L1 – Derivative of a Polynomial Functions Unit 1

MCV4U
Jensen

In advanced functions, you should have been introduced to the idea that the instantaneous rate of change is
represented by the slope of the tangent at a point on the curve. You also learned that you can determine this
value by taking the derivative of the function using the Newton Quotient.

Newton Quotient Example: Newton’s Quotient:

a) Find the equation of the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
3(𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 2(𝑥 + ℎ) + 4 − (3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

3(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥ℎ + ℎ2 ) + 2𝑥 + 2ℎ + 4 − 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 4
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2 + 2𝑥 + 2ℎ + 4 − 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 4
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2 + 2ℎ
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

ℎ(6𝑥 + 3ℎ + 2)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 + 3(0) + 2

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 + 2

f(x)
b) Calculate 𝑓′(5). What does it represent? (5, f(5))

𝑓 ′ (5 ) = 6 (5 ) + 2

𝑓 ′ (5) = 32

This tells us that the instantaneous rate of change of the original function
when 𝑥 = 5 is 32. Graphically speaking, this means the slope of the
tangent line drawn on the original function at (5, 𝑓(5)) is 32.
Mathematicians have derived a set of rules for calculating derivatives that make this process more efficient.

Rule Derivative Example

Constant Rule 𝑓(𝑥) = 87
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0
If 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑐 where 𝑐 is a constant
Power Rule 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 5
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 5𝑥 4
𝑛
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
Constant Multiple Rule 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 5
′ (𝑥)
𝑓 = 3 ∙ 5𝑥 4
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑐 ∙ 𝑔′(𝑥)
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) where 𝑐 is a 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 15𝑥 4
constant
Sum Rule ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) + 𝑔′(𝑥) ℎ′ (𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 3
If ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
Difference Rule ℎ (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 5 − 𝑥 4
ℎ′ (𝑥) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) − 𝑔′(𝑥) ℎ′ (𝑥) = 5𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3
If ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)

Proof of Power Rule:

𝑑 𝑛 (𝑥 + ℎ)𝑛 − 𝑥 𝑛
𝑥 = lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ Use Binomial Theorem:
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛 ( 0 )𝑥 𝑛 ℎ0 + ( 1 )𝑥 𝑛−1 ℎ1 + ( 2 )𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ2 + ⋯ + (𝑛)𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛 − 𝑥 𝑛 𝑛
𝑥 = lim 𝑡𝑟+1 = ( ) 𝑎𝑛−𝑟 𝑏𝑟
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑟
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛 ( 1 )𝑥 𝑛−1 ℎ1 + ( 2 )𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ2 + ⋯ + (𝑛)𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛
𝑥 = lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛 ℎ[( 1 )𝑥 𝑛−1 + ( 2 )𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ1 + ⋯ + (𝑛)𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛−1 ]
𝑥 = lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑑 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑥 = lim ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ1 + ⋯ + ( ) 𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 1 2 𝑛

𝑑 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑥 = ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−2 01 + ⋯ + ( ) 𝑥 0 0𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥 1 2 𝑛

𝑑 𝑛
𝑥 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥
Example 1: Determine the equation of the derivative of each of the following functions:

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 5 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 71 c) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2
1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 15𝑥 4
1
1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2 𝑥 2−1
1
1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2 𝑥 −2

1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) =
2√𝑥

1 1
d) 𝑦 = 3√𝑥 e) 𝑦 = 𝑥 f) 𝑦 = − 𝑥 5

1
𝑦 = 𝑥3 𝑦 = 𝑥 −1 𝑦 = −1𝑥 −5
1 1
𝑦 ′ = −1𝑥 −2
𝑦 ′ = 3 𝑥 3−1 𝑑𝑦
= 5𝑥 −6
𝑑𝑥
−1
1 −2
𝑦′ = 𝑥2 𝑑𝑦 5
𝑦′ = 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥6
3

1
𝑦′ = 2
3𝑥 3

Example 2: Differentiate each function

a) 𝑦 = 5𝑥 6 − 4𝑥 3 + 6 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥 5 + 8√𝑥 − 9.3

1
𝑦 ′ = 30𝑥 5 − 12𝑥 2 + 0 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥 5 + 8𝑥 2 − 9.3
1
𝑦 ′ = 30𝑥 5 − 12𝑥 2 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = −15𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 −2 − 0
4
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = −15𝑥 4 +
√𝑥

−8𝑥 6 +8𝑥 2
c) 𝑔(𝑥) = (2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1) d) ℎ(𝑥) = 4𝑥 5

−8𝑥 6 8𝑥 2
𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 −𝑥−3 ℎ(𝑥) = + 4𝑥 5
4𝑥 5

𝑔′ (𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 1 ℎ(𝑥) = −2𝑥 + 2𝑥 −3

ℎ′ (𝑥) = −2 − 6𝑥−4

6
ℎ′ (𝑥) = −2 −
𝑥4
Example 3: Determine an equation for the tangent to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 5 at 𝑥 = −1.

Point on the tangent line: Slope of tangent line:

Remember: The equation of
𝑓(−1) = 4(−1)3 + 3(−1)2 − 5 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) 2
= 12𝑥 + 6𝑥 the derivative tells you the
slope of the tangent to the
𝑓(−1) = −6 𝑓 ′ (−1) = 12(−1)2 + 6(−1) original function.

(−1, −6) 𝑓 ′ (−1) = 6

Slope of the tangent is 6

Equation of tangent line:

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏

−6 = 6(−1) + 𝑏

𝑏=0

𝑦 = 6𝑥

Example 4: Determine the point(s) on the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 (𝑥 + 3) where the slope of the tangent is 24.

𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2

𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥
𝑑𝑥

24 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥

0 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 24

0 = 3(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8)

0 = (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)

𝑥1 = −4 𝑥2 = 2

Now find 𝑦-coordinates of points:

Point 1: Point 2:

𝑦 = (−4)3 + 3(−4)2 𝑦 = (2)3 + 3(2)2

𝑦 = −16 𝑦 = 20

(−4, 16) (2, 20)