MODULE 4: The Derivatives of Algebraic Functions
MODULE RATIONALE:
This module deals with the derivatives of algebraic functions which are the
fundamental concepts in differentiation. Also, this module includes topics about chain
rule, implicit differentiation and higher order derivatives.
MODULE OUTCOMES:
At the end of the module, you are expected to:
1. Evaluate the derivative of an algebraic function using the different
differentiation rules.
2. Solve the derivative of a given function applying the concepts of chain rule
and implicit differentiation.
LESSON 1: Differentiation Rules for Algebraic Functions
Estimated Time: 3 hours
LESSON OUTCOMES:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. Familiarize yourself with the differentiation rules.
2. Apply these rules in finding the derivative of algebraic functions.
LESSON CONTENTS:
Activate:
The process of finding the derivative of a function using the method of
increments is obviously time-consuming and very tedious. Luckily, there are standard
formulas called differentiation formulas (rules) which will enable us to find the
derivative of complex algebraic functions instantly.
Acquire:
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Listed below are the differentiation formulas. Take note that u and v are
differentiable functions of x , n is any real number and c is a constant.
d
1. ( c )=0 The Constant Rule
dx
d
2. ( x )=1 The Identity Function Rule
dx
d du dv
3. ( u+ v )= + The Sum Rule
dx dx dx
d dv du
4. ( uv )=u + v The Product Rule
dx dx dx
du dv
−u v
5. d u
dx v ()
=
dx
v
2
dx The Quotient Rule
d n
6. ( u ) =n un−1 du The Power Rule
dx dx
d du
7. ( cu )=c
dx dx
du
8. d dx
( √ u )=
dx 2 √u
Proof of the Differentiation Rules
Here we will try to prove some of the differentiation rules above using the
method of increments. The remaining formulas which will not be covered are left to
you to work on.
Proof of 3.
Let y=u+ v
y + ∆ y=u+∆ u+ v +∆ v
∆ y =u+∆ u+ v +∆ v−(u+v )
∆ y =∆ u+ ∆ v
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∆ y ∆u ∆ v
= +
∆x ∆x ∆x
dy ∆y ∆u ∆v
=lim ¿ ∆ x→ 0 =lim ¿∆ x →0 ( + )¿ ¿
dx ∆x ∆x ∆x
dy
dx
=lim ¿ ∆ x→ 0 ( )
∆u
∆x
+lim ¿∆ x→ 0 (
∆v
∆x
)¿ ¿
dy du dv
= +
dx dx dx
Proof of 4.
Let y=uv
y + ∆ y=(u+ ∆ u)(v + ∆ v )
∆ y =( uv +u ∆ v + v ∆ u+∆ u ∆ v )−uv
∆ y =u ∆ v + v ∆ u+∆ u ∆ v
∆y ∆v ∆u ∆v
=u +v +∆ u
∆x ∆x ∆x ∆x
dy ∆y dv du
=lim ¿ ∆ x→ 0 =u + v ¿
dx ∆x dx dx
Proof of 5.
u
Let y=
v
u+∆ u
y + ∆ y=
v +∆ v
u+∆ u u uv + v ∆u−uv−u ∆ v
∆ y= − =
v +∆ v v ( v +∆ v ) v
∆u ∆v
v−u
∆y ∆x ∆x
=
∆x ( v +∆ v ) v
du dv
v−u
dy ∆y dx dx
=lim ¿ ∆ x→ 0 = ¿
dx ∆x v
2
Apply:
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dy
Example 1] Find if y=x 3−3 x 2 +6 .
dx
Solution:
dy d
= ¿)
dx dx
d 3 d 2 d
` ¿ ( x )+ (−3 x )+ (6)
dx dx dx
d 3
¿ ( x )−3 d ( x2 )+ d (6)
dx dx dx
2
¿ 3 x −3 ( 2 x ) +0
2
¿ 3 x −6 x
3 dy
Example 2] If ¿ 2 , find .
