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SUMMARY OF TECHNIQUES OF DIFFERENTIATION

Techniques of Differentiation

(I) Standard Results


f(x) f '(x) Remarks
a 0
xn n x n−1
a and n are constants.
d
axn a (xn) = anx n − 1
dx

f '( x)
ln [f(x)]
f ( x)
e f(x) f '(x) e f(x)
No need to memorise; can use implicit
a f(x) f '(x) a f(x) ln a
differentiation to obtain answer
d d
f(x) ± g(x)
dx f(x) ± dx g(x)
dy dy du
= ×
y = hg(x) dx du dx Chain Rule
where u = g(x), so y = h(u).
y = uv, dy d dv du
= (uv) = u + v Product Rule
where u, v are functions of x dx dx dx dx
u du dv
y= v dx − u dx
v dy d u Quotient Rule
dx = dx ( v )= v2
where u, v are functions of x

dy 1
Note: =
dx
( )
dy
dx

(II) Implicit Differentiation

d  d  dy
dx g(y) =  dy g( y )  dx
 
(III) Differentiation of Trigonometric Functions

The angle x, in the following differentiations is measured in radians.

Memorise (a), (b) and (c) only. Add “−” and add or remove “co-” to the
trigonometric function in (a), (b), (c).
d d
(a)
dx
(sin x) = cos x (d) dx (cos x) = − sin x

d d
(b) (tan x) = sec2 x (e) (cot x) = − cosec2 x
dx dx
d d
(c) dx (sec x) = sec x tan x (in formula booklet p. 3) (f) dx (cosec x) = − cosec x cot x

(IV) Differentiation of Inverse Trigonometric Functions


In Formula Booklet P. 3 NOT in formula booklet
d 1 d f '( x)
(a) dx (sin− 1 x) = (d) dx (sin− 1 f(x)) =
1 − x2 1 − [f ( x)]2

d 1 d f '( x)
(b) dx (cos− 1 x) = − (e) dx (cos− 1 f(x)) = −
1 − x2 1 − [f ( x)]2

d 1 d f '( x)
(c) dx (tan− 1 x) = (f) dx (tan− 1 f(x)) =
1 + x2 1 + [f ( x)]2

(V) Higher Order Differentiation

dn y d  d n −1 y 
= f ( n ) ( x) =  
dx n dx  dx n −1 
n
d n y  dy 
≠ 
dx n  dx 

(VI) Parametric Differentiation


If x and y are functions of the parameter t, then
dy
dy d 2 y d  dy  dt
= dt = ×
dx 2 dt  dx  dx
and
dx dx
dt
Using GC to Evaluate Derivatives at Given Points

Mtd 1: Find the gradient of the curve y = x2 at the point (2, 4).
1. Key in the equation using the equation editor.
2. Graph it.
3. Use ` CALC 6: dy/dx.
4. Key in the x value.
5. e.
Press E

Mtd 2: Find the gradient of the curve y = x2 at the point (2, 4).
1. go to m, 8: nDeriv (for nDeriv)
2. key in the function, then x, then the value of x of the given point.

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