the curve at the point P . If a tangent is drawn at a point P
on a curve, then the gradient of this tangent is said to be the gradient of the curve at P .

From fig. (2.1) above, the gradient of the curve at P is equal to the gradient of the tangent PQ .

However, a secant is a straight line that intersects a curve at two points.

 FIG. (2.2)

From fig. (2.2) above AB is a secant to the curve at A( x1 , f ( x1 )) and B( x2 , f ( x2 )) .

3.3.2 The derivative of a function

Let there exists a curve whose equation is given by y = f (x) and a secant passing through the points
A( x1 , f ( x1 )) and B( x2 , f ( x2 ))

BC y
Let the gradient of secant be m, thus m = = …(2.1)
AC x

Where x implies small inreament in x and defined as x = x2 − x1

x2 = x + x1 …(2.2)

While y implies small increament in y being defined as y = y2 − y1 = f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 ) …(2.3)

Recall: y = f (x)
y1 = f ( x1 ) and

y 2 = f ( x2 )

 y 2 = f ( x1 + x)

Substitute (2.2) into (2.3) y = f ( x1 + x) − f ( x1 )

y f ( x1 + x) − f ( x1 )
Hence =
x x

y
As x approaches zero(i.e when B gets closer and closer to A), approaches a limiting value and the
x
gradient of the secant(chord) approaches the gradient of the tangent at A.

x → 0
Suppose the gradient of the tangent is f ' ( x ) then as
f ( x) → f ' ( x)

We call the f ' ( x ) the limiting value of f ( x )

dy
Thus f ' ( x ) can be interpreted as gradient function and f ' ( x) 
dx

dy y  f ( x1 + x) − f ( x1 ) 
We write this limiting value as = lim = lim 
dx x→0 x x→0 x 
dy
NOTE is referred to as the instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x (i.e wrt x ). It is called
dx
the differential coefficient or the derivative. The process of finding the differential coefficient is called
Differentiation.

To find the derivatives of y = f (x) from the first principle, the following steps are considered;

(i) Write y = f (x)

(ii) Write y + y = f ( x + x)

(iii) Obtain y = f ( x + x) − f ( x)

y
(iv) Obtain
x

y
(v) Evaluate lim . The result is the derivative of y = f (x)
x → 0 x
EXAMPLES

(1) Find the first principle derivative of f ( x) = 2 x 2 − 3x + 5

Solution
y = 2 x − 3x + 5
2
…(2.4)

y + y = 2( x + x) 2 − 3( x + x) + 5

y = 2( x + x) 2 − 3( x + x) + 5 − y …(2.5)

Substitute (2.4) into (2.5)

y = 2( x + x) 2 − 3( x + x) + 5 − (2 x 2 − 3x + 5)

y = 2 x 2 + 4 xx + 2(x) 2 − 3x − 3x + 5 − 2 x 2 + 3x − 5

y = 4 xx + 2(x) 2 − 3x

Divide through by x

y 4 xx 2(x) 2 3x

= + −
x x x x
y
= 4 x + 2x − 3
x

y
= lim(4 x + 2x − 3) = 4 x − 3
dy
= lim
dx x→0 x x→0

3.3.3 General rules of Differentiation

From differentiation by first principles of the example given above, a general rule for differentiating
y = ax n emerges, where a and 𝑛 are constants.
EXAMPLES

Differentiate the following wrt x

Problem 1

(1) 5 x 3 + 6 x 2 − 7 x − 8 x −4

Solution

y = 5 x 3 + 6 x 2 − 7 x − 8 x −4

dy
= 3  5 x 3−1 + 2  6 x 2−1 − 7 x1−1 − (−4  8 x − 4−1 )
dx
dy
= 15x 2 + 12x − 7 x 0 + 32x −5
dx
dy
= 15x 2 + 12x − 7 + 32x −5
dx
Problem2

3 x2

Solution

( )
1 2
y= x 2 3
=x 3

2
dy 2 −1
= x 3
dx 3
1
dy 2 − 3 2
= x =
dx 3 33 x ( )
3.3.4 The derivative of a product
 dy dv du
Let y = uv where u and v in turn are functions of x , then; =u +v
dx dx dx

This is known as the product rule.

Example

Differentiate 3x 4 (2 x − 5) with respect to x

Solution

u = 3x 4 v = 2x − 5
Let du , Let dv
= 12 x 3 =2
dx dx

dy
= 3 x 4 * (2) + (2 x − 5) *12x 3
dx
dy dv du dy
=u +v  = 6 x 4 + 24x 4 − 60x 3 = 30x 4 − 60x 3
dx dx dx dx
dy
= 30x 3 ( x − 2)
dx

3.3.5 The derivative of a quotient

du dv
v −u
u dy dx dx
Let y = where u and v in turn are functions of x , then; =
v dx v2

Problem 1

5x  3
Determine the gradient of the curve y = at the point  3, 
2x 2 + 4  2 


Solution

u = 5x v = 2x 2 + 4
Let du Let dv
=5 = 4x
dx dx
3.3.6 The derivative of Composite function (function of a function)

It is often easier to make a substitution before differentiating. If y is a function of x i.e y = f (x)

dy dy du
Then = 
dx du dx

This is known as the ‘function of a function’ rule (or sometimes the chain rule).
Example 2

Differentiate (1 − 2 x 3 ) with respect to x

Solution

y = (1 − 2 x 3 )

1 dy dy du
u = 1 − 2x3 = 
y = u = u2 dx du dx
Let du  
= −6 x 2
1
dy 1 2 −1 1 − 2 1
1
dy 1 − 6x 2
dx = u = u = =  −6 x 2 =
du 2 2 2 u dx 2 u 2 (1 − 2 x 3 )

3.3.7 The Trigonometric functions and their derivatives.

The derivative of trigonometry function is summarized below;

y = f (x) dy
dx
sin x cos x
cos x − sin x
tan x sec2 x
cot x − cos ec 2 x

Examples

Differentiate the following wrt x.

(1) sin 3x (2) sin(5 x 3 + 2 x)
Solution Solution

y = sin 3 x y = sin(5 x 3 + 2 x)
u = 3x
du
=3
dx u = (5 x 3 + 2 x)
y = sin u du
= 15x 2 + 2
dx
Let dy y = sin u
= cos u
du dy
= cos u
dy du dy du
= * dy du dy
dx dx du = *
dx dx du
dy
= 3 cos u = 3 cos 3 x dy
= (15x 2 + 2) cos u = (15x 2 + 2) cos(5 x 3 + 2 x)
dx dx
(3) tan 8x (4) cos(5 x 4 − 3)

Solution Solution
y = cos(5 x 4 − 3)
y = tan 8 x
u = (5 x 4 − 3)
du
u = 8x = 20x 3
dx
du
=8 y = cosu
dx
y = tan u dy
= − sin u
dy du
= sec2 u
du dy du dy
dy du dy = *
= * dx dx du
dx dx du
dy
dy
= 8 sec2 u = 8 sec2 8 x = −20x 3 sin u = 20x 3 sin(5 x 4 − 3)
dx dx

3.3.8 The derivatives of logarithmic function

y = ln x y = loge x
Generally, (i) if dy 1 or dy 1
= =
dx x dx x

y = loga x
(ii) if dy 1 1
= = log10 e
dx x ln a x

Examples

Differentiate ln(3 + x 4 ) w.r.t x

Solution

y = ln(3 + x 4 )

dy du dy
u = 3 + x4 y = ln u = 
dx dx du
Let du  dy 1 
= 4x3 = dy 1 4x3
dx du u = 4 x3  =
dx u 3 + x4
3.3.9 The derivatives of exponential functions

(i) The derivatives of a x

loge y = loge a x
Let y = a x then
loge y = x loge a

1 dy
= x  0 + loge a  1
y dx
1 dy
Differentiate with respect to x, we have = loge a
y dx
dy
= y loge a
dx

dy
Substitute for y = a x , then = a x loge a
dx

y = ax
Hence if dy
= a x loge a
dx

(ii) The derivatives of e x

loge y = loge e x
Let y = e x then loge y = x loge e
loge y = x

1 dy
=1
y dx
y = ex
dy
Differentiate with respect to x, we have =y  Hence if dy
dx = ex
dy dx
= ex
dx

