Basic Mathematics

Introductory Differentiation

R Horan & M Lavelle

The aim of this document is to provide a short,

self assessment programme for students who
would like to acquire a basic understanding of
elementary differentiation.

Copyright c 2004 [email protected] , [email protected]

Last Revision Date: November 19, 2004 Version 1.0

 Table of Contents
1. Rates of Change (Introduction)
2. Rates of Change (Continued)
3. The Derivative as a Limit
4. Differentiation
5. Quiz on Differentiation
Solutions to Exercises
Solutions to Quizzes

The full range of these packages and some instructions,

should they be required, can be obtained from our web
page Mathematics Support Materials.
Section 1: Rates of Change (Introduction) 3

1. Rates of Change (Introduction)

Differentiation is concerned with the rate of change of one quantity
with respect to another quantity.
Example 1
If a ball is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 10 ms−1 then the
height of the ball, in metres, after t seconds is approximately
h(t) = 10t − 5t2 .
Find the average speed of the ball during the following time intervals.
(a) from t = 0.25 s to t = 1 s, (b) from t = 0.25 s to t = 0.5 s.
Solution Average speed is
distance travelled
vaverage =
time taken
(a) The average speed from t = 0.25 s to t = 1 s is
h(1) − h(0.25) (10 × 1 − 5 × 12 ) − (10 × 0.25 − 5 × 0.252 )
=
1 − 0.25 1 − 0.25
5 − 2.1875
= = 3.75 ms−1 .
0.75
Section 1: Rates of Change (Introduction) 4

(b) The average speed from t = 0.25 s to t = 0.5 s is

h(0.5) − h(0.25) (10 × 0.5 − 5 × 0.52 ) − (10 × 0.25 − 5 × 0.252 )
=
0.5 − 0.25 0.5 − 0.25
3.75 − 2.1875
= = 6.25 ms−1 .
0.25

Exercise 1. Referring to example 1, find the average speed of the

ball during the following time intervals. (Click on the green letters
for solutions.)
(a) From t = 0.25 s to t = 0.375 s, (b) From t = 0.25 s to t = 0.3125 s,
(c) From t = 0.25 s to t = 0.251 s, (d) From t = 0.25 s to t = 0.2501 s.

Quiz Which of the following is a good choice for the speed of the ball
when t = 0.25 s?
(a) 7.52 ms−1 (b) 7.50 ms−1 (c) 7.499 ms−1 (d) 7.49 ms−1
Section 2: Rates of Change (Continued) 5

2. Rates of Change (Continued)

In the previous section the speed of the ball was found at t = 0.25 s.
The next example gives the general solution to this problem.
Example 2
If, as in example 1, the height of a ball at time t is given by
h(t) = 10t − 5t2 , then find the following :
(a) the average speed of the ball over the time interval from t to t+δt,
(b) the limit of this average as δt → 0.
Solution
(a)The height at time t + δt is h(t + δt) and the height at time t is
h(t). The difference in heights is h(t + δt) − h(t) and the time interval
is δt.
h(t + δt) − h(t) = [10(t + δt) − 5(t + δt)2 ] − [10t − 5t2 ]
= [10t + 10δt − 5(t2 + 2tδt + (δt)2 ] − [10t − 5t2 ]
= 10δt − 10tδt − 5(δt)2
= δt[10 − 10t − 5δt].
Section 2: Rates of Change (Continued) 6

The required average speed of the ball at time t is thus

h(t + δt) − h(t) δt[10 − 10t − 5δt]
=
δt δt
= 10 − 10t − 5δt ,
after cancelling the δt.
(b) As δt gets smaller, i.e. δt → 0, the last term becomes negligible
and the instantaneous speed at time t is v(t), where
v(t) = 10 − 10t is the speed of the ball at time t .
Exercise 2. Referring to the solution of example 2, find the speed
of the particle when t = 0.25 s. (Click on exercise 2 for the solution.)

To recap, the speed v(t) is obtained from the height h(t) as

 
h(t + δt) − h(t)
v(t) = lim .
δt→0 δt
Section 3: The Derivative as a Limit 7

3. The Derivative as a Limit

The diagram shows a function
y = f (x). The straight line
AB has gradient BC/CA. As
the point B moves along the
curve toward A, the straight
line AB tends toward the tan-
gent to the curve at A. At the
same time, the value of the gra-
dient BC/CA tends toward the
gradient of the tangent to the
curve at A.

