(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.

SECTION 3.3: TECHNIQUES OF DIFFERENTIATION

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Learn how to differentiate using short cuts, including:
the Linearity Properties, the Product Rule, the Quotient Rule, and (perhaps)
the Reciprocal Rule.
PART A: BASIC RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION
In Section 3.2, we discussed Rules 1 through 4 below.
Basic Short Cuts for Differentiation
Assumptions:
c, m, b, and n are real constants.
f and g are functions that are differentiable where we care.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

If h ( x ) =

then h
( x ) =

Comments

c
mx + b
xn
c
f ( x)
f ( x) + g ( x)
f ( x)
g ( x)

0
m
nx n
1
c  f
( x)
f
( x ) + g
( x )
f  ( x )
g ( x )

The derivative of a constant is 0.

The derivative of a linear function is the slope.
Power Rule
Constant Multiple Rule (Linearity)
Sum Rule (Linearity)
Difference Rule (Linearity)

Linearity. Because of Rules 4, 5, and 6, the differentiation operator Dx is called

a linear operator. (The operations of taking limits (Ch.2) and integrating (Ch.5) are
also linear.) The Sum Rule, for instance, may be thought of as the derivative of a
sum equals the sum of the derivatives, if they exist. Linearity allows us to take
derivatives term-by-term and then to pop out constant factors.
Proofs. The Limit Definition of the Derivative can be used to prove these short
cuts. The Linearity Properties of Limits are crucial to proving the Linearity
Properties of Derivatives. (See Footnote 1.)

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.2

Armed with these short cuts, we may now differentiate all polynomial functions.
Example 1 (Differentiating a Polynomial Using Short Cuts)
Let f ( x ) =
4x 3 + 6x
5 . Find f
( x ) .
Solution

(
)
= D (
4x ) + D ( 6x )
D ( 5 )
(Sum and Difference Rules )
=
4  D ( x ) + D ( 6x )
D ( 5 ) ( Constant Multiple Rule )

f  ( x ) = Dx
4x 3 + 6x
5
3

TIP 1: Students get used to applying the Linearity Properties,

skip all of this work, and give the answer only.

( )

=
4 3x 2 + 6
0
=
12x 2 + 6
Challenge to the Reader: Observe that the
5 term has no impact on the
derivative. Why does this make sense graphically? Hint: How would the
graphs of y =
4x 3 + 6x and y =
4x 3 + 6x
5 be different? Consider the
slopes of corresponding tangent lines to those graphs.

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.3

Example 2 (Equation of a Tangent Line; Revisiting Example 1)
Find an equation of the tangent line to the graph of y =
4x 3 + 6x
5 at
the point (1,
3) .
Solution
Let f ( x ) =
4x 3 + 6x
5 , as in Example 1.
Just to be safe, we can verify that the point (1,
3) lies on the graph by
verifying that f (1) =
3 . (Remember that function values correspond to
y-coordinates here.)
Find m, the slope of the tangent line at the point where x = 1.
This is given by f
(1) , the value of the derivative function at x = 1.

m = f
(1)
From Example 1, remember that
f  ( x ) =
12x 2 + 6 .

= 
12x 2 + 6  x =1
=
12 (1) + 6
2

=
6
We can find a Point-Slope Form for the equation of the desired tangent
line.
The line contains the point: ( x1 , y1 ) = (1,
3) .
It has slope: m =
6 .

y
y1 = m ( x
x1 )

y
(
3) =
6 ( x
1)

If we wish, we can rewrite the equation in Slope-Intercept Form.

y + 3 =
6x + 6
y =
6x + 3

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.4

We can also obtain the Slope-Intercept Form directly.

y = mx + b 

(
3) = (
6 ) (1) + b
b=3 
y =
6x + 3
Observe how the red tangent line below is consistent with the equation
above.

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.5

Example 3 (Finding Horizontal Tangent Lines; Revisiting Example 1)
Find the x-coordinates of all points on the graph of y =
4x 3 + 6x
5 where
the tangent line is horizontal.
Solution
Let f ( x ) =
4x 3 + 6x
5 , as in Example 1.
We must find where the slope of the tangent line to the graph is 0.
We must solve the equation:

f  ( x) = 0

(See Example 1.)