(x +4 ) dx
Solution:
d d
( x +4 )2 ( 3 ) −3 ( x + 4 )2
dy d
=
3
[
dx dx ( x + 4 )2
=
] dx dx
2 2
[ ( x+ 4 ) ]
( x+ 4 )2 ( 0)−3[ ( 2 ) ( x + 4 ) ( 1 ) ]
¿ 4
(x+ 4)
−6 ( x+ 4 ) −6
¿ 4
= 3
(x +4) ( x+ 4)
dy 1
Example 3] Find , if ¿ .
dx √2 x +1
Solution:
dy d
=
dx dx [√ ] 1
2 x +1
d
= (2 x +1)−1/ 2
dx
−1
−1 2
−1 d
` ¿ ( 2 x +1 ) (2 x+ 1)
2 dx
−3
−1
¿ ( 2 x +1 ) 2 (2)
2
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−3
2 −1 −1
¿−( 2 x +1 ) = 3=
( 2 x+ 1 ) 2 (2 x+ 1)( √ 2 x+1)
dy
Example 4] Find , if y=(2 x+3)3 ( 4 x−1)2.
dx
Solution:
dy d 2
= [(2 x +3)¿¿ 3(4 x−1) ]¿
dx dx
3 d 2 2 d 3
¿(2 x +3) (4 x−1) +(4 x−1) (2 x +3)
dx dx
¿(2 x +3) [ 2 ( 4 x−1 )( 4 ) ] +(4 x−1) [3 ( 2 x +3 ) ( 2 ) ]
3 2 2
¿ 2 ( 2 x +3 ) ( 4 x −1 ) [ 4 ( 2 x +3 )+3 ( 4 x +1 ) ]
2
2
¿ 2 ( 2 x +3 ) ( 4 x −1 )( 8 x +12+12 x +3 )
2 2
¿ 2 ( 2 x +3 ) ( 4 x −1 )( 20 x +15 )=2 ( 2 x+ 3 ) ( 4 x−1 ) ( 5 ) ( 4 x +3 )
2
¿ 10 ( 2 x +3 ) ( 4 x−1 )( 4 x +3 )
Assess:
A) Exercises: Find the derivative of each of the following functions.
4
1. y= √ x + +√ x
3
x
2. y= √ 5 x−6
3. y= √ 7+ √ 3 x +1
4. y= √ a2+ x2
1
x−6 3
5. y=( )
3x+4
y= √ x −4 x−3
3 2
6.
5
7. y=4 ( √ x +1)
1
8. x=2 t √ t +
√t
5
9. y=(1+ x 3)(3−2 x) 2
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3 x+1
10. y=
√ 3 x2 + 4
B) Formative Assessment
C) Online Short Quiz
D) Summative Test
Teaching Delivery:
a. Lecture (Video Conferencing, F2F)
b. Multimedia Presentation
c. Social Media Interactive Discussion/ Q & A Sessions (thru Messenger, SMS,
Google Meet, Zoom and Facebook Social Learning Group)
LESSON 2: The Chain Rule
Estimated Time: 2 hours
LESSON OUTCOMES:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. Explain the concept and application of the chain rule.
2. Evaluate the derivative of a complex functions using the concept of chain
rule.
LESSON CONTENTS:
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Activate:
Some functions are formed out of simpler functions by a process of
substitution. These functions are called composite functions.
For the sake of discussion, let us consider the functions f and g as functions
of u and x, respectively. That is, y=f (u) and u=g (x) . In this case, we have here a
relationship where y depends on u and u depends on x. Our goal here is to make y
as a function of x. We can achieve this by substituting u=g (x) in y=f (u) in order to
obtain a new function in which can symbolically stated as,
y=f [ g ( x ) ] ∨that is y=f ° g
The relationship y = f[g(x)] is what we call now a composite function because
y is a function of u and u is a function of x. The concept of composite function would
guide us as to what chain rule really means.
Acquire:
√
Supposing we are given the function y= x 2 +1 and we are asked to find its
derivative. If we use the differentiation rules given above, we will find difficulty along
the process of differentiation since there are a lot of things happening within the
function. To make it simple, we will use the concept of the composite function as
discussed above. So how are we going to do that?
