www.covenantuniversity.edu.

ng

Raising a new Generation of Leaders

MAT121
DIFFERENTIATION

S.O. Edeki
 An introduction to Differentiation

.
Let y  f ( x) be function of x. Then, the
rate of change in y  f ( x) w.r.t x is called
the DERIVATIVE or DIFFERENTIAL
COEFFICIENT of y  f ( x).

S.O. Edeki
2
 Differentiation (Cont’d)

.
The derivative of y  f ( x) w.r.t x is
written as:
dy
=f   x  or y  x   y
dx

S.O. Edeki
3
 The derivative of y  f ( x) w.r.t x is
written as:
. dy
=f   x  or y  x   y
dx
It is also called a SLOPE or GRADIENT
to the curve at a particular point.
Differentiation is the process of finding the
derivative of a given function say y  f ( x)
S.O. Edeki
4
 Differentiation: {First Principle Method }
Let y  f  x  be a function, then the steps
.
involved when find the derivative of y  f  x 
using the METHOD OF FIRST PRINCIPLE are:
(i) replace  x by x  x AND  y by y  y
(ii) Make y the subject of the formula, & dbs by x
y dy
(iii) Apply the limit:  as x  0
x dx
S.O. Edeki
5
 Ex1: First Principle Method

. Use the First Principle Method to find the

derivatives of the following functions:

(a) y  f  x  (b) y  c (a constant)

1
(c) y  x (d) y  x 2
(e) y  2
x
S.O. Edeki
6
 Solution to Ex1: First Principle Method

(a) y  f  x (*)
.
 y  y  f  x  x 
y  f  x  x   y
y f  x  x   f  x 
  (**)
x x

S.O. Edeki
7
 Solution to Ex1 cont’d: First Principle Method

.
 y   f  x  x   f  x  
 lim    lim  
x  0 x x
  x 0  
dy  f  x  x   f  x  
So,  lim    f  x
dx x 0  x 

S.O. Edeki
8
 Solution to Ex1: First Principle Method
1
(e) y 2 (*)
. x
1
 y  y 
 x  x 
2

1
y  y
 x  x 
2

S.O. Edeki
9
 Solution to Ex (1e) cont’d : FPM
1 1
y  2  2
x  2 xx   x 
2
. x

y 
2

x  x  2 xx   x 
2 2

x 2
x 2
 2 xx   x 
2

y 
 2 x  x  x
 x  2 x x  x  x  
4 2 2 2

S.O. Edeki
10
 Solution to Ex (1e) cont’d: First Principle Method
y

 2 x  x 
. x 
x  2 x x  x  x 
4 2 2 2

dy

 2 x   0  

2 x
dx 4

x  2x  0  x 0
2 2 2
x 4

dy 2
  3
dx x
S.O. Edeki
11
 Differentiation: GENERAL FORM

. From our previous approach using the FIRST

PRINCIPLE METHOD, it is obvious that the
proceedure is tedious and time consuming.
Therefore, other techniques of differentiation
will be introduced as follows.

S.O. Edeki
12
 Differentiation: powers of x

.
* If y  ax n
 where a is a constant, n  
dy n 1
then,  anx
dx
Note : The same rule is applied to individual
terms forming a polynomial.
S.O. Edeki
13
 Ex2: Differentiation: powers of x

. dy
* Find (i.e. y) if:
dx
(a) y  2 (b) y  2 x (c) y  2 x  x +3

1 4
1 x
(d) y  2 (e) y  x 2
(f) y   x
3

x 2
S.O. Edeki
14
 Differentiation: Sum & difference of functions

. If f ( x) and g ( x) are two functions,

such that y   f ( x)   g ( x) , then:
dy d
  f ( x )   g ( x ) 
dx dx
 d d 
  f ( x)   g ( x) 
 dx dx 
S.O. Edeki
15
 Ex: Derivatives of Sum & difference of functions

. d
Ex: Find  f ( x)  g ( x) 
dx
2
(a) f ( x)  2 x  x g ( x)  3 x  x  3
2

1
(b)  f ( x)  x  x 2
g ( x)  2  x  3
2

S.O. Edeki
16
 Differentiation: Product Rule

. Suppose y  uv, where u  u  x  & u  u  x  ,

then:
dy dv du
u v
dx dx dx
 y  uv  vu 

S.O. Edeki
17
 Ex: Differentiation: Product Rule {see chain rule}

. Find dy
using the following functions:
dx
(a) y   2 x  x  x  3 x  2 
2 2

1
(b) y   2 x  x  x  3 x  2 
2 2 2

(c) y   4 x  3  3 x  5 x 
2 3 3 10

S.O. Edeki
18