2.
2 Basic Differentiation Rules
A. Power Rule
C. More Basic Differentiation Rules
(Power Function) The power function is defined by:
f ( x) = x , (Constant Rule)
The domain and the range of the power function The derivative of the constant function f ( x) = c is
depend on the values or the exponent . equal to zero:
c' = 0
(Power Rule) The derivative of the power function
f ( x) = x is given by: (Constant Multiple Rule) If f is differentiable at x and
c is any real number, then cf is also differentiable at
( x )' = x 1 , x 0 if < 1
x and:
(Natural Exponent) If is a natural number then the (cf ( x))' = cf ' ( x)
power function and its derivative are defined on .
(Sum and Difference Rule) If f and g are
(Integer Exponent) If is an integer number then the differentiable at x , then so are f + g and f g and:
power function and its derivative are defined on ( f ( x) + g ( x))' = f ' ( x) + g ' ( x)
\{0} if < 0 .
( f ( x) g ( x))' = f ' ( x) g ' ( x)
(Radicals) The following relation allows the
Practice Questions
convention between the radical notation and the
exponential notation:
m
A. Power Rule
n m 1. Use the power rule to differentiate.
x = xn , n is natural
a) f ( x) = x b) f ( x) = x 2 c) f ( x) = x 3
(Rational Exponents) If the exponent is a rational d) f ( x) = x 5 e) f ( x) = x10 f) f ( x) = x 25
number then the domain of the power function and
its derivative depend on the values of n and m . 2. Use the power rule to differentiate.
1
(Irrational Exponent) If the exponent is an irrational a) f ( x) = x 0 b) f ( x) = x 1 c) f ( x) =
x2
number then the domain of the power function and
1
its derivative is (0, ) . d) f ( x) = x 3 e) f ( x) = 6
f) f ( x) = x 10
x
B. Other Basic Differentiation Rules 3. Convert the radical notation to the exponential
notation (if necessary), then use the power rule to
(Exponential Rule) The derivative of the exponential differentiate. Specify the domain for the power
function and its derivative.
function f ( x) = e x is given by:
a) f ( x) = x b) f ( x) = 3 x c) f ( x) = x3
(e x )' = e x
The domain of the exponential function and its d) f ( x) = 3 x 2 e) f ( x) = x1 / 4 f) f ( x) = x 2 / 5
derivative is (, ) . 1 1
g) f ( x) = h) f ( x) = i) f ( x) = x 2 / 3
3
x x
(Logarithmic Rule) The derivative of the logarithmic
function f ( x) = ln x is given by: 4. Use the exponent rules to simplify, then use the
1 power rule to differentiate.
(ln x)' =
x x
The domain of the exponential function and its a) f ( x ) = x x b) f ( x) = 2
x
derivative is (0, ) .
c) f ( x) = x 3 x d) f ( x) = x3 x
(Trigonometric Rules) The derivatives of the sine and x x
cosine functions are given by: e) f ( x) = ( x1 / 2 )( x 2 / 3 ) f) f ( x) =
3
(sin x)' = cos x x2
5. Use the power rule to differentiate.
(cos x)' = sin x
2
The domain of the sine and cosine functions and a) f ( x) = x b) f ( x) = x e
their derivatives is (, ) . c) f ( x) = x d) f ( x) = x1 / 3
MCV4U | Derivatives | 2.2 Basic Differentiation Rules
2009 Teodoru Gugoiu | Page 1 of 4
6. Determine whether f has a vertical tangent or a 3. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve
cusp at (0,0) . y = x + 1 / x and that passes through the point
P(2,2) .
a) f ( x) = x1 / 3 b) f ( x) = x 5 / 3 c) f ( x) = x 2 / 5
d) f ( x) = x1 / 4 e) f ( x) = x 3 / 2 f) f ( x) = x 7 / 4 4. At what points on the parabola xy = 12 is the
tangent line parallel to the line 3 x + y = 0 .
B. Other Basic Differentiation Rules
Challenge Questions
1. Find a derivative rule for the derivative of the
1. For each case, find a function y = f (x) satisfying
function f ( x) = a x .
the given conditions.