BC f (x + δx) − f (x)
From diagram 1 = .
CA δx
dy f (x + δx) − f (x)
Define = lim .
dx δx→0 δx
The limit, dy/dx, is called the derivative of the function f (x). Its
value is the gradient of the tangent to the curve at the point A(x, y).
Section 3: The Derivative as a Limit 8

Example 3
Find the derivative of the function y = x3 .
Solution
For this problem y = f (x) = x3 so the derivative is
dy f (x + δx) − f (x) (x + δx)3 − x3
= lim = lim
dx δx→0 δx δx→0 δx
The numerator of this is
(x + δx)3 − x3 = (x3 + 3x2 δx + 3xδx2 + δx3 ) − x3
= 3x2 δx + 3xδx2 + δx3
= δx(3x2 + 3xδx + δx2 ) .
dy δx(3x2 + 3xδx + δx2 )
Then = lim
dx δx→0 δx
= lim (3x2 + 3xδx + δx2 )
δx→0
dy
The derivative is thus = 3x2 .
dx
Section 3: The Derivative as a Limit 9

Exercise 3. For each of the following functions, use the technique of

example 3 to find the derivative of the function. (Click on the green
letters for solutions.)
(a) y = x, (b) y = x2 , (c) y = 1.
Example 4
Find the gradient of the tangent to the curve y = x3 at the point on
the curve when x = 2.
Solution
From example 3, the derivative of this function is
dy
= 3x2 .
dx
The gradient of the tangent to the curve when x = 2 is
dy
= 3(2)2 = 12 ,
dx x=2
dy dy
where the symbol is the function evaluated at x = 2.
dx x=2 dx
Section 3: The Derivative as a Limit 10

Exercise 4. Find the gradient of the tangent to each of the following

functions at the indicated points. (Click on green letters for solutions.)
(a) y = x at the point with coordinates (2, 2),
(b) y = x2 at the point with coordinates (3, 9),
(c) y = 1 at the point with coordinates (27, 1).

Quiz Referring to example 3 and exercise 3, which of the following

is the most likely choice for the derivative of the function y = x4 ?
(a) 4x3 (b) 3x3 (c) 4x4 (d) 3x4

Although the derivative of a function has been described in terms of

a limiting process, it is not necessary to proceed in this fashion for
each function. The derivatives for certain standard functions, and the
rules of differentiation, are well known. The application of these rules,
which is part of the discipline known as calculus, is the subject of the
rest of this package.
Section 4: Differentiation 11

4. Differentiation
The following table lists, without proof, the derivatives of some well-
known functions. Throughout, a is a constant.

y axn sin(ax) cos(ax) eax ln(ax)

dy 1
naxn−1 a cos(ax) −a sin(ax) aeax
dx x

Here are two more useful rules of differentiation. They follow from
the definition of differentiation but are stated without proof.
If a is any constant and u, v are two functions of x, then
d du dv
(u + v) = +
dx dx dx
d du
(au) = a
dx dx
The use of these rules is illustrated on the next page.
Section 4: Differentiation 12

Example 5
dy
For each of the following functions, find .
dx
1 √ 3
(a) y = x2 + 4x3 , (b) y = 5x2 + , (c) y = 5 x + 2 − 6x .
x x
Solution
(a) Using the rules of differentiation
y = x2 + 4x3
dy d 2 d
= (x ) + (4x3 )
dx dx dx
= 2x + 3 × 4x2 = 2x + 12x2
(b) Before proceeding, note that 1/x = x−1 (see the package on
powers). The function may now be written as
1
y = 5x2 + = 5x2 + x−1
x
and the rules can now be applied.
Section 4: Differentiation 13

(b)(continued) y= 5x2 + x−1

dy d d −1
= (5x2 ) + (x )
dx dx dx
= 2 × 5x + ( − 1)x−2
1
= 10x − 2
x
√ 1
(c) From the package on powers, x = x 2 , so
1
y = 5x 2 + 3x−2 − 6x
dy d 1 d d
= (5x 2 ) + (3x−2 ) − (6x)
dx dx dx dx
1 1
= × 5(x− 2 ) + ( − 2) × 3(x−3 ) − 6
2
5 −1 5 6
= x 2 − 6x−3 − 6 = 1 − 3 −6
2 (2x 2 ) (x )
Section 4: Differentiation 14

Exercise 5. Find dy/dx for each of the following functions. (Click

on the green letters for solutions.)
√ 4 √
(a) y = 3x4 + 4x5 (b) y = 2 x, (c) y = 3 − 3 3 x.
x

dy
Example 5 Find if y = 2 sin(3w) − 3 cos(4w) + e4w .
dw
Solution Using the rules
dy d d d 4w
= 2 ( sin(3w)) − 3 ( cos(4w)) + (e )
dw dw dw dw
= 2(3 cos(3w)) − 3( − 4 sin(4w)) + 4e4w
= 6 cos(3w) + 12 sin(4w) + 4e4w

