🧮

Differentiation Formulas Overview

Sep 29, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers key differentiation formulas in calculus, including rules for constants, powers, exponentials, products, quotients, the chain rule, logarithmic, trigonometric, and inverse trigonometric functions.

Basic Differentiation Rules

  • The derivative of a constant is 0.
  • The power rule: d/dx[xⁿ] = n·xⁿ⁻¹.
  • The derivative of a constant raised to a variable: d/dx[aˣ] = aˣ·ln(a).
  • For aˣ where x is a function, d/dx[aᵘ] = aᵘ·u'·ln(a).
  • To differentiate xˣ, use logarithmic differentiation.

Constant Multiple, Product, and Quotient Rules

  • Constant multiple rule: d/dx[c·f(x)] = c·f'(x).
  • Product rule: d/dx[u·v] = u'·v + u·v'.
  • Quotient rule: d/dx[u/v] = (v·u' - u·v') / v².

Chain Rule and Related Forms

  • Chain rule: d/dx[f(g(x))] = f'(g(x))·g'(x).
  • For f(x)ⁿ, derivative is n·f(x)ⁿ⁻¹·f'(x).
  • dy/dx = dy/du · du/dx connects derivatives via substitution.

Logarithmic Differentiation

  • d/dx[logₐ(u)] = u' / (u·ln(a)).
  • d/dx[ln(u)] = u' / u.

Trigonometric Function Derivatives

  • d/dx[sin(u)] = cos(u)·u'.
  • d/dx[cos(u)] = -sin(u)·u'.
  • d/dx[tan(u)] = sec²(u)·u'.
  • d/dx[cot(u)] = -csc²(u)·u'.
  • d/dx[sec(u)] = sec(u)·tan(u)·u'.
  • d/dx[csc(u)] = -csc(u)·cot(u)·u'.

Inverse Trigonometric Function Derivatives

  • d/dx[arcsin(u)] = u' / √(1 - u²).
  • d/dx[arccos(u)] = -u' / √(1 - u²).
  • d/dx[arctan(u)] = u' / (1 + u²).
  • d/dx[arccot(u)] = -u' / (1 + u²).
  • d/dx[arcsec(u)] = u' / [|u|·√(u² - 1)].
  • d/dx[arccsc(u)] = -u' / [|u|·√(u² - 1)].

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Derivative — Measures the instantaneous rate of change of a function.
  • Constant multiple rule — The derivative of a constant times a function is the constant times the function’s derivative.
  • Product rule — Formula to differentiate products of two functions.
  • Quotient rule — Formula to differentiate ratios of two functions.
  • Chain rule — Rule for differentiating compositions of functions.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review and memorize these differentiation formulas.
  • Practice problems on all types of differentiation rules.
  • Watch extra videos or review textbook sections on logarithmic differentiation and the chain rule if needed.