Hint: Use the identity: a x = e x ln a a) f (0) = 0 , f ' ( x) = x 2
2. Find a rule for the derivative of the b) f (0) = 1 , f ' ( x) = 2 x
function f ( x) = log a x . 1
c) f (1) = 0 , f ' ( x) = 2
ln x x
Hint. Use the identity: log a x =
ln a d) f (0) = 1 , f ' ( x) = sin x + cos x
e) f (0) = 1 , f ' ( x) = 2e x
C. More Basic Differentiation Rules
1. Differentiate. f) f (0) = 2 , f ' ( x) = x 3 2 x 2 + 3x 4
a) f ( x) = 2 b) f ( x) = 3x c) f ( x) = 4 x 2
5 2. Differentiate the polynomial function:
d) f ( x) = 5 x e) f ( x) = f) f ( x ) = 2 x 2 x 3
x P( x) = a n x n + a n 1 x n 1 + ... + a 2 x 2 + a1 x + a 0
5
x
2. Differentiate.
a) f ( x) = 3 sin x b) f ( x) = 5 cos x 3. Find a and b given that the derivative of
ax 3 + bx + 2, x 2
c) f ( x) = 4e x d) f ( x) = 2 ln x f ( x) =
e) f ( x) = (2)3 x
f) f ( x ) = 3 log x bx 2 a, x > 2
is continuous for all real x .
3. Differentiate.
2 3 4. Determine the coefficients a, b, c so that the curve
a) f ( x) = 1 2 x + 3x 2 b) f ( x ) = x + 2 + x3
x x f ( x) = ax 2 + bx + c will pass through the point
2 3 P(1,3) and be tangent to the line 4 x + y = 8 at the
c) f ( x ) = 2 x 63 x d) f ( x) = +
3
x x point T (2,0) .
1/ 2 2 / 3
e) f ( x) = 2 + 3x 6x
5. Let f ( x) = x 3 . Determine the equation of the
4. Differentiate. tangent line at the point P(c, c 3 ), c 0 and another
1 2
a) y = ( x 1)(2 x + 3) b) y = x x + intersection (if exists) between this tangent and
x x
graph of the function f ( x) = x 3 .
c) y = ( x 2)( x + 2) d) y = (3 x + 1)( x 2)
2 x 2 3x + 1 6. Find the area of the triangle formed by the x-axis
e) y = (2 x 1) 2 f) y = and the lines tangent and normal to the curve
x
f ( x) = 6 x x 2 at the point P(5,5) .
5. Differentiate.
a) f ( x) = sin x cos x b) f ( x) = 2 cos x 3 sin x 7. Find conditions on a, b, c and d that will guarantee
x
c) f ( x) = 2e + 3 ln x x
d) f ( x) = (2)3 3 log 3 x that the graph of the cubic polynomial
p( x) = ax 3 + bx 2 + cx + d has:
D. Tangent and Normal Lines a) exactly two horizontal tangents
1. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve b) exactly one horizontal tangent
y = x 3 3x 2 at the point T (1,2) . c) no horizontal tangent
2. Find the equation of the tangent line(s) with the 8. Let f ( x) =| x 2 4 | .
slope m = 6 to the curve y = x 4 2 x . a) study the continuity of the function y = f (x)
b) find a formula for the derivative function f ' ( x)
c) study the differentiability of the function f
MCV4U | Derivatives | 2.2 Basic Differentiation Rules
2009 Teodoru Gugoiu | Page 2 of 4
d) sketch on the same grid the graphs of f and its c) f ' ( x) = 8 x d) f ' ( x) = (5 / 2) / x
derivative f ' e) f ' ( x) = x 6 / 5
f) f ' ( x) = (17 / 3) x11 / 6
2. a) f ' ( x) = 3 cos x b) f ' ( x) = 5 sin x
9. Find the equation of the normal line to the curve
x
y = x and that passes through the point P (3,6) . c) f ' ( x) = 4e d) f ' ( x) = 2 / x
x
e) f ' ( x) = (2 ln 3)3 f) f ' ( x) = 3 /( x ln 10)
10. Where does the normal line to the parabola 3. a) f ' ( x) = 2 + 6 x b) f ' ( x) = 1 2 / x 2 + 6 / x 3 + 3x 2
y = x x 2 at the point P(1,0) intersect the parabola a
c) f ' ( x) = 1 / x 2 x 2 / 3 d) f ' ( x) = x 3 / 2 x 2 / 3
second time?