From the discussion above, we can write y as a composite function of f and g
in terms of u and x. That is, if we let y=f ( u )= √ u and let u=g ( x )=x 2 +1. By doing this,
we can differentiate f and g using our differentiation formulas and use their results,
using the concept of Chain Rule, to find the derivative of the function. The concept of
Chain Rule is simply the derivative of the composite function f ° g is the product of
the derivatives of f and g. That is, if
' dy ' du
f (u) = ∧g ( x )=
du dx
dy '
Then, ( f ° g )' ( x )= '
=f ( u ) ∙ g ( x )
dx
dy dy du
= ∙
dx du dx
Formally this can be stated as,
If y is a differentiable function of u given by y = f(u) and if u is a
differentiable function of x give by u = g(x), then y is a differentiable function of x
and
dy dy du
= ∙
dx du dx
Proof.
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∆ y ∆ y ∆u
= ∙
∆ x ∆u ∆ x
dy
dx
=lim ¿ ∆ x→ 0
∆y
∆x
=lim ¿∆ x →0 (
∆ y ∆u
∙
∆u ∆ x
¿¿ )
Since u is a differentiable function of x, then ∆ u → 0 as ∆ x →0 . Therefore,
dy ∆y ∆u
=lim ¿ ∆ u → 0 ∙ lim ¿∆ x→ 0 ¿¿
dx ∆u ∆x
dy dy du
= ∙
dx du dx
Apply:
Example 1] We will try to find the derivative of the function given above.
y= √ x 2 +1
Solution:
Let y=f ( u )= √ u and let u=g ( x )=x +1
2
−1
dy ' 1 1 du '
=g ( x ) =2 x
=f ( u ) = u 2 = ;
du 2 2 √u dx
dy dy du 1 1 1
= ∙ = ∙2x= ∙ 2 x= 2
dx du dx 2 √ u 2 √ x +1
2
√ x +1
dy 3
Example 2] Find if y=(u−4) 2 and u=x2 + 4.
dx
Solution:
3 1
dy 3 −1 d 3 3
= ( u−4 )
2
( u−4 )= ( u−4 )2 = √u−4
du 2 dx 2 2
du d 2
= ( x +4 )=2 x
dx dx
dy dy du 3 3
= ∙ = √ u−4 ∙2 x= √(x + 4)−4 ∙2 x
2
dx du dx 2 2
¿ 3 √ x2 ∙ x=3 x 2
Assess:
A) Exercises: Use the concept of Chain Rule to find the derivative of the following
functions.
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1
1. y= 3 6. y=( x 3−1)100
(5−2 x)
1
2. f ( x )= √ 1+ √ 1+ x 7. y= 2
(1+ √ 1−x)
2(x + 4) 3
3. y= 8. f ( x )=(4−3 x ) 2
( x+ 4)2−1
2
4. y=(4 x3 −2) 3
2
2x
5. y= 4
x −1
B) Formative Assessment
C) Online Short Quiz
D) Summative Test
Teaching Delivery:
a. Lecture (Video Conferencing, F2F)
b. Multimedia Presentation
c. Social Media Interactive Discussion/ Q & A Sessions (thru Messenger, SMS,
Google Meet, Zoom and Facebook Social Learning Group)
LESSON 3: Implicit Differentiation and Higher Order Derivatives
Estimated Time: 3 hours
LESSON OUTCOMES:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
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1. Understand the concepts of implicit differentiation and higher order
derivatives.
2. Apply the concept of implicit differentiation in finding the derivative of a
given function.
3. Evaluate the higher order derivative of a function.
LESSON CONTENTS:
Activate:
There are instances where some functions cannot be expressed explicitly as a
function of another variable. That is, they cannot be expressed in the form y=f (x ).
Just like in the case of, x 2+ 4 xy + 4 y 2=0 .
These functions which cannot be expressed as explicitly as in terms of another
variable are called implicit functions. These functions are quite difficult (and may be
quite impossible) to transform into their explicit forms.
On the other hand, there are applications in engineering and sciences which
requires the concept of higher derivatives. For instance, in Physics, the derivative of
ds
the distance (s) with respect to time (t) becomes which is the instantaneous
dt
velocity of a moving body and taking its derivative with respect to time (t), it
2
d s
becomes 2
which is the acceleration of the body. The acceleration is the second
dt
derivative of distance (s) with respect to time (t).
