Unit-I, Successive Differentiation

When a function has been differentiated once, the result may be again differentiated and the
process repeated indefinitely. This is called successive differentiation. Notations: The
different notations used for successive derivatives of y with respect to x are dy d y d y d y
23
n
, , ,.....
dx dx dx dx
23
n

Dy D y D y D y , ,

,.....
23
n
yyyy ()n
', '',
''',.......... y 1 2 3
n
yyy
, , ,.........
fxfxfx
'( ), ''( ),....... ( )
n

Standard Results
1)( ) n ax n ax D e a e =
2)( ) ( 1)( 2).........( 1) ( ) n m n m n D ax b m m m m n a ax b −
+=−−−++
()! nnn
D ax b n a + =
11
( ) ( 1) ! ( ) n n n n D ax b n a ax b − − − + = − +
{log( )} ( 1) ( 1)! ( ) n n n n D ax b n a ax b − − + = − − +
1

D ax b a ax b π
nnn
3){sin( )} sin( )
+=++

D ax b a ax b π
n n n 4){cos( )} cos( )

+=++n 2

D e bx c a b bx c n
n ax b 5)2 2 1 2 { sin( )} ( ) sin( tan ) a

+=+++−
n
 D e bx c a b bx c n
n ax b 6)2 2 1 2 { cos( )} ( ) cos( tan ) a

+=+++
−

Examples:
x
Ex1. Find nth derivative of
( 1)(2 3)
xx−+
xAB
=+
Solution:
( 1)(2 3) ( 1) (2 3) x x x x
−+−+
x A x B x = + + − (2 3) ( 1)
1331,
525
xAxB=⇒==−⇒=
13
x
∴=+
( 1)(2 3) 5( 1) 5(2 3)
xxxx
−+−+
⎛⎞⎛⎞∴=+ ⎜⎟⎜⎟
⎛⎞ ⎜⎟ ⎝⎠−+−+⎝⎠⎝⎠
1131
nnnx
D D D ( 1)(2 3) 5 1 5 2 3
xxxx
−−∴=+⎜⎟ xnnD
⎛⎞ ⎝⎠−+−+ xxxx

1 ( 1) ! 3 ( 1) !2
nnn
( 1)(2 3) 5 ( 1) 5 (2 3)
n
nn
++
11
⎛⎞
− ⎜⎟+
( 1) ! 1 3.2
nn
n
=
5 ( 1) (2 3)

⎝⎠−+
xx
 nn
++
11

x
EX 2. . Find nth derivative of 2

xx+−
( 2)( 2)
xABC
=++
22
Solution: ( 2)( 2) ( 2) ( 2) ( 2)

+ − + − − (i)
xxxxx
xAxBxxCx
( 2) ( 2)( 2) ( 2)
−++−++
2
=
( 2)( 2) ( 2)( 2)
xxxx
+−+−
22

=−++−++
xAxBxxCx
( 2) ( 2)( 2) ( 2)
2

(ii)
11
2,2
xCxA=⇒==−⇒=−
28
Equating Constant terms from both sides of eq (2)
111
0 4 4 2 0 4( ) 4 2( )
=−+⇒=−−+⇒=ABCBB
828
x 111
∴=−++
( 2)( 2) 8( 2) 8( 2) 2( 2)
xxxxx
+−+−−
22

⎛⎞⎛⎞∴=−++ ⎜⎟⎜⎟
⎛⎞⎛⎞ ⎜⎟⎜⎟ ⎝⎠⎝⎠+−+−−⎝⎠⎝⎠
111111
n n n n x D D D D ( 2)( 2) 8 2 8 2 2 ( 2)

xxxxx
22
 xnnnD
⎛⎞−−−+ xxxxx

1 ( 1) ! 1 ( 1) ! 1 ( 1) ( 1)!
nnn
∴=−++⎜⎟
⎝⎠+−+−−
n
( 2)( 2) 8 ( 2) 8 ( 2) 2 ( 2)
2112
nnn
+++

