CHAPTER 2 : Numerical Differentiation & Integration

Differentiation
 Rules of differentiation
 Product rule
 Quotient rule
 Partial derivative
 Point of inflexion

2.1 Introduction

Differentiation is concerned with the rate of change of one quantity relative to another. If quantities are
continuously changing, such as velocity, acceleration and current in a circuit, we use differentiation to
study the nature of their change. Differentiation is also used to solve optimisation problems.

Differentiation is also known as derivative. In general, differentiation is finding a slope of a tangent line
y f x 2   f x1 
passing through a curve. Slope of the tangent is given as 
x x 2  x1

dy
Differentiation of function y  f (x) is written as  f ' ( x ) (read as f prime of x) . The term of
dx
dy
 f ' ( x ) is referring to the derivative of y with respect to 𝑥.
dx

Estimating the Instantaneous Rate of Change

The diagram below show attempts to estimate the instantaneous gradient (the rate of change of y with
respect to x)

Notice that the accuracy improves as  x gets closer to zero. The instantaneous rate of change is
written as :

dy y
 as  x approaches 0.
dx x

1
2.2 Rules of differentiation

Finding the derivatives using the first principle is tedious and time consuming. However there are
several technique based on the first principle that enable us to find the derivatives of a big group of
functions more efficiently.

Definition of Derivatives

f ( x  x)  f ( x)
The derivatives of f at x is given by f ‘ (x) = lim provided this limit exists.
x 0 x

The method of finding the derivative using the above definition is called the first principle.

Derivative of a constant

Consider the function y  c, where c is a constant. Geometrically, this function represents a straight
line parallel to the x-axis, as shown in Figure below.

dy d
Since the gradient of the straight line y = c is zero, therefore  0 or (c)  0
dx dx

dy
Note that describes both the rate of change and the gradient.
dx

2
2.2.1 Derivative of a Constant Function c

d
If c is any real number, then (c )  0 .
dx

Example 1

Find f ‘ (x)

a. f (x ) =10 , f’ (x) = 0

b. f(x) =-5.1 , f’ (x) = ______

c. f(x) =1/5 , f’ (x) = _______

2.2.2 Derivative of a Power Functions

The Power Rule

d n
For any real number n, ( x )  nx n 1
dx
and

d
(cx n )  ncx n 1 , c is constant.
dx

Example 2

f (x) f ' ( x)

x  x1 1

x2 2x

x3 3x 2

 

xn nx n 1

** How to Differentiate:

 Multiply by the power

 Reduce the power by one

3
Example 3

dy
Find
dx

1 c. y  x
a. y = x5 b. y 7
 x 7
x = x1 / 2
Solution : Solution : Solution :
dy 7
 7 x 8   8 dy
= ½ x-1/2
dy dx x
 5x 4 dx
dx 1
=
2 x1 / 2

d. y  4x
10
3 1
e. y f. y
x4 4 x
Solution: Solution: Solution:
dy dy dy
  
dx dx dx

Derivatives of Sums and Differences

The basic process of differentiation can be applied to every x-term in an algebraic expression.

If f and g are differentiable at x, then

d d d
[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  [ f ( x)]  [ g ( x)]  f ' ( x)  g ' ( x)
dx dx dx

y  ax m  bx n  .... How to Differentiate:

dy  Multiply every x-term by the power

 amx m 1  bnx n 1  ....
dx  Reduce the power of every x-term by one

** Important

Expressions must be written as the sum of individual terms before differentiating

4
Example 4

Differentiate each of the following functions.

a. f ( x)  7  x  3x b. g ( x)  3x  2 x  6 x  1 c. p ( x )  x  5 x
2 3 8 5 2

Solution : Solution : Solution:

f ( x)  7  x 2  3 x 3 g ( x)  3 x 8  2 x 5  6 x  1
This disappears because 7 = 7x0
(multiply by zero) g ' ( x)  24 x 7  10 x 4  6  0
f ' ( x)  0  2 x  9 x 2 g ' ( x)  24 x 7  10 x 4  6
f ' ( x)  2 x  9 x 2

