1.

5 Algebraic Rules for Finding Derivatives

The derivative of a function is another function. Suppose we have some function. For
example,
y x
!
f"x#
Suppose we fix an x and find the rate of change "derivative# at x using the method we
have tal$ed about, i.e.
f %"x# lim
lim
lim
lim
lim !x &h
!x
'ow we let x var(. )e get a new function
that assigns to each x the rate of change at
x. *his new function is the derivative
function s f %"x#. +n our example
y f"x# x
!
and s f %"x# !x
For example, if x ,!, then y f",!# ",!#
!
- and s f %",!# "!#",!# ,-.
As another example, suppose y .x f"x#. *hen
s f %"x# lim lim lim lim . .
1.5 , 1
As (et another example, suppose y - f"x#. *hen
s f %"x# lim lim lim / /
+n this section we loo$ at algebraic rules for finding the derivative function from
the original function. *hese rules save us the trouble of finding the derivative b( ta$ing a
limit.
Rule #1 (The Linear Function Rule). +f y mx & b, then m.
Examples. +f y !x & 5. *hen !.
+f y x . *hen 1.
+f y 5. *hen /.
Proof of the Linear Function Rule.
lim lim lim m m
Rule #2 (The Poer Rule). +f y x
n
, then nx
n,1
.
Examples. +f y x
.
. *hen .x
!
.
+f y x x
1
. *hen x
/
1.
+f y 1 x
/
. *hen /x
,1
/.
Proof of the Poer Rule.
lim lim
lim
lim u
n,1
& u
n,!
x & u
n,.
x
!
& u
n,-
x
.
&
0
& ux
n,!
& x
n,1
nx
n,1
Example. 1et x be the length of the side of a cube and V be the volume. 2ne has
V x
.
. Suppose currentl( x 1/ in and V 1/// in
.
. 'ow we increase x to 1/.1 in.
Approximatl( how much does V increase3
1.5 , !
+n this case x /.1. 2ne has
4
x 1/ .x
!
4
x 1/ .//. So V ".//#"/.1# ./. So
the volume increses b( about ./ in
.
.
Rule #! (The "onstant #ultiple Rule). *he derivative of a constant times a function is
the constant times the derivative of the function. 5ore precisel(, if y cf"x#, then .
Example. +f y .x
!
. *hen . 6x
!
7 . !x 8x.
Proof of the "onstant #ultiple Rule.
lim lim c c lim cf %"x#
Rule #$ (The %um & 'ifference Rule). *he derivative of a sum or difference is the sum
or difference of the derivatives. 5ore precisel(, if y f"x# & g"x#, then and if y f"x# ,
g"x#, then .
Example. +f y 5x
.
& !x
!
, 9x & .. *hen
65x
.
7 & 6!x
!
7 , 69x , .7 5 6x
.
7 & ! 6x
!
7 : 9
15x
!
& -x , 9.
Proof of the %um Rule.
lim lim 6 & 7
lim & lim f %"x# & g%"x#
Rule #( (The Product Rule). *he derivative of a product is
"the first#"the derivative of the second# & "the second#"the derivative of the first#
5ore precisel(, if y f"x#g"x#, then .
Example. +f y "5x
.
& 9x#"!x
!
: .#. *hen
"5x
.
& 9x# 6!x
!
: .7 & "!x
!
: .# 65x
.
& 9x7
"5x
.
& 9x# -x & "!x
!
: .# "15x & 9#
+f it desired we could multiple the result out to put it in the standard form of a
pol(nomical.
Example. *he length of a rectangle is !/ inches and increasing at a rate of . inches per
minute. *he width of a rectangle if 1/ inches and decreasing at a rate of ! inches per
minute. At the moment the area is !// s;uare inches. <ow fast is the area changing3
1et L"t# length of rectangle at time t
W"t# width of rectangle at time t
A"t# L"t#W"t# area of the rectangle
t time with now being t /.
1.5 , .
)e are given L"/# !/, W"/# 1/, L"/# . and W"/# ,!. According to the product
rule A%"t# L"t#W%"t# & W"t#L %"t#. =utting in t / one has
A%"/# L"/#W%"/# & W"/#L %"/# "!/#",!# & "1/#".# ,1/. So the area is
decreasing at a rate of 1/ s;uare inches per minute.
Proof of the Product Rule. +n order to appreciate the proof of the product rule, it helps
to thin$ in terms of the rectangle example >ust discussed. So we shall phase the proof in
those terms. 2ne has
lim
'ow write
L"t&h# L"t# & 6L"t&h# , L"t#7 L"t# & L
W"t&h# W"t# & 6W"t&h# , W"t#7 W"t# & W
where
L L"t&h# , L"t#
W W"t&h# , W"t#
1.5 , -
*hen L"t&h#W"t&h# 6L"t# & L7W"t&h# L"t#W"t&h# & "L#W"t&h#
L"t#6W"t# & W7 & "L#W"t&h#
L"t#W"t# & L"t#"W# & "L#W"t&h#
See the picture at the right. So
lim
L"t# lim & lim
limW"t&h# L"t#W%"t# & W"t#L %"t#
*he reason limW"t&h# W"t# is because
limW"t&h# W"t# & lim h lim W"t# & / W%"t#
+n other words, it a function has a derivative at a certain value of t, then it is also
continuous at this value of t.
Example. ?onsider a container with a gas inside. *he ideal gas law sa(s
PV nRT
where
P pressure of the gas "nt@m
!
#
V volume of the container "m
.
#
n amount of gas in moles
R gas constant A..! nt,m@mole,deg B
T absolute temperature of the gas "deg B#
Suppose the volume is held constant at 1 m
.
, so that
P nRT
Suppose at the moment n - and is increasing at a rate of ! moles@hr and T .// B and
is decreasing at a rate of . @ hr. )hat is the pressure and how fast is it changing3
P "A..!#"-#".//# CCA- nt@m
!
. Also, we are given n ! and T"/# ,.. According to
the product rule P% RnT % & RTn % "A..!#6"-#",.# & ".//#"!#7 "A..!#6,1! & 8//7
"A..!#"5AA# -AC!.18 nt@m
!
,hr. So the pressure is increasing at a rate of -AC!.18 nt@m
!

