Di erential Calculus

Functions
• A function is a rule that for each element of one set D
gives an element of another set E. The set D is called
domain of the function, and E is the range.

Example
For each function, graph y = f(x) and determine f(2).
Function Graph f(2)

f(x) = x 2
ff
f(x) = cos(x)

f(x) = 3x
 Derivatives
• The derivative of a function y = f(x) describes the rate of
change of the function with respect to x.
• Graphically, the derivative gives the instantaneous slope of
the graph of f(x) at any x.
dy d
• Notation: f′(x) or or f(x)
dx dx
• In math, we learned how to determine the slope of a
Δy
straight line using rise over run, .
Δx
How do we determine the slope if we have a curve?
• Recall when analyzing curved position vs. time graphs, we
drew a tangent line to determine the slope.

Example
Graph each function and its derivative.
f(x) Graph of f(x) Graph of f’(x)

f(x) = x

f(x) = x 2

f(x) = x 3
Power Rule

d
( )
n n−1
x = nx
dx
Example
Determine the derivative of each of the following functions.
a) y = x 2 b) y = x 5

1
c) y =
y= x
3
x3 d)
Constant Rule

d
(k) = 0
dx
Constant Multiple Rule

d
(kf(x)) = kf′(x)
dx
Sum/Di erence Rule

d
(f(x) ± g(x)) = f′(x) ± g′(x)
dx
Example
Determine the derivatives of the following polynomials.
a) y = 2x 5

4 1
b) y = x +
x2

2
x
c) y = 2x 3 − + 3x − 5
2



ff
 Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

Example
Graph f(x) = sin x and g(x) = cos x and their derivatives.

f(x) = sin x g(x) = cos x

f′(x) g′(x)


 d d
(sin x) = cos x (cos x) = − sin x
dx dx
d d
(−sin x) = − cos x (−cos x) = sin x
dx dx

Is there a function (aside from f(x) = 0) whose derivative is

equal to itself?
 Derivatives of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

d d 1
( ) (ln x) =
x x
e = e
dx dx x
• Recall that Euler’s number e is a mathematical constant
approximately equal to 2.71828
• Recall that the natural logarithm of a number is its
logarithm to base e (i.e. ln x = loge x).

f(x) = e x g(x) = ln x

f′(x) = e x 1
g′(x) =
x


Example
Determine the derivative of each of the following functions.
a) y = 4e x

ln x
b) y = − − 4 cos x
5

c) y = 3e x − 3x 3 − 3

4
d) y= + 3 sin x + 1
x3
 Product Rule

d
(f(x) ⋅ g(x)) = f(x)g′(x) + g(x)f′(x)
dx
Example
Determine the derivative of the following function using two
di erent methods.
y = (3x 2 + 5) (x 3 + 4x)


ff
Example
Determine the derivative of each of the following functions.
a) y = 4x 2 sin x

b) y = e x cos x

c) y = − 3 ln x (x 2 − 4x + 1)

cos x π
d) y = + sin x −
2x 4 2
Quotient Rule

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

Example
Determine the derivative of each of the following functions
4x + 1
a) y =
2x 2 + x

ln x
b) y =
x


c) y = csc x

d) y = tan x
Chain Rule

d
dx ((f(g(x))) = f′ (g(x)) ⋅ g′(x)

Example
Determine the derivative of the following function using
three di erent methods.
y = (5 − 6x)
2


ff
Example
Determine the derivative of each of the following functions.
a) y = cos (2x 3)

b) y = 5e −3t

c) y = 4e −3t (sin 2t + 1)
Example
Prove the quotient rule using the product and chain rules.
 Higher Order Derivatives
• The second derivative of a function y = f(x) is the
derivative of the function’s rst derivative.
• Graphically, the derivative gives the concavity of the graph
of f(x) at any x.
d 2y d2
• Notation: f′′(x) or or f(x)
dx 2 dx 2

f′′′(x) = (f′′(x)) is the third derivative and

′
•
f (x) = (f′′′(x)) is the fourth derivative.
(4) ′

Example
Determine the second derivative of each of the following
functions.
a) y = 6x 4 − 2x 3 + 10x 2 − 4

b) y = 4 sin (3x)












fi
c) y = 2e x − 4 x

d) y = (3x + e )
2 x 2
Applications of Derivatives in Physics
• Derivatives are used whenever you are looking for the rate
of change of a quantity (or slope of a graph).
• Velocity is the rate of change of position
dx
v=
dt
• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity
dv d 2 x
a= = 2
dt dt
• Force is the rate of change of momentum
dp
F=
dt
• Power is the rate at which work is done
dE
P=
dt