1 3 1
d. q ( x)  x  e. y 2 x   5x  7
x x x
Solution: Solution:

Product Rule

If f(x) = u(x) . v(x) and u’ (x) and v’(x) both exist, then

d d
[ f ( x)]  (u  v)  uv'vu'
dx dx

Example 5: Find f’(x)

1) f ( x)  (2 x  7)( x  6 x  1)
2
1
2) f ( x )  (3 x 2  6)(2 x  )
4
Solution: Solution :

u  2x  7 v  x 2  6x  1

u'  2 v'  2 x  6

By applying product rule :

f ' ( x)  uv'vu'
= (2 x  7)(2 x  6)  ( x  6 x  1)(2)
2

= 4 x 2  12 x  14 x  42  2 x 2  12 x  2
= 6 x 2  10 x  40

5
Quotient Rule

u ( x)
If f(x) = and u’ (x) and v’(x) both exist, and v(x) ≠0 then
v( x)

d d  u  vu'uv'
[ f ( x)]   
dx dx  v  v2

Example 6:

d  x2 1  d  2x 2  1 
   
dx  x 3  5  dx  x  5 
1) 2.

Solution : Solution :
u  x 1 2
v  x 5 3

u'  2x v'  3x 2

By applying quotient rule:

d  x 2  1  vu'uv'
 
dx  x 3  5  v2

( x 3  5)  2 x  x 2  1 3x 2 
x  5
= 2
3

2 x 4  10 x  3x 4  3x 2

x 3
5 
2

 x 4  3x 2  10 x

x 3
5  2

Exercise 2

dy
Find for the following functions :
dx

1. y  2 x  5 x

1 4

2
2. y x  7x  1
2
3. y
1 7
3

x  2x  9  4. y  2 x 
2
x
1 1 1
5. y  3  7 6. y   5 x  8x  9
x x 2 x
7. y  (4 x  1)(7 x  x)  2 1 
2 3
8. y  ( x 3  7 x 2  8) 3  4 
x x 
9. g ( x)  ( x  2)(2 x  x ) 10. f ( x)  (2 x  1)(1  4 x )
2 3

6
 3x  5 x 2 3
11. h( x )  12. p( x)  2
x9 x 5
x x
13. y  2 14. f ( x)  2
x 1 x 2

Derivatives of trigonometric functions

d d
1. (sin x)  cos x 7. (sin f ( x))  cos f ( x). f ' ( x)
dx dx
d d
2. (cos x)   sin x 8. (cos f ( x))   sin f ( x). f ' ( x)
dx dx
d d
3. (tan x)  sec 2 x 9. (tan f ( x))  tan f ( x). f ' ( x)
dx dx
d
4. (sec x)  sec x tan x
dx
d
5. (csc x)   csc x cot x
dx
d
6. (cot x)   csc2 x
dx

Derivatives of exponential functions

d x d f ( x)
1. (e )  e x 3. (e )  e f ( x ) . f ' ( x )
dx dx

d x d
2. ( a )  a x ln a 4. (a f ( x ) )  a f ( x ) . f ' ( x) ln a
dx dx

Example 7

dy
Find
dx

y  ex
2
a.
b. y  e sin x
c. y  x 3e 4 x

7
Solution:

y  ex y  e sin x
2
a. b.
dy d dy d
 e x  (e x )  e x ( 2 x )  e sin x  (sin x)  e sin x (cos x)
2 2 2

dx dx dx dx
x2 = cos xe sin x
= 2 xe

c.
y  x 3e 4 x

Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions

d 1 d 1
1. (ln x)  3. (ln f ( x))  . f ' ( x)
dx x dx f ( x)

d 1 d 1
2. (log b x )  4. (log b f ( x))  . f ' ( x)
dx x ln b dx f ( x) ln b

Example 8

Differentiate the following functions.

