2.3 Basic Differentiation Formulas If the derivative of a function is its slope, then for a constant function, the derivative must be zero. example: The derivative of a constant is zero.
Constant Multiple Rule: Power Rule: If n is any real number, then Examples: Constant Multiple Rule: If c is a constant and f is differentiable function, then Examples:
The Sum Rule: Example: The Difference Rule: Example:
Example: Find the horizontal tangents of: Horizontal tangents occur when slope = zero. Plugging the x values into the original equation, we get:
Consider the function slope We could make a graph of the slope: Now we connect the dots! The resulting curve is a cosine curve.
We can do the same thing for slope The resulting curve is a sine curve that has been reflected about the x-axis.
2.4 The Product and Quotient Rules
The Product Rule: Notice that this is not just the product of two derivatives. This is sometimes memorized as:
The Quotient Rule: or Example:
We can find the derivative of the tangent function by using the quotient rule.
Derivatives of the remaining trigonometric functions can be determined the same way.