Unit 13

DIFFERENTIATION
The Derivative of a Function
The derivative of the function f with respect to the variable x is the function f  whose
f ( x +  x) − f ( x)
value at x is f  ( x ) = Lim provided the limit exists.
 x →0 x
It is also known as Differential Coefficient of f with respect to x .
Note:
dy
The instantaneous rate of change of f ( x ) at x, which is written as f  ( x ) or is
dx
called the derivative of f at x. Geometrically, it represents the slope of the tangent at the point
( 0, 0 ) on the curve y = f ( x ) .
Derivative at a Point
The value of f ( x ) obtained by putting x = a , is called the derivative of f ( x ) at x = a and
dy
it is denoted by f (a ) or .
dx x = a
Derivative of f ( x ) at x = a can also be defined as
f ( x) − f (a)
f (a) = Lim provided the limit exists.
x→a x−a
Calculating Derivative from the Definition
Derivative of a given function f , if it exists, can be found by the following four steps
Step I: Find f ( x +  x )
Step II: Simplify f ( x +  x ) − f ( x)
f ( x +  x ) − f ( x)
Step III: Divide f ( x +  x ) − f ( x) by  x to get and simplify it.
x
f ( x +  x) − f ( x)
Step IV: Evaluate Lim
x
 x →0

This method of finding derivatives is called differentiation by definition or by ab-initio or from

first principles.

Notations for Derivative

Name of Mathematician Leibniz Newton Lagrange Cauchy
Notation used for derivative dy df •
f ( x) f ( x) D f ( x)
or
dx dx
 2 Differentiation
Rules for Differentiation
(i) Derivative of a Constant
d
( c ) = 0 , where c is a constant.
dx
(ii) Power Rule

(
d n
dx
x ) = nx n −1 , where n  R

(iii) The Constant Multiple Rule

d du
If u is a differentiable function of x and c is a constant, then ( cu ) = c
dx dx
(iv) The Sum or Difference Rule
d du dv
If u and v are differentiable functions of x, then (u  v ) = 
dx dx dx
(v) The Product Rule
d dv du
If u and v are differentiable functions of x, then (u v ) = u + v
dx dx dx
(vi) The Quotient Rule
du dv
v −u
d u 
If u and v are differentiable functions of x, and v ( x )  0 , then =
dx dx
dx  v  v 2

Geometric Meaning of a Derivative

The derivative of a function f ( x ) at a point is the slope of the tangent to the curve
y = f ( x) at the point ( x, f ( x) ) .
Slope of Tangent
Consider a curve y = f ( x) and a point P ( x1 , y1 ) on the curve. If tangent to the curve at
P ( x1 , y1 ) makes an angle  with the positive direction of x-axis then,
dy
Slope of tangent to curve at P ( x1 , y1 ) = m = = tan 
dx ( x 1 , y 1 )

Equation of Tangent
The equation of tangent to a curve y = f ( x) at a given point P ( x1 , y1 ) is given by
dy
y − y1 = m ( x − x1 ) where m=
dx ( x 1 , y 1 )
 3 Differentiation

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

f ( x +  x) − f ( x)
1. Lim =
 x →0 x
(a) f  ( 0 ) (b) f  ( x ) (c) f  ( a ) (d) not defined
f ( x) − f ( a )
2. Lim =
x →a x−a
(a) f  ( x ) (b) f  ( a ) (c) f  ( 0 ) (d) f  ( 2 )
3. The average rate of change of y = ( x ) w.r.t. x over the interval x1,x2 is:
f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
(a) f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 ) (b)
x2 − x1
f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
(c) lim (d) f ( x +  x )
x2 → x1 x2 − x1
4. Instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x is given by:
y x dy dx
(a) (b) (c) dx (d) dy
x y
5. Notation for derivative was used by Newton is:
dy •
(a) dx (b) D f (x) (c) f (x) (d) f ( x )

6. The notation used by Lagrange for derivative is:

df •
(a) dx (b) f (c) f  (d) D f (x)

7. Which one is Leibniz notation for derivative of f (x) ?

df dy
(a) dx (b) f (x) (c) dx (d) D f (x)

8.
d n
dx
( )
x =

x n +1
(a) n xn+1 (b) n xn−1 (c) ( n − 1) x n −1 (d)
n +1
d n
9. dx (f (x)) =
f (x)
(a) n(f (x))n−1 (b) (f (x))n (c) n(f (x))n−1 f (x) (d) n
d 3
10. dx x is equal to:
x3
(a) 3 (b) x2 (c) 3x2 (d) 4x4
 4 Differentiation

