Chapter 4

Derivative

By: Melaku Berhe Belay (PhD)

Dr. Melaku B.B (AASTU)

How could we find the gradient?

Suppose we’re finding the gradient of y = x2 at the point A(3, 9).

Gradient = 6
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Definition of Derivative:
Definition 1: The derivative of a function 𝒇 at a point x ,
denoted by 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) , is given by:

𝑓 𝑥+ℎ −𝑓 𝑥
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim 𝑜𝑟
ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑓 𝑡 − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
𝑡→𝑥 𝑡−𝑥

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How could we find the gradient?
For the curve y = x2, we find the gradient for these various points.
Can you spot the pattern?

Point (1, 1) (4, 16) (2.5, 6.25) (10, 100)

Gradient 2 8 5 20

For y = x2, gradient = 2x

Let’s prove it...

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Proof that gradient of y = x2 is 2x

Suppose we add some tiny value, h, to x. Then:

The “lim” bit means
(x + h, (x+h)2) “what this expression
approaches as h tends
(x, x2) towards 0”
δy
δx

The h disappears as h
tends towards 0.

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Further considerations

You may be wondering

why we couldn’t just set
h to be 0 immediately.
Why did we have to
expand out the brackets
and simplify first?

If h was 0 at this stage, we’d have 0/0.

This is known as an indeterminate form (i.e.
it has no value!)

We don’t like indeterminate forms, and

want to find some way to remove them. In
this particular case, just expanding the
numerator resolves the problem.

There are 7 indeterminate forms in total:

0/0, 00, inf/inf, inf– inf, 1inf, inf ^0, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 0 𝑥 inf we
07/11/2022 will see them in application part of derivative
Notation
These are ways in which we can express the gradient.
dy = 2x
y = x2 dx
Leibniz's notation

f(x) = x2 f’(x) = 2x
Lagrange’s notation

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Your Turn: What is the gradient of y = x3?

(x + h, (x+h)3)

(x, x3) δy
δx

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 Differentiating xn
Can you spot the pattern?

y x2 x3 x4 x5 x6
dy/dx 2x 3x2 4x3 5x4 6x5

! If y = xn, then dy/dx = nxn-1

If y = axn, then dy/dx = anxn-1
In general, scaling y also scales the gradient

y = x7 → dy/dx = 7x6 y = x10 → dy/dx = 10x9

y = 2x3 → dy/dx = 6x2 f(x) = 2x3 → f’(x) = 6x2

f(x) = x2 + 5x4 → f’(x) = 2x + 20x3 y = 3x1/2 → dy/dx = 3/2 x-1/2

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Differentiating cx and c
y

What is the gradient of the line y = 3x?

How could you show it using differentiation?

y = 3x = 3x1
Then dy/dx = 3x0 = 3

What is the gradient of the line y = 4?

y=4 How could you show it using differentiation?

y = 4 = 4x0
Then dy/dx = 0x-1 = 0
x

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Differentiating cx and c

𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 3𝑥 → =3
𝑑𝑥

𝑓 𝑥 =7 → 𝑓′ 𝑥 = 0

𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = −𝑥 → = −1
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 74 → =0
𝑑𝑥

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Exercises
Be sure to use the correct notation for the gradient.

Function Gradient Point(s) of interest Gradient at

this point
𝑦 = 2𝑥 5 dy/dx = 10x4 (2, 64) 160
𝑓 𝑥 = 7𝑥 3 f’(x) = 21x2 (3, 189) 189
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 dy/dx = 2 + 2x (4, 24) 10
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 −1 + 3 f’(x) = 3x2 – x-2 (2, 11.5) 11.75
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥4 f’(x) = 4x3 (2, 16) 32
𝑦 = 𝑥3 + 4 dy/dx = 3x2 (3, 31), (-3, -23) 27
1 3 𝑑𝑦 4 3
𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑥2 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 −3,0 , 1,
3 𝑑𝑥 3

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Test your knowledge so far...
Exercise:

𝑑𝑦 2
1
= 15𝑥 − 8𝑥 3 + 2
𝑑𝑥

𝑑2𝑦 8 −2
2
= 30𝑥 − 𝑥 3
𝑑𝑥 3

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Turning more complex expressions into polynomials
We know how to differentiate things in the form 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 . Where possible, put
expressions in this form.

1
𝑥→ 𝑥2 1 −2
= 𝑥
𝑥2
1 1
−2
=𝑥 1+𝑥 1
−2
1
𝑥 𝑥
= 𝑥 + 𝑥2

𝑥2 3 𝑥 − 𝑥2 5
−2
= 𝑥 − 𝑥 −1
= 𝑥2 𝑥 3
𝑥

𝑥2 𝑥 − 1 = 𝑥3 − 𝑥2

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Exercise
1 Use standard results to differentiate.
𝑑𝑦 1
= 𝑥 −2
a) y = 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 𝑑𝑦
c) y = 3𝑥 3 = −𝑥 −4
𝑑𝑥
2 𝑑𝑦 1 1
e) y = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 = −6𝑥 −4 + 𝑥 −2
𝑑𝑥 2
3 1 𝑑𝑦 1 −2 1 −2
f) y = 𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 𝑥 3− 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 3 2
3𝑥 2 −6 𝑑𝑦
h) y= 𝑥 = 3 + 6𝑥 −2
𝑑𝑥
j) y = 𝑥 𝑥2 −𝑥+2 𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2
1 𝑑𝑥
l) y = 3𝑥 − 2 4𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑦
= 24𝑥 − 8 + 2𝑥 −2
𝑑𝑥