We will discuss these two topics – implicit differentiation and higher order
derivatives in this lesson.
Acquire:
Implicit Differentiation
dy '
In order to find the derivative ( ∨ y ) of an implicit function, we will
dx
differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x and solve for its derivative.
This process is called implicit differentiation.
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An implicit relation between x and y can be written in the form,
F ( x , y )=0 [1]
To find the derivative of an implicit function, we shall differentiate each term
of [1] with respect to x, having in mind that y is a function of x.
Higher Order Derivatives
We know that the differentiation of the function y=f (x ) results to
dy
=f ' (x)
dx
dy
The derivative or f ' (x) of the function of f is a quantity that depends on x .
dx
Here f ' is a function of x and can be differentiated again with respect to x. This
process can be repeated several times.
2
dy d y
If we have as the first derivative of y=f (x ), then we shall refer to 2 as
dx dx
2
d
the second derivative of y=f (x ) . The operator 2
indicates that y=f (x ) is to be
dx
differentiated twice. Further differentiations would give us derivatives of order higher
3 4
d y d y
than 2. These higher derivatives can be written as to 3
(third derivative), 4
dx dx
(fourth derivative), etc. Other symbols for the higher derivative are
(4) (5) ' '' '' ' (4)
y , y , y , y , … ,and f ( x ) , f ( x ) , f ( x ) , f ( x ) , ….
' ''
Note: Parenthesis is used in y (n )and f ( n ) ( x) for higher derivatives greater than
the order of 3.
Apply:
Example 1] Find y ' if x 2+ 4 xy + 4 y 2.
Solution:
' '
2 x+ 4 x y + 4 y +8 y y =0
' '
4 x y +8 y y =−2 x−4 y
( 4 x+ 8 y ) y ' =−( 2 x +4 y )
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−(x +2 y )
y'=
2 x+ 4 y
Example 2] Find y ' ' if x 2 + y 2=9.
Solution: Differentiating with respect to x,
'
2 x+ 2 y y =0
' −x
y=
y
Differentiating again with respect to x,
'' y (−1 )− (−x ) ( y ' )
y = 2
y
−x
− y+x( ) ' −x
y ; since y=
¿ 2 y
y
2 2
− y 2−x 2 −(x + y ) −9
¿ = = 3 ; since
y3 y3 y
2 2
x + y =9
Example 3] Find the second and third derivative of the function y=x 4+ 3 x 2 +5.
Solution:
' 3 3
y =4 x + 2 ( 3 )( x )=4 x + 6 ( x )
y ' ' =4 (3 ) ( x 2 ) =12 x 2
' ''
y =12 ( 2 ) ( x )=24 x
Assess:
A)Exercises:
Find the derivative of the following functions using implicit differentiation.
1. x 3 + y 3−6 xy=0 6. (x− y )2=2 ax
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2. 2 √ x +3 √ y=5 7. √ x+ y+ xy=21
3. x 2−xy + y 2=4 8. √ x+ √ y =√ a
2 3
4. y ( x+2 y )=c 9. y 2−3 x +2 y=3
5. ( x− y )3= ( x + y )2 10. 2 x3 + x y 2+ 4 y =1
Find the second and third derivative of each of the following.
4 x
1. xy=16 6. y=x + 2
(x+ 2)
1
2. 2 x3 + y3 =9 xy 7. y= √ x +4 x 5
2
1 1
3. y= 4−x2√ 8. 2
y=[a −x ] 2 2
x
4. y=
√ x−1
4x
5. y=
x +1
B) Formative Assessment
C) Online Short Quiz
D) Summative Test
Teaching Delivery:
a. Lecture (Video Conferencing, F2F)
b. Multimedia Presentation
c. Social Media Interactive Discussion/ Q & A Sessions (thru Messenger, SMS,
Google Meet, Zoom and Facebook Social Learning Group)
Bibliography:
Feliciano F., Uy F. (1983) Differential and Integral Calculus. Merriam & Webster
Bookstore, Inc. Manila, Philippines
Love C., Rainville E. (1981) Differential and Integral Calculus, Sixth Edition.
Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.
Stewart J. (2012). Early Transcendental Calculus, Seventh Edition. Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning
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