df f (x + h) − f (x)

f 0 (x) = = lim
dx h→0 h
f (y) − f (x)
= lim
y→x y−x

Basic Properties and Rules of Differentiation:

Meaning of derivative at a point is the instantaneous rate of change at that point.

1) f (x) = c: f 0 (x) = 0

2) (f (x) ± g(x))0 = f 0 (x) ± g 0 (x)

3) (cf (x))0 = cf 0 (x), c must be a constant

4) Power Rule: A function of the form f (x) = xr where r is any constant number is called a power
function.
f (x) = xr =⇒ f 0 (x) = rxr−1
Examples.
f (x) = x =⇒ f 0 (x) = 1
f (x) = ax2 + bx + c =⇒ f 0 (x) = 2ax + b
√ 1
f (x) = x =⇒ f 0 (x) = √
2 x
2
x +x+1 x 2 x 1
f (x) = = + + = x + 1 + x−1
x x x x
0 1
=⇒ f (x) = 1 − 2
x
Derivatives of some common functions

Exponential and Logarithmic functions:

(ex )0 = ex
1
(ln x)0 =
x
Trigonometric Functions:
(sin x)0 = cos x
(cos x)0 = − sin x
(tan x)0 = sec2 x
(sec x)0 = sec x tan x

Example.
sin(x + h) − sin(x)
(sin x)0 = lim
h→0 h
sin x cos h + sin h cos x − sin(x)
= lim
h→0 h
sin x cos h − sin(x) sin h cos x
= lim +
h→0 h h
1
2

sin h cos h − 1
= cos x lim + sin x lim
h→0 h h→0 h
| {z } | {z }
=1 =0
= cos x
Now, note that
cos h − 1 cos h + 1 sin2 h
lim · = lim −
h→0 h cos h + 1 h→0 h(1 + cos h)
sin h sin h
= − lim · lim =0
h→0 h h→0 1 + cos h
| {z } | {z }
1 =0

Inverse Trigonometric functions:

d 1
tan−1 x =


dx 1 + x2
d 1
sin−1 x = √


dx 1 − x2
d 1
cos−1 x = √


dx 1 − x2

The Product Rule:

d
[f (x)g(x)] = f 0 (x)g(x) + f (x)g 0 (x)
dx
d
[f (x)g(x)h(x)] = f 0 (x)g(x)h(x) + f (x)g 0 (x)h(x) + f (x)g(x)h0 (x)
dx

Examples.
d
(xex ) = 1 · ex + x · ex = ex (x + 1)
dx
d 2
(x + 1) tan x = 2x · tan x + (x2 + 1) sec2 x

dx
The Quotient Rule.

f 0 (x)g(x) − f (x)g 0 (x)

 
d f (x)
=
dx g(x) (g(x))2

Example.  √  √ √
d x ( x)0 (x + 1) − x(x + 1)0
=
dx x + 1 (x + 1)2
x+1 √ x+1−2x
√ − x √
2 x 2 x −x + 1
= 2
= 2
= √
(x + 1) (x + 1) 2 x(x + 1)2

Chain Rule. Motivation. Is

d
(2x + 1)135 = 135 · (2x + 1)134 · (2x + 1)0
dx

d d
[f (x)]2 = [f (x)f (x)] = f 0 (x)f (x) + f (x)f 0 (x) = 2f (x)f 0 (x)
dx dx
d 2
f (x) = 2f (x) · f 0 (x)
dx
 3

d df du
f (u) = ·
dx du dx

Example:
dr d√ d √ du
2x + 1 = u= u·
dx | {z } dx du dx
u

1 du d ln u
· =
u dx dx
d d ln u du 1 du
(ln u) = · = ·
dx du dx u dx

Implicit Differentiation:

Sometimes you are given an equation relating x and y in an intricate way. We are told that y is
a function of x, yet it is either impossible, or inconvenient to express y explicitly in terms of x.
However, we are asked about the derivative of y with respect to x.

dy
Question: Is it possible to write dx without first finding y in terms of x?

dy
Example. Find dx if x2 + y 2 = 1.
(x2 + y 2 )0 = 10
x
2x + 2y · y 0 = 0 =⇒ y 0 = −
y

Example.
sin(x + y 3 ) = x + y 2

Differentiate both sides wrto x:

d d
sin(x + y 3 ) = (x + y 2 )
dx dx
d
cos(x + y 3 ) · (x + y 3 ) = 1 + 2y · y 0
dx
cos(x + y 3 ) · (1 + 3y 2 y 0 ) = 1 + 2y · y 0
cos(x + y 3 ) + 3y 2 cos(x + y 3 )y 0 = 1 + 2yy 0
cos(x + y 3 ) − 1 = y 0 2y − 3y 2 cos(x + y 3 )

cos(x + y 3 ) − 1
y0 =
2y − 3y 2 cos(x + y 3 )

Note. Equation of a line:

ax + by + c = 0

Equation of a circle:
(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2
where (h, k) is the center and r is the radius. If you take h = k = 0 and r = 1:

x2 + y 2 = 1
4

.....

y = ln ex − ln(ex − 1)
y = x − ln(ex − 1)
ex
y0 = 1 − x
e −1
−1
= x
e −1