2 Find the gradient of the curve with equation

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at the point A where:

1 1
c) 𝑓 𝑥 = and A is at ,2 −4
𝑥 4
4 4
d) 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 𝑥 2 and A is at 2,5

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Finding equations of tangents

Definition The tangent line to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at

the point 𝑃(𝑎, 𝑓 𝑎 )is the line through the point with
slope
𝑓 𝑥 −𝑓(𝑎)
𝑚= lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥−𝑎

Equation of tangent line: 𝑌 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑎) + 𝑓(𝑎)

1
Equation of normal line: 𝑌 = (𝑥 − 𝑎) + 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑚

Where 𝑚 = 𝑓′(𝑎)

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Finding equations of tangents
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 when 𝑥 = 3.

𝒅𝒚
Function of gradient: = 𝟐𝒙
𝒅𝒙

Gradient when 𝑥 = 3: 𝒎=𝟔

𝑦-value when 𝑥 = 3: 𝒚=𝟗

𝑥=3
So equation of tangent:
𝒚−𝟗=𝟔 𝒙−𝟑

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Finding equations of tangents
Find the equation of the normal to the curve
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 when 𝑥 = 3.

𝒅𝒚
Function of gradient: = 𝟐𝒙
𝒅𝒙

Gradient when 𝑥 = 3: 𝒎=𝟔

Perpendicular gradient when 𝑥 = 3:

𝟏
𝒎=−
𝑥=3 𝟔

𝑦-value when 𝑥 = 3: 𝒚=𝟗

So equation of normal:
𝟏
𝒚−𝟗=− 𝒙−𝟑
𝟔
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Second Derivative
We can differentiate multiple times.

Name Leibniz Notation Lagrange Notation

(Original expression/function) 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥
First Derivative 𝑑𝑦 𝑓′ 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Second Derivative 𝑑2𝑦 𝑓 ′′ 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑛th Derivative 𝑑𝑛 𝑦 𝑓 𝑛 𝑥
d𝑥 𝑛
𝑑2𝑦
𝑦 = 5𝑥 3 → = 30𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2

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Equations of tangents and normals
Example:

𝑑𝑦 1
−2
= 2 − 4𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑦 = −6𝑥 + 3

(9, -1)

Recap: If a line has gradient m and goes through 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , then it has equation:
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𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚 𝑥 − 𝑥1
Equations of tangents and normals
Example:

1
,0
2

17
−8,
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 Equations of tangents and normals
Example:

Expanding gives 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 7𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 + 9

𝑑𝑦
Thus is as given.
𝑑𝑥

𝑚 = 3 −5 2 + 14 −5 + 15 = 20 𝑦1 = −5 + 1 −5 + 3 2
= −16
So 𝑦 + 16 = 20 𝑥 + 5 → 𝑦 = 20𝑥 + 84

We’re interested where the gradient is 20.

3𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 + 15 = 20
3𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 − 5 = 0
3𝑥 − 1 𝑥 + 5 = 0
1
So 𝑥 = −5 (as before) or 𝑥 =
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Equations of tangents and normals
Example:

𝑑𝑦 3 2 27 1
= 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 −2
𝑑𝑥 2 2

1 3
3 8
4 − 9 4 2 + + 30
2 4
= 32 − 72 + 2 + 30 = −8

3 2
27 8 1 9
𝑚𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔 = 4 − 4 − 2 = 24 − 27 − = −
2 2 4 2 2
2
Thus 𝑚⊥ =
9
2
𝑦+8= 𝑥−4
9
9𝑦 + 8 = 2𝑥 − 8
2𝑥 − 9𝑦 − 16 = 0
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Definition: A function f is said to be differentiable at 𝒂 if 𝑓 ′ (𝑎)
exists.
It is differentiable on an open interval (𝒂, 𝒃)
[or (𝑎, ∞) or −∞, 𝑎 or (−∞, ∞) ] if it is differentiable at every
number in the interval.

EXAMPLE : Where is the function 𝑓 𝑥 = |𝑥| differentiable?

SOLUTION If 𝑥 > 0, then

𝑥+ℎ −|𝑥| 𝑥+ℎ −𝑥 ℎ
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim = lim = lim ℎ = lim 1 = 1
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ→0
and so 𝑓 is differentiable for any 𝑥 > 0.

Similarly, for 𝑥 < 0 we have 𝑥 = −𝑥. Then

𝑥+ℎ − 𝑥 − 𝑥+ℎ −(−𝑥) −ℎ

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim ℎ
= lim ℎ
= lim = lim −1 = −1
ℎ→0 ℎ→0 ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0
and so 𝑓 is differentiable for any 𝑥 < 0.

𝐻𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟, 𝑓 ′ 0 does not exist. (Why?)

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Theorem : If 𝑓 is differentiable at 𝑎, then 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑎.
( The converse is not true)

Example : 𝑓 𝑥 = |𝑥|

Derivatives of functions

Derivative of a Constant Function The Constant Multiple Rule.

