Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Basic Calculus
Summer 2024

MODULE 4.3: ADVANCED CONCEPTS OF DERIVATIVES

Higher-Order Derivatives

Introduction
In the previous lesson, we have discussed rules on differentiation. If f is differentiable, then its derivative f may
also be differentiable. This idea is under the topic of higher-order derivatives.

Learning Objectives
After studying this completing this module with 80% to 100% accuracy, you are expected to:

a. Illustrate the higher-order derivatives;

b. Use other forms of notation for derivatives; and
c. Compute higher-order derivatives of functions.

Higher-Order Derivatives
Let say 𝑓 is differentiable, then its derivative 𝑓′ may also be differentiable and the derivative of 𝑓′ is called the
second derivative of 𝑓 and is denoted by 𝑓′′.

Higher Order Derivatives

Given a differentiable function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), its derivative 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑓′(𝑥) is called the first derivative. Aside from 𝑓′(𝑥),
𝑑𝑥

the following notations of the derivative of the function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) with respect to 𝑥 may also be written as:

𝑑𝑦 𝑑
𝑦′, 𝑦′(𝑥), , (𝑦), 𝐷𝑦
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥

The derivative of the first derivative is called the second derivative and is denoted by 𝑓′′(𝑥) (read as “𝑓 double
prime of 𝑥”). It may also be written as:
𝑑2𝑦 𝑑2
𝑦′′, 𝑦′′(𝑥), , (𝑦), 𝐷2𝑦
𝑑𝑥2 𝑑𝑥2 𝑥

The third derivative is defined to be the derivative of the second derivative and is written as 𝑓′′′. It may also be
written as:

𝑑3𝑦 𝑑3
𝑦′′′, 𝑦′′′(𝑥), , (𝑦), 𝐷3𝑦
𝑑𝑥3 𝑑𝑥3 𝑥

Generally, the 𝒏𝒕𝒉 derivative of the function 𝑓, where 𝑛 is a positive integer greater than 1, is the derivative of
the (𝑛 − 1)𝑡ℎ derivative of 𝑓. We represent the 𝑛𝑡ℎ derivative of 𝑓 by 𝑓(𝑛) and 𝑓(𝑛) is referred to as a higher-
order derivative of 𝑓 if 𝑛 is greater than 1.

Examples:
2𝑦 3 4 5
1. Find 𝑑 , 𝑑 𝑦, 𝑑 𝑦 and 𝑑 𝑦 if 𝑦 = 6𝑥5 − 𝑥3.
𝑑𝑥2 𝑑𝑥3 𝑑𝑥4 𝑑𝑥5
Solution:
𝑑𝑦
Given that = 30𝑥4 − 3𝑥2 , the derivative of 𝑑𝑦 is
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑2𝑦 3 𝑑4𝑦
= 120𝑥 − 6
𝑥 = 720𝑥
𝑑𝑥2 𝑑𝑥4
𝑑3𝑦 2 𝑑5𝑦
= 360𝑥 − 6 𝑑𝑥5
= 720
𝑑𝑥3
 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Basic Calculus
Summer 2024

1
2. Find 𝑓(4)(𝑥) given 𝑓(𝑥) = .
𝑥
Solution:
1
Given that 𝑓′(𝑥) = − the derivative of 𝑓′(𝑥) is
𝑥2

𝑓′′(𝑥) = 2
𝑥3
6
𝑓′′′(𝑥) =−
𝑥4
24
𝑓(4)(𝑥) = 𝑥5

3. Determine all the derivatives of 𝑓(𝑥) = 10𝑥5 − 4𝑥4 + 20𝑥2 − 30.

Solution:
The derivatives of 𝑓 are the following:
𝑓′(𝑥) = 50𝑥4 − 1
𝑓′′(𝑥) = 200𝑥3 − 48𝑥2 + 40
𝑓′′′(𝑥) = 600𝑥2 − 96𝑥
𝑓(4)(𝑥) = 1200𝑥 − 96

𝑓(5)(𝑥) = 1200

𝑓(6)(𝑥) = 𝑓(7)(𝑥) = 𝑓(8)(𝑥) = ⋯ = 𝑓(𝑛)(𝑥) = 0 where 𝑛 ≥ 6.