12x 2 + 6 = 0

12x 2 =
6
x2 =

1
2

x=

1
2

x=

2
2

The desired x-coordinates are

2
2
and

.
2
2

The corresponding points on the graph are:

2
 2


2 
,
f
,
2
2


5
,
which
is
 2
 2 
 2
 , and







2
2 


,
f


 2
 2   , which is






2


,


2
2


5
 2
.



(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.6

The red tangent lines below are truncated.

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.7

PART B: PRODUCT RULE OF DIFFERENTIATION
WARNING 1: The derivative of a product is typically not the product of the
derivatives.
Product Rule of Differentiation
Assumptions:
f and g are functions that are differentiable where we care.
If h ( x ) = f ( x ) g ( x ) ,
then h
( x ) = f
( x ) g ( x ) + f ( x ) g
( x ) .
Footnote 2 uses the Limit Definition of the Derivative to prove this.
Many sources switch terms and write: h
( x ) = f ( x ) g
( x ) + f
( x ) g ( x ) , but
our form is easier to extend to three or more factors.
Example 4 (Differentiating a Product)

)(

Find Dx  x 4 + 1 x 2 + 4x
5  .
Solution
TIP 2: Clearly break the product up into factors, as has already been done
here. The number of factors (here, two) will equal the number of terms in
the derivative when we use the Product Rule to expand it out.
TIP 3: Pointer method. Imagine a pointer being moved from factor to
factor as we write the derivative term-by-term. The pointer indicates
which factor we differentiate, and then we copy the other factors to form
the corresponding term in the derivative.

(x

) (x

+1

 ( Dx )

)(

+ 4x
5

copy

 ( Dx )

copy

) (
( x + 1)   D ( x

Dx  x 4 + 1 x 2 + 4x
5  =  Dx x 4 + 1   x 2 + 4x
5
4

+ 4x
5 

(
)
( x + 1)  [ 2x + 4 ]

=  4x 3   x 2 + 4x
5
4

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.8

The Product Rule is especially convenient
here if we do not have to simplify our result.
Here, we will simplify.

= 6x 5 + 20x 4
20x 3 + 2x + 4
Challenge to the Reader: Find the derivative by first multiplying out the
product and then differentiating term-by-term.
The Product Rule can be extended to three or more factors.
The Exercises include a related proof.
Example 5 (Differentiating a Product of Three Factors)

)(

d 
(t + 4 ) t 2 + 2 3 t
t  . The result does not have to be simplified,

dt
and negative exponents are acceptable here. (Your instructor may object!)

Find

Solution

(t + 4 )
 ( Dt )

d 
(t + 4 ) t 2 + 2

dt

)(

(t

+2

) (t

1/3

t

copy

copy

copy

 ( Dt )

copy

copy

copy

 ( Dt )

)(

)
(t + 4 )   D (t + 2 )  ( t
t )
(

t
t  =  Dt ( t + 4 )   t 2 + 2 
2

t
t

+
+

(t + 4 )  (t 2 + 2 )   Dt (t 1/3
t )

)
(t + 4 )  [ 2t ]  ( t
t )
(

)(

= [1]  t 2 + 2 

t
t

+
+

1
2 /3 
t

1

3

(t + 4 )  (t 2 + 2 )  

TIP 4: Apply the Constant Multiple Rule, not the Product Rule, to something
like Dx 2x 3 . While the Product Rule would work, it would be inefficient here.

( )

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.9

PART C: QUOTIENT RULE (and RECIPROCAL RULE) OF
DIFFERENTIATION
WARNING 2: The derivative of a quotient is typically not the quotient of the
derivatives.
Quotient Rule of Differentiation
Assumptions:
f and g are functions that are differentiable where we care.
g is nonzero where we care.

f ( x)
,
g ( x)
g ( x ) f  ( x )
f ( x ) g ( x )
then h  ( x ) =
.
2
g
x
(
)



If h ( x ) =

Footnote 3 proves this using the Limit Definition of the Derivative.