11.
d n
dx
( )
x = n x n −1 where

(a) n  C (b) n  R (c) n  Q (d) n  N

12.
dx
x(
d m−n−2
= )
(a) ( m − n − 2 ) x m− n −3 (b) ( m − n ) x −3
(c) ( m − n − 2 ) x m− n (d) ( m − n − 2 ) x −2

13.
d
dx
( )
yn =

dx dy dy
(a) n y n−1 (b) n y n −1 (c) n y n −1 (d) n y n +1
dy dx dx
d
( ax + b ) =
n
14.
dx
(a) n ( ax + b )
n −1
(b) na ( ax + b )
n −1
(c) n a x n −1 (
(d) n ax n−1 + b )
d 2 5
15. dx (2x + 3) =
(a) 5 (2x2 + 3)4 .4x (b) 5 (2x2 + 3)5 .4
(c) 5 (2x2 + 3)5 .3 (d) 5 (2x2 + 3)5 .20x
d 2
( x + 1) =
2
16.
dx
(x )
3
2
+1
(
(a) 2 x2 + 1 ) (b)
3
(
(c) 2 x x 2 + 1 ) (
(d) 4 x x 2 + 1 )
1
17.
d 3
dx
(
x +4 ) 3
is equal to:
3 2 4 2

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
− − −
(a) x x + 4 3 2 (b) 2 x x + 4
2 3 3 (c) x + 4
3 3 (d) x x + 4
2 3 3

18.
d
dx
(
ax m + bx n = )
(a) ax m −1 + bx n −1 (b) amx m −1 + bnx n −1 (c) x m −1 + x n −1 (d) mx m −1 + nx n −1
d
19. dx [c f (x) ] =
(a) c f (x) (b) c f (x) (c) [c f (x)] (d) All of these
d
20. 5 f ( x )  =
dx 
f ( x)
(a) (b) 5 f  ( x ) (c) 5 − f  ( x ) (d) 5 + f  ( x )
5
 5 Differentiation

d  1 
21.   , where g ( x )  0 , is equal to:
dx  g ( x ) 
1 −g ( x )
(a) (b) (c) g  ( x ) (d) − g ( x ) g  ( x )
g ( x)  g ( x )
2

dy
22. If = x 5 , then:
dx
1 6
(a) y = x5 (b) y = 5 x5 (c) y = x (d) y = 6 x 6
6
dy
23. = x 3 , if:
dx
x4
(a) y = x 3 (b) y = (c) y = 4 x 4 (d) y = 3x3
4
d  1 
24.  =
dx  x100 
1 100 −100 1
(a) 99
(b) 101 (c) (d)
100x x x101 100x101
d  1 
25. dx ax + b is equal to:
1 a −a
(a) (ax + b)2 (b) (ax + b)2 (c) (ax + b)2 (d) ln (ax + b)
dy
26. If y = x , then dx =
1 2 2
(a) 2 x (b) (c) (d)
2 x x 2 x
d  1 
=
dx  x 
27.

1 −1 1
(a) (b) (c) x x (d) None of these
2x x 2x x 2

28.
d
dx
(
2− x = )
1 −1 1 −1
(a) (b) (c) 2 − (d)
2 x 2 x 2 x x

29.
d 3
dx
( )
c =

(a) 3c 2 (b) 1 (c) 0 (d) c

 6 Differentiation

d  43 
30.  3x  =
dx  
1
4 13 1 1
(a) x 3 (b) x (c) 4x 3 (d) 3x 3
3
d  1
31. x− =
dx  x
1 2 1
(a) 1 − (b) 1 − (c) 1 (d) 1 +
x2 x2 x2
d
32. dx (f(x) . g(x)) =
(a) f (x) g(x) − f (x) g(x) (b) f (x) g(x) − f(x) g(x)
(c) f (x) g(x) + f (x) g(x) (d) f (x) g(x)
d g(x)
33. dx f (x) is equal:
f (x) g(x) − g(x) f (x) g(x) f (x) − f (x) g(x)
(a) (f (x))2 (b) (f (x))2
g(x) f (x) − f (x) g(x) f (x) g(x) − g(x) f (x)
(c) (f (x))2 (d) (g(x))2
d x2 − 4
34. dx  x − 2  equals:
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) x + 2 (d) x − 2
x − 2x
3 2
35. The derivative of x3 equals:
2 −2 1 −1
(a) x2 (b) x2 (c) 2x2 (d) 2x2

