Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

v3. March 2003

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c mathcentre 2003
Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 1

Contents

Foreword 2

Preliminary work 2

How to use this booklet 2

Reminders 3

Introduction 4

1. Differentiation of a simple power 5

2. Differentiation of a unit power 6
3. Differentiation of a constant 7
4. Differentiation of a simple power multiplied by a constant 8
Notes page 9
5. Differentiation of a unit power multiplied by a constant 10
6. Differentiation of a general power 11
7. Differentiation of a general power multiplied by a constant 12
8. Differentiation of a sum or difference of terms 13
Notes page 14
9. Differentiation of a simple fraction 15
10. Differentiation of fractions reducible to simpler fractions 16
Notes page 17
11. Differentiation of a simple bracket 18
12. Differentiation of a general bracket 19
Notes page 20
13. Miscellaneous problems 21
Answers to problems 24
Acknowledgements 28

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2 Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

Foreword
The material in this refresher course has been designed to enable you to cope
better with your university mathematics programme. When your programme
starts you will find that the ability to differentiate confidently will be invalu-
able. We think that this is so important that we are making this course
available for you to work through either before you come to university, or
during the early stages of your programme.

Preliminary work
You are advised to work through the companion booklet An Algebra
Refresher before embarking upon this basic differentiation revision course.

How to use this booklet

You are advised to work through each section in this booklet in order. You
may need to revise some topics by looking at an AS-level textbook which
contains information about differentiation.

You should attempt a range of questions from each section, and check your
answers with those at the back of the booklet. The more questions that you
attempt, the more familiar you will become with these vital topics. We have
left sufficient space in the booklet so that you can do any necessary working
within it. So, treat this as a work-book.

If you get questions wrong you should revise the material and try again until
you are getting the majority of questions correct.

If you cannot sort out your difficulties, do not worry about this. Your
university will make provision to help you with your problems. This may
take the form of special revision lectures, self-study revision material or a
drop-in mathematics support centre.

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Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 3

Reminders
Use this page to note topics and questions which you found difficult.
Seek help with these from your tutor or from other university support services as
soon as possible.

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4 Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

Introduction

Differentiation is an aspect of calculus that enables us to determine how one quantity

changes with regard to another.

In this booklet we will not however be concerned with the applications of

differentiation, or the theory behind its development, but solely with the
mechanisms by which the process of differentiation may be quickly and effectively carried
out.

Each section that follows will introduce a particular technique followed by several
problems for you to practice what you have learned.

At the end of the booklet you will find answers for each of the sections.

Included are some pages for you to make notes that may serve as a reminder to you of
any possible areas of difficulty. You should seek help with such areas of difficulty from your
tutor or other university support services.

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Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 5

1. Differentiation of a simple power

To differentiate s = tn . Example
• Bring the existing power down and use it to multiply. s = t3
ds
• Reduce the old power by one and use this as the = 3t3−1
dt
new power.
ds
Answer = ntn−1 = 3t2
dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

ds dv da dy
(a) s = t9 , (b) v = t4 , (c) a = t5 , (d) y = x7 ,
dt dt dt dx
dy dV dP dA
(e) y = x12 , (f) V = r 3 , (g) P = v 6 , (h) A = r 2 ,
dx dr dv dr
dT dR dv dp
(i) T = θ8 , (j) R = t19 , (k) v = t11 , (l) p = V 10 ,
dθ dt dt dV

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6 Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

2. Differentiation of a unit power

To differentiate s = t.

• The phrase ‘a unit power’ refers to the fact that the power is 1.
• Note that t is the same as t1 . We can use the previous rule.
• Differentiating the term t = t1 gives 1t0 = 1

ds
Answer =1
dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

dr dv da dy
(a) r = t, (b) v = t, (c) a = t, (d) y = x,
dt dt dt dx
dz dV dP dW
(e) z = y, (f) V = r, (g) P = v, (h) W = z,
dy dr dv dz
dT dQ dm dx
(i) T = θ, (j) Q = r, (k) m = s, (l) x = y,
dθ dr ds dy

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Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 7

3. Differentiation of a constant

To differentiate s = a where a is a constant. Example

• An isolated constant always differentiates to zero. s = 4
ds ds
Answer =0 =0
dt dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

ds dv 1 dθ dr
(a) s = 5, (b) v = 0.6, (c) θ = , (d) r = 1,
dt dt 2 dt dθ
dT dz dx df
(e) T = π, (f) z = 29.6, (g) x = 3−1 , (h) f = 2.7,
dt dx dt dx
dp √ dq 3 dw dm
(i) p = 4, (j) q = 2, (k) w = , (l) m = 2.7,
dr dt 4 dz dθ

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 8 Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