EX 3. . Find nth derivative of 21

xx−+43
Solution: 21 1 1 1 1
⎛⎞
==−⎜⎟ , using partial fractions
−+−−−−⎝⎠ xxxxxx43(

3)( 1) 2 3 1
⎧⎫∴=+ ⎨⎬ −+−−
⎛⎞⎛⎞⎛⎞ ⎜⎟⎜⎟⎜⎟ ⎝⎠⎝⎠⎝⎠ ⎩⎭
1111
DDD
nnn
xxxx
43231
2
⎧⎫−−
1 ( 1) ! ( 1) !
nn
=+⎨⎬
⎩⎭−−
nn

2 ( 3) ( 1) x x

nn
++
11
⎧⎫
111 −+⎨⎬
= ( 1) ! ⎩⎭−−

2 ( 3) ( 1)
n
xx
nn
++

1
11
Ex 4. . Find nth derivative of 2 2
xa+
11111
⎛⎞
==−⎜⎟ , using partial fractions
+−+−+⎝⎠
Solution: 2 2
x a x ai x ai ai x ai x ai ( )( ) 2
1111
⎛⎞⎛⎞
⎜⎟⎜⎟=−
nn
DD
⎝⎠⎝⎠+−+
x a ai x ai x ai
22
2
⎧⎫
111 =−+⎨⎬
( 1) ! ⎩⎭−+
n
n
112 ( ) ( )

ai x ai x ai + +
nn

⎧⎫
111
( 1) !
=−+⎨⎬
⎩⎭
n

inin n
11 2()()
ai re re − + + θ θ
1
( 1) !
{}
ninin
( 1) ( 1)
+−+θθ
=−−
nnee
1 ( 1) ( 1)
2 ee +−+θθ
air
+ ⎧⎫− inin
1( 1) !
2
=−⎨⎬
⎩⎭
n
n
 ar i
n + 1

1
( 1) !sin( 1) n
=−+

arθ
nn n

1
+

Here 2 2 1 , tana
−
θ ⎛⎞
rxa
x
=+=⎜⎟
⎝⎠

tan x
1 x
2
⎛⎞⎜⎟
− ⎝⎠−
1
Ex 5. Find nth derivative of 2

2
x
x
⎛⎞
−− ⎜⎟=
11
Solution:
tan 2 tan
2
⎝⎠−
1 x
⎛⎞ ⎜⎟
⎧⎫ ⎨⎬ ⎩⎭⎝⎠−
n 1
− 2 x
D
x
tan
1
2
D x 2 tan
n

{}
−
= 1

2 (tan ) D D x
−−
11
= {}⎛⎞
n
 =⎜⎟
⎝⎠+
n 1
− 1
2
1
2
D
x
⎛⎞
=⎜⎟
⎝⎠+−
1
2 D
( )( ) x i x i

n − 1

211⎛⎞
=−⎜⎟
⎝⎠−+ixixi
n
2 −
D ⎧⎫
1
−
111 =−−+⎨⎬
1
⎩⎭−+
( 1) ( 1)!
()()
n
n
ixixi
nn

⎧⎫
=−−+⎨⎬
1111 ⎩⎭

( 1) ( 1)!
()()
n
− inin n
θθ
i re re
−

11
{ } ( 1) ( 1)! n in in

−−θθ
=−−−
in in
ir
nn e e − ⎧ ⎫ −

ee
θθ−
21
 =−−⎨⎬ ( 1) ( 1)!
⎩⎭ 2

n
n
ri
n

1
1

( 1) ( 1)!sin n
−
=−−

rθ
nn n

21
Here 1
−
θ ⎛⎞
r x 1, tan
x
=+=⎜⎟
⎝⎠

Ex.6. Find nth derivative of sin sin 2 sin 3 x x

x sin sin 2 sin 3 sin cos cos5
xxxxxx=−
12 {}
= sin 2 sin 6 sin 4 x x x
−+
1
()4
D x x x D x x x (sin sin 2 sin 3 ) sin 2 sin 6 sin 4 = − +
nn
1
()
4
⎧⎫⎛⎞⎛⎞⎛⎞nnn
πππ
=+−+++ ⎜⎟⎜⎟⎜⎟
= 2 sin 2 6 sin 6 2 sin 4 ⎨⎬ ⎩⎭⎝⎠⎝⎠⎝⎠

xxx
nnn 1
4222

Ex7. Find nth derivative of cos cos2 x

 exx
1
Solution:
xx
exxexx=+
cos cos 2 {cos3 cos }
2
∴=+
DexxDexDex
( cos cos 2 ) ( cos3 ) ( cos )
nxnxnx
1
{}
⎧⎫
⎨⎬+++nn