EXAMPLES

Differentiate the following w.r.t x

3
+ 4 x 2 +5 x
(1) e 5 x (2) e x (3) e sin x (4) x 3 e 3 x

Solution
 dy du dy
u = 5x y = eu = 
dx dx du
(1) y = e 5 x  let du  dy 
=5 = eu dy
dx du = 5e u = 5e 5 x
dx

dy du dy
= 
dx dx du
u = x 3 + 4x 2 + 5x y = eu
+ 4 x +5 x dy
(2) y = e x   
3 2
let du dy = (3x 2 + 8 x + 5)  e u
= 3x 2 + 8 x + 5 = eu dx
dx du dy
= (3x 2 + 8 x + 5)  e x + 4 x +5 x
3 2

dx

dy du dy
u = sin x y = eu = 
dx dx du
(3) y = e sin x  let du  dy 
= cos x = eu dy
dx du = cos xeu = cos xesin x
dx

(4) y = x 3 e 3 x

dy dv du
=u +v
dx dx dx
u = x3 v = e3x
dy
Let du  let dv  = x 3  3e 3 x + e 3 x  3x 2
= 3x 2 = 3e 3 x dx
dx dx dy
= 3x 2 e 3 x ( x + 1)
dx

3.3.10 The Derivatives of Inverse Functions and Inverse of Trigonometric Functions.

(i) Inverse Functions

y = f ( x)
y = f ( x)
Consider the function  Generally; if dy = 1
x = f −1 ( y) dx dy
dx
Examples

dx
(1) Find , if y = 5 x
dy

Solution
1
y = x5
y5 = x
dx
= 5y 4
dy

dx
(2) If y = 5 x + 1 , find
dy

Solution
1
y = ( x + 1) 5

y5 = x +1
y5 −1 = x
dx
= 5y4
dy

(ii) Inverse of Trigonometric Functions.

dy
(a) Derivative of cos−1 x i.e. To find
dx

dx
= − sin y
y = cos−1 x dy
Let 
x = cos y dy
=−
1
dx sin y

sin 2 y + cos2 y = 1 dy 1 1
But  Now substitute; =− =−
sin y = 1 − cos y2 dx 1 − cos y
2
1− x2

dy
(b) Derivative of tan −1 x ,  i.e. To find
dx

dx
−1
= sec2 y
y = tan x dy
Let  since tan 2 y = x 2
x = tan y dy
=
1
=
1
= 2
1
dx sec y tan y + 1 x + 1
2 2
 dy
(c) Derivative of sec−1 x , i.e. To find
dx

dx
= sec y tan y
y = sec−1 x dy
Let 
x = sec y dy
=
1
=
1
=
1
dx sec y tan y sec y  sec2 y − 1 x x 2 − 1

NOTE:

sin 2 x + cos2 x = 1
tan 2 x + 1 = sec2 x
1 + cot 2 x = cos ec 2 x

(2)

3.3.11 Maxima and Minima of a functions

Considering the curve above;

At point A, i.e x = x1 , a maximum value of y occurs since at A, the y-value is greater than the y-
values on either side of it and close to it.

At point B, i.e x = x2 , a minimum value of y occurs, the y-value y is less than the y-value on either
side.

However, At point C, i.e x = x3 , we have the point of inflexion (i.e. it looks like half way between
min. and max. value)

Points A, B and C are called stationary points on the graph or stationary value of y.
 dy
At the points x = x1 , x 2 , x3 the tangent is parallel to the x-axis i.e is at the x-axis and no other
dx
dy
points. Thus; =0
dx

3.3.12 TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF STATIONARY POINTS

dy
In summary, at stationary point (Turning point); =0
dx

EXAMPLE

SOLUTION
TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

(1) Differentiate the following wrt x.

(i) xy + y 2 + sin y = 2
(ii) cos x − x sin x
(iii) tan( 7 x 5 + 3x 2 − 8)

(2) Find the derivative of the following;

(i) sin −1 x −1
(ii) cot x
−1
(iii) cos ec x

(3)

(4) Differentiate the following with respect to x.

(a) y = e (b) y = e (3 x + 1) (c) y = e sin 7 x (d) y = x cos 2 x 1

sin 5 x 5x 3x