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Learning Points

INTRODUCTION

Although algebra, trigonometry, and geometry are of fundamental

importance to the mathematician and physicist, a wide variety of technical
problems cannot be solved using only these tools of mathematics. Many
problems must be solved using methods of calculus. Calculus comprises of 2
fields, Differential Calculus (Differentiation) and Integral Calculus (Integration).
This is a quick review of some differentiation concepts. It is meant to
cover the basics which you will need for the Introductory Physics Course. It is
not meant to teach you everything there is to know about Differentiation, but
should give you a solid base for learning more on your own.

This document
introduces you to
the basics of
differentiation.

DIFFERENTIATION Getting Used to the Terminology

Differentiation A process in mathematics which provides a derivative

Derivative Something that describes the rate of change of one quantity with
another.

dy/dx means
differentiate y with
respect to x.

Example: Lets suppose y = 3x2. If you are asked to differentiate y with respect
to x, then you are being asked to do: dy/dx. As you will soon learn, for the
example above, dy/dx = 6x. The result or 6x is called the derivative and tells
how y varies with x.

BASIC RULES OF DIFEFERNTIATION

Just like in any other branch of Mathematics, there are basic rules that should be
adhered to when differentiating. The rules below are the ones you may need to
solve P14 problems.

1. The Power Rule

This rule is used to find the derivative of a variable raised to a power.

Example: Given y = x 4 , determine dy/dx.
Rule: Multiply the variable (i.e. x in the example above) by the power it is raised
to and subtract one from the power to get the new power of the variable.
dy/dx = (4) x (4 -1 )
=4x3
Another way of saying this is that the derivative of y = x4 is 4x3
So for the example,

Power Rule:
Multiply the
variable by the
power it is raised to
and subtract one
from the power to
get the new power
of the variable.

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Lets practice this concept.

Sample Problems

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Given y = 4x2
dy/dx = (2 )4 x2-1
= 8x

Given x = 4t
dx/dt = ( )4 t -1
= 2t -

Given p = 4x2 + x-6

dp/dx = (2)4x2-1 + (-6)x-6-1
= 8x - 6x-7

Find the following

derivatives:
a) dy/dx of
y = 3x2 + 5x
b) dx/dt of
x = 3t + 2t -2
c) dv/dt of
v = 5t3

Question 4

Question 5

d) du/dt of
u = 6t3 - 8t

Given y = 1/x
This is the same as y = x-1
Therefore dy/dx
= (-1)x-1-1
= -x-2

Given y = x
This is the same as y = x1
Therefore dy/dx
= (1)x1-1
= x0
=1

e) db/dt of
b = 5t2 2t4 + 4t

Now you try the sample problems on the right.

2. The Constant Rule

This rule is used to find the derivative of a constant (otherwise known as a real
number).

Answers
a) 6x + 5
b) 3 - 4t -3
c) 15t2
d) 18t2 4t -
e) 10t 8t3 + 4

Constant Rule:
The derivative of a
constant is zero.

Rule: The derivative of a constant is zero.

Example :

Given x = 9, then dx/dt = 0.

Another way to say this is that the derivative of x = 9 is 0
Sample Problems

Lets practice this easy concept.

Question 1

Question 2

Given y = 143

Given p = 6 + 2x + 3x2 + 2x-6

dp/dx = 2 + 6x 12x-7

dy/dx = 0

Find the following

derivatives:
a) dy/dx of
y = 3 + 5x-2
b) dx/dt of
x = 3t + 2
Answers
a) -10x-3
b) 3

Try the sample problems on the right.

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3. Differentiating Trigonometric Functions

Variables and real numbers are not the only things that we differentiate in this
course. Trigonometric functions such as sine, cosine and tan are sometimes
differentiated. Fortunately, you do not need to know how to differentiate these
trigonometric functions. You only have to commit their derivates to memory.
Trigonometric
Functions
y = sin x
y = cos x
y = tan x

Know these
derivatives by
heart!

dy/dx
cos x
- sin x
sec2x

4. Exponential Functions

When an exponential function is differentiated the exponential function is

unchanged BUT it is multiplied by the differential of the exponent.

Example :

Given y
Then dy/dt

=
=
=

4t 2

4t2 is the exponent

e
2
e 4t multiplied by 8t
2
8t e 4t

Lets practice these last two concepts.

Question 1

Question 2

Given y = 3sinx + 4 cosx

dy/dx = 3cosx 4sinx

Given y = 4e3t
dy/dt = 4e3t (3)
= 12 e3t

5. Expressions raised to a power

So far we have been dealing with equations where variables are raised to a
power e.g. y = x4. But what if we had an equation where an expression is raised
to a power such as y = (2x + 5)5 or y = 5(4x2 + 6x)2. How do we even start to
differentiate this type of equation? Do the following:
! Step 1: Apply the Power Rule treating the expression as a variable
! Step 2: Differentiate what is inside the brackets
! Step 3: Multiply the results from Step 1 and Step 2

Differentiating an
exponential
function gives back
the function
multiplied by the
differential of the
exponent.

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Example: Find dy/dx for y = (2x + 5)

Step 1: Apply the Power Rule treating the expression as a variable. So

imagine (2x + 5) to be a variable such as p. (It can be any variable you
want). We are then differentiating y = p5. Using the Power Rule we
would get 5p4. Therefore, from Step 1 we get 5(2x+5)4.
Step 2: Differentiate what is inside the brackets.
2x + 5 is the expression inside the brackets. Differentiating this with
respect to x gives a answer of 2.
Step 3: Multiply the results from Step 1 and Step 2.
Result from Step 1 = 5(2x + 5)4
Result from Step 2 = 2
Multiplying the results from both steps = 5(2x + 5)4 (2)
= 10 (2x + 5)4
Answer :

dy/dx

Step 1: Apply the

Power Rule
treating the
expression as a
variable.
Step 2:
Differentiate what
is inside the
brackets.
Step 3: Multiply
the results from
Step 1 and Step 2.

