Differetiation Calculus

Differetiation is refered to has the rate of change of a given function. Differetiation is the process of finding a derivative and a derivative is the result from differetiation



Differetiation Notation

A Function Leibniz notation f(x) d dx ( f(x) ) or df dx y d dx ( y ) or dy dx 4x + 9 d dx ( 4x + 9 )

Points to note

1. d dx ( y ) = dy dx

2. The expression d dx ( y ) means differetiate with respect to x of y which is equal to the expression dy dx

How to differetiate

Equation: y = ax 3

1. multiply Co-oefficient by its power in this case a×3 = 3a

2. subtract power by 1 (one) in this case 3 - 1 = 2

3. Merge the steps together therefore the combination will be 3ax 2

Hence dy dx = 3ax 2

Point to note

1. when a number is differetiated the result becomes a zero (0), E.G dy dx 7 = 0

Example 1

Differentiate each of the following with respect to x

(a) y = 4x 5

(b) y = x 2 + 7

(c) y = 3x 4 + 19x - 2

Solutions

(a)

y = 4x 5

Answer: dy dx = 20x 4

(b)

y = x 2 + 7

dy dx = 2x 1 + 0

Answer: dy dx = 2x

(c)

y = 3x 4 + 19x - 2

dy dx = 12x 3 + 19 - 0

Answer: dy dx = 12x 3 + 19

Example 2

Find the equation of the normal to the curve y = x3 2x24x+ 1 at the point (-1, 2)

Solutions

y = x3 2x24x+ 1

dy dx = 3x2 4x14+ 0

dy dx = 3x2 4x4

(-1, 2)

X = -1

Substitute in the equation to find the gradient or dy/dx

dy dx = 3(-1)2 4(-1)4

dy dx = 3 (-4)4

dy dx = 3 +44

dy dx = 7 4

dy dx = 3

Answer: Gradient = 3

Equation of the straight line y = mx + c

(-1, 2)

x = -1, y = 2 , m = 3, c = ?

2 = 3(-1) + c

2 = -3 + c

c = 2 + 3

c = 5

Therefore the equation of the normal is Answer: y = 3x + 5

Example 3

Determine the equation of the normal to the curve

y = 2x23x- 2

that passes through the point(3, 7).

Solutions

y = 2x23x- 2

dy dx = 4x13- 0

dy dx = 4x3

(3, 7)

x = 3

dy dx = 4(3)3

dy dx = 123

dy dx = 9

Gradient = 9

y = mx + c

Find the constant c

(3, 7)

x = 3, y = 7

7 = 9(3) + c

7 = 27 + c

c = 7 - 27

c = -20

Equation of the normal Answer: y = 9x - 20

Example 4

Find the equation of the normal to the curve y = 5x3 6x2+2x+ 5 at the point (1, 2)

Solutions

y = 5x3 6x2+2x+ 5

Find the derivative

dy dx = 15x2 12x1+2+ 0

dy dx = 15x2 12x+2

Point (1, 2)

x = 1, y = 2

dy dx = 15(1)2 12(1)+2

dy dx = 15 12+2

dy dx = 3 +2

dy dx = 5

Therefore the gradient = 5

y = mx + c

Point (1, 2)

x = 1, y = 2

2 = 5(1) + c

2 = 5 + c

c = 2 - 5

c = -3

Equation of the normal Answer: y = 5x - 3

How to find coordinates using differetiation

Find the x coordinates of the point on the curve y= 2x3 3x236x 3 where the gradient is zero

Solution

y = 2x3 3x236x 3

dy dx = 6x2 6x1 36x 0 0

dy dx = 6x2 6x36

dy dx = Gradient

dy dx = 0

0= 6x2 6x36

6x2 6x36 = 0

x2 x6 = 0

P = 6

S = -1

F = (-3 , 2)

x2 3x+2x 6 = 0

x( x - 3 ) + 2 ( x - 3 ) = 0

( x - 3 ) ( x + 2 ) = 0

( x - 3 ) = 0

( x + 2 ) = 0

x = 3 or x = -2

How to find coordinates of the stationary points

Stationary Points

Find the coordinates of the stationary points on the curve

y= 2x 3 - 3x 2 - 12x + 4

1. The gradient at a stationary point is always 0 (Zero)

2. The first step to under take to find the coordinates at the stationary points is to differetiate the equation and then equate it to 0 (Zero)

3. Then after equating 0 (Zero) to the differetiated function, find the coordinates of x from the simplified equation (Quadratic equation)

Dy Dx = 6x 2 - 6x - 12

Dy Dx = x 2 - x - 2

x 2 - x - 2 = 0

P = -2

S = -1

F = (-2, 1)

x 2 - 2x + x - 2 = 0

x(x - 2) + 1( x - 2) = 0

(x - 2) ( x + 1) = 0

(x - 2) = 0

( x + 1) = 0

x = 2 or x = - 1

y= 2x 3 - 3x 2 - 12x + 4

y= 2(2) 3 - 3(2) 2 - 12(2) + 4

y= 2(8)- 3(4) - 12(2) + 4

y= 16- 12 - 24 + 4

y= -20 + 4

y= -16

y= 2x 3 - 3x 2 - 12x + 4

y= 2(-1) 3 - 3(-1) 2 - 12(-1) + 4

y= 2(-1) - 3(1) - 12(-1) + 4

y= -2 - 3 + 12 + 4

y= -5 + 16

y= 11

Therefore the coordinates of the stationary points are : (2, -16) and (-1, 11)