Darmand’s Ultimate Science Academy

CSEC Additional Mathematics

Introduction to Differentiation

Mathematically, the derivative of a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at the point 𝑥 = 𝑎 is defined as the gradient of the
(tangent to the) curve at the point where 𝑥 = 𝑎.

When we find the derivative of a curve, it will produce a function that we call the gradient function. This
function can be evaluated at a given 𝑥 value to find the gradient of the tangent to the curve at that point.

Differentiation From First Principles (Intuitive Approach)

Intuitively, we can determine the derivative at a point by considering the gradient of the secant line through that
point. Consider a curve on a graph, which represents a function 𝑓(𝑥).
To find how this function changes at a particular point, we start by selecting two points close to each other on
the curve. For our lesson, let’s call these two points 𝐴 and 𝐵. If we draw a straight line connecting 𝐴 and 𝐵, this
line will be the secant line and approximates the slope of the curve between the two points.

Here, the gradient of the secant line 𝐴𝐵 is calculated using the formula:
𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
=
(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑥 ℎ
As we decrease the distance between points A and B by making ℎ smaller, the secant line begins to more
accurately represent the slope of the curve at point A. Eventually, when point B is infinitesimally close to point
A, the secant line becomes a tangent line.

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Mathematically, the derivative 𝑓′(𝑥) of the function at point 𝑥 is defined as the limit of the slope of the secant
line as ℎ approaches zero:
𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim [ ]
ℎ →0 ℎ

Where 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) is the mathematical notation for the derivative of the function 𝑓(𝑥).

Important! The derivative of a function is represented using various notations.

𝑑𝑦
- If the equation is defined as 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥, we use the notation 𝑑𝑥 or 𝑦 ′

For example: 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 6, 𝑦 = sin 3𝑥 , 𝑦 = log 𝑥

- If the function is defined as 𝑓(𝑥) in terms of 𝑥, we use the notation 𝑓′(𝑥).

𝑥−5
For example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 4 , 𝑔(𝑥) = 4𝑥 2 − 7𝑥

𝑑
- If the function is defined as just an expression, we use the notation 𝑑𝑥 [𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛]

For example, if asked to find the derivative of 3𝑥 + 5, we would represent this as

𝑑
(3𝑥 + 5)
𝑑𝑥

Example 1
Use the definition of the derivative as a limit to find 𝑓′(𝑥) for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2
Step 1: Write the limiting definition of differentiation

Step 2: Evaluate the functions

Step 3: Simply the expression and factor ℎ

Step 4: Evaluate the limit as ℎ approaches 0.

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Example 2
Use first principles to show that the derivative of 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 is 6𝑥 − 5

Step 1: Write the limiting definition of differentiation

Step 2: Evaluate the functions

Step 3: Simply the expression and factor ℎ

Step 4: Evaluate the limit as ℎ approaches 0.

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Example 3
Use the definition of the derivative as a limit to show that the derivative of the function ℎ(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 + 1 is
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 2
Step 1: Write the limiting definition of differentiation

Step 2: Evaluate the functions

Step 3: Simply the expression and factor ℎ

Step 4: Evaluate the limit as ℎ approaches 0.

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Example 4
(a) Write down the definition of the derivative of a function 𝑓(𝑥) as a limit.

(b) Hence, find the derivative of

5
𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 −
𝑥2

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While this is the mathematical definition of differentiation, we will not be using this approach to differentiation
in our questions. You are only required to use first principles (the intuitive approach) if the question prompts
you to.

On the other hand, first principle differentiation has been used to generate a set of rules that we can use to easily
differentiate different functions. These rules include:
• Power Rule
𝑑 𝑛
(𝑥 ) = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥
The power rule states that we multiply by the power then subtract one from the power.
For example:
𝑑 5
[𝑥 ] = 5𝑥 4
𝑑𝑥
• Constant Rule
𝑑
[𝑐] = 0
𝑑𝑥
The constant rule states that the derivative of a constant is zero.

• Constant Multiple Rule

𝑑 𝑑
[𝑐 𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑐 [𝑓(𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
The constant multiple rule states that the derivative of a constant multiplied by a function is the constant
multiplied by the derivative of that function.
For example:
𝑑 𝑑 4
[3𝑥 4 ] = 3 ∙ [𝑥 ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 3 ∙ 4𝑥 3
= 12𝑥 3
Notice that this rule allows you to "pull out" a constant from a derivative!