a. y  ln x 2
b. f ( x)  ln(sin x)
c. h( x)  ln( x sin 2 x)
d. g ( x)  log 3 ( x)

Solution:

a. y  ln x 2 b. f ( x)  ln(sin x)

8
 dy 1 d
 2  (x 2 )
dx x dx
1
= 2 ( 2x)
x
2
=
x
c. h( x)  ln( x sin 2 x) d. g ( x)  log 3 ( x)

Exercise 3.4:

dy
1. Find
dx

e x  ex 4
a. y ans : 
e x  e x (e  e  x ) 2
x

1 e x  ex  2
b. y  ans :
e2x e2 x
x  cos 2 x x  cos 2 x
c. y  e ans : (1  2 sin 2 x)e

d. y  ln(cos x) ans :  tan x

1
e. y  ln(ln x) ans :
x ln x
ex xe x ln x  e x
f. y ans :
ln x x(ln x) 2

9
 2.2.3 Partial derivatives

Definition : If z  f ( x, y) and  x 0 , y 0  is a point in the domain of f, then the partial

derivative of f with respect to x at  x 0 , y 0  [also called the partial derivative of z
with respect to x at  x 0 , y 0  ] is the derivative at x0 of the function that results when
y  y 0 is held fixed and x is allowed to vary. This partial derivative is denoted by
f x x0 , y 0  and is given by
f ( x0  x, y0 )  f ( x0 , y0 )
f x  x0 , y 0  
d
[ f ( x, y0 )] = lim
dx x  x0 x 0 x

Similarly, the partial derivative of f with respect to y at  x 0 , y 0  [also called the

partial derivative of z with respect to y at  x 0 , y 0  ] is the derivative at y 0 of the
function that results when x  x 0 is held fixed and y is allowed to vary. This partial
derivative is denoted by f y  x 0 , y 0  and is given by
f ( x0 , y 0  y )  f ( x0 , y 0 )
f y  x0 , y 0  
d
[ f ( x0 , y)] = lim
dx y  y0 y 0 y

Example 9: Find f x (1,3) and f y (1,3) for the function f ( x, y )  2 x y  2 y  4 x

3 2

Solution:

d
1. f x ( x, y )  [2 x 3 y 2  2 y  4 x]  6 x 2 y 2  4
dx

f x (1,3)  6(1) 2 (3) 2  4

 54  4
 58

d
2. f y ( x, y)  [ 2 x 3 y 2  2 y  4 x]  4 x 3 y  2
dy

f y (1,3)  4(1) 3 (3)  2

 12  2
 14

10
Example 10:

Let f ( x, y )  x y  5 y . Find f x (1,3) and f y (1,3)

2 3

Solution:

d 2
1. f x ( x, y )  [ x y  5 y 3 ]  2 xy
dx

f x (1,3)  2(1) (3)

6

d 2
2. f x ( x, y )  [ x y  5 y 3 ]  x 2  15 y 2
dx

f y (1,3)  (1) 2  15(3) 2

 1  135
 136

Partial derivative notation

If z  f ( x, y) , then the partial derivatives f x and f y are also denoted by the symbols

f z f z
, , and ,
x x y y

Some typical notations for the partial derivatives of z  f ( x, y) at a point ( x0 , y 0 ) are

f z f f z
, , , ( x0 , y0 ), ( x0 , y0 )
x x  x0 , y  y0 x ( x0 , y0 ) x ( x0 , y0 ) x x

z z
if z  x sin( xy )
4 3
Example 11: Find and
x y

Solution:

z  4  
1)  [ x sin( xy 3 )]  x 4 [sin( xy 3 )]  sin( xy 3 ). ( x 4 )
x x x x

 x 4 cos(xy 3 )  y 3  sin( xy 3 )  4 x 3
 x 4 y 3 cos(xy 3 )  4 x 3 sin( xy 3 )

