Unit #1

DIFFERENTIATION and its APPLICATIONS

Achievement Objectives:
M10
Identify discontinuities and limits of functions; differentiate from first principles
M11
Choose and apply a variety of differentiation techniques to functions and relations: polynomial, trigonometric, exponential and
logarithmic; their products, quotients and composite functions; implicit and parametrically defined functions.
M12
Form differential equations and interpret the solutions.
Applications involve contexts with: rates of change, maxima, minima, points of inflection, tangents and normals to curves, velocity and
acceleration, optimisation.
References:

Delta Mathematics (2nd Ed)- Ch 5 - 15

Workbook Nulake

Topic3.6 Differentiation

Achieved questions should always be mastered first. This topic is re-visited three more times during the year, where the learning from other
topics you have studied, can be used to solve the more difficult differentiation problems (i.e. Merit / Excellence).
Homework: for each hour in class, about an hour more is needed to effectively practice and process the work from that lesson, in readiness for
the next one. If you are having difficulty with something related to a lesson DO SOMETHING about it straight away.
Detail
Differentiation of Polynomials Level 2 revisited

Lesson

1
plus
homework

If y = ax then

dy
dx

= anxn-1

Recall the rules for exponents:

for any power, n: +ve, -ve, fraction, decimal

a
n
=a x
n
x

and

a xn =x

n
a

Terms that have root signs and/or exponents in the denominator MUST be rewritten!
Differentiation of Products see formula sheet: Product Rule
23
plus
homework

dy
If y = f(x) . g(x) then dx =

f g g f

Differentiation of Quotients see formula sheet: Quotient Rule

g f f g
g2

f ( x)
dy
g
(
x
)
If y =
then dx

=
Differentiation of Composite functions (The Chain Rule)

4
plus
homework

dy
If y = f(g(x)) then dx

f g

5
plus
homework

dy
If y = eax then dx = aeax

dy
More generally: If y = ef(x) then dx = ef(x) f (x)

=
The Exponential Function and Differentiation (with Chain Rule)

The Natural Logarithm Function and Differentiation (with Chain Rule)

6
plus
homework

f ' ( x)
dy
f ( x)
More generally: If y = lnf(x) then dx =

dy
1
If y = lnx then dx = x

Nulake Workbook

Pages 86-88
Questions #29-50

Pages 89 - 92
Questions
#51 - 74
Pages 93 - 96
Questions
#75 - 92
Pages 97 - 100
Questions
#93 - 124
Pages 101 - 104
Questions
#125 158
Pages 105 - 108
Questions
#159 - 196

Differentiation of Trig Functions

If y = sinx then

7-8
plus
homework

dy
dx

= cosx

If y = cosx then

dy
dx

If y = tanx then

dy
dx

= sec2x

If y = secx then

dy
dx

= secxtanx

If y = cosecx then

dy
dx

sinx
Pages 109 - 117
Questions
#197 - 254

cosecxcotx

dy
dx

If y = cotx then
= -cosec2x
Note: the rules for differentiation trig functions, can also involve the chain rule e.g.
In general, if y = sin[f(x)] then

dy
dx

= cos[f(x)] [f (x)] etc

Detail
Applications to Graphs

Lesson

Workbook

Describe turning Points by reading the curve from left to right.

dy
At turning points, gradient changes sign (from +ve to -ve ) and is momentarily 0 i.e. dx = 0
dy
A function is said to be increasing where dx is +ve ;
decreasing where ve
9
plus
homework

dy
In general, stationary points are places where dx = 0.

Pages 118 - 122

Questions
#255 - 266

There are 3 types:

maximum point gradient of the curve changes from +ve to ve (concave up)
minimum point - gradient of the curve changes from ve to +ve (concave down)
point of inflection - the curvature changes.
The curve is concave up on one side of a point and concave down on the other side.
dy

The gradient dx of the curve will have the same sign, either side of the point
Further Applications to Graphs
Higher Order Derivatives:

nth derivative of y with respect to x is:

dny
dx n

d2y
dy
2
The 2nd derivative, dx finds the rate of change of the gradient ( dx )

10 - 12
plus
homework

Maximum point:

Minimum point:

d2y
dx 2 is negative there.

d2y
dx 2 is positive there.

Point of inflection:
d2y
dx 2 is zero there.

d2y
dy
2
BUT Beware of the indeterminate case, when dx and dx are both equal to zero.