𝒅
𝒄 =𝟎 If c is a constant and is a
𝒅𝒙
differentiable function, then

The Power Rule: If n is any real number, then 𝑑 𝑑

𝑐𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐 𝑑𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥

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 The Sum/Difference Rule If f and g are both differentiable, then
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
𝑓 𝑥 ±𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑑𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 ± 𝑑𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

The Product Rule If f and g are both differentiable, then

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
𝑓 𝑥 .𝑔 𝑥 =𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 (𝑓 𝑥 )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

The Quotient Rule If f and g are both differentiable, then

𝑑 𝑑
𝑑 𝑓 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 −𝑔(𝑥)𝑑𝑥(𝑓(𝑥))
= ,Provided that 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0.
𝑑𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 [𝑔 𝑥 ]2

EXAMPLE: Find the derivatives of the following functions

𝑓 𝑥 = 5𝑥 6 (𝑥 − 5)
𝑥2
𝑓 𝑥 = 4
𝑥 +1

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Rule #1: The Chain Rule
The Chain Rule allows you to differentiate when you have a composite function, i.e. a
function of a function.
𝑦 = 3𝑥 4 + 𝑥 5

! Chain Rule: If f and 𝑔 are both differentiable and 𝐹 = 𝑓𝑜𝑔 is the composite
function of f and 𝑔 where (𝑓𝑜𝑔) 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑔 𝑥 ) , then 𝐹 is differentiable,
denoted by 𝐹 ′ is defined as:
𝐹 ′ 𝑥 = 𝑓 ′ (𝑔 𝑥 )𝑔′ (𝑥)

In Leibniz notation, if 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑢) and 𝑢 = 𝑔(𝑥) are both differentiable functions,

then
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑥

Multiplying these together gives the overall result:

𝑑𝑦
= 5 3𝑥 4 + 𝑥 4 12𝑥 3 + 1
𝑑𝑥
More Examples

𝑑𝑦 1 −1
𝑦= 𝑥3 + 𝑥 4
= 4 𝑥3 + 𝑥 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 2

10 11 12 𝑑𝑦
𝑦= 𝑥 +𝑥 = 12 𝑥 10 + 𝑥 11 11 10𝑥 9 + 11𝑥 10
𝑑𝑥

1 𝑑𝑦 −2
1
𝑦= = −1 𝑥 + 1 1 =− 2
𝑥+1 𝑑𝑥 𝑥+1

1 𝑑𝑦 1 3
−2 3
𝑦= = − 3𝑥 + 1 3 =− 3
3𝑥 + 1 𝑑𝑥 2
2 3𝑥 + 1 2
Rule #2: 𝑑𝑥/𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
You’ve been used to having 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥 and finding
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
But we can find even when 𝑥 is in terms of 𝑦.
𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝑦 1
! = 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
Find when 𝑥 = 2𝑦 2 + 𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝒅𝒙
= 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟏
𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒚 𝟏
=
𝒅𝒙 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟏

Find the gradient of 𝑥 = 1 + 2𝑦 3 when 𝑦 = 1

𝒅𝒙 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝟏
= 𝟔 𝟏 + 𝟐𝒚 → = 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙 𝟔 𝟏 + 𝟐𝒚
𝟏 𝟏
𝒎= =
𝟔 𝟏 + 𝟐 𝟐 𝟓𝟒
Exercise
1 Differentiate:
4 𝟑
a 1 + 2𝑥 → 𝟖 𝟏 + 𝟐𝒙
1 𝟏
−
c 3 + 4𝑥 2 → 𝟐 𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙 𝟐
1 𝟐
e 3 + 2𝑥 → − 𝟐
𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙
−6 −𝟕
h 3 8−𝑥 → 𝟏𝟖 𝟖 − 𝒙

3 𝑑𝑦
3 Given that 𝑦 = 5 − 2𝑥 find the value of 𝑑𝑥 at 1,27
−𝟓𝟒

𝑑𝑦 1
5 Find the value of 𝑑𝑥 at the point 2 2 , 4 on the curve with
1 1
−2
equation 𝑦 + 𝑦
2 =𝑥
𝟏
𝟓
𝟑
 Derivative of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Arcsine Function:
Recall the definition of the arcsine function:
−1 𝜋 𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 ⇒ sin 𝑦 = 𝑥, where − ≤ 𝑦 ≤
2 2

Differentiating sin 𝑦 = 𝑥 implicitly with respect to x, we obtain

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 1
cos 𝑦 =1 𝑜𝑟 =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 cos 𝑦
Now cos 𝑦 ≥ 0, 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 −𝜋Τ2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝜋Τ2 , 𝑠𝑜
cos 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑦 1 1
Thus = =
𝑑𝑥 cos 𝑦 1−𝑥 2
𝑑 −1
1
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 =
𝑑𝑥 1 − 𝑥2

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 Derivative of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

𝒅 𝟏
• 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 𝒙 =
𝒅𝒙 𝟏−𝒙𝟐

𝒅 𝟏
• 𝒄𝒔𝒄−𝟏 𝒙 = −
𝒅𝒙 𝒙 𝒙𝟐 −𝟏

𝒅 𝟏
• 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 𝒙 = −
𝒅𝒙 𝟏−𝒙𝟐

𝒅 𝟏
• 𝒔𝒆𝒄−𝟏 𝒙 =
𝒅𝒙 𝒙 𝒙𝟐 −𝟏
𝒅 𝟏
• 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 𝒙 =
𝒅𝒙 𝟏+𝒙𝟐