36. The derivative of x at x = a is

1 −1 1
(a) (b) (c) 2 a (d)
2 a 2 a a
1 dy
37. If y = 2
, then is equal to
x dx x =−1

(a) 1 (b) −1 (c) 2 (d) −2

2
38. If f ( x ) = , then f  ( 2 ) =
x3
3 5 1 3
(a) (b) (c) (d) −
8 8 4 8
 7 Differentiation
1
39. f (x) = , then f (2)=
x−2
(a) 1 (b) 0 (c) –1 (d) 
2
40. If f ( x ) = x , then f  ( 8) =
3

1 −1 2 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 3 3 2
41. If f (x) = x100, then f (1) = ⎯⎯⎯⎯
(a) 100 (b) 99 (c) 50 (d) 0
42. If f ( x ) = 3 − x , then f (1) = ⎯⎯⎯⎯
2 1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) − (d) −
3 2 2 2
2
 1  dy
43. If y =  x +  then =
 x dx
1 1 1 1
(a) 1 + 2 (b) 1 − 2 (c) 1 + (d) 2 x +
x x 2 x 2 x
2
 1  dy
44. If y =  x −  then =
 x dx
1 1 1
(a) 1 − (b) 1 + (c) 0 (d) 1 −
2x x2 x2

The derivative of ( x3 + 1) is equal to:

9
45.

(a) 9 ( x3 + 1) (b) 9 x2 ( x3 + 1)
8 8

(c) 27 x2 ( x3 + 1) (d) 27 x ( x3 + 1)
8 8

46.
d
dx ( x+ 2 = )
1 1 −1 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
x+ 2 2 x+ 2 x+ 2 x+ 2
47. Geometrically derivation of y = f ( x ) at x represents the slope of:
(a) Normal (b) Tangent (c) x-axis (d) y-axis
d
48. dx | x | at x = 0
(a) 1 (b) −1 (c) 0 (d) does not exist
 8 Differentiation

ANSWERS
(1) b (2) b (3) b (4) c (5) d
(6) c (7) a (8) b (9) c (10) c
(11) b (12) a (13) c (14) b (15) a
(16) d (17) d (18) b (19) a (20) b
(21) b (22) c (23) b (24) c (25) c
(26) b (27) b (28) b (29) c (30) c
(31) d (32) c (33) a (34) b (35) a
(36) a (37) c (38) d (39) d (40) a
(41) a (42) c (43) b (44) d (45) c
(46) b (47) b (48) d

SOLUTIONS
f ( x +  x) − f ( x)
1. (b) Lim = f ( x)
 x →0 x
f ( x) − f ( a )
2. (b) Lim = f ( a )
x →a x−a
f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
3. (b)
x2 − x1
dy
4. (c) Instantaneous rate of change (Derivative) of y with respect to x is .
dx
•
5. (d) Newton used the notation f ( x ) for derivative.
6. (c) Lagrange used the notation f  ( x ) for derivative.
df
7. (a) Leibniz used the notation dx for derivative.

8. (b)
d n
dx
( )
x = n xn−1

d
( f ( x )) = n ( f ( x )) f  ( x )
n n −1
9. (c)
dx

10. (c)
d 3
dx
( )
x = 3x 2

11. (b)
d n
dx
( )
x = n xn−1 where n  R (Power Rule)

12. (a)
dx
(
d m−n −2
x )= ( m − n − 2 ) x m − n −3
 9 Differentiation

13. (c)
d n
dx
( )
y = n y n −1
dy
dx
d d
( ax + b )n = n ( ax + b )n−1 ( ax + b ) = n ( ax + b ) ( a.1 + 0) = na ( ax + b )
n −1 n −1
14. (b)
dx dx

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
d 5 5−1 d 4
15. (a) 2 x2 + 3 = 5 2 x2 + 3 2 x 2 + 3 = 5 2 x 2 + 3 .4 x
dx dx

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
d 2 2 −1 d 2
x + 1 = 2 x2 + 1 ( 2x ) = 4x x2 + 1
2
16. (d) x + 1 = 2 x2 + 1
dx dx
1 1 2