Another example:
𝑑 𝑑 1
[2√𝑥] = 2 (𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 1
= 2 ∙ 𝑥− 2
2
1
=
√𝑥

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Example 5
Differentiate each of the following with respect to 𝑥

(a) 𝑦 = 𝑥5 (b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 6 (c) ℎ(𝑥) = 21√𝑥 3

7 3 9
(d) 𝑦 = 𝑥5 (e) 𝑦 = 2√𝑥 4 (d) 𝑔(𝑥) = 6
√𝑥 7

The following are the remaining rules of differentiation

• Sum/Difference Rule:
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
[𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥)] = [𝑓(𝑥)] ± [𝑔(𝑥)]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
The derivative of a sum or difference is the sum or difference of the derivatives.

• Chain Rule

𝑑
[𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑓 ′ [𝑔(𝑥)] × 𝑔′ (𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
The derivative of a composite function is the derivative of the outside function multiplied by the
derivative of the inside function.

• Product Rule
The product rule states that

𝑑 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
(𝑢𝑣) = 𝑢 +𝑣
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
where 𝑢 and 𝑣 are expression in terms of 𝑥

• Quotient Rule
The quotient rule states that

𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑 𝑢 𝑣 −𝑢
( ) = 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑣 𝑣
where 𝑢 and 𝑣 are expression in terms of 𝑥

Note: The chain, product and quotient rules will be discussed in depth in the upcoming lessons.
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Example 6
Determine the derivative of the following:
(a) 𝑦 = 5𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 5 (b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 1

4 5 3
(c) 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 2 − 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 (d) 𝑔(𝑥) = 5𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 7√𝑥 − 𝑥
√

Example 7
Evaluate the derivative of the following functions:
(a) 𝑦 = (2𝑥 − 1)(4𝑥 + 5) (b) ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 (4 − 7𝑥)2

2
(c) 𝑦 = 2√𝑥(7𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ) (d) 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥(3 + √𝑥)

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 1 5 3 5
(d) ℎ(𝑥) = ( − 2𝑥 2 ) (e) 𝑦 = 2√𝑥 (𝑥 + 𝑥 3 )
√𝑥 𝑥

Example 8
Find the derivative of each of the following:
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3 4𝑥 +√𝑥
(a) 𝑦= (b) 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥 2𝑥 2

3
√𝑥 5 −2𝑥√𝑥 𝑥 4 −3𝑥 2 − 5𝑥+ 7
(c) 𝑔(𝑥) = (d) 𝑦=
3 √𝑥 𝑥3

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Example 9
Differentiate the following functions:
(𝑥 + 2)(2𝑥 − 3) √𝑥(2𝑥−4)
(a) 𝑦= (b) 𝑓(𝑥) =
4𝑥 5 3𝑥 2

(2𝑥−1)(3𝑥−2) (4𝑥+√𝑥)( 𝑥 2 − 3)
(c) 𝑦= 3 (d) ℎ(𝑥) = 3√𝑥
2𝑥 2

Derivative of Trigonometric Functions

At the CSEC Additional Mathematics level, we will only study the derivative of two of the three basic
trigonometric functions, these are given below:
𝑑
(sin 𝑥) = cos 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
(cos 𝑥) = − sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥

Example 10
Differentiate each of the following
(a) 𝑦 = 3 cos 𝑥 − 5 sin 𝑥 (b) 𝑦 = 7 sin 𝑥 − 4 cos 𝑥

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 1
(c) 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 4 cos 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 (d) 𝑦 = 5𝑥 3 + 5 sin 𝑥 − 2√𝑥

1 1
(e) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 − cos 𝑥 + 5 sin 𝑥 (f) 𝑔(𝑥) = − 6 sin 𝑥 + cos 𝑥
𝑥4 2

As previously mentioned, the derivative is called the gradient function because it can be evaluate to find the
gradient of the curve at a given point.

Example 12
1 1
Find the gradient of the curve 𝑦 = 3 𝑥 3 − 4 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 4 at the point where 𝑥 = −2

Example 13
Find the gradient of the curve 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 8 at the point (0, −8)

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Example 14
Find the point(s) on the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 such that the gradient of the curve is 3

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Example 15
Find the point on the curve 𝑦 = 5𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4 such that the curve is parallel to the line 3𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 12 = 0

Example 16
The curve 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 3 + 𝑏𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 passes through the point (1,2) and is such that the gradient at this point is
7. Find the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏.

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