DIFFERENTIATION

(PEMBEZAAN)
INTRODUCTION
Calculus is divided into two main parts: differentiation
and integration. Differentiation is sometimes referred
to as differentiation calculus.

We will apply some differentiation rules to simplify the

process of finding the derivative of a function.

BASIC RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION

There are many rules of differentiation. However in
this chapter, we only cover the basic rules of
differentiation and apply it to the field of our study.

RULE 1: DERIVATIVE OF CONSTANT

If f(x) = k, then d (k) = 0

dx
The first rule of differentiation merely says that that
given any constants, its derivative is zero.

Example 1
a. If y = 5, then dy = 0
dx

b. If y = √104, then d (√104) = 0

dx

c. If y = 1000999, then dy = 0
Dx
Exercise 1
Find f’(x) if
a. f(x) = 8
Solution:

b. f(x) = -49
Solution:
 c. f(x) = 2
Solution:

a. f(x) = 2048
Solution:

RULE 2: CONSTANT – MULTIPLE RULE

If f(x) = mx, then f’(x) = m

Example 2:

a. If y =2x,
dy = 2
dx

b. If f(x) = -12x
f’(x) = -12

Exercise 2

Find f’(x) if (a) f(x) = 7x (b) f(x) = -25x

Next we find the derivative of a function of the form x

raised to some constant power, written as xn. Such
function is called a power function. The derivative of
the function is called the power rule.

RULE 3: POWER RULE

If f(x) = xn, then d (xn) = n.xn-1
dx
In other words, the derivative of a constant power of x
is equal to the exponent (power) times x to a power
one less than the old exponent.

Example 3:
Differentiation the following functions:
(note: to differentiation a function also means to find
the derivative of the function)

Old exponent times x Old exponent minus one

a. If y =x2,
dy = 2x2-1
dx
= 2x

b. If y = 3x
y = x1/3
dy = 1 x1/3 -1
dx 3
= 1 x-2/3
3

Exercise 3:
Find f’(x) if (a) f(x) = axn (b) f(x) = 9x4

RULE 4 : CONSTANT FACTOR RULE

If y = kxn , where k is constant, then d kf(x)
= n.axn-1
dx
 Rule 4 says that the derivative of a constant times a
function f(x) is the conatant times the derivative of the
function.

Example 4

a. y = 3x2

Here k = 3, n = 2

dy = 2 (3x2-1) = 6x
dx

b. y = 3 y = 3x-2
2
x

therefore

dy = -2(3x-2-1) = -6x-3
dx

Exercise 4

Find f’(x) if (a) y = 3x3 (b) y = 4x2

RULE 5 : DERIVATIVE OF A SUM

If y = u(x) + v(x),then d/dx [ u(x) + v(x) ] =

du/dx + dv/dx
RULE 6 : DERIVATIVE OF A DIFFERENCE

d/dx [u(x) - v(x)] = du/dx – dv/dx

1. Determine the first derivatives for the
following functions using the first principle.
a) y = 3x2
b) y = 1x2
4
c) y = -4x2
d) y = x3
e) y = 1x3
 2
f) y = -2x2
g) y = 8x
h) y = 1x2
5
i) y = 3
x
j) y = -x
k) y = -1x2
2
l) y= 4x2
m) y = 1x4
5
n) y = -4
x

1. Find dy for each of the following equations

dx

a. y= 7
b. y = 12x
c. y= 6
x
d. y = 1x2
4
e. y= -3
x3
f. y = - 1x4
 2

3 . Differentiate the following expressions with

respect to x.

i. 4x6
ii. -8-2
iii. 3
4x2
iv. 2
5x4