( ) ( ) ( 3x ) = x ( x )
d 3 1 −1 −
17. (d) x +4 3 = x3 + 4 3 2 2 3
+4 3
dx 3

18. (b)
d
dx
( ) d d
ax m + bx n = ax m + bx n = amx m −1 + anx n −1
dx dx
d d
19. (a) cf ( x ) = c  f ( x ) = c f  ( x )
dx  dx
d d
20. (b) 5 f ( x ) = 5  f ( x ) = 5 f  ( x )
dx dx
  −g( x)
 = ( g ( x ) ) = −1( g ( x ) ) . ( g ( x ) ) ==
d 1 d −1 −2 d
21. (b) 
dx  g ( x )  dx dx  g ( x )
2

1 6 dy 1
22. (c) y= x  = .6 x 5 = x 5
6 dx 6
x4 dy 1 3
23. (b) y=  = .4 x = x 3
4 dx 4
d  1  d −100 −100
24. (c)  100  =
dx  x  dx
x ( )
= −100x −101 = 101
x
d  1  d −a
 = ( ax + b ) = −1( ax + b ) . ( a ) =
−1 −2
25. (c) 
dx  ax + b  dx ( ax + b )
2

( ) 1 −1
1
d d 1 1
26. (b) x = ( x)2 = x 2 = 1 =
dx dx 2 2 x
2x 2
d  1  d 1
1 − 32 1 1
( )
−
27. (b)   = x 2 = − x =− 3 =−
dx  x  dx 2 2x x
2x 2
28. (b)
d
dx
( )
2 − x = ( 2) −
d
dx
d
dx
x = 0− ( )
1
2 x
=−
1
2 x
29. (c)
d 3
dx
(c ) = 0
d  43  4 43 −1 1
30. (c)  3 x  = 3 . x = 4 x 3
dx   3
d  1 d d 1
31. (d) x− = x − x −1 = 1 + 1x −2 = 1 + 2
dx  x  dx dx x
 10 Differentiation

32. (c)
d
dx
( f ( x ) . g ( x )) = f  ( x ) . g ( x ) + f ( x ) . g  ( x )
d  g ( x )  f ( x ) .g  ( x ) − g ( x ) . f  ( x )
33. (a)  =
dx  f ( x )  ( f ( x ))
2

d  x2 − 4  d  ( x − 2 )( x + 2 )  d
34. (b)  =   = ( x + 2) = 1
dx  x − 2  dx  x−2  dx
d  x3 − 2 x 2  d  x ( x − 2 )  d  x−2
2
 d
 = (1 − 2 x ) = 0 − 2 ( −1) x = x 2
−1 −2 2
35. (a)  =   = 
dx  x3  dx  x3  dx  x  dx
dy 1 dy 1
36. (a) y= x =  =
dx 2 x dx x=a 2 a
1 dy −2 dy −2 −2
37. (c) y= = x −2  = −2 x −3 = 3  = = =2
( −1) −1
2 3
x dx x dx x =−1

2 −6 −6 −6 −3
38. (d) f ( x) = = 2 x −3  f  ( x ) = 2 ( −3) x −4 = 4  f  ( 2) = = =
x 3
x ( 2) 4
16 8

1 −1 −1 −1
= ( x − 2 )  f  ( x ) = −1( x − 2 ) =  f  ( 2) =
−1 −2
39. (d) f ( x) = = =
x−2 ( x − 2) 2
( 2 − 2) 0
2

2
2 −31 2 2 2 2 1
40. (a) f ( x) = x  f ( x) =
3
x = 1  f  (8) = 1
= 1
= =
3 (8) 3( 2 )
3 3 3 3 3.2 3
3x 3

f ( x ) = x100  f  ( x ) = 100 x99  f  (1) = 100 (1) = 100 (1) = 100

99
41. (a)
1 1 1
42. (c) f ( x) = 3 − x  f ( x) = −  f  (1) = − =−
2 x 2 1 2
2
 1  1 −1
43. (b) y = x +  = x+ +2= x+x +2 
dy 1
= 1 − 1. x −2 + 0 = 1 − 2
 x x dx x
2
 1  1 dy 1
44. (d) y = x − −1
 = x+ −2= x+ x −2  = 1 − 1. x −2 − 0 = 1 − 2
 x x dx x
d 3
( ) ( )( ) ( )
9 8 8
45. (c) x + 1 = 9 x3 + 1 3x 2 = 27 x 2 x3 + 1
dx
d
(
x+ 2 = )
1
(1 + 0 ) =
1
46. (b) dx 2 x+ 2 ( )
2 x+ 2 ( )
47. (b) Slope of Tangent
d
48. (d) dx | x | at x = 0 does not exist