Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

Further Differentiation and Applications

Prerequisites: Inverse function property; product, quotient and chain
rules; inflexion points.

Maths Applications: Concavity; differentiability.

Real-World Applications: Particle motion; optimisation.

Derivative of Inverse Functions

−1
Given a function f, the derivative of its inverse f can be found.

Theorem:

−1
Given a function f, the derivative of f is given by,

−1 1
D (f ) =
(Df )
f −1

In Leibniz notation, this formula takes on a much more memorable form,

remembering that if y = f (x) then x = f −1 (y),

dx 1
=
dy  dy 
 
 dx 

An example will be given (using both formulae) to show how the theorem
is used.

Example 1

Obtain the derivative of the function defined by y = f (x) = x 2 . Taking

the positive root allows us to define an inverse function given by, f −1 (x)
1
2
= x . Note that Df = 2x. Hence,

−1 1
D (f ) = 1
2x 2

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

Note that differentiating the inverse directly gives the same answer.
1
−1 2
Using the Leibniz formula instead, recalling that x = f (y) = y ,

dx d
= x
dy dy

dx d 1
2
= y
dy dy

dx 1
=
dy 2y 2
1

This is the same answer as above (the inverse function used here has
variable y, so interchanging x and y gives the same result).

On the other hand,

1 1
=
 dy  2x
 
 dx 

1 1
=
 dy  2y
1
2
 
 dx 

Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The derivatives of arcsine, arccosine and arctangent can be found using

the above formula.

d 1
• sin −1 x =
dx 1 − x2

d 1
• cos −1 x = −
dx 1 − x2

d 1
• tan −1 x =
dx 1 + x2

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

Example 2

Differentiate y = cos−1 (3x).

By the chain rule,

dy 1 d
= − × (3x)
dx 1 − (3x )2 dx

dy 3
= −
dx 1 − 9x 2

Example 3

Differentiate y = sin −1 ( x 3 ).

dy 1 d
= × (x 3 )
dx 1 − (x ) 3 2 dx

dy 3x 2
=
dx 1 − x6

Example 4

Differentiate y = tan −1 2 + x .

dy 1 d
= × 2 + x
dx 1 + (2 + x ) dx

dy 1 1
= ×
dx 3 + x 2 2 + x

dy 1
=
dx 2(3 + x ) 2 + x

Often in this course, answers to derivatives will be freakishly complex

looking, as in Example 4. Don’t let this convince you that the answer is
wrong. Just follow the rules and get an answer.

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

Implicit Differentiation

Implicit and Explicit Functions

Definition:

A function f is given explicitly (f is an explicit function) if the output

value y is given in terms of the input value.

An explicit function is recognised when y is given as a function of x.

Definition:

A function f is given implicitly (f is an implicit function) if the output

value y is not given in terms of the input value.

An implicit function is usually identified when the variables x and y are

mixed up in a higgledy-piggledy manner.

An implicitly defined function may or may not be solved for y.

Example 5

xy = 1 defines y implicitly as a function of x. However, for x ≠ 0, it can

1
be written explicitly as y = .
x

Example 6

The function 2 y 2 − 3xy − 8 sin y + x 2 = 5 defines y implicitly

as a function of x ; the expression on the LHS is so higgledy-piggledy in x
and y, that y cannot be written explicitly as a function of x.

First Derivatives of Implicit Functions

dy
To find for an implicitly defined function, differentiate both sides of
dx
dy
the equality with respect to x and solve the resulting equation for .
dx

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

The chain rule will most likely be used and sometimes the product or
quotient rule too. Just remember that y is a function of x.

Example 7

dy
Find for the function defined implicitly by the equation x 2 + xy 3 =
dx
15.

First, write down what the intent is,

d d
dx
(
x 2 + xy 3 ) =
dx
15

When there is a lonely constant on one side of the equation, it can be very
easy to forget to differentiate it; so differentiate it first. Next,
remember that y is a function of x, so the second term on the LHS needs
an application of the product rule,

 dy 
2x +  y 3 + 3xy 2  = 0
 dx 

Solving this equation for the derivative gives,

dy
= −
2x + y 3 ( )
dx 3xy 2

Example 8

dy
Find when 6y 2 + 2xy − x 2 = 3.
dx

d d
(6 y 2 + 2xy − x 2 ) = 3
dx dx

dy  dy 
12y + 2 y + x  − 2x = 0
dx  dx 

dy
(12y + 2x) = 2x − 2y
dx

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

dy 2x − 2y
=
dx 12y + 2x

dy x − y
=
dx 6y + x

Functions defined implicitly by equations that look a little more menacing

are still no match for implicit differentiation.