ππ
2
= 10 cos(3 ) 2 cos( ) e x e x
nn
xx
222
22
1
⎧⎫
⎩⎭ ⎨⎬+++
nn
ππ
= 10 cos(3 ) 2 cos( ) e x x
nn
222
1 ⎩⎭x
22
Leibnitz’s Theorem: If u and v are any two functions of x such that all their desired
derivatives exists, then nth derivative of their product is given by
−−−
r D uv u D c Du D c D D c D D v D v v u v u v u = + + + +… + + …
nnnnnnnrnrn122

()()()()()()
12..
Note : when one of the two functions in the above theorem is of the form xm, then we choose
it as u and the other function as v ( as derivative of xmhas only m differential coefficients )

Ex 8. Find nth derivative of 3

x x cos2
1 2 3 ( cos 2 ) (cos 2 ) ( ) (cos 2 ) ( ) (cos 2 ) ( ) (cos 2 )
nnnnnnnn
D x x x D x C D x D x C D x D x C D x D x −−
−
=+++
nnnnn
3331232333 Dxxxxnxxxx
 ( 1) ( 1) ( 2)
( cos 2 ) 2 cos 2 (3 )2 cos 2 (6 )2 cos 2 ⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫ − − −

πππ
=++++++⎨⎬⎨⎬⎨⎬
⎩⎭⎩⎭⎩⎭
nnnn33212
−−
2222
nnnn
( 1)( 3) ( 3)
(6)2 cos 2
⎧⎫
−−− ⎨⎬+
62
⎩⎭
−
n
3
x π

9) If ( ) ( ) then show that

()( )
Solution:
Given ( ) ( ) differentiating with respect to x we get sin logx cos logx
⎡⎡⎤⎣⎦⎣⎦
= +
()()
−⎤
yab
xx
1

x y 1 = - a sin(logx) + b cos (logx) , again diff. w.r.to x we get x y 2 + y1 = co

sin s logx logx ( ) ( )
⎡⎤⎡−⎤
⎣⎦⎣⎦
ab
−
xx
x2y2 + xy1 = - y
x2y2 +xy1 + y = 0 …(1)… differentiating eq.(1) n times using Leibnitz‟s rule we get ( ) ( )
Hence proved

Ex.10) If show that

()()()()

Solution: Given ….(1)

y1 = ()+ ( )
 y1 = ( ) , (2) again differentiating with respect to x we get y2 = xy1 + y – cos x ( ) ( )
y2 = xy1 +y-y+x (y1-xy) from eq ( 2)
y2 – 2xy1 +x2y = 0 …..(3) differentiating eq.(3) 2n times using Leibnitz‟s rule we get
⎡⎤⎡⎤
y xy c y x y c x y c y + + + − − − + + ⎣⎦⎣⎦+=
nnn
22211221212222 2 2 0
2222

()()
nnnnnn

22212221222 2 (2 )2 2 0 2 (2 1)
n
yn xy n y x y n xy y + + − −

−
−+++=+ []()
2
nnnnnn 2
y xy n y x y nxy n n y + + − − − + + + + − = 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 4 4 2 2

1 0 nnnnnn
2
()
Put x = 0 , we get

y2 2 2 2 -2 n n n + (0 - 4 0 2 2 -1 0 0 ) ny n n y ( ) + = ( ) ( )

11) If prove that ( ) ( )

Solution
Given differentiating with respect to x we get y 1 =
√

y1 √ = 1, squaring both sides

y 12 (1- ) = 1 , again differentiating with respect to x we get 2 y1 y2 (1- ) + (-
2x) y12 = 0
y 2 (1- ) - x y1 = 0 …..(1) differentiating eq.(1) n times using Leibnitz‟s rule we get

[(1 – x2) y n+ 2 + nc1 (- 2x) y n+1 + nc2 (-2) y n ) ] – [ x yn+1 + nc1 y n ] = 0 (1- ) y n+2 - 2
n x yn+1 - 2 ( )
y n- x y n+1- n y n= 0
( )() .

12) If [ √ ] , prove that

 ( )()( )
Solution:
Given [ √ ] , differentiating with respect to x we get y1=m [ √ ] [1 +
√ (2x)]

[√
y1 = m [ √ ] ]

√ ]
y1 √ = m [ √ ]

y1 √ = m y ; squaring both sides we get

y12(1 + x2) - m2y2 = 0 again differentiating with respect to x we get (1 + x2)
2y1y2 +y12(2x) –m22yy1 =0
(1 + x2) y2 + y1 x – m2y =0 …….(1) differentiating eq.(1) n times using Leibnitz‟s rule we
get
[(1 + x2) yn+2 + nc1 (2x) yn+1 +nc2(2) yn ] +[xyn+1 +nc1yn] - m2yn = 0 (1 +
x2) yn+2 + n (2x) yn+1 + ( )
(2) yn + x yn+1 +n yn - m2yn = 0
( )()( )

13) If x y = tan,then prove that 21 1 (1 ) 2 ( 1) 0 n n n x y nxy n n y + + + −

= +−

Taylor’s Theorem :
If f x h ( + )can be expanded in a series of ascending powers of x ,then 23
fxhfhxf
h x f h x f h ' / 2! '' / 3! ''' .. + + + + + =..[in powers of x]
1)( ) ( ) ( ) ( )()()()
23
f x h f ' / 2! '' / 3! ''' .. + + + + + = x h h f f f x x h x.[in powers of h]
2)( ) ( ) ( ) ( )()()()
xaxa
−−
23

() ()
3) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) () ()
fxfaxafafafa
‟ ‟‟ ‟‟‟ ..
= + − + +[ in powers of (x
2! 3 Maclaurin’s Theorem
a) ; by putting x=a &h = (x-a) in
eq.1] !+
23
f x f x f x f x xf = + + + + … 0 ‟ 0 / 2! ‟‟ 0 / 3! ‟‟‟ 0 by putting h=0 &x=h
()()()()()()()
in 1) ]
Ex.14) Use Maclaurin‟s theorem to show that
( )

Solution: Let y = log( 1 + e x) y(0) = 2

differentiating w.r.to x , y1 =
(0) =
y1

Again differentiating w.r. x , y 2 = ( )

( ) =( )

(0) =
( ) , y2
(
Again differentiating w.r. x , y3 = )

( ) =
( ) , y3( 0) = 0

Again differentiating w.r. x , y4 = ( )( )( ) ( )

( )

=
( ) =
( ),

y4(0) = - By Maclaurin‟s theorem

y(x) = y(0) + x (0) + y2 (0) + y3 (0) + y4(0) + ……… log( 1 + ex) = 2

+x( )+ ( )+ ( 0 ) + ( - ) +…….

( )

Ex.15) Given ( ) find ( )by using Taylor‟s theorem. Solution ; By Taylor‟s

theorem

f( x + h ) = f(x) + hf „ (x) + f „‟(x) + f ‟‟‟(x) + …… ( 1 )

consider f ( ) = f (1 + 0.1) , taking x = 1 and h = 0. 1

()
from eq .1 , f ( ) = f ( 1 ) + 0 .1f ‟(1) +
 f „‟(1) + … (2)
( ) f(1) = 1 +8 + 15 -24 = 0
f „(x) = 3x2+16x +15 f „ (1) = 3+ 16 + 15 = 34
f „‟(x) = 6x + 16 f „‟ (1) = 6 + 16 =22
f „‟‟ (x) = 6 f „‟‟(1) = 6
from eq. 2 . f ( ) = 0 + (0.1) 34 + 22 +
6+0
f(
) = 3.511