11
 z  4  
2)  [ x sin( xy 3 )]  x 4 [sin( xy 3 )]  sin( xy 3 ). ( x 4 )
y y y y

 x 4 cos(xy 3 )  3xy 2  sin( xy 3 )  0

 3x 5 y 2 cos(xy 3 )

Exercise 3:

1. Let f ( x, y )  3x y .Find
3 2

a) f x ( x, y ) b) f y ( x, y ) c) f x (1,2) d) f y (1,5)

2. Let z  e sin y . Find

x

z z z z
a) b) c) d)
x y x ( 2 , 3) y ( 0 , 3)

12
The Derivatives and Properties of a Graph

If y = f(x) is a function which is differentiable in the interval and (a,b) and dy/dx = f’ (x) > 0

for all x  (a, b) , then y = f(x) is increasing in the interval (a, b).

If y = f(x) is a function which is differentiable in the interval and (a,b) and dy/dx = f’ (x) < 0

for all x  (a, b) , then y = f(x) is decreasing in the interval (a, b).

Example:

Find the set of values of x for which the function

2 3 1 2
f ( x)  x  x  3 x  4 is
3 2

a) increasing.

b) decreasing.

Solution:

2 3 1 2
f ( x)  x  x  3x  4
3 2

f ' ( x)  2 x 2  x  3

When f is increasing,

f ' ( x)  0

2x 2  x  3  0

( x  1)(2 x  3)  0

Use table:

Solution :

2x 2  x  3  0

Factoring, ( x  1)(2 x  3)  0 Note:

We want positive value
The critical values involved are :

13
 x 1  0 and 2 x  3  0
3
x  1 x
2
Plot them on a table :

x  1 1  x  3/ 2 x  3/ 2
( x  1)  + +
(2 x  3)   +
( x  1) (2 x  3) +  +

3
Since we want positive values, the answers are x  1 or x
2
We can write the solution in various form / notation :

3
Inequality notation : x  1 or x
2
3
Interval notation : ( ,1)  ( ,  )
2

Number line notation :

-1 3/2

Hence, the set of values of x for which f is increasing is

3
{x : x  1 or x  }.
2

When f is decreasing, f’(x) <0. Hence, the set of values of x for which f is decreasing is
 3
 x : 1  x  
 2

Concavity of the graph of Function

 Let y = f(x) be a function differentiable in the interval (a, b)

14
  The graph of y= f(x) in the figure above  The graph of y= f(x) in the figure above
is said to be concave upwards if all its is said to be concave downwards if all
tangents lies below it in the interval its tangents lies above it in the interval
(a, b) . (a, b) .
 The graph of y = f(x) is concave  The graph of y = f(x) is concave
upwards if f’(x) increases as x increases downwards if f’(x) decreases as x
or the derivative of f’(x), increases or the derivative of f’(x),
i.e f”(x) > 0. i.e f”(x) < 0.

Example:

Find the set of values of x for which the graph of the function

f ( x)  2 x 3  3x 2  12 x  11

a) is concave upwards,

b) is concave downwards.

Solution:

Differentiate f(x) with respect to x.

f ( x)  2 x 3  3x 2  12 x  11

first derivative, f ' ( x)  6 x 2  6 x  12

sec ond derivative, f " ( x)  12x  6

a) When the graph of f(x) is concave upwards, a) When the graph of f(x) is concave upwards,

15
 f “ (x) > 0 f “ (x) > 0

12 x  6  0 12 x  6  0

12 x  6 12 x  6

6 6
x x
12 12

1 1
x x
2 2

Hence, the required set of values of x is Hence, the required set of values of x is

 1  1
x : x   x : x  
 2  2

Point of inflexion

The point P(c, f(c)) on the curve y  f (x) in

figure is called the point of inflexion, such that
the curve of y  f (x) is continuous at point P
and the curve changes from being concave
downwards to concave upwards.

16