Exercise 6. Find the derivative with respect to z, i.e. dy/dz, of each

of the following functions. (Click on the green letters for solutions.)
4
(a) y = 2 sin 12 z ,


(b) y = − 3 ln(4z),
z
(c) y = 2 ln(7z) + 3 cos(2z), (d) y = e3z − 3ez .
Section 5: Quiz on Differentiation 15

5. Quiz on Differentiation
dy
Begin Quiz Choose for each of the following functions.
dx
1. y = 4x−3 − 2 sin(x)
(a) −12x−2 − 2 cos(x) , (b) −12x−4 − 2 cos(x) ,
−2
(c) −12x + 2 cos(x) , (d) −12x−4 + 2 cos(x) .
1 1
2. y = 3x 3 + 4x− 4
2 5 2 5
(a) 3x 3 − 4x− 4 , (b) x− 3 − x− 4 ,
2 5 1 5
(c) 9x 3 − 4x− 4 , (d) x− 3 − x− 4 .
3. y = 2e−2x + 5 ln(2x)
5 10
(a) e−2x + , (b) e−2x + ,
x x
5 10
(c) −4e−2x + , (d) −4e−2x + .
x x
End Quiz Score: Correct
Solutions to Exercises 16

Solutions to Exercises
Exercise 1(a) The average speed from t = 0.25 s to t = 0.375 s is
h(0.375) − h(0.25)
=
0.375 − 0.25
(10 × 0.375 − 5 × 0.3752 ) − (10 × 0.25 − 5 × 0.252 )
=
0.375 − 0.25
3.047 − 2.1875
= = 6.875 ms−1 .
0.125
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 17

Exercise 1(b) The average speed from t = 0.25 s to t = 0.3125 s is

h(0.3125) − h(0.25)
=
0.3125 − 0.25
(10 × 0.3125 − 5 × 0.31252 ) − (10 × 0.25 − 5 × 0.252 )
=
0.3125 − 0.25
3.047 − 2.1875
= = 7.1875 ms−1 .
0.0625
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 18

Exercise 1(c) The average speed from t = 0.25 s to t = 0.251 s is

h(0.251) − h(0.25)
=
0.251 − 0.25
(10 × 0.251 − 5 × 0.2512 ) − (10 × 0.25 − 5 × 0.252 )
=
0.251 − 0.25
3.047 − 2.1875
= = 7.495 ms−1 .
0.001
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 19

Exercise 1(d) The average speed from t = 0.25 s to t = 0.251 s is

h(0.2501) − h(0.25)
=
0.2501 − 0.25
(10 × 0.2501 − 5 × 0.25012 ) − (10 × 0.25 − 5 × 0.252 )
=
0.2501 − 0.25
2.1882 − 2.1875
= = 7.4995 ms−1 .
0.0001
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 20

Exercise 2.
The speed is found by putting t = 0.25 into v(t) = 10 − 10t. The
resulting speed is
v(0.25) = 10 − 10×0.25 = 10 − 2.5 = 7.5 ms−1 .
This was precisely the value chosen in the earlier quiz, confirming
that the function v(t) = 10 − 10t is indeed the speed of the ball at
any time t. Exercise 2
Solutions to Exercises 21

Exercise 3(a) The derivative of y = f (x) = x is

dy f (x + δx) − f (x)
= lim
dx δx→0 δx
(x + δx) − x
= lim
δx→0 δx
δx
= lim = 1.
δx→0 δx
The derivative is thus
dy
= 1.
dx
This can also be deduced from the fact that y = x represents a straight
line with gradient 1.
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 22

Exercise 3(b) The derivative of y = f (x) = x2 is

dy f (x + δx) − f (x)
= lim
dx δx→0 δx
(x + δx)2 − x2
= lim
δx→0 δx
x + 2xδx + (δx)2 − x2
2
= lim
δx→0 δx
2xδx + (δx)2
= lim
δx→0 δx
(2x + δx)δx
= lim
δx→0 δx
= lim (2x + δx) = 2x .
δx→0
The derivative is thus
dy
= 2x .
dx
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 23

Exercise 3(c) The derivative of y = f (x) = 1 is

dy f (x + δx) − f (x)
= lim
dx δx→0 δx
1−1
= lim
δx→0 δx
0
= lim
δx→0 δx
= lim (0) = 0 .
δx→0
The derivative of y = 1 is thus
dy
= 0.
dx
This is a special case of the rule that the derivative of a constant is
always zero.
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 24

Exercise 4(a) According to exercise 3 the derivative of the function

y = x is
dy
= 1.
dx
Therefore the gradient of the tangent to the curve at the point with
coordinates (2, 2), i.e. when x = 2, is
dy
= 1.
dx x=2

This is the gradient of the straight line y = x.

Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 25

Exercise 4(b) From exercise 3 the derivative of the function y = x2

is
dy
= 2x .
dx
Therefore the gradient of the tangent to the curve at the point with
dy
coordinates (3, 9) is the value of at x = 3, i.e.
dx
dy
= 2 × 3 = 6.
dx x=3
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 26

Exercise 4(c) From exercise 3 the derivative of the constant func-

tion y = 1 is
dy
= 0.
dx
Therefore the gradient of the tangent to the curve at any point, in-
cluding the point with coordinates (27, 1), is zero, i.e.
dy
= 0.
dx x=3
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 27

Exercise 5(a) Using the rules of differentiation

y = 3x4 + 4x5
dy d d
= (3x4 ) + (4x5 )
dx dx dx
= 4 × 3x(4−1) + 5 × 4x(5−1 )
= 4 × 3x3 + 5 × 4x4 = 12x3 + 20x4
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 28
√ 1
Exercise 5(b) From the package on powers, 2 x = 2x 2 , so using
the rules of differentiation
1
y = 2x 2
dy d 1
= (2x 2 )
dx dx
1 1
= × 2x( 2 −1)
2
1 1
= x− 2 = √
x
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 29

Exercise 5(c) The function may be rewritten (see the package on

powers) as,
4 √ 1
y = 3 − 3 3 x = 4x−3 − 3x 3 ,
x
and using the rules of differentiation
1
y = 4x−3 − 3x 3
dy d d 1
= (4x−3 ) − (3x 3 )
dx dx dx
1 1
= (−3) × 4x (−3−1)
− ( ) × 3 x( 3 −1)
3
−4 − 23 12 1
= −12x − x =− 4 − 2
x x3
12 1
= − 4− √ 3
.
x x2
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 30

Exercise 6(a) Using the rules of differentiation and the table of

derivatives
 
dy d 1
= 2 ( sin z )
dz dz 2
 
1 1
= 2 × cos z
2 2
 
1
= cos z
2
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 31

4
Exercise 6(b) Rewriting the function y = − 3 ln(4z) as
z
y = 4z −1 − 3 ln(4z)
and using the table of derivatives
dy d d
= (4z −1 ) − 3 ( ln(4z))
dz dz dz
1
= (−1) × 4z (−1−1) − 3 ×
z
3 4 3
= −4z −2 − = − 2 −
z z z
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 32

Exercise 6(c) Using the rules of differentiation and the table of

derivatives
dy d d
= 2 ( ln(7z)) + 3 ( cos(2z))
dz dz dz
1
= 2 × + 3 × (−2 sin(2z))
z
2
= − 6 sin 2z
z
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 33

d az
Exercise 6(d) Since (e ) = aeaz ,
dz
dy d 3z
d
= e − 3 (ez )
dz dz dz
= 3e3z − 3ez
= 3(e3z − ez ) .
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Quizzes 34

Solutions to Quizzes
Solution to Quiz: The table below shows the details of the calcula-
tions that were done in example 1 and exercise 1.
Times distance measured (s) Time interval (s) Average speed (ms−1 )
t = 0.25 to t=1 0.75 3.75
t = 0.25 to t = 0.5 0.25 6.25
t = 0.25 to t = 0.375 0.125 6.87
t = 0.25 to t = 0.3125 0.0625 7.1875
t = 0.25 to t = 0.251 0.001 7.495
t = 0.25 to t = 0.2501 0.0001 7.4995
The difference in speeds is measured over decreasing intervals of time
staring at t = 0.25 s. As this interval of time decreases, so the av-
erage speed tends towards 7.5 ms−1 . This is then taken to be the
speed of the ball at the point when t = 0.25 s. This limiting process,
taking averages over smaller and smaller intervals, is at the heart of
differentiation.
End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes 35

Solution to Quiz: The table below shows the details of the calcula-
tions that were done in example 3 and exercise 3.
Function Derivative
dy
y = x3 = 3x2
dx
dy
y = x2 = 2x (= 2x1 = 2x2−1 )
dx
dy
y = x (= x1 ) = 1 (= x0 = 1x1−1 )
dx
dy
y = 1 (= x0 ) = 0 (= 0x0−1 )
dx
The general form, which is given without proof, is:
dy
if y = xn then = nxn−1 .
dx
dy
Thus if y = x4 then = 4x3 . End Quiz
dx