IGCSE DIFFERENTIATION
COURSE
Topic 1:
The gradient of a line never changes since it
does not change its steepness. But a curve,
however, constantly changes its steepness so the
gradient changes at different points along the
curve. You should know how to find the
gradient of a line by using the formula m = Δy /
Δx. To find the gradient of a curve at a
particular point, draw a tangent to that point
then find the gradient of the tangent. However,
there is another way. The other way is by
differentiation.
Hint: A tangent is a line that intersects one point
of a curve.
Differentiation is the process of getting a
gradient function of a function to find the
gradient of a curve at any point.
Hint: a gradient function is a function that can
give you the gradient of a curve at any point.
The first rules of differentiation are:
If y = x^n then dy/dx = nx^n-1 Hint:
dy/dx is the derivative of y with respect to x.
In function notation,
If y = ax^n then dy/dx = anx^n-1 It is
written as f’(x) if the function is f(x).
If y = c where c is a constant, then dy/dx = 0
Worked example 1
Find the derivative of:
a.y = x^3
b. y = 2x^5
Answer:
a.dy/dx = 3x^3-1 = 3x^2
Use the derivative rules above then simplify.
b. dy/dx = 5 x 2x^5-1 = 10x^4
Worked example 2
Find the gradient of the curve y = 4x^3 at the
point where x = 2.
dy/dx = 12x^2
First, find the derivative and then simplify.
When the gradient equals 2, dy/dx = 4(2)^3 = 32
Now substitute x = 2 to the derivative.
To differentiate a function with two or more
terms, you differentiate each term separately.
Worked example 3
The function of a curve is given as f(x) = x^2 –
x – 6. Find the x coordinate of the curve when
the gradient equals 9.
f’(x) = 2x – 1
Differentiate each term separately then simplify.
f’(x) = 9
Let the gradient function equal 9.
2x – 1 = 9
Now solve by using algebra.
2x = 10
Therefore, x = 10/2 = 5
Questions:
1. Find dy / dx for these curves:
a.y = 2x^5 b. y = x^2 – 6x – 4 c. y
= x^3 – x^2 + 6x + 6x^2 – 3x + 6
2. Find the value of f’(2) for these
functions:
a.f(x) = 3x^4 + 2x b. f(x) = 2x^3 +
6x^2 + 6x – 8 c. 2x^4 + 6x^2 + 5x +
10x^2 + x^4 – 2
3. Find the x-values of the function f(x) =
2x^3 – 3x^2 – 36x + 25 where f’(x) = 0.
Topic 2:
So far, we have learned how to differentiate
simple functions. However, there are other
functions that we can differentiate. In this Topic,
we will look at how to differentiate simple
trigonometric and exponential functions. But
first, let’s look at radians. Radians is just another
way to measure angles. π radians = 180 degrees.
So, π/2 radians = 90 degrees, π/3 radians = 60
degrees and so on. We use radians in calculus
since it is easier to use than using degrees.
There are rules to differentiate trigonometric
functions that you need to know that are:
If y = sin(ax), then dy/dx = acos(ax) where a
is a constant.
If y = cos(ax), then dy/dx = -asin(ax) where
a is a constant.
In your previous course, you meet the function
f(x) = e^x. The rule to differentiate is:
If y = e^ax, then dy/dx = ae^ax where a is a
constant.
Worked example 4
Find f’(x) given that:
a. f(x) = sin(4x)
b. f(x) = 3cos(5x)
c. f(x) = e^4x
Answer:
a.f’(x) = 4cos(4x)
b. f’(x) = 5 x 3cos(5x) = 15cos(5x)
c.f’(x) = 4e^4x
Questions:
1. Differentiate these following functions:
a.10cos(3x) b. 12sin(20x) c. 5e^5
d. 5cos(5/6x) + sin(x) + e^x
2. Given that the function of a curve is g(x)
= 4cos(16x) + 3sin(x) + 3. Find the value of
g’(π/4).
Topic 3:
There are even more complicated functions to
differentiate. So, we must learn how to use as
many rules as possible to differentiate. In this
topic, we will look at the chain rule. Say we
want to differentiate y=
(2x + 7)^7. It would take too long to expand and
then differentiate each term separately.
However, there is a simpler way. Let u = 2x + 7
so du/dx = 2. Since u = 2x + 7, y = u^7 so dy/du
= 7u^6. Now using the chain rule. dy/dx = du/dx
x dy/du = 2 x 7u^6 = 14u^6 = 14(2x + 7)^6.
This rule makes since as the du’s cancel each
other and we are left with dy/dx.
Hint: du/dx x dy/du = du x dy/dx x du = dy/dx.
Worked example 5
Differentiate:
a.(x + 2)^4
b. √3x+5 + e^x
c.sin(x^2 + 5)
d. e^4x^5
Answer:
a.Let y = (x + 2)^4
Now let u = x + 2 so du/dx = 1.
y = u^4 so dy/du = 4u^3.
Using the chain rule:
dy/dx = du/dx x dy/du = 4u^3 x 1 = 4u^3 = 4(x
+ 2)^3.
b. Let’s differentiate each term separately.
For the first term:
Let y = √3x+5.
Now let u = 3x + 5 so du/dx = 3.
y = √u = u^1/2 so dy/du = 1/2u^-1/2.
Using the chain rule:
dy/dx = du/dx x dy/du = 1/2u^-1/2 x 3 = 3/2u^-
1/2 = 3/2√u = 3/2√3x+5.
Now let’s differentiate the second term.
d/dx(e^x) = e^x. Hint: d/dx(e^x)
just means the derivative of e^x with respect to
x. Therefore, the derivative of √3x+5
+ e^x is 3/2√3x+5 + e^x.
c.Let u = x^2 + 5. So, du/dx =2x.
Now let y = sin(x^2 + 5) = sin(u). So, dy/du
= cos(u).
dy/dx = du/dx x dy/du = 2xcos(u) =
2xcos(x^2 + 5)
d. Let u = 4x^3 so du/dx = 12x^2.
Now let y = e^4x^3 = e^u so dy/du = e^u.
Using the chain rule:
dy/dx = du/dx x dy/du = 12x^2 x e^u =
12x^2 x e^4x^3.
The rules from topic 2 can be rewritten as:
If y = sin(f(x)). Then, dy/dx =
f’(x)sin(f(x)).
If y = cos(f(x)). Then, dy/dx = -
f’(x)sin(f(x)).
If y = e^f(x). Then, dy/dx = f’(x)e^f(x).
Questions:
1. Differentiate the functions:
a.g(x) = (3x+4)^8 b. h(x) = sin(x^4) +
cos(e^x)
1. Given that k(x) = √3x + 5x. Find k’(3).
Topic 4:
There are even more rules to differentiate even
more functions. We will now look at the product
rule.
If y = f(x)g(x). Then, dy/dx = f’(x)g(x) +
g’(x)f(x).
