Rules of Differentiation of Functions in Calculus
The basic rules of Differentiation of functions in calculus are presented along with several examples .
1 - Derivative of a constant function.The derivative of f(x) = c where c is a constant is given by Example f(x) = - 10 , then f '(x) = 0 2 - Derivative of a power function (power rule).The derivative of f(x) = x r where r is a constant real number is given by Example f(x) = x -2 , then f '(x) = -2 x -3 = -2 / x 3 3 - Derivative of a function multiplied by a constant.The derivative of f(x) = c g(x) is given by Example f(x) = 3x 3 , let c = 3 and g(x) = x 3, then f '(x) = c g '(x) = 3 (3x 2) = 9 x 2 4 - Derivative of the sum of functions (sum rule).The derivative of f(x) = g(x) + h(x) is given by Example f(x) = x 2 + 4 let g(x) = x 2 and h(x) = 4, then f '(x) = g '(x) + h '(x) = 2x + 0 = 2x 5 - Derivative of the difference of functions.The derivative of f(x) = g(x) - h(x) is given by Example f(x) = x 3 - x -2 let g(x) = x 3 and h(x) = x -2, then f '(x) = g '(x) - h '(x) = 3 x 2 - (-2 x -3) = 3 x 2 + 2x -3 6 - Derivative of the product of two functions (product rule).The derivative of f(x) = g(x) h(x) is given by Example f(x) = (x 2 - 2x) (x - 2) let g(x) = (x 2 - 2x) and h(x) = (x - 2), then f '(x) = g(x) h '(x) + h(x) g '(x) = (x 2 - 2x) (1) + (x - 2) (2x - 2) = x 2 - 2x + 2 x 2 - 6x + 4 = 3 x 2 - 8x + 4 7 - Derivative of the quotient of two functions (quotient rule).The derivative of f(x) = g(x) / h(x) is given by Example f(x) = (x - 2) / (x + 1) let g(x) = (x - 2) and h(x) = (x + 1), then f '(x) = ( h(x) g '(x) - g(x) h '(x) ) / h(x) 2 = ( (x + 1)(1) - (x - 2)(1) ) / (x + 1) 2 = 3 / (x + 1) 2 More References and linksdifferentiation and derivatives |