4. Differentiation of a simple power multiplied by a constant

To differentiate s = atn where a is a constant. Example

• Bring the existing power down and use it to multiply. s = 3t4
ds
• Reduce the old power by one and use this as the new power. = 4 × 3t4−1
dt
ds
Answer = antn−1 = 12t3
dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

ds dy dr dv
(a) s = 3t4 , (b) y = 7x3 , (c) r = 0.4θ5 , (d) v = 4r 3 ,
dt dx dθ dr
dA dT dv dp
(e) A = πr 2 , (f) T = 6θ4 , (g) v = 5t9 , (h) p = 6v 3 ,
dr dθ dt dv
dy dr dP dC
(i) y = 14x2 , (j) r = 5t7 , (k) P = 7v 6 , (l) C = 12N 8 ,
dx dt dv dN

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Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 9

Notes Page

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 10 Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

5. Differentiation of a unit power multiplied by a constant

To differentiate s = at where a is a constant. Example

• The result is always the same as the constant. s = 3t

ds ds
Answer =a =3
dt dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

dy ds dp
(a) y = 5x, (b) s = 6t, (c) p = 4v,
dx dt dv
dC dQ dz
(d) C = 7n, (e) Q = 0.5v, (f) z = πw,
dn dv dw
dN 1 dθ 1 dr
(g) N = 1.7n, (h) θ = t, (i) r = t,
dn 3 dt 4 dt
ds dw dR
(j) s = 3.14ω, (k) w = 5z, (l) R = 9.6φ,
dω dz dφ

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Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 11

6. Differentiation of a general power

To differentiate s = tn for any value of n. Example

• Bring the existing power down and use it to multiply. s = t−3.4

ds
• Reduce the old power by one and use this as the = −3.4t−3.4−1
dt
new power.

ds
Answer = ntn−1 = −3.4t−4.4
dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

ds dy dr
(a) s = t2.8 , (b) y = x2/3 , (c) r = 0.4θ1/4 ,
dt dx dθ
dv dA dT
(d) v = 4r −3, (e) A = r 1/2 , (f) T = θ−6 ,
dr dr dθ
dv dp dy
(g) v = t−1 , (h) p = v −3.5 , (i) y = x3/4 ,
dt dv dx
dr dP dC
(j) r = t−1/3 , (k) P = v 1.8 , (l) C = N −6 ,
dt dv dN

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 12 Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

7. Differentiation of a general power multiplied by a constant

To differentiate s = atn for any value of n where a is a constant. Example

• Bring the existing power down and use it to multiply. s = 2.5t−4

ds
• Reduce the old power by one and use this as the new power. = −4 × 2.5t−4−1
dt
ds
Answer = antn−1 = −10t−5
dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

dy ds dp
(a) y = 5x1.5 , (b) s = 4t−3 , (c) p = 8v 1/2 ,
dx dt dv
dC dQ dz
(d) C = 6n−1 , (e) Q = 2v 0.5 , (f) z = 6w −2.5,
dn dv dw
dN 1 dθ dr
(g) N = 5.2n10 , (h) θ = t6 , (i) r = −5t−2 ,
dn 5 dt dt
ds dw dv
(j) s = 2.5p2.5 , (k) w = 15z −0.1 , (l) v = −3r −4 ,
dp dz dr

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Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 13

8. Differentiation of a sum or difference of terms

To differentiate s = f (t) + g(t) or s = f (t) − g(t). Example

1
• Differentiate f (t) and g(t) using previous rules. s = 3t2 ± 6t 3

ds 1 1
• Add or subtract the results. = 2 × 3t2−1 ± × 6t 3 −1
dt 3
ds df dg ds df dg 2
Answer = + or = − = 6t ± 2t− 3
dt dt dt dt dt dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

ds dv da
(a) s = t2 + t3 , (b) v = 2t + 3t4 , (c) a = 3 + 4t,
dt dt dt
dv da ds
(d) v = 5t − 10t2 , (e) a = 3t4.5 − 4t−1 (f) s = 4t1/2 − 2.5t−2 ,
dt dt dt
dy dy 1 dx
(g) y = x2 + 3x4 (h) y = 2x−1 − x−2 , (i) x = 3y + y 2 ,
dx dx 4 dy

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14 Basic Differentiation - A Refresher

Notes Page

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Basic Differentiation - A Refresher 15

9. Differentiation of a simple fraction

a
To differentiate s = where a is a constant. Example
tn
2
• Rewrite as s = at−n . s=
t3
= 2t−3
ds
• Differentiate using previous rules. = −3 × 2t−3−1
dt
ds
Answer = −ant−n−1 = −6t−4
dt

Practice: In the space provided write down the requested derivative for each of
the following expressions.

1 ds 2 ds 5 dy
(a) s = , (b) s = , (c) y = ,
t dt t2 dt x3 dx
2.4 dp 4.5 dv 10 da
(d) p = , (e) v = , (f) a = ,
r7 dr t1/2 dt t6 dt
4.9 dv 2.5 ds π dx
(g) v = , (h) s = , (i) x = ,
x4 dx θ3 dθ θ dθ
√
2 dθ 7 dz 3 dq
(j) θ = 5 , (k) z = , (l) q = ,
t dt 2x dx r 2.5 dr

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