Topic 8: Calculus (Differentiation)

1) The Basics:

a) Differentiating Expressions: b) Second Derivative: (Differentiating twice)

Notes: Examples:
➢ Symbols:
𝒅𝒚
or 𝐟 ′ (𝒙) i) 𝑦 = 3𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 ii) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2
𝒅𝒙
➢ The derivative of a constant = 0 =>
𝑑𝑦
= 9𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 5 => 𝑓 ; (𝑥) = 8𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 − 3
𝑑𝑥
➢ In general, to differentiate, we: => 𝑓 ;; (𝑥) = 24𝑥 2 + 6
𝑑2𝑦
=> = 18𝑥 − 8
𝑑𝑥 2
Multiply by the power and
reduce the power by 1. c) Slopes of Tangents:

Examples: Differentiate i) y = 3x2 – 5x + 2 and ii) y = √𝑥, @ the Slope of the Tangent to the
point (1, 3). 𝑑𝑦
Curve =
i) If y = 3x2 – 5x + 2 ii) If y = √𝑥, rewrite y first: 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 2−1 1
=> = 2(3)𝑥 −
𝑑𝑥 y= 𝑥 2
1−1
5𝑥 +0 𝑑𝑦 1 1
Example 1: Example 2: If 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 1,
𝑑𝑦 => = 𝑥2 − 1 (rule
=> = 6𝑥 1 − 5𝑥 0 + 0 𝑑𝑥 2 If 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 8, find the equation of the tangent to
𝑑𝑥 1)
𝑑𝑦 find the slope of the the curve at the point (-2, -6).
=> = 6𝑥 1 − 5(1) 𝑑𝑦 1 1
𝑑𝑥 => = 𝑥 −2 tangent to the curve
𝑑𝑦
Find slope first: = 6𝑥 2 − 4
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
=> = 6𝑥 − 5 @ the point (1, 3) means x = 1 at the point (-1, 2). 𝑑𝑦
Slope @ (-2, -6): = 6(−2)2 − 4 =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1
𝑑𝑦 1 1 20
=> = (1)−2 = 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 8
𝑑𝑥 2 2
𝑑𝑦
Find the equation using equation
=> = 6𝑥 + 5 formula and the point (-2,-6):
𝑑𝑥
@ (-1, 2) 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
𝑑𝑦 𝑦 − (−6) = 20(𝑥 − (−2))
=> = 6(−1) + 5 = −1 𝑦 + 6 = 20(𝑥 + 2)
𝑑𝑥
𝑦 = 20𝑥 + 34
_

2) Product Rule/Quotient Rule:

a) Product Rule: b) Quotient Rule:

Notes: Notes:
➢ Used when two functions are multiplied together ➢ Used when two functions are divided by each other

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
See Tables 𝑣 − 𝑢
If 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑣 then = 𝑣 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑢 𝑑𝑥 If 𝑦 =
𝑢
then
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 See Tables
𝑑𝑥
pg25 𝑣 𝑑𝑥 𝑣2 pg25

Example: If y = (x2 + 3)(2x – 1), find 3𝑥 − 4

𝑑𝑦
. Example: If y = , find
𝑑𝑦
.
𝑑𝑥
2 𝑥2 + 1 𝑑𝑥
Let u = x + 3 and v = 2x - 1 Let u = 3x - 4 and v =x2 + 1.
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
=𝑣 +𝑢 𝑑𝑦 𝑣
𝑑𝑢
−𝑢
𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 = 2
=> = (2𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥) + (𝑥 2 + 3)(2) 𝑑𝑥 𝑣
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 (𝑥 2 + 1)(3) − (3𝑥 − 4)(2𝑥)
=> = 4𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2𝑥 2 + 6 => =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 1)2
𝑑𝑦 2
=> = 6𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 6 𝑑𝑦 3𝑥 2 + 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 8𝑥
𝑑𝑥 => =
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 1)2
𝑑𝑦 −3𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 3
=> =
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 1)2
3) Chain Rule:

a) Chain Rule: b) Trigonometric Functions:

Notes: Notes:
➢ Used for functions embedded in each other. ➢ To differentiate we use the Tables pg 25:
➢ Start on the outside and then work on the inside. 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓 ′ (𝑥)
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
Examples: Differentiate the following i) f(x) = (3x2 – 2x)3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
ii) g(x) = √2𝑥 2 − 3 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥
i) Differentiating the power ii) Rewrite the function:
1st: 1
g(x) = (2𝑥 2 − 3)2 ➢ Use the Chain Rule then following the order below:
= 3(3x2 – 2x)3 – 1
➢ Differentiate the power
= 3(3x2 – 2x)2 Remember PTA.
on the outside:
- Now differentiate the
P = Power, T = Trig, A = Angle
1
1 −1
function inside i.e. 3x2 – 2x: = (2𝑥 2 − 3) 2
2
= 2(3x2 - 1) – 2(1)x1 - 1 1 1