Footnote 4 more elegantly proves this using the Product Rule.
TIP 5: Memorizing. The Quotient Rule can be memorized as:

Lo  D ( Hi)
Hi  D ( Lo )
 Hi 
D  =
 Lo  ( Lo )2 , the square of what's below
Observe that the numerator and the denominator on the right-hand side
rhyme.
At this point, we can differentiate all rational functions.

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.10

Reciprocal Rule of Differentiation
If h ( x ) =

1
,
g ( x)

then h  ( x ) =

g ( x )

 g ( x ) 

This is a special case of the Quotient Rule where f ( x ) = 1 .

Think:

( )
( Lo)

D Lo

TIP 6: While the Reciprocal Rule is useful, it is not all that necessary to
memorize if the Quotient Rule has been memorized.
Example 6 (Differentiating a Quotient)

 7x
3 
Find Dx  2
.
 3x + 1 
Solution

Lo  D ( Hi)
Hi  D ( Lo )
 7x
3 
Dx  2
=

2
 3x + 1
( Lo ) , the square of what's below
3x
(
=

( 3x
=
=

)
)

( 3x

+1

+ 1  [ 7 ]
( 7x
3)  [ 6x ]

( 3x

3x 2 + 1

+1

21x 2 + 18x + 7

+ 1   Dx ( 7x
3) 
( 7x
3)   Dx 3x 2 + 1 

, or

7
21x 2 + 18x

3x 2 + 1

, or

21x 2
18x
7

( 3x

+1

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.11

TIP 7: Rewriting. Instead of running with the first technique that comes to mind,
examine the problem, think, and see if rewriting or simplifying first can help.
Example 7 (Rewriting Before Differentiating)

6w 2
w
Let s ( w ) =
. Find s
( w ) .
3w
Solution
Rewriting s ( w ) by splitting the fraction yields a simpler solution than
applying the Quotient Rule directly would have.

6w 2
w


3w
3w
1
= 2w
w
1/2 
3
1
s  ( w ) = 2 + w
3/2
6
1
12w 3/2 + 1
12w 2 + w
=2+
, or
, or
6w 3/2
6w 3/2
6w 2
s (w) =

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.12

FOOTNOTES
1. Proof of the Sum Rule of Differentiation. Throughout the Footnotes, we assume that f and
g are functions that are differentiable where we care. Let p = f + g . (We will use h for
run in the Limit Definition of the Derivative.)
 f ( x + h ) + g ( x + h ) 
 f ( x ) + g ( x ) 
p ( x + h)
p ( x)
= lim 
h 0
h 0
h
h
 f ( x + h )
f ( x )  +  g ( x + h )
g ( x ) 
f ( x + h) + g ( x + h)
f ( x)
g ( x)
= lim
= lim 
h 0
h 0
h
h
f ( x + h)
f ( x)
g ( x + h)
g ( x)
 f ( x + h)
f ( x) g ( x + h)
g ( x) 
= lim 
+
+ lim
= lim

h 0 
h 0
h
h
h
h
h 0
p ( x ) = lim

(Observe that we have exploited the Sum Rule (linearity) of Limits.)

f  ( x ) + g ( x )

The Difference Rule can be similarly proven, or, if we accept the Constant Multiple Rule, we
can use: f
g = f + (
g ) . Sec. 2.2, Footnote 1 extends to derivatives of linear combinations.
2. Proof of the Product Rule of Differentiation. Let p = fg .

p ( x + h)
p ( x)
h 0
h
 f ( x + h ) g ( x + h ) 

 f ( x ) g ( x ) 

= lim 
h 0
h
f ( x + h) g ( x + h)
f ( x + h) g ( x) + f ( x + h) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x)
= lim
h 0
h
 f ( x + h) g ( x + h)
f ( x + h) g ( x) f ( x + h) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x) 
= lim 
+

h 0 
h
h

p ( x ) = lim

f ( x + h) g ( x + h)
f ( x + h) g ( x)
f ( x + h) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x)
+ lim
h
0
h
h
f ( x + h )   g ( x + h )
g ( x ) 

 f ( x + h )
f ( x ) 
 g ( x )
= lim
+ lim 
h 0
h 0
h
h
g ( x + h)
g ( x) 

 f ( x + h)
f ( x)

+ lim 
= lim  f ( x + h ) 
 g ( x )

h 0 
h 0 
h
h

= lim

h 0

g ( x + h)
g ( x) 
f ( x + h)
f ( x)  


+  lim
lim g ( x ) 
=  lim f ( x + h )    lim


 h 0

 h 0


h
0
h
h
h

 0
=  f ( x ) 
  g ( x ) 
+  f  ( x ) 
  g ( x ) 
, or
f  ( x ) g ( x ) + f ( x ) g ( x )

Note: We have: lim f ( x + h ) = f ( x ) by continuity, because differentiability implies

h
0

continuity. We have something similar for g in Footnote 3.