Example 9

dy
Find when 2y 2 − 3xy − 8 sin y + x 2 = 4.
dx

d d
( 2y 2 − 3xy − 8 sin y + x 2 ) = 4
dx dx

dy  dy  dy
4y − 3y + x  − 8 cos y + 2x = 0
dx  dx  dx

dy
(4y − 3x − 8 cos y) = 3y − 2x
dx

dy 3y − 2x
=
dx 4y − 3x − 8 cos y

Example 10

dy
Find when sin x ln (xy) + x 2 y = 7.
dx

d d
(sin x ln (xy) + x 2 y) = 7
dx dx

 1 dy  2 dy 1
sin x   + x = − cos x ln (xy) − 2xy − sin x
 y dx  dx x

dy dy
x sin x + x3y = − xy cos x ln (xy) − 2 x 2 y 2 − y sin x
dx dx

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

dy
(x sin x + x 3 y) = − xy cos x ln (xy) − 2 x 2 y 2 − y sin x
dx

dy (xy cos x ln (xy ) + 2x 2y 2 + y sin x )

= −
dx x sin x + x 3y

Second Derivatives of Implicit Functions

The second derivative can also be found using implicit differentiation.

The idea is to differentiate a line of working that is used in finding the
first derivative.

Example 11

dy d 2y
Find and when xy − x = 4.
dx dx 2

Differentiating implicitly we get,

dy
y + x − 1 = 0
dx

From this we get,

dy 1 − y
=
dx x

Differentiate implicitly the line of working to get,

dy  dy d 2y 
+  + x  = 0
dx  dx dx 2 

d 2y dy
x = −2
dx 2
dx

d 2y 1 − y 
x = −2 
 x 
2
dx

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

d 2y 2 (y − 1)
2
=
dx x2

Logarithmic Differentiation
Another technique to add to our arsenal of differentiating functions
involves taking natural logarithms of both sides of an equation before
differentiating. This technique is known as logarithmic differentiation.
Logarithmic differentiation should be used when any one of the following
indicators are present.

• Bracketed terms with fractional powers.

• Variable is in the power.

• Product or quotient of more than 2 functions.

Example 12

2 3
(3x − 2) 3 (1 − 2x ) 2
Differentiate y = 3
.
(4x + 7) 4

Taking natural logarithms of both sides and using the ‘ power comes down ’
rule for logarithms gives,

2 3 3
ln y = ln (3x − 2) + ln (1 − 2x) − ln (4x + 7)
3 2 4

This is much friendlier to differentiate. Differentiating and simplifying

each term on the RHS gives,

1 dy 2 3 3
= − −
y dx 3x − 2 1 − 2x 4x + 7

dy  2 3 3 
= y  − − 
dx  3x − 2 1 − 2x 4x + 7 

Remembering what y actually is gives,

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

2 3
dy (3x − 2) 3 (1 − 2x ) 2  2 3 3 
=  − − 
dx (4x + 7) 4
3
 3x − 2 1 − 2x 4x + 7 

Example 13

Differentiate y = x e −3x cos x.

Taking natural logarithms gives,

ln y = ln x + ln ( e −3x ) + ln (cos x)

ln y = ln x − 3x + ln (cos x)

Differentiating gives (notice that term on the LHS cropping up again),

1 dy 1 ( − sin x )
= − 3 +
y dx x cos x

dy 1 
= y  − 3 − tan x 
dx x 

dy 1 
= x e −3x cos x  − 3 − tan x 
dx x 

dy
= e −3x cos x − 3x e −3x cos x − x e −3x sin x
dx

Example 14

Differentiate y = x sin x .

Taking natural logarithms gives,

ln y = sin x . ln x

Differentiating (using the product rule) gives,

1 dy 1
= cos x . ln x + sin x .
y dx x

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

dy
= y (cos x . ln x + x −1 sin x)
dx

dy
= x sin x (cos x . ln x + x −1 sin x)
dx

Parametric Differentiation

It is possible to write a function y = f (x) differently as 2 functions of a

dy
common variable. This sometimes makes it easier to work out .
dx

Parametric Functions

Definition:

A curve is defined parametrically if it can be described by functions x

and y, called parametric functions (aka parametric equations of the
curve), of a common variable known as the parameter.