= 6x – 2x0
= (2𝑥 2 − 3)−2
2
= 6x - 2 ➢ Differentiate the
Examples: Differentiate i) cos2x and ii) tan3(x2 + 3).
- Now multiply both function inside i.e. 2x2 –
derivatives together: 3:
i) y = cos2x ii) y = tan3(x2 + 3)
= (6x – 2)(3)(3x2 – 2x)2 = 2(2)x2 - 1 – 0 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Finally, we tidy up the terms = 4x => = => = (3 tan2 (𝑥 2 +
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
at the front to get: Now, multiply the two (−𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥)(2)
derivatives together: 3))(sec 2 (𝑥 2 + 3))(2𝑥)
= (18x – 6)(3x2 – 2x)2 =>
𝑑𝑦
= −2𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥
1 𝑑𝑥
1 𝑑𝑦
= 4𝑥( (2𝑥 2 − 3)−2 ) =>
𝑑𝑥
= 6𝑥 tan2 (𝑥 2 + 3) sec 2 (𝑥 2 +
2
➢ Tidying up gives:
1
3)
−
= 2𝑥(2𝑥 2 − 3) 2
➢ Or we could rewrite as:
2𝑥
=
√(2𝑥 2 − 3)

c) Log/Exponential Functions: d) Inverse Trig Functions:

Notes: Notes:
➢ Use the Chain Rule. ➢ Use the Chain Rule.
➢ To differentiate we use the Tables pg 25: ➢ To differentiate we use the Tables pg 25:
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓 ′ (𝑥)
1 𝑥 1
ln 𝑥 cos−1 −
𝑥 𝑎 √𝑎2 − 𝑥 2
𝑒𝑥 𝑒𝑥 sin−1
𝑥 1
𝑒 𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑒 𝑎𝑥 𝑎 √𝑎2 − 𝑥 2
−1 𝑥 𝑎
𝑎𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 ln 𝑎 tan
𝑎 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2
−3𝑥
Examples: Differentiate the following i) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 ii) 𝑥
Examples: Differentiate i) cos −1 4𝑥 and ii) 3𝑥. sin−1
3
𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑒 4𝑥.
i) Rewrite the function: ii) Use Product Rule:
4𝑥 𝑥
Let u = 3x and v = sin−1
−3𝑥 𝑦 = cos −1 3
i) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 ii) 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑒 4𝑥 1 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
Use the Chain Rule to => = 3 and =
We use the Chain Rule to We use the Chain Rule to 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1
differentiate the exponential differentiate the log differentiate the inverse
√(3)2 − (𝑥)2
function first, and then the function first, and then the Trig function first, and then
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣 1
power: 4x: the angle: => = 3 and =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 √9 − 𝑥 2
1 𝑑𝑦 1
=> 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑒 −3𝑥 (−3) => 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = × (4) => =− ×
4𝑥 𝑑𝑥 √(1)2 − (4𝑥)2 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
=> 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = −3𝑒 −3𝑥 4 => =𝑣 +𝑢
′
=> 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
4𝑥 (4) 𝑑𝑦 𝑥
1 => = (sin−1 )(3) +
=> 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 −4 𝑑𝑥 3
=> = 1
𝑑𝑥 √1 − 16𝑥 2 (3𝑥)( )
√9 − 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑥 3𝑥
=> = 3sin−1 3 +
𝑑𝑥 √9 − 𝑥 2
_
4) Curve Sketching:

a) Increasing/Decreasing Functions: b) Max/Min Points (Turning Points):

𝑑𝑦
Increasing =>
𝑑𝑦
>0 Max/Min Points => =0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑2 𝑦
Decreasing => <0 If
𝑑𝑥 2
< 0, then it’s a local maximum point.
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2𝑦
If > 0, then it’s a local minimum point.
𝑑𝑥 2
Example: Find the range of values of x for which the curve
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4 is increasing.
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3 Example: Find the max/min points of the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 −
Increasing => 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) > 0 2𝑥 2 + 4.
2𝑥 − 3 > 0 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥
2𝑥 > 3 Max/Min => 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0
3
=> 𝑥 > 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 = 0
2
𝑥(3𝑥 − 4) = 0
4
𝑥 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 =
3
76
Sub into function at start to find y values of 4 and .
27
4 76
=> Turning Points are (0,4) and ( , )
3 27
c) Points of Inflection:
Notes:
➢ The point where a graph begins to change direction i.e. bend
in a different direction, is known as a point of inflection.
(See diagram below)

Hill
Shape
𝑑2𝑦
=0
𝑑𝑥 2
Point of Inflection Valley
Shape

Example: Find the point of inflection of the curve y = x3 – 3x2 + 4.