e) f ' ( x ) = (3 / 2) / x + 4 x 5 / 3
11. Find constants a, b, c and d such that the graph 4. a) y ' = 4 x + 1 b) y ' = 2 x + 4 / x 3 c) y ' = 1
of
d) y ' = (5 / 6) / 6 x (2 / 3) x 2 / 3 + (1 / 2) / x
f ( x) = ax 3 + bx 2 + cx + d has horizontal tangent lines
at the points (0,1) and (1,0) . e) y ' = 8 x 4 f) y ' = 2 1 / x 2
5. a) f ' ( x) = cos x + sin x b) f ' ( x) = 2 sin x 3 cos x
12. Suppose that the tangent line at a point P on the c) f ' ( x) = (2)e x + 3 / x
curve y = x 3 intersects the curve again at a point Q .
d) f ' ( x) = (2 ln 3)3 x 3 /( x ln 3)
Show that the slope of the tangent at Q is four times
D1. y = 3 x + 1 2. y = 6 x 3 3. y = 3 x + 4 or y = 2
the slope of the tangent at P .
4. A(2,6) and B(2,6)
Answers CQ1. a) f ( x) = x 3 / 3 b) f ( x) = (4 / 3) x x
A1. a) f ' ( x) = 1 b) f ' ( x) = 2 x c) f ' ( x) = 3x 2 c) f ( x) = 1 1 / x d) f ( x) = 2 cos x + sin x
4 24
d) f ' ( x) = 5 x e) f ' ( x) = 10 x9 f) f ' ( x) = 25 x 1 2 3
e) f ( x) = 3 2e x f) f ( x) = x 4 x 3 + x 2 4 x + 2
2. a) f ' ( x) = 0 b) f ' ( x) = 1 / x 2 c) f ' ( x) = 2 / x 3 4 3 2
n 1 n2
2. P' ( x) = na n x + (n 1)a n 1 x + ... + 2a 2 x + a1
d) f ' ( x) = 3 / x 4 e) f ' ( x) = 6 / x 7 f) f ' ( x) = 10 / x11
3. a = 2 and b = 8
3. a) f ' ( x) = 1 /( 2 x ) , D f = [0, ) , D f ' = (0, ) 4. a = 1 , b = 0 and c = 4
b) f ' ( x) = (1 / 2) x 2 / 3 , D f = {x R} , D f ' = {x 0} 5. y = 3c 2 x 2c 3 , P(2c,8c 3 )
6. 425 / 8
c) f ' ( x) = (3 / 2) x , D f = D f ' = [0, )
7. a) b 2 > 3ac b) b 2 = 3ac c) b 2 < 3ac
d) f ' ( x) = (2 / 3) x 1 / 3 , D f = {x R} , D f ' = {x 0} 8. a) f is continuous everywhere b) f is not
e) f ' ( x) = (1 / 4) x 3 / 4 , D f = [0, ) , D f ' = (0, ) differentiable at x = 2 and x = 2
2 x, x < 2
f) f ' ( x) = (2 / 5) x 3 / 5 , D f = {x R} , D f ' = {x 0}
c) f ' ( x ) = 2 x, 2 < x < 2 d) See the figure bellow.
g) f ' ( x) = (1 / 2) x 3 / 2 , D f = D f ' = (0, ) 2 x, x > 2
h) f ' ( x) = (1 / 3) x 4 / 3 , D f = D f ' = (,0) (0, ) 8 y
i) f ' ( x) = (2 / 3) x 5 / 3 , D f = D f ' = (,0) (0, ) 6
4. a) f ' ( x) = (3 / 2) x b) f ' ( x) = (3 / 2) x 5 / 2 4
c) f ' ( x) = (4 / 3)3 x d) f ' ( x) = (5 / 6) x 1 / 6 2
6 6
e) f ' ( x ) = (7 / 6) x f) f ' ( x) = (5 / 6) / x
1
x
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2 1
5. a) f ' ( x) = 2 x b) f ' ( x) = ex e1 1
2
1
1 3
1
c) f ' ( x) = x 1 d) f ' ( x) = x 3 4
3 5
6. a) vertical tangent b) none c) vertical tangent and 6
cusp d) vertical tangent e) none f) vertical tangent
7
8
1
B1. (a x )' = (ln a)a x 2. (log a x)' =
(ln a ) x 9. y = 4 x + 18
C1. a) f ' ( x) = 0 b) f ' ( x) = 3 10. Q(1,2)
MCV4U | Derivatives | 2.2 Basic Differentiation Rules
2009 Teodoru Gugoiu | Page 3 of 4
11. a = 2 , b = 3 , c = 0 and d = 1
MCV4U | Derivatives | 2.2 Basic Differentiation Rules
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