Normally, the parameter is denoted by t or θ, and the parametric

functions x and y are thus written as x (t) and y (t) or x (θ) and y (θ).
It often helps to think of the parameter as time; as the value of t
changes, a curve is generated in the x – y plane. Think of an ant walking
about in the x – y plane; for each value of t, it has a certain position (i.e.
coordinate) in the plane given by (x (t), y (t) ). Sometimes the curve is a
function, but it can be any type of ‘ shape ’ in the plane (for example, a
circle). Many ‘ shapes ’ are often easier to describe implicitly.

Example 15

Show that the point (0, − 1) lies on the curve described by the parametric
equations x = cos θ, y = sin θ (θ ∈ [0, 2π]), stating the value of θ.

Note that x 2 + y 2 = 1, i.e. the parametric equations define a circle

with centre (0, 0) and radius 1. The point (0, −1 ) clearly lies on this circle
and the angle is obviously 3π/2. Another way to see this is to put x = 0
and y = − 1 into the parametric equations and show that there is only
one value of θ that satisfies both equations. Indeed, 0 = cos θ leads to

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

θ = π/2 or 3π/2, whereas − 1 = sin θ leads to θ = 3π/2. So, there is a

common value that satisfies both equations and it is θ = 3π/2.

Example 16

Show that the point (2, 5) does not lie on the curve defined
parametrically by x = 2t, y = 4t 2 .

If the given point did lie on the curve, then 2 = 2t ⇒ t = 1. However, t

= 1 gives y = 4, not 5. Thus, (2, 5) does not lie on the curve.

First Derivatives of Parametric Functions

Theorem:

Given 2 parametric functions x (t) and y (t), the derivative of y with

respect to x is given by,

dy dy dx
= ÷
dx dt dt

In Newton Notation, this is written as,

dy y
=
dx x

Example 17

dy
Find when x = 2t 2 , y = ln t.
dx

1
The derivatives with respect to t are x = 4t and y = . Hence,
t

dy y
=
dx x

dy 1 /t
=
dx 4t

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

dy 1
=
dx 4t 2

Example 18

Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve at t = 2 defined

t 1 + t2
parametrically by the equations x = , y = .
1 − t2 1 − t2

The derivatives are,

dx 1 + t2 dy 4t (1 − t 2 )
= , =
dt (1 − t 2 )2 dt (1 − t 2 )2

Hence,

dy dy dx
= ÷
dx dt dt

dy 4t (1 − t 2 )
=
dx 1 + t2

2 5 dy 24
At t = 2, x = − , y = − and = − . Hence, the equation of the
3 3 dx 5
tangent line is,

5 24  2
y + = − x + 
3 5  3

After a wee bit of simplifying, this becomes,

72x + 15y + 73 = 0

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Second Derivatives of Parametric Functions

Theorem:

Given 2 parametric functions x (t) and y (t), the second derivative of y

with respect to x is given by,

d 2y d  y  1
=   × 
dx 2 dt x  x
Evaluating this leads to,

d 2y x y − y x
=
dx 2 x 3

Example 19

d 2y
Find 2
when x = 3 + 3t and y = 4 − 4t 2 .
dx

If using the second form, calculate the relevant quantities first. So,
x = 3, x = 0, y = − 8t and y = − 8. Then use the formula,

d 2y x y − y x
=
dx 2 x 3

d 2y 3.( −8) − ( − 8t ).0

=
dx 2 33

d 2y 24
= −
dx 2 27

d 2y 8
= −
dx 2 9

Example 20

Show that the curve defined parametrically by the equations x = t −

1 1
2
and y = t + 2 has no point of inflexion.
t t

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d 2y
First note that t ≠ 0. If there is a P of I, then either does not
dx 2
d 2y
exist or it is obtained by solving = 0. To obtain the second
dx 2
derivative, use the first form (it’s easier) to get,

d 2y 4t 6
=
dx 2 (t 4 + 1)3

Solving this for t gives t = 0. But this contradicts the fact that t ≠ 0.
d 2y
Alternatively, since t ≠ 0, the equation = 0 has no solutions for t.
dx 2
Either way, there is no P of I.

Planar Motion

Motion in a plane is often best described by parametric equations. The

following definitions extend the 1D definitions from Unit 1 to 2D.

Definition:

Planar motion is motion in a plane and is described by 2 functions of time

x (t) and y (t).

Definition:

The displacement of a particle at time t in a plane is described by the

displacement vector,

def
s (t) = (x (t), y (t) ) = x (t) i + y (t) j

The magnitude of displacement, aka distance (from the origin), at time

t is,

def
s (t) = x2 + y2

The direction measured from the x – axis (aka direction of

displacement), θ, at any instant of time t is,

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y
tan θ =
x

where θ is the angle between x i and s.