Ex.16) Obtain the Maclaurin‟s expansion of ( ) and hence find the value of correct
up to four decimal places
2(
Solution : Let f(x) = tan ( + x ), f(0) =tan ( ) 1 f‟(x) = sec ) =1 + tan2( + x
), = 1 + [f(x)]2 f‟ (0) = 1 + 1 =2 f‟‟(x) =2 f(x) f‟(x) f‟‟(0) = 2(1) (2) = 4
f‟‟‟(x) = 2 f(x) f‟‟(x) + 2 f‟(x) f‟(x) f‟‟‟(x) = 2(1)(4) +2(2)(2) = 16 ….

By Maclaurin‟s series , f(x) = f(0) +x f‟(0) + f‟‟(x) + f‟‟‟(x) + …. = 1 + x

(2) + (4) + (16) +……..(1) Now =45 +1 „ =45 + 90‟ = + = +0.02618
radians Putting x = 0.02618 in eq. 1,we get
= 1 + 2(0.02618) + 4 (0.02618)2+ (0.02618)3+….. = 1 +
0.05236 + 0.00137 + 0.00005+….
= 1.0538 approximately

= , prove that2 2
12
Ex.17. If
y x (sin ) − x y n xy n y − − + − = + +. Hence find 0 ( )n

y
Solution: Given 1 2 y x (sin ) −

21 (1 ) (2 1) 0 n n n

=…………..(i)
Differentiating w. r. to x
−
sin 2 1
x
1
y
x
=
−
1
2

⇒−=
1 2sin
xyx
21
−
1
⇒−=
 (1 ) 4(sin )
xyx
2212
−
1
⇒−=
(1 ) 4 (ii)
xyy
22
1
Again differentiating w. r. to x
(1 )2 ( 2 ) 4
−+−=
xyyyxy
22
1211
⇒−−−=
(1 ) 2 0 ........................(iii) x y xy
2 21
Now differentiating w. r. to x, n times using Leibnitz Theorem
( 1)
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 2) 0
nn −
− + − + − − − =x y n x y y xy ny + + +
2
nnnnn
211 2
22

2 1 (1 ) (2 1) 0 n n n
x y n xy n y − − + − = + +……….(iv) Put x =
0in (i), (ii), (iii),(iv)
0 1 0 2 0 ( ) 0,( ) 0,( ) 2 y y y = = =
Also 2
20( )
y n y +=
nn
⇒=−
( ) ( 2) ( )
yny
2
nn
020
−
=( 2) ( 4) ( )
nny
−−
22 −
n 40
=( 2) ( 4) ( 6) ( ) n n n y
222
−−− .................................

n
−
...................................
.
60

When n is even, 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 0 ( ) =( 2) ( 4) ( 6) ..........4 .2 ( )

y n n n y −−−
n
22222
i.e.,
( ) =( 2) ( 4) ( 6) ..........4 .2 .2 n
y n n n −−−
0

When n is odd,2 2 2 2 2 0 1 0 ( ) =( 2) ( 4) ( 6) ..........4 .2 ( ) 0 n y n n n

y−−−=

Ex.18. If1
y e−
m x cos
=, find 0
( )n
y
Solution: Given 1
y e−
m x cos
=……………..(i)
Differentiating w. r. to x
mx
cos − 1

ym
x
=−
−
e
1
2

1
⇒ − = − x y my
1
1
2
⇒−=
(1 ) (ii)
xymy
2222
1
Again differentiating w. r. to x
(1 )2 ( 2 ) 2
−+−=
x y y y x m yy
222
1211
⇒−−−=
(1 ) 0 ........................(iii)
 x y xy m y
22
21
(
Now differentiating w. r. to x, n times using Leibnitz Theorem
1)
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 2) 0
nn
− + − + − − − − = x y n x y y xy ny m y
−
22nnnnnn
+++
211
2
⇒−−++−=
(1 ) (2 1) ( ) 0..........................( ) x y n xy n m y iv
222
nnn
++
21
Put x = 0in (i), (ii), (iii),(iv)
( ) ,( ) ,( )
y e y me y m e
==−=
mmm
πππ