Key Concepts

✓ The 𝒏𝒕𝒉 derivative of the function 𝑓, where 𝑛 is a positive integer greater than 1, is the derivative of the
(𝑛 − 1)𝑡ℎ derivative of 𝑓. We represent the 𝑛𝑡ℎ derivative of 𝑓 by 𝑓(𝑛) and 𝑓(𝑛) is referred to as a higher-
order derivative of 𝑓 if 𝑛 is greater than 1.

Degree Derivatives (Notation)

st
𝒚′ 𝒚′(𝒙) 𝒅𝒚 𝒅 𝑫𝒙𝒚
1 Derivative 𝒚
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
nd
𝒚′′ 𝒚′′(𝒙) 𝒅𝟐𝒚 𝒅𝟐 𝑫𝟐𝒚
2 Derivative 𝒚 𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝒅𝒙𝟐
rd
𝒚′′′ 𝒚′′′(𝒙) 𝒅𝟑𝒚 𝒅𝟑 𝑫𝟑𝒚
3 Derivative 𝒚 𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝟑 𝒅𝒙𝟑
th
𝒚(𝟒) 𝒚(𝟒)(𝒙) 𝒅𝟒𝒚 𝒅𝟒 𝑫𝟒𝒚
4 Derivative 𝒚 𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝟒 𝒅𝒙𝟒
th
𝒚(𝟓) 𝒚(𝟓)(𝒙) 𝒅𝟓𝒚 𝒅𝟓 𝑫𝟓𝒚
5 Derivative 𝒚 𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝟓 𝒅𝒙𝟓
⋮
th
𝒚(𝒏) 𝒚(𝟓)(𝒙) 𝒅𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒏 𝑫𝒏𝒚
n Derivative 𝒚 𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝒏 𝒅𝒙𝒏
 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Basic Calculus
Summer 2024

Learning Activity
Tutorial Videos
Here are some YouTube videos you can watch to help you to have a better understanding about the lesson.

✓ Solving for the Higher-Order Derivative of a Functions.

https://www.mathsisfun.com/calculus/second-derivative.html
✓ Higher-Order Derivatives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgE5CfnQnQw (until 52:12 mins.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7rd9YPJrNc (until 10:50 mins.)

Practice Problem

A. Tell whether the given statement is true or false. Write T if the statement is true and F otherwise.

1. If we keep on differentiating the derivatives of a polynomial function, eventually the

derivative becomes zero.
2. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥2 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥2, then (𝑓 ° 𝑔)′′(𝑥) = 144𝑥2.
3. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 then 𝑓′(1) = 1.
4. The second derivative of any linear function is 0.
5. The second derivative of any rational function is 0.

B. Determine the third derivative for each function.

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥 + 2 5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 𝑥 − 2

3
1 1 1
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥2 − 3𝑥 + 5 6. 𝑓(𝑥) = − 𝑥3 + 𝑥2 −
3 2 4
2
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 7. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥
𝑥+1 𝑥−4
3
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √5𝑥 8. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥2

C. For each problem, find the indicated derivative with respect to x .

d2 y
1. Find the of y = −x2
dx2
2. Find the f '''(x) of f (x) = 5x4
d3 y
3. Find the of y = −x2 + 2 5 x2
dx3
4 d6 y
d3 y d y d5 y
of y = (x2 + 5) .
3
4. Find the , , , and
dx3 dx4 dx5 dx6
1
5. Determine all the derivatives of f (x) = 10x8 + 5x7 − 2x5 − x2 + 26 .
2
 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Basic Calculus
Summer 2024

References
YouTube Videos

➢ MathIsFun.com. (2020, May 4). Higher-Order Derivative. MathIsFun.

https://www.mathsisfun.com/calculus/second-derivative.html

➢ Michael Griffis, (2013, February 8). Calculus 1-Higher Order Derivatives. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgE5CfnQnQw

➢ The Organic Chemistry Tutor, (2018, February 25).Higher Order Derivatives. Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7rd9YPJrNc

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