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.13

3. Proof of the Quotient Rule of Differentiation, I. Let p = f / g , where g ( x )
0 .

p ( x + h)
p ( x)
h 0
h
f ( x + h) f ( x)


g ( x + h) g ( x)
= lim
h 0
h
  f ( x + h) f ( x)  1 
= lim 



h 0  g ( x + h )
g ( x )  h 

p ( x ) = lim

  f ( x + h) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x + h)  1 
= lim 
 
h 0 
g ( x + h) g ( x)

 h
 f ( x + h) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x + h)

1
= lim


h 0
g ( x + h) g ( x) 
h

 f ( x + h) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x) + f ( x) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x + h)

1

= lim

h 0
g ( x + h) g ( x) 
h

  f ( x + h ) g ( x )
f ( x ) g ( x )  + 
f ( x ) g ( x )
f ( x ) g ( x + h ) 

1

= lim


h 0
g ( x + h) g ( x) 
h

  f ( x + h )
f ( x )   g ( x ) + f ( x )  
g ( x )
g ( x + h ) 

1

= lim


h 0
g ( x + h) g ( x) 
h

  f ( x + h )
f ( x )   g ( x )
f ( x )  
g ( x + h )
g ( x ) 

1

= lim


h 0
g ( x + h) g ( x) 
h


f ( x )  
g ( x + h )
g ( x )   

 f ( x + h )
f ( x )   g ( x )
1

lim
 lim
= lim


h 0
h 0
h 0 g ( x + h ) g ( x ) 
h
h




f ( x + h)
f ( x) 
g ( x + h)
g ( x)  
1



= 
g ( x )   lim


f ( x )   lim




h
h

h 0

h 0


g( x) g( x) 

(See Footnote 2, Note.)

= 
g ( x )   
f  ( x ) 

f ( x )   
g ( x )  

1

g ( x ) 

g ( x ) f  ( x )
f ( x ) g ( x )

g ( x ) 

(Section 3.3: Techniques of Differentiation) 3.3.14.

4. Proof of the Quotient Rule of Differentiation, II, using the Product Rule.
f ( x)
, where g ( x )
0 .
Let h ( x ) =
g( x)
Then, g ( x ) h ( x ) = f ( x ) .
Differentiate both sides with respect to x. Apply the Product Rule to the left-hand side.
We obtain: g
( x ) h ( x ) + g ( x ) h
( x ) = f
( x ) . Solving for h
( x ) , we obtain:

h ( x ) =

f  ( x )
g ( x ) h ( x )
f ( x)
. Remember that h ( x ) =
. Then,
g( x)
g( x)

 f ( x)
f  ( x )
g ( x ) 

g( x) 
h ( x ) =
g( x)

 f ( x )

 f  ( x )
g ( x )  g ( x )  



=
 g ( x ) 
=

g ( x ) f  ( x )
f ( x ) g ( x )
 g ( x ) 

 g ( x ) 


 g ( x ) 

This approach is attributed to Marie Agnessi (1748); see The AMATYC Review, Fall 2002
(Vol. 24, No. 1), p.2, Letter to the Editor by Joe Browne.
See also Quotient Rule Quibbles by Eugene Boman in the Fall 2001 edition (vol.23,
No.1) of The AMATYC Review, pp.55-58. The article suggests that the Reciprocal Rule for

1 
Dx 
 can be proven directly by using the Limit Definition of the Derivative, and then
 g( x) 
the Product Rule can be used in conjunction with the Reciprocal Rule to differentiate

1 

 f ( x )  
 ; the Spivak and Apostol calculus texts take this approach. The article
 g( x) 
presents another proof, as well.