2222
01020
( ) ( )( )
ynmy
=−
22
nn
200
⇒=−−
( ) {( 2) }( )
ynmy
22
+
nn020

⇒=−−−−
( ) {( 2) }{( 4) }( )
ynmnmy
2222
−
nn
040
⇒ = − − − − − − ( ) {( 2) }{( 4) }{( 6) }( ) y n m n m n m y
222222
−
nn
060
−

........................
............. ....
................
When n is even,
 ( ) {( 2) }{( 4) }{( 6) }.........(2 )( ) y n m n m n m m y = − − − − − − −
22222222
020n

⇒ = − − − − − − − ( ) {( 2) }{( 4) }{( 6) }.........(2 ) y n m n m n m m m eπ m

n
222222222
20

When n is odd,
( ) {( 2) }{( 4) }{( 6) }.........(1 )( ) y n m n m n m m y = − − − − − − −
22222222
010n

⇒ = − − − − − − − − ( ) {( 2) }{( 4) }{( 6) }.........(1 )( ) y n m n m n m m m

eπ m
n
22222222
20

Curvature
Curvature: The shape of a plane Curve is characterized by the degree of Bentness
or Curvedness.
Radius of curvature: The reciprocal of the curvature of a curve is called the radius
of curvature of curve and is denoted byρ .
Curvature is a numerical measure of bending of the curve. At a particular point on the
curve, a tangent can be drawn. Let this line makes an angle Ψ with positive x- axis. Then
curvature is defined as the magnitude of rate of change of Ψ with respect to the arc
length s.

Radius of curvature for Cartesian curve ( )

||[ ( ) ]
|

Radius of Curvature for Parametric curves ( ) ( )

||[( ) ( ) ] |
Curvature
|
Centre of :
 At a point, P, on a given curve, suppose we were to draw a circle which just touches the
curve and has the same value of the curvature (including its sign). This circle is called
the “circle of curvature at P”. Its radius, _, is called the “radius of curvature at P” and its
centre is called the “centre of curvature at P”.

Center of Curvature at (x, y)

( ) ( )

̅( )
circle of ̅
( ̅) ]
[ curvature is ( ̅) [
Equation of ]

Ex.19. Find the curvature of the curve √ √ √ , at point ( ) Solution :

consider √ √ √ , now differentiating we get √+ √ =0

√

√
√

√
=-
√
√

√
=- *

√+
At point ( ) , y 1= - 1
and y2 =

=
(
Radius of curvature at point ( )=
= √ =√
)

Radius of curvature at point ( )= √

Ex.19 Show that circle of curvature at the origin for the curve is
( )( ) solution: consider
, y2 =
y1 = m +
(0,0) =
y1(0,0) = m, y2 ,

Radius of curvature at point ( ) =( )

= ()

If ( ) be the center of curvature at origin ,then

2
= X - - (1 +y1 ) = 0 - ( ) = - ( ) &
(
=y+ )
= ()
()
=0+

The equation of circle of curvature is (x - )2 + ( y - )2 = 2

( )
) =[

) +( ()

( ()
]

X2 + am (1 +m2) + ()

+ y2 - a( 1 + m2) + ()

= ()

X2+ y2 = ( )( )

Ex.20) In the ellipse , show that the radius of curvature at the end of major axis is equal
to the semi latus rectum of the ellipse

solution: consider …….(1)differentiating the equation 1, we get

+ =0
….(2), again differentiating we get
 [

+, using eq.(2)

]=- *

=-
, using eq.(1)

=-

Radius of curvature at point ( ) =( )

[( )]

=- [

=[ ]
, numerically
At the end of major axis i.e, at (a, 0) we get

=-
=- = semi latus rectum.

In the ellipse , the radius of curvature at an end of major axis is equal to the semi
latus rectum of the ellipse