Definition:

The velocity of a particle at time t in a plane is described by the velocity

vector,

def
ds
v (t) = = ( x (t), y (t) ) = x (t) i + y (t) j
dt

The magnitude of velocity, aka speed, at time t, is,

def
v (t) = x 2 + y2

The direction of motion (aka direction of velocity), η, at any instant of

time t is,

y
tan η =
x

where η is the angle between x i and v.

Definition:

The acceleration of a particle at time t in a plane is described by the

acceleration vector,

def
dv
a (t) = = ( x (t), y (t) ) = x (t) i + y (t) j
dt

The magnitude of acceleration, at time t, is,

def
a (t) = x2 + y2

The direction of acceleration, ψ, at any instant of time t, is,

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

y
tan ψ =
x

where ψ is the angle between x i and a.

Example 21

Find the magnitude and direction of the displacement, velocity and

acceleration at time t = 2 of the particle whose equations of motion are
x = t 3 − 2t and y = t 2 + 4t .

We deal first with the displacement. x (2) = 4 and y (2) = 12. Hence,
the magnitude of displacement is 16 + 144 = 160 = 4 10 metres.
The direction is found by solving tan θ = 3, which gives 71 · 6 °.

The velocity components are given by x = 3t 2 − 2 and y = 2t + 4.

So, x (2) = 10 and y (2) = 8. Hence, the magnitude of velocity is
100 + 64 = 164 = 2 41 metres per second. The direction is
found by solving tan η = 4/5, which gives 38 · 7 °.

The acceleration components are given by x = 6t and y = 2. So, x (2)
= 12 and y (2) = 2. Hence, the magnitude of acceleration is 144 + 4
= 148 = 2 37 metres per second squared. The direction is found by
solving tan ψ = 1/6, which gives 9 · 5 °.

Related Rates of Change

Definition:

A related rate of change refers to an equation involving derivatives, in

particular, derivatives arising from y as a function of x and both x and y
as functions of a third variable u.

Problems involving related rates of change arise naturally in real-life. To

solve them requires use of the Chain Rule and occasionally the Leibniz
dx 1
relation = .
dy  dy 
 
 dx 

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

Example 22

If a spherical balloon is inflated at a constant rate of 240 cubic

centimetres per second, find the rate at which the radius is increasing
when the diameter is 16 cm.

Something about a sphere, it’s diameter (and hence radius), rate of

change of volume with respect to time and rate of change of radius with
respect to time. Sounds like the volume of a sphere would be a good start.

4
V = πr 3
3

Remember that V and r are secretly functions of time, t. Differentiate

both sides w.r.t. t to get,

dV dr
= 4π r 2
dt dt

Rearranging this gives,

dr 1 dV
=
dt 4πr 2 dt

If the diameter is 16 cm, then the radius is 8 cm. Hence,

dr 1
= . 240
dt 4π(64)

dr 240
=
dt 256π

dr 15
= cm/s
dt 16π

Example 23

In a capacitive circuit, the formula for the total capacitance C of 2

capacitors in series is,

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Advanced Higher Notes (Unit 2) Further Differentiation and Applications

1 1 1
= +
C C1 C2

If C1 is increasing at a rate of 0 · 5 farads per minute and C 2 is

decreasing at a rate of 0 · 9 farads per minute, at what rate is C
changing (to 1 d. p.) when C1 = 2 farads and C 2 = 1 farad ?

Remember that C, C1 and C 2 are secretly functions of time. Firstly, when

C1 = 2 farads and C 2 = 1 farad, C = 2/3 farad (easy adding fractions;
don’t forget to reciprocalise !). Next, differentiate the given equation
w.r.t. t to get,

1 dC 1 dC 1 1 dC 2
− = − 2
−
C 2
dt C 1
dt C22 dt

With a little algebraic jiggery-pokery, this becomes,

2 2
dC  C  dC 1  C  dC 2
=   +  
dt  C1  dt  C 2  dt

dC 1
List the quantities and their values. C = 2/3, C1 = 2, C 2 = 1, = 0·
dt
dC 2
5 and = − 0 · 9 (it’s negative because it’s decreasing). Now it’s just
dt
number crunching,

2 2
dC 1 2
=   . (0 · 5) +   . ( − 0 · 9)
dt 3 3

dC 1 2
= −
dt 18 5

dC
= − 0 · 3 farads (1 d. p.)
dt

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