Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Math 3A: Calculus with Applications

Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules
• Some Notation, Two New Rules,
• Some Examples and Rationale,
• Tangent Lines & More!

Instructor’s Office Hours

Peter M. Garfield Sundays 8:00–9:00Pm on Zoom
garfield@math.ucsb.edu Mondays 11:00Am–12:00Pm in my office
South Hall 6510 Tuesdays 8:00–9:00Pm on Zoom
Wednesdays 11:00Am–12:00Pm in my office
Thursdays 8:00–9:00Pm on Zoom

© 2023 Peter M. Garfield Please do not distribute this material.

Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Some notation
dy
If y = f(x), then = f ′ (x) (Leibniz vs (almost) Newton)
dx

Why Does Leibniz’s Notation Make Sense?

y(x + h) − y(x)
“derivative of y with respect to x” = lim
h→0 h
∆y
= lim
∆x→0 ∆x

dy “infinitesimal change in y”
= =
dx “infinitesimal change in x”

dy d( )
We abuse notation and write = y = “the derivative of y”.
dx dx
d
We use “ ” to mean “the derivative with respect to x of. . .”
dx
Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

More Derivative
( )
Rules
d
Question: Is f(x) · g(x) = f ′ (x) · g′ (x)?
dx
Let’s check…
1. If f(x) = x2 and g(x) = x, what is the derivative of f(x) · g(x) = x2 · x = x3 ?
x4
(A) 0 (B) 2x (C) 12x (D) 3x2 (E)
4
Answer: D

2. For the same f and g, what is f ′ (x) · g′ (x)?

x4
(A) 0 (B) 2x (C) 12x (D) 3x2 (E)
4
Answer: B
d( )
These are different and so f(x) · g(x) ̸= f ′ (x) · g′ (x) .
dx
Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

The Product Rule

We have a special rule for the derivative of a product called the product rule:

d( )
f(x) · g(x) = f ′ (x) · g(x) + f(x) · g′ (x).
dx

3. If f(x) = x2 and g(x) = x, what is f ′ (x) · g(x) + f(x) · g′ (x)?

x4
(A) 0 (B) 2x (C) 12x (D) 3x2 (E)
4

Answer: D

Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Examples:
4. Find the derivatives of the following functions. Click as you go!

dx
(A) x = (t3 − 5t + 1)(t2 + 1) = (3t2 − 5)(t2 + 1) + (t3 − 5t + 1)(2t)
dt

dy
(B) y = (x + 1)(x2 + 2) = 1 · (x2 + 2) + (x + 1)(2x)
dx

dy
(C) y = xex − ex = xex
dx
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
1 1 dy 1 1 1 2
(D) y = x+ x2 − = 1− x2 − + x+ 2x + 3
x x2 dx x2 x2 x x

(E) Done!
Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Some Rationale
u(t) ∆u

A(t) = u · v
∆A(t) = u · ∆v + ∆u · v + ∆u · ∆v ∆u · v
v(t)
∆A ∆v ∆u ∆v
=u· + · v + ∆u ·
∆t ∆t ∆t ∆t
dA dv du
=u· + ·v+0
dt dt dt

∆v u · ∆v ∆u · ∆v

Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

The Quotient Rule:

We have a special rule for the derivative of a quotient called the quotient rule:
d ( f(x) ) f ′ (x) · g(x) − f(x) · g′ (x)
= ( )2
dx g(x) g(x)
5. If f(x) = x2 and g(x) = x, what is the derivative of f(x)/g(x) = x2 /x = x?
x2
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2x (D) −1 (E)
2
Answer: B

6. And what is f ′ (x)/g′ (x)?

x2
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2x (D) −1 (E)
2
Answer: C
f ′ (x) · g(x) − f(x) · g′ (x)
7. And
Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules
2
? Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Examples:
8. Find the derivatives of the following functions. Click as you go!

t3 − 5t + 1 dx (3t2 − 5)(t2 + 1) − (t3 − 5t + 10)(2t)

(A) x = =
t2 + 1 dt (t2 + 1)2

x2 − 1 dy 2x(x + 3) − (x2 − 1) · 1
(B) y = =
x+3 dx (x + 3)2

q3 dp 3q2 (q2 + q + 3) − q3 (2q + 1)

(C) p = =
q2 + q + 3 dq (q2 + q + 3)2
( )( )
x2 + 1 x4 − 1 dy
(D) y = = complicated, but see earlier part (D)
x x2 dx

(E) Done!
Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Trickery:
f(x)
Suppose f and g are differentiable functions, F(x) = f(x)g(x) and G(x) = g(x) .
We’re told:
x f(x) f ′ (x) g(x) g′ (x)
0 1 2 −1 4
1 −2 1 4 −2

9. Find F ′ (0).
(A) −2 (B) −1 (C) 0 (D) 1 (E) 2

Solution:
F ′ (x) = f ′ (x)g(x) + f(x)g′ (x)

F ′ (0) = f ′ (0)g(0) + f(0)g′ (0)

= (2)(−1) + (1)(4) = 2 . Answer: E
Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Trickery:
f(x)
Suppose f and g are differentiable functions, F(x) = f(x)g(x) and G(x) = g(x) .
We’re told:
x f(x) f ′ (x) g(x) g′ (x)
0 1 2 −1 4
1 −2 1 4 −2

10. Find G′ (1).

(A) −2 (B) −1 (C) 0 (D) 1 (E) 2

Solution:
f ′ (x)g(x) − f(x)g′ (x)
G ′ (x) = 2
(g(x))
f (1)g(1) − f(1)g′ (1)
′
(1)(4) − (−2)(−2)
G ′ (1) = 2 = = 0. Answer: C
(g(1)) (4)2
Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Notation The Product Rule Quotient Rule Extensions

Tangent Lines:
11. Find the tangent lines to the given curve at the indicated point:

( )( )
(A) y = x3 − 5x x2 + 3 at x = 1 y − 16 = −16(x − 1) or y = −16x

2x
(B) y = at x = 0 y − 0 = 2(x − 0) or y = 2x
3x2 − x + 1

2 x2 5 11
(C) y = + at (x, y) = (1, 2.5) y− = −3(x − 1) or y = − 3x
x2 2 2 2
( )( )
x 1
(D) y = 1− 2 at (x, y) = (1, 0) y − 0 = 1(x − 1) or y = x − 1
x +1
2 x

Lecture 10: The Product & Quotient Rules Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics