DIFFERENTIATION
Derivative is the limiting value of the change in the dependent variable
divided by the change in the independent variable. The process of finding the
derivatives is differentiation.
If x is a variable and y is another variable, then the rate of change of x
with respect to y is given by dy/dx. This is the general expression of derivative of
a function and is represented as f'(x) = dy/dx, where y = f(x) is any function.
Definition
If then
The differential coefficient is also called the derivative and is sometimes
denoted by the symbol or when there is no doubt about the dependent
variable. The differential coefficient of f(x) is written generally as or
or
4.1. DIFFERENTIATION RULES
The basic differentiation rules that need to be followed are as follows:
Sum and Difference Rule
Product Rule
Quotient Rule
Chain Rule
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Sum or Difference Rule
If the function is the sum or difference of two functions, the
derivative of the functions is the sum or difference of the individual
functions, i.e.,
If f(x) = u(x) ± v(x)
then, f'(x) = u'(x) ± v'(x)
Product Rule
As per the product rule, if the function f(x) is product of two functions u(x)
and v(x), the derivative of the function is,
If then,
Quotient rule
If the function f(x) is in the form of two functions [u(x)]/[v(x)], the
derivative of the function is
If, then,
Chain Rule
If a function y = f(x) = g(u) and if u = h(x), then the chain rule for
differentiation is defined as,
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4.2. STANDARD FORMS
Differential coefficient of
Let y be equal to When x receives an increment let
denote the corresponding increment in y.
Then .
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for all values of n
Differential coefficient of
Let y be equal to When x receives an increment let
denote the corresponding increment in y.
Then .
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Differential coefficient of
Let y be equal to When x receives an increment let
denote the corresponding increment in y.
Then .
Substitute for .
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As
Differential coefficient of
Let y be equal to When x receives an increment let
denote the corresponding increment in y.
Then .
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Differential coefficient of
Let y be equal to When x receives an increment let
denote the corresponding increment in y.
Then .
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Differential coefficient of
Let
Then .
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4.3. General theorems on differential coefficients.
The differential coefficient of a constant is zero.
Let
Then since an increase in the value of x produces no
change in the value of a constant.
Differential coefficient of the product of a constant and a
function.
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Let where c is a constant and u a function of x.
Let and be the increments in y and u respectively corresponding to
an increment in x.
Then .
Hence the differential coefficient of the product of a constant and a
function is equal to the product of the constant and the differential
coefficient of the function.
Differential coefficient of a sum or difference.
Let where u, v, w are functions of x.
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Let , and be the increments on y, u, v and w respectively
corresponding to an increment in x.
Then
When we have
Hence the differential coefficient of the sum of a finite number of
functions is equal to the sum of the differential coefficients of those
functions.
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