𝒅 𝟏
• 𝒄𝒐𝒕−𝟏 𝒙 = −
𝒅𝒙 𝟏+𝒙𝟐

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 Hyperbolic Functions
Definition of the Hyperbolic Functions
𝒆𝒙 −𝒆−𝒙 𝟏
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒙 = 𝒄𝒔𝒄𝒉 𝒙 =
𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒙
𝒆 +𝒆−𝒙
𝒙 𝟏
𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝒙 = 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝒙 =
𝟐 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝒙
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝒙
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒉 𝒙 = 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒙 =
𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝒙 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒙

Hyperbolic Identities
sinh(− x) = − sinh x cosh(− x) = cosh x

cosh 2 x − sinh 2 x = 1 1 − tanh2 x = sec h2 x

sinh( x + y ) = sinh x cosh y + cosh x sinh y

cosh(x + y) = cosh x cosh y + sinh x sinh y
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 Derivative of Hyperbolic Functions
𝒅 𝒅 𝒆𝒙 − 𝒆−𝒙 𝒆𝒙 + 𝒆−𝒙
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒙 = = = 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝟐 𝟐

𝒅 𝒅
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒙 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝒙 𝒄𝒔𝒄𝒉 𝒙 = −𝒄𝒔𝒄𝒉 𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅 𝒅
𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝒙 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒙 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝒙 = −𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝒙 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒉 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅 𝒅
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒉 𝒙 = 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒉𝟐 𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒙 = −𝒄𝒔𝒄𝒉𝟐 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙

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 Derivative of Inverse Hyperbolic Functions
In particular, we have:

𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ−1 𝑥 ⟺ sin ℎ𝑦 = 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ−1 𝑥 ⇔ cosh 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 ≥ 0
𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ−1 𝑥 ⟺ tanh 𝑦 = 𝑥
Inverse hyperbolic functions can be expressed in terms of logarithms

sinh −1 x = ln( x + x 2 + 1) x 1

cosh −1 x = ln( x + x 2 + 1) xR

−1 1 1+ x −1  x  1
tanh x = ln( )
2 1− x

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 Derivative of Inverse Hyperbolic Functions
In particular, we have:

Example: Show that 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ−1 𝑥 = ln 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + 1 .

Solution: Let 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ−1 𝑥. Then
𝑒 𝑦 −𝑒 −𝑦
𝑥 = sinh 𝑦 =
2
So 𝑒 𝑦 − 2𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑦 = 0
Multiplying by 𝑒 𝑦 ,
𝑒 2𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑒 𝑦 − 1 = 0
(𝑒 𝑦 )2 −2𝑥 𝑒 𝑦 − 1 = 0
2𝑥± 4𝑥 2 +4
𝑒𝑦 = = 𝑥 ± 𝑥2 + 1
2
Note that 𝑒 𝑦 > 0 , but 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 1 < 0. Thus, the minus sign
is inadmissible and we have
𝑒𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑥2 + 1
Therefore 𝑦 = ln 𝑒 𝑦 = ln(𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + 1)

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 Derivative of Inverse Hyperbolic Functions
d −1 1
d −1
(sinh x) =
1 (csc h x) = −
dx 1+ x 2 dx x x2 +1

d −1 1 d 1
(cosh x) = −1
(sec h x) = −
dx x −1
2 dx x 1− x2

d −1 1 d 1
(tanh x) =
−1
(coth x) = −
dx 1− x 2 dx 1− x2

07/11/2022
 Rule #3: Product Rule
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒗 𝒅𝒖
! Product Rule: If 𝒚 = 𝒖𝒗 then =𝒖 +𝒗
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙

In words: To differentiate the product of two functions, differentiate the first function
and leave the second alone, then vice versa, and add the two products together.

𝑑𝑦
E1 If 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑥 + 1 100
, determine 𝑑𝑥 , simplifying your answer.
𝒅𝒚
= 𝒙𝟐 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟗𝟗 + 𝟐𝒙 𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒅𝒙
= 𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟗𝟗 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟐𝒙 𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟗𝟗 𝟓𝟏𝒙 + 𝟏

E2 Given that 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 3𝑥 − 1 determine 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 , simplifying your answer as much as

possible.
′ 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
−𝟐
𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 =𝒙 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏 𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏 𝟐
𝟐
𝟏 −𝟐
𝟏
Be careful here.
= 𝒙 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟒 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟐
𝟏 −𝟐
𝟏
= 𝒙 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏 (𝟏𝟓𝒙 − 𝟒)
𝟐
Test Your Understanding
Differentiate the following:

1 𝑦 =𝑥 𝑥+1
𝒅𝒚 𝟏 𝟏
−𝟐
𝟏
=𝒙 𝒙+𝟏 +𝟏 𝒙+𝟏 𝟐
𝒅𝒙 𝟐
𝟏 −
𝟏
= 𝒙+𝟏 𝟐 𝒙+𝟐 𝒙+𝟏
𝟐
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
=
𝟐 𝒙+𝟏
2 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 1 3 3𝑥 + 1 2
𝒅𝒚
= 𝟑 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟐 + 𝟐 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟑 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟑
𝒅𝒙
= 𝟔 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟐 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟑 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏
= 𝟔 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟐 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏
= 𝟔 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟐 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐
 Exercise
5 𝟒 𝟓 𝟒
1a 𝑥 1 + 3𝑥 → 𝟏𝟓𝒙 𝟏 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 + 𝟑𝒙 = 𝟏 + 𝟑𝒙 𝟏𝟖𝒙 + 𝟏

1c 𝑥 3 2𝑥 + 6 4 → 𝟐𝒙𝟐 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟔 𝟑 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟗 = 𝟏𝟔𝒙𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟑 𝟑 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟗

1d 3𝑥 2 5𝑥 − 1 −1
→ 𝟑𝒙 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟐 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏 −𝟐

1
𝑑𝑦
2b Find the value of at the point 4,36 on the curve with equation 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2𝑥 + 1 . 2
𝑑𝑥
13

3 Find the points where the gradient is zero on the curve with equation
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2 2 2𝑥 + 3 .
𝟏 𝟏𝟗
(𝟐, 𝟎) and − 𝟑 , 𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝟕

𝒅𝒚 𝟏 −𝟏 𝟏
Question: = 𝒙 𝒙 − 𝟏 −𝟐
𝒅𝒙 𝟔
𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝟏 −𝟐 −
𝟏 𝟏 −𝟏 −
𝟑
𝑑𝑦 1 = − 𝒙 𝒙 − 𝟏 𝟐− 𝒙 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐
𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝟔 𝟏𝟐
= 1 𝟏 −𝟐 −
𝟑
𝑑𝑥 =− 𝒙 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 𝒙−𝟏 +𝒙
6𝑥 𝑥 − 1 2 𝟏𝟐
𝑑2 𝑦 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙
Find , simplifying your answer. = 𝟑
𝑑𝑥 2 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟏 𝟐
The Quotient Rule
We can use the ‘product’ rule to differentiate a product 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑣
𝑢
How can we differentiate a ‘quotient’, i.e. 𝑦 = 𝑣

Using the Chain and Product rules:

𝑢
𝑦= = 𝑢𝑣 −1
𝑣
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢 −1
= −𝑢𝑣 −2 + 𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
= 𝑣 −2 𝑣 −𝑢
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑣 −𝑢
= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑣 2 Mela Tip: How do you
This is the Quotient Rule. It
𝑑𝑢
looks like the Product Rule remember whether 𝑣 or
𝑑𝑥
except the + is now a − 𝑑𝑣
the 𝑢 𝑑𝑥 comes first?
and we divide by the
denominator squared.
Examples
𝑢
𝑥+1 𝑑𝑦 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 1 6𝑥 + 1
𝑦= 2 =
3𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2
𝑣

𝑥 1 −12
𝑦= 𝑑𝑦 2 𝑥 𝑥 + 1 − 𝑥
𝑥+1 =
𝑑𝑥 𝑥+1 2
1−𝑥
=
2 𝑥 𝑥+1 2
2𝑥 + 1 𝑑𝑦 2
𝑥 − 1 2𝑥 + 1
1
−2
− 2𝑥 2𝑥 + 1
1
2
𝑦= 2 =
𝑥 −1 𝑑𝑥 𝑥2 − 1 2
Differentiating 𝑒 𝑥 and ln 𝑥

𝑑 𝑥 This is probably one of the most

𝑒 = 𝑒𝑥 important results in calculus,
𝑑𝑥 and is why 𝑒 comes up
everywhere!

𝑑 1 You know how to find ‫ 𝑥 ׬‬−2 𝑑𝑥 in

ln 𝑥 = the usual way. But what if you tried
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 to do ‫ 𝑥 ׬‬−1 𝑑𝑥 in the usual way?
Now our problem is solved!

Use the Chain Rule to differentiate the following:

𝑑 𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑑 2𝑥
𝑒 = 2𝑥𝑒 ln 𝑥 2 + 1 = 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 +1
A Few More Examples
𝒅𝒚
𝑦 = 𝑒 2𝑥 → = 𝟐𝒆𝟐𝒙
𝒅𝒙
Mela Tip: We can see in general
𝒅𝒚 𝑑
𝑦 = 𝑒 3𝑥
2 +1
→
𝟐
= 𝟔𝒙 𝒆𝟑𝒙 +𝟏 that 𝑑𝑥 𝑒 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 𝑒 𝑓 𝑥 , i.e.
𝒅𝒙 we just multiply by the
differentiated power.
𝒅𝒚 𝟓
𝑦 = 5 ln 𝑥 → =
𝒅𝒙 𝒙

𝑒 𝑥+1 𝒅𝒚 𝒆𝒙+𝟏 𝒙 − 𝟏
𝑦= → =
𝑥 𝒅𝒙 𝒙𝟐

𝒅𝒚 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝒆𝒙
𝑦 = ln 𝑥3 + 𝑒𝑥 → = 𝟑
𝒅𝒙 𝒙 + 𝒆𝒙

𝒅𝒚 𝒆𝒙 𝟏 𝒙
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 𝑒𝑥 ln 𝑥 → 𝒙
= 𝟐 + + 𝒆 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 = 𝟐 + 𝒆 𝟏 + 𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝒙 𝒙