𝑑2𝑦
= 6𝑥 − 6
𝑑𝑥 2
=> 6𝑥 − 6 = 0
=> 𝑥 = 1
- So, the y value of the point of inflection will be:
y = (1)3 – 3(1)2 + 4
=> y = 2 => the point of inflection is (1, 2).

5) Implicit Differentiation:

Notes:
➢ Differentiating more than one variable with respect to another
𝑑𝑦
➢ When differentiating y with respect to x, differentiate as normal and multiply by .
𝑑𝑥
+ 𝑦 = 36.
𝑑𝑦 2 2
Example: Find for the following curve: 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
2 𝑑𝑦
➢ The derivative of 𝑦 term is 2y but we have to multiply by as we are differentiating with respect to x:
𝑑𝑥
𝑑(𝑦 2 ) 𝑑𝑦
=> = 2𝑦.
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
➢ We now differentiate each term, with respect to x.
=> if 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 36
𝑑𝑦
=> 2𝑥 + 2𝑦. =0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
➢ We now rearrange to get on its own:
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
=> 2𝑦. = −2𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 −2𝑥
=> =
𝑑𝑥 2𝑦
𝑑𝑦 −𝑥
=> = (divide above and below by 2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑦
6) Rates of Change:

a) Max/Min Problems: b) Distance/Speed/Acceleration:

Steps: Tip:
1. Get an expression for quantity to be maximised/minimised. Differentiate the expression for distance to get expressions for
2. Differentiate. speed and acceleration.
3. Let derivative = 0 and solve to find max/min value.
4. Sub max/min value back into expression from step 1, if Distance Speed Acceleration
needed. s v a
Example: A farmer want to enclose a field with 100m of fencing.
Find the maximum area of the field. Example: A body moves a distance given by the function
Let Width = x => Length = 50 – x 𝑠 = 𝑡 3 − 3𝑡 2 + 7, find the body’s acceleration after 3 seconds.
=> Area = L x W = x(50 - x) = 50𝑥 − 𝑥 2 Distance = 𝑡 3 − 3𝑡 2 + 7
=> A = 50𝑥 − 𝑥 2 => Speed = 3𝑡 2 − 6𝑡 (differentiating distance
expression)
𝑑𝐴
=> = 50 − 2𝑥 (differentiating expression for area)
𝑑𝑥
50 – 2x = 0 => Acceleration = 6𝑡 − 6 (differentiating speed expression)
=> x = 25 So, after 2 secs: Acceleration = 6𝑡 − 6 = 6(3) – 6 = 12m/s2.
=> Max Area will be 50(25) − (25)2 = 625m2

c) Rates of Change: Example 2: The rate of change of volume of a sphere is 6 cm 3/s.

Steps: Find the rate of change of the radius at r = 3.
1. Write down what you’re given. ➢ Again, we will write down what we’ve been given first:
2. Write down what you’re trying to find. 𝑑𝑉
3. Use a formula to link steps 1 and 2. =6
𝑑𝑡
4. Use Implicit Differentiation to differentiate expression from ➢ We’re looking for the rate of change of the radius:
step 3 𝑑𝑟
5. Fill in what you were given and solve 𝑑𝑡
➢ Now we need a formula to connect the two i.e. the volume of
Example 1: The rate of change of a radius of a circle is 2cm/s. a sphere:
Find the rate of change of the area of the circle when the 4
radius is 3cm. 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 3
3
➢ First, we will write down the information we were given i.e. ➢ And we differentiate to generate our expressions above:
the rate of change of a radius 4
𝑑𝑟 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 3
=2 3
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑉 4 𝑑𝑟
➢ Now we write down an expression for what we are looking for => = 𝜋3𝑟 2
𝑑𝑡 3 𝑑𝑡
i.e. the rate of change of area: 𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑟
𝑑𝐴
=> = 4𝜋𝑟 2
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑟
𝑑𝑡 => 6 = 4𝜋𝑟 2
➢ And then we need a way to connect the two previous 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑟 6
expressions together i.e. the formula for the area of a circle: => = 4𝜋𝑟 2
Area of a circle = 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝐴 ➢ Finally, we can fill in the value of r:
➢ We’re looking for so we need to differentiate our 𝑑𝑟 6
𝑑𝑡
expression for the area of a circle: => = 4𝜋(3)2
𝑑𝑡
𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 6
𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑟 => = 4𝜋(9)
=> = 𝜋2𝑟( ) (using implicit differentiation) 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑟 6
𝑑𝐴
=> = 𝜋2𝑟(2) => = 36𝜋
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑟 1
=>
𝑑𝑡
= 4𝜋𝑟 =>
𝑑𝑡
= 6𝜋 cm/s
➢ Finally, we know the radius is 3cm
𝑑𝐴
=> = 4𝜋(3)
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝐴
=> = 12𝜋 cm2/s
𝑑𝑡