Examine gradient either side of such a point, to determine its nature.

d2y
2
To find ALL points of inflection, solve: dx = 0. Some are NOT stationary points..
A tangent to a curve has the same gradient as the curve at the point of contact.

Read:
pp 118,
120,
123-4,
125-8,
131-3,
136-8
Follow:
Worked Examples
Do:
Questions #255-305

dy
So the tangent equation is: y y1 = dx (x x1)

A normal to a curve is a line at right-angles to the tangent at the point of contact.

dx
dy
So the normal equation is: y y1 = -(1 dx ) (x x1) = - dy (x x1)

Use calculus techniques when sketching polynomials as well as previously learned algebraic ones: xintercepts are found by putting y = 0 and y-intercepts are found by putting x = 0
Application: Optimisation problems

13 14
plus
homework

Identify what is to be optimized, and write a formula for it in terms of ONE variable.
Differentiate it, equate the differentiated expression to 0 and solve it.
Solutions show where the optimum values occur.
Substitute into the original expression, to find the optimum value(s)
Determine the nature of the optimum values. (use the 2nd derivative test)
Select the optimum value that answers the original question
Application: Kinematics
differentiation

Distance(x)
15 16
plus
homework

differentiation

Speed (v)

Acceleration (a)

Related Rates of Change

Sometimes two variables, say, x and y, are related via a third or intermediate variable, say, r.

Read:
Pages 154-6
Follow:
Worked Examples
Do:
Questions
#346-57

Read: pp149-50
Follow examples
Do Questions #336345

dy
dx

The Chain rule applies:

dy
dr

dr
dx

Implicit Differentiation and Parametric Differentiation are covered later in the course.
Differentiation - continued
Lesson
Detail

Workbook

Differentiating Parametric equations

Use chain rule to find dy/dx, then find equations of tangents and normals.
The 2nd derivative

17
plus
homework

d2 x
d x2

d
dt

( dydx ) dxdt

Using parameters
Plotting curves
Eliminate the parameter to obtain a Cartesian (x,y) equation using simultaneous equation
techniques
Use trigonometric identities to eliminate parameters. Most commonly, sin2A + cos2A = 1, is
used to eliminate parameter, A.
Finding points on curves, equations of lines through them, equations of tangents/normals at
them, etc.

Read:
Pages 142-3, 144
Follow:
Worked Examples
Do:
Questions
#306-323

Implicit Differentiation - use chain rule

18
plus
homework

Differentiate terms involving x in the usual way.

Differentiate terms involving y as functions of functions of x,
dy

using the symbol dx whenever y is differentiated.

dy

Example: x2 + y2 = 4 when differentiated, gives: 2x + 2y dx = 0 and on rearrangement

2x x
dy

y
gives : gradient or dx = 2 y

Read:
Pages 146-7
Follow:
Worked Examples
Do:
Questions
#324-335

NCEA-type activities past papers

See: www.nzqa.govt.nz and look for information relating to Level 3 Achievement
Standard 90635.
Assessment tasks from past years
Assessment schedules for past papers
Judgment statements detail about how much evidence is needed to get a
particular grade for a particular paper
Examiners Reports for past years
Assessment Specifications these are for 2012, and give further elaboration on the
standard.

Pages 162-7

Assessment is External and is by examination in November.

Practice: Term 1, Term 2 (Revision + Mid-year Exam), Term 3 (Revision + End-of-year Exam), Term 4 (NCEA Revision)
extra

Taking limits (formal process)

The notation:

lim f (x ) =.. is translated as:

ha

as h gets closer to a, the value of f(x) gets closer to..

The lim csub {ha} { notation is at the start of each line of working until h = a can be substituted,
without leading to something that is undefined.
Method:
1. Find a common factor, to eliminate the denominator.
2. Evaluate f(x) either side of x = a, getting ever closer to x = a. The limit of f(x) exists at x = a if: limit coming from
above = limit coming from below.
3. Rewriting a rational expression as a quotient + remainder, where the remainder gets closer and closer to 0 as
x a . The limit is the quotient.
A function, f(x), is continuous at x = a if : - the limit exists at a,
- f(a) exists,

- f(a) = the limit

i.e. its graph can be drawn, without taking the pen off the paper
Differentiation from First Principles see formula sheet

f ( x +h ) f (x )
h
h0
rise
i.e. the limiting value of
, as 2 points become one, on the curve f(x).
run
f (x) =

lim