𝑥 𝒅𝒚 𝒙 𝒙
𝑦 = 𝑒𝑒 → = 𝒆𝒙 𝒆𝒆 = 𝒆𝒙+𝒆
𝒅𝒙
Exercises
𝟐 8 Find the turning point of the curve
1 𝑦 = ln 2𝑥 + 1 → ln 𝑥
𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 with equation 𝑦 =
𝑥
.
𝑥+1 5 𝒙+𝟏 𝟓
2 𝑦=𝑒 → 𝟓 𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟒𝒆 𝟏
𝒅𝒚 𝒙 − 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 𝟏 − 𝐥𝐧 𝒙
𝟏𝟎 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 𝟗 𝒙
10 = =
3 𝑦 = ln 𝑥 → 𝒅𝒙 𝒙𝟐 𝒙𝟐
𝒙
𝑒𝑥 𝒆 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐
𝒙
𝟏 − 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 = 𝟎
4 𝑦= 2 →
𝑥 +1 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 = 𝟏
𝒙=𝒆
𝟏 𝒙 𝟏
5 𝑦= 𝑒𝑥 ln 𝑥 → 𝒆 𝟏 + 𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 𝒚=
𝒙 𝒆
𝒆𝒙
6 𝑦 = ln 𝑒 𝑥 + 1 → 𝒙 9 Find the equation of the tangent to the
𝒆 +𝟏 𝑒𝑥
1 𝟏 curve with equation 𝑦 = when
2 ln 𝑥
7 𝑦= 𝑥 𝑒𝑥 → 𝒆𝒙 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 𝑥 = 𝑒.
𝒙 𝟏 𝒙 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 𝒆 − 𝒙 𝒆 𝒆𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 − 𝟏
= =
𝒅𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 𝟐 𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 𝟐
𝒅𝒚
When 𝒙 = 𝒆, = 𝟎
𝒅𝒙
So tangent: 𝒚 = 𝒆𝒆
Differentiating Trig Functions
𝑑 You need to know that for small values of 𝑥,
sin 𝑥 = cos 𝑥 sin 𝑥 ~𝑥 (i.e. are equal in the limit). Similarly
𝑑𝑥 cos 𝑥 ~1 as 𝑥 becomes small.

Proof
𝑦 = sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑦 sin 𝑥 + ℎ − sin 𝑥
= lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ sin 𝑥
sin 𝑥 cos ℎ + sin ℎ cos 𝑥 − sin 𝑥
= lim cos 𝑥
ℎ→0 ℎ
sin 𝑥 + ℎ cos 𝑥 − sin 𝑥
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
= lim = lim cos 𝑥
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0
= cos 𝑥 □

𝑑
cos 𝑥 = − sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Examples
𝑑 𝑑
sin 2𝑥 = 𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙 cos 𝑥 2 = −𝟐𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙𝟐
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 2 𝑑 cos 𝑥
𝑥 sin 𝑥 = 𝒙𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 + 𝟐𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝑒 = − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝒆𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Question
:Differentiate with respect to 𝑥:
cos 2𝑥
𝑥

𝑢 = cos 2𝑥 v= 𝑥
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣 1 −1
= −2 sin 2𝑥 = 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2
1 −12
𝑑𝑦 −2 𝑥 sin 2𝑥 − 2 𝑥 cos 2𝑥 1 −3
= = − 𝑥 2 4𝑥 sin 2𝑥 + cos 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 2
Differentiating Other Trig Functions

𝑑 Using Quotient Rule on tan 𝑥 =

sin 𝑥
cos 𝑥
:
tan 𝑥 = sec 2 𝑥 𝑑 sin 𝑥
=
cos2 𝑥 + sin2 𝑥
=
1
= sec 2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 cos 𝑥 2
cos 𝑥 2
cos 𝑥

𝑑
cosec 𝑥 = − c𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥 cot 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
sec 𝑥 = sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
cot 𝑥 = −𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Examples
Differentiate the following:

cosec 2𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑥 2 −2 csc 2𝑥 cot 2𝑥 − csc 2𝑥 𝑥 2

𝑦= =
𝑥4
𝑥2 𝑑𝑥
−2 csc 2𝑥 𝑥 cot 2𝑥 + 1
=
𝑥3

𝑦 = sec 3 𝑥 𝑦 = sec 3 𝑥 = sec 𝑥 3 Using chain rule

𝑑𝑦
= 3 sec 2 𝑥 sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
= 3 sec 3 𝑥 tan 𝑥
Exercises
3+sin 2𝑥
The curve 𝐶 has equation 𝑦 = 2+cos 2𝑥.
1 𝑑𝑦 6 sin 2𝑥+4 cos 2𝑥+2
a 𝑦 = cot 4𝑥 → −𝟒 𝐜𝐬𝐜? 𝟐
𝟒𝒙 Show that 𝑑𝑥 = 2+cos 2𝑥 2
c 𝑦 = cosec 4𝑥 → −𝟒 𝐜𝐬𝐜 𝟒𝒙 ? 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝟒𝒙 𝒅𝒚 (𝟐 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙) 𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒙 −𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒙
=
? 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟑𝒙
d 𝑦 = sec 2 3𝑥 → 𝟔 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝟑𝒙 𝒅𝒙
=⋯
𝟐 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙 𝟐
sec 2 𝑥 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 𝟐𝒙 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 − 𝟏
f 𝑦= 𝑥 → ?
𝒙𝟐 Find an equation of the tangent to 𝐶 at the point on 𝐶
3 𝟑
?
g 𝑦 = cosec 2𝑥 → −𝟔 𝐜𝐬𝐜 𝟑𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝟐𝒙 𝜋
where 𝑥 = . Write your answer in the form 𝑦 =
𝑦 = cot 2 2𝑥 − 1 2
h 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants.
?
→ −𝟒 𝒄𝒐𝒕 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 𝒄𝒔𝒄𝟐 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝝅 + 𝟒 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝅 + 𝟐 𝟎 − 𝟒 + 𝟐
𝒎= = = −𝟐
𝟐 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝅 𝟐 𝟐−𝟏 𝟐
𝟑 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝝅
𝒚= =𝟑
𝟐 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝅
𝝅
𝒚 − 𝟑 = −𝟐 𝒙 −
𝟐
𝒚 = −𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 + 𝝅
Question:
𝜋
The point 𝑃 is the point on the curve 𝑥 = 2 tan 𝑦 +
12
𝜋
with 𝑦-coordinate . Find an equation of the normal to
4
the curve at 𝑃. (7 marks)
𝝅
𝒚 − = −𝟖 𝒙 − 𝟐 𝟑
𝟒
Recap
Differentiate the following with respect to 𝑥.

𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝒚 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
sin 𝑥 cos 𝑥 sin 5𝑥 5 cos 5𝑥
cos 𝑥 − sin 𝑥 tan 𝑥 2 + 𝑒 𝑥 2𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 sec 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑒 𝑥
tan 𝑥 sec 2 𝑥 𝑒 sin 𝑥 cos 𝑥 𝑒 sin 𝑥
sec 𝑥 sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥 𝑥 3𝑒 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑒 𝑥 3 + 𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥 −𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥 cot 𝑥 𝑥2 + 1 2𝑥 𝑥 2 − 1 − 2𝑥 𝑥 2 + 1
cot 𝑥 −𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑥2 − 1 𝑥2 − 1 2
4𝑥
ln 𝑥 1 =− 2
𝑥 −1 2
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝑒𝑥 𝑒𝑥 𝑒𝑒 𝑒 𝑥 𝑒𝑒
1 1 −3 1 1 2
− 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 1 −2 2𝑥
𝑥 2 3 𝑥2 − 1 3
2𝑥
=−
3 𝑥2 − 1 2
SKILL #2: Implicit Differentiation
You’re used to differentiating expressions where 𝑦 is the subject, e.g. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥. The
relationship between 𝑥 and 𝑦 is ‘explicit’ in the sense we can directly calculate 𝑦 from 𝑥.
But what about implicit relations, e.g:
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 8𝑥 𝑜𝑟 cos 𝑥 + 𝑦 = sin 𝑦

To differentiate implicitly you only need to know 2 things:

• Differentiate each side of the equation (using chain rule if necessary).
𝑑𝑦
• Remember that 𝑦 differentiated with respect to 𝑥 is, by definition, 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 𝒅𝒚
𝑑 2 𝒅𝒚 𝑥𝑦 = 𝒙 +𝒚
𝑦 = 𝟐𝒚 𝑑𝑥 𝒅𝒙
𝑑𝑥 𝒅𝒙
𝑑 𝑥2𝑦 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝒙𝟐𝒚 𝑑 2 𝒅𝒚
𝑒 = 𝒙 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚 𝒆 𝑥 + cos 𝑦 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒚
𝑑𝑥 𝒅𝒙 𝑑𝑥 𝒅𝒙

𝑑 𝒅𝒚
tan 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 𝟏+ 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 + 𝒚
𝑑𝑥 𝒅𝒙
 𝑑𝑦
Finding given an equation
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
Usually questions will ask you to find 𝑑𝑥 .
𝑑𝑦
Just differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to 𝑥. Then make 𝑑𝑥 the subject.

𝑑𝑦 Question
Find in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦 when
𝑑𝑥
𝑥 3 + 𝑥 + 𝑦 3 + 3𝑦 = 6
𝟐 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 + 𝟑𝒚 +𝟑 =𝟎
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒚
𝟑𝒚𝟐 + 𝟑 = −𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏
𝒅𝒙 a) −512 − 4𝑦 2 = −96𝑦
𝒅𝒚 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏 𝑦 2 − 24𝑦 + 128 = 0
=−
𝒅𝒙 𝟑 𝟏 + 𝒚𝟐 𝑦 − 16 𝑦 − 8 = 0
Gives point −8,16 , −8,8

b) Implicitly differentiating:
2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
3𝑥 − 8𝑦 = 12𝑥 + 12𝑦
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 3𝑥 2 −12𝑦
not needed, but it’s 12𝑥+8𝑦
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
If 𝑥 = −8, 𝑦 = 16, 𝑑𝑥 = −3
𝑑𝑦
If 𝑥 = −8, 𝑦 = 8, 𝑑𝑥 = 0
Final Test of Understanding…
𝑑𝑦
Find the value of 𝑑𝑥 at the point 1,1 when 𝑒 2𝑥 ln 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2

𝑒 2𝑥 𝑑𝑦 2𝑥
𝑑𝑦
+ 2𝑒 ln 𝑦 = 1 +
𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Again, no need to rearrange yet: we can substitute 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 1 straight first:
2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑒 =1+
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2
𝑑𝑦
𝑒 −1 =1
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 1
= 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑒 − 1
Exercise
𝑑𝑦
1 Determine 𝑑𝑥 .
𝐝𝐲 𝟐𝒙
a 𝑥2 + 𝑦3 = 2 = − 𝟑𝒚𝟐
𝐝𝐱
𝒅𝒚 𝒙+𝟑
c 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 8𝑦 + 5𝑦 2 = 13 =
𝒅𝒙 𝟒 − 𝟓𝒚
𝒅𝒚 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒚
e 3𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 = 𝑥 3 =
𝒅𝒙 𝟔𝒚 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐
4
𝒅𝒚 𝟒 𝒙 − 𝒚 𝟑 − 𝟏
g 𝑥−𝑦 =𝑥+𝑦+5 =
𝒅𝒙 𝟏 + 𝟒 𝒙 − 𝒚 𝟑
𝒅𝒚 𝒆𝒚 − 𝒚𝒆𝒙
h 𝑒 𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑒 𝑦 =
𝒅𝒙 𝒆𝒙 − 𝒙𝒆𝒚
𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚
i 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 + 𝑦 2 = 0 =−
𝒅𝒙 𝟒𝒚 𝒙𝒚 + 𝒙