10 (2x + 5)4

Lets practice this concept.

Question 1

Question 2

Given y = (2x2 + 4x)3

dy/dx
= 3(2x2 + 4x)2 times (4x + 4)
= 3(4x + 4) (2x2 + 4x)2

Given p = 4(q3 2q-2)5

dp/dq
= (5)4(q3 2q-2)4 times (3q2 + 4q-3)
= 20(3q2 + 4q-3)(q3 2q-2)4

**Note**
Use similar principles to do:

dy/dx of y = sin(4x3).

! Step 1: Treat the expression in brackets as a variable and differentiate the

trig function.
! Step 2: Differentiate what is inside the brackets
! Step 3: Multiply the results from Step 1 and Step 2
So for above:
Step 1: Imagine (4x3) to be a variable p. We are differentiating y =
sin(p). We get cos(p) or cos(4x3).
Step 2: Differentiate what is inside the brackets.
Differentiating 4x3 gives us 12x2
Step 3: Multiply the results from Step 1 and Step 2.
dy/dx = cos(4x3) times 12x2
= 12x2cos(4x3)

Use similar
principles for
differentiating trig
functions whose
arguments are
expressions.

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Sample Problems

Try the sample problems on the right.

Find dy/dx for the

following :

6. The Product Rule

Suppose you are given y = (x-2)(x2-1). This is a product equation of two parts
(x-2) and (x2-1). We can apply the Product Rule to differentiate it.
A good way to remember the Product Rule for differentiation is the first part
times the derivative of the second part plus the second part times the derivative
of the first part.
To put it a little simpler:
1st part x derivative of 2nd part + 2nd part x derivative of 1st part
So from above, if
y =
dy/dx
=
=
=
=

a)
b)
c)
d)

y = (3x2 + 5)2
y = 2(5x 2)3
y = 3(4x5 + x)2
y = cos(x5)

Answers
a) 12x(3x2 + 5)
b) 30(5x 2)2
c) 6(4x5 + x)
(20x4 + 1)
d) 5x4 sin(x5)

(x - 2)(x2- 1).
(x - 2) times the derivative of (x2- 1)
+ (x2-1) times the derivative of (x-2)
(x - 2)(2x) + (x2 - 1)(1)
2x2 - 4x + x2 - 1
3x2 - 4x -1

Lets practice this concept.

Sample Problems
Question 2

Question 1
3

-2

Given y = (6x -3x )(4x-2)

dy/dx
= (6x3 -3x-2)(4) + (4x-2)(18x2 +6x-3)
= 24x3 12x-2 + 72x3 + 24x-2 -36x2 12x-3
= 96x3 -36x2 + 12x-2 12x-3

Given y = 4x sinx
dy/dx
= 4x2(cosx) + sinx(8x)
= 4x2cosx + 8xsinx

Try the sample problems on the right.

7. One last thing - Differentiating with respect to something

Hopefully, you are becoming familiar with the rules of differentiation.

So far we have been looking at differentiating equations with one variable in it.
What if we had an equation with 2 or more variables (eg. p = x4y2 or k = 7y2t4)
to differentiate? Which variable/variables would we apply the Power Rule to and
what do we do with the rest of the equation?

Find the dy/dx of

the following using
the Product Rule
a) y = (4x+5)(3x2+3)
b) y = (3x2 + 7)2x
c) y = (2x25)(2x6)
d) y = 4x(2x2 13)

Answers
a)
b)
c)
d)

36x2 +30x +12

18x2 + 14
12x2 - 24x 10
24x2 52

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This is where we look to see what we are differentiating with respect to. When
you know which variable you are differentiating with respect to, you can focus
on applying the Power Rule to that variable.
But theres still the question of what to do with the rest of the equation.
Fortunately, there is a simple answer. Multiply the derivative of the variable
youre differentiating with respect to by the rest of the equation. Rest of the
equation means everything except the variable you applied the Power Rule to.
Lets try this.
Example: Consider k = x4y2t6. Determine dk/dx
In this example, the variable we are differentiating with respect to is x
(because we are asked to do dk/dx). Treat everything else in the equation
as a multiplied constant.
So
dk/dx
= (4x3) y2t6
4
3
The derivative of x is 4x

Lets practice this concept.

Question 1

Question 2

Given s = 3x2y, determine ds/dx

ds/dx = 3y (2x)
= 6xy

Given s = 3x2y, determine ds/dy

ds/dy = 3x2 (1)
= 3x2

Try the sample problems on the right.

Conclusion

Now you know how to differentiate (at least the basics). In your upcoming
physics lectures, you will learn when to use it for physics and where it applies. If
you think about it youve come a long way from where you started. But all of
this will hard work will be wasted if you do not practice to differentiate.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Its the only way to keep
differentiation fresh in your mind.

dy/dx means
differentiate y with
respect to x.

Sample Problems
Find dy/dx for the
following :
a) y = 3x2t4
b) y = t4x
c) y = s2x4t3
d) y = 2xt6s3
e) y = 3s2x2t5
f) y = 4s2t2x2
Answers
a) 6xt4
b) t4
c) 4s2x3t3
d) 2t6s3
e) 6s2xt5
f) 8s2t2x