# Find Derivatives of Functions in Calculus

 Find the derivatives of various functions using different methods and rules. Several Examples with detailed solutions are presented. More exercises with answers are at the end of this page. Example 1: Find the derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 1: Function f is the product of two functions: U = x 2 - 5 and V = x 3-2x+3. We use the product rule to differentiate f as follows: Expand and group to obtain Example 2: Calculate the first derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 2: This function may be considered as the product of function U = sqrt x + 2x and V = 4x2 - 1, hence the use of the product rule To add the above you need to write all terms as fractions with a common denominator. Expand and group to obtain the final result for the derivative of f as follows. Example 3: Calculate the first derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 3: The given function may be considered as the ratio of two functions: U = x2 + 1 and V = 5x - 3 and use the quotient rule to differentiate f is used as follows Expand and group to obtain f'(x) as follows Example 4: Calculate the first derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 4: Function f is the quotient of two functions hence the use of the quotient rule Write all terms in the numerator so that they have the same denominator 2 sqrt x Expand and group like terms to obtain f'(x) Example 5: Calculate the first derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 5: Function f given above may be considered as the product of functions U = 1/x - 3 and V = (x2 + 3)/(2x - 1), and function V may be considedered as the quotient of two functions x2 + 3 and 2x - 1. We use the product rule for f and the quotient rule for V as follows Set all terms to a common denominator Expand and group to obtain the derivative f'. Example 6: Calculate the first derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 6: There are several ways to find the derivative of function f given above. One of them is to consider function f as the product of function U = sqrt x and V = (2x - 1)(x3 - x) and also consider V as the product of (2x - 1) and (x3 - x) and apply the product rule to f and V as follows Set a common denominator to all terms Expand and group like terms to obtain the derivative f'. Example 7: Find the derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 7: The given function is of the form U4 where U = x3 + 4. The use of the chain rule of differentiation gives f ' as follows Calculate U ' and substitute above to obtain f ' as follows Example 8: Find the derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 8: Function f is of the form U3 where U = (x - 1) / (x + 3). Apply the chain rule to obtain f ' as follows Calculate U ', using the quotient rule, and substitute to obtain Expand and group like terms to obatin a final form for the derivative f ' Example 9: Find the derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 9: The given function is of the form sqrt U with U = x3 + 2 x + 1. Calculate U ' and use the chain rule to obtain Example 10: Find the derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 10: The given function is of the form U3/2 with U = x2 + 5. Apply the chain rule as follows Calculate U ', substitute and simplify to obtain the derivative f '. Example 11: Find the derivative of function f given by Solution to Example 11: Function f is of the form U1/4 with U = (x + 6)/(x + 5). Use the chain rule to calculate f ' as follows Since U is the quotient of two function, use the quotient rule to find U ' and substitute to obtain Expand and group like terms Change the negative exponent into a positive exponent to find a final form of f ' as follows Exercises: Find the derivative of each of the following functions. Answers to Above Exercises: More on differentiation and derivatives and also Find Derivatives of Rational Functions - Calculators