3 Find the equation of the normal to the curve with implicit equation
𝑥 + 𝑦 3 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 at the point 1,0 . 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐

4 Find the coordinates of the points of zero gradient on the curve with
implicit equation:
𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 − 6𝑥 − 16𝑦 + 21 = 0 𝟑, 𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟑, 𝟑
SKILL #3: Differentiating 𝑎 𝑥
You know how to differentiate a term like say 𝑥 3 , but what about an exponential term 3𝑥 ?

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥
ln 𝑦 = ln 𝑎 𝑥
ln 𝑦 = 𝑥 ln 𝑎
1 𝑑𝑦
= ln 𝑎 ! If 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥 where 𝑎
𝑦 𝑑𝑥 is a constant,
𝑑𝑦
𝒅𝒚 = 𝑎 𝑥 ln 𝑎
= 𝒚 𝒍𝒏 𝒂 = 𝒂𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝒂 𝑑𝑥

𝒅𝒙
Note: We could use a similar principle to differentiate 𝑥 𝑥 , although it’s unlikely to be
asked in an exam.
𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥
ln 𝑦 = 𝑥 ln 𝑥
1 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 1 + ln 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑥 1 + ln 𝑥
𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Quickfire Questions
𝒚 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒙
2𝑥 2𝑥 ln 2
5𝑥 5𝑥 ln 5
𝑥 3𝑥 3𝑥 𝑥 ln 3 + 1
3𝑦 𝑑𝑦
3𝑦 ln 3
𝑑𝑥
2𝑥+𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2𝑥+𝑦 ln 2 1+
𝑑𝑥
𝑒𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 ln 𝑒 = 𝑒 𝑥
52𝑥 2 ln 5 52𝑥
𝑑𝑦
Alternatively, noting 52𝑥 = 52 𝑥
= 25𝑥 , = 25𝑥 ln 25
𝑑𝑥

A not so quickfire question:

𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑥
𝑦= 23 = 23 ln 2 × 3𝑥 ln 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑥
= 23 3𝑥 ln 2 ln 3
Exercise
1
𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 when: 2 Find the equation of the
𝑥 𝒙
tangent to the curve 𝑦 =
1 𝒅𝒚 𝟏 𝟏 2𝑥 + 2−𝑥 at the point
b 𝑦= = 𝐥𝐧 = −𝟐−𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 1
2 𝒅𝒙 𝟐 𝟐 2, 4
𝒅𝒚 4
c 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑎𝑥 = 𝒂𝒙 𝟏 + 𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝒂 𝟒𝒚 = 𝟏𝟓 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟐 + 𝟏𝟕
𝒅𝒙
2𝑥 𝒅𝒚 𝟐𝒙 𝒙 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 − 𝟏
d 𝑦= =
𝑥 𝒅𝒙 𝒙𝟐
SKILL #3: Relating Rates of Change
Determine the rate of change of the area 𝐴 of a circle when the radius 𝑟 = 3cm,
Q
given that the radius is changing at a rate of 5 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1 .

Firstly, how would we represent…

Mela Tip: Whenever
𝒅𝑨 you see the word
“the rate of change of the area 𝐴” ‘rate’, think /𝑑𝑡
𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒓
“the rate of change of the radius 𝑟 is 5” =𝟓
𝒅𝒕
“the area 𝐴 of a circle” 𝑨 = 𝝅𝒓𝟐

Then by Chain Rule:

First copy top 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑟

and bottom into = ×
the diagonals… 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑡
…Then fill in the gaps with = 2𝜋𝑟 × 5
whatever variable you didn’t use. = 2𝜋 3 × 5
= 30𝜋
Test Your Understanding

Mela Tip: Don’t

forget that if you
𝑽 = 𝒙𝟑 𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑥
𝒅𝑽 know 𝑑𝑥 then 𝑑𝑉 =
= 𝟑𝒙𝟐 1
𝒅𝒙
𝑑𝑉/𝑑𝑥

𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝑽 𝟏
= × = × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟖 𝑨 = 𝟔𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝑽 𝒅𝒕 𝟑 × 𝟖𝟐
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝒅𝑨
= 𝟏𝟐𝒙
𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝑨 𝒅𝑨 𝒅𝒙
= ×
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒕
= 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟖 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟓 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟒
Exercise
1 𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑟
1 Given that 𝑉 = 3 𝜋𝑟 3 and that = 8, find 𝑑𝑡 when 𝑟 = 3.
𝑑𝑡
𝟖
𝟗𝝅
1 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝐴
2 Given that 𝐴 = 4 𝜋𝑟 2 and that 𝑑𝑡 = 6, find when 𝑟 = 2.
𝑑𝑡
𝟔𝝅

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
3 Given that 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 and that 𝑑𝑡 = 5 find when 𝑥 = 2.
𝑑𝑡
𝟏𝟓𝒆𝟐

𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝑟 𝜋
4 Given that 𝑟 = 1 + 3 cos 𝜃 and that = 3, find 𝑑𝑡 when 𝜃 = 6 .
𝑑𝑡
𝟗
−
𝟐