per hour.
Rule #) (*enerali+ed Product Rule).
6f"x#g"x#h"x#7 g"x#h"x# & f"x#h"x# & f"x#g"x#
6f1"x#f!"x#
0
fn"x#7 f!"x#
0
fn"x# & f1"x#f."x#
0
fn"x# &
0
& f1"x#f!"x#
0
fn,1"x#
1.5 , 5
+n other words, the derivative of a product is a sum of terms where in each term one of
the factors gets differentiated and the others are left alone.
Example.
6"x
!
& .#"x
.
: 8x#"x
-
& !x
!
#7 !x"x
.
: 8x#"x
-
& !x
!
# & "x
!
& .#".x
!
: 8#"x
-
& !x
!
#
& "x
!
& .#"x
.
: 8x#"-x
.
& -x#
Proof of the ,enerali+ed product rule in the case n - !.
6f"x#g"x#h"x#7 g"x#h"x# & f"x#6g"x#h"x#7
g"x#h"x# & f"x# 6h"x# & g"x#7
g"x#h"x# & f"x#h"x# & f"x#g"x#
Rule #. (The *enerali+ed Poer Rule). 6f"x#7
n
n6f"x#7
n,1
. *his holds not onl( for
integer n, but for an( real number n.
Examples.
"x
!
:9x & !#
-
-"x
!
:9x & !#
.
"x
!
:9x & !# -"x
!
:9x & !#
.
"!x : 9#
"x
!
& 1#
1@!
"D#"x
!
& 1#
,1@!
"x
!
& 1# "D#"x
!
& 1#
,1@!
"!x#
1.5 , 8