HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

This is a summary of differentiation rules, that is, rules for computing the derivative of a function in calculus.


Elementary rules of differentiation

Unless otherwise stated, all functions are functions of real numbers (R) that return real values; although more generally, the formulae below apply wherever they are well defined — including the case of complex numbers (C).


Constant term rule

For any value of c, where c \in \mathbb, if f(x) is the constant function given by f(x) = c, then \frac = 0.


Proof

Let c \in \mathbb and f(x) = c. By the definition of the derivative, :\begin f'(x) &= \lim_\frac \\ &= \lim_ \frac \\ &= \lim_ \frac \\ &= \lim_ 0 \\ &= 0 \end This shows that the derivative of any constant function is 0.


Differentiation is linear

For any functions f and g and any real numbers a and b, the derivative of the function h(x) = af(x) + bg(x) with respect to x is: h'(x) = a f'(x) + b g'(x). In Leibniz's notation this is written as: \frac = a\frac +b\frac. Special cases include: * The ''constant factor rule'' (af)' = af' * The ''sum rule'' (f + g)' = f' + g' * The ''subtraction rule'' (f - g)' = f' - g'.


The product rule

For the functions ''f'' and ''g'', the derivative of the function ''h''(''x'') = ''f''(''x'') ''g''(''x'') with respect to ''x'' is h'(x) = (fg)'(x) = f'(x) g(x) + f(x) g'(x). In Leibniz's notation this is written \frac = \frac g + f \frac.


The chain rule

The derivative of the function h(x) = f(g(x)) is h'(x) = f'(g(x))\cdot g'(x). In Leibniz's notation, this is written as: \frach(x) = \left.\fracf(z)\_\cdot \fracg(x), often abridged to \frac = \frac \cdot \frac. Focusing on the notion of maps, and the differential being a map \text, this is written in a more concise way as: text (f\circ g)x =
text f Text may refer to: Written word * Text (literary theory), any object that can be read, including: **Religious text, a writing that a religious tradition considers to be sacred **Text, a verse or passage from scripture used in expository preachin ...
\cdot textgx\,.


The inverse function rule

If the function has an inverse function , meaning that g(f(x)) = x and f(g(y)) = y, then g' = \frac. In Leibniz notation, this is written as \frac = \frac.


Power laws, polynomials, quotients, and reciprocals


The polynomial or elementary power rule

If f(x) = x^r, for any real number r \neq 0, then :f'(x) = rx^. When r = 1, this becomes the special case that if f(x) = x, then f'(x) = 1. Combining the power rule with the sum and constant multiple rules permits the computation of the derivative of any polynomial.


The reciprocal rule

The derivative of h(x)=\fracfor any (nonvanishing) function ' is: : h'(x) = -\frac wherever ' is non-zero. In Leibniz's notation, this is written : \frac = -\frac\frac. The reciprocal rule can be derived either from the quotient rule, or from the combination of power rule and chain rule.


The quotient rule

If ' and ' are functions, then: :\left(\frac\right)' = \frac\quad wherever ' is nonzero. This can be derived from the product rule and the reciprocal rule.


Generalized power rule

The elementary power rule generalizes considerably. The most general power rule is the functional power rule: for any functions ' and ', :(f^g)' = \left(e^\right)' = f^g\left(f' + g'\ln f\right),\quad wherever both sides are well defined. Special cases * If f(x)=x^a\!, then f'(x)=ax^when ' is any non-zero real number and ' is positive. * The reciprocal rule may be derived as the special case where g(x)=-1\!.


Derivatives of exponential and logarithmic functions

: \frac\left(c^\right) = ,\qquad c > 0 the equation above is true for all , but the derivative for c<0 yields a complex number. : \frac\left(e^\right) = ae^ : \frac\left( \log_c x\right) = , \qquad c > 1 the equation above is also true for all ', but yields a complex number if c<0\!. : \frac\left( \ln x\right) = ,\qquad x > 0. : \frac\left( \ln , x, \right) = ,\qquad x \neq 0. : \frac\left( W(x)\right) = ,\qquad x > -.\qquadwhere W(x) is the Lambert W function : \frac\left( x^x \right) = x^x(1+\ln x). : \frac\left( f(x)^ \right ) = g(x)f(x)^ \frac + f(x)^\ln\frac, \qquad \textf(x) > 0, \text \frac \text \frac \text : \frac\left( f_(x)^ \right ) = \left sum\limits_^ \frac \left( f_(x_1)^ \right ) \right \biggr\vert_, \text f_(x) > 0 \text \frac \text


Logarithmic derivatives

The logarithmic derivative is another way of stating the rule for differentiating the logarithm of a function (using the chain rule): : (\ln f)'= \frac \quad wherever ' is positive. Logarithmic differentiation is a technique which uses logarithms and its differentiation rules to simplify certain expressions before actually applying the derivative. Logarithms can be used to remove exponents, convert products into sums, and convert division into subtraction — each of which may lead to a simplified expression for taking derivatives.


Derivatives of trigonometric functions

The derivatives in the table above are for when the range of the inverse secant is ,\pi! and when the range of the inverse cosecant is \left \frac,\frac\right!. It is common to additionally define an inverse tangent function with two arguments, \arctan(y,x)\!. Its value lies in the range \pi,\pi! and reflects the quadrant of the point (x,y)\!. For the first and fourth quadrant (i.e. x > 0\!) one has \arctan(y, x>0) = \arctan(y/x)\!. Its partial derivatives are


Derivatives of hyperbolic functions

See Hyperbolic functions for restrictions on these derivatives.


Derivatives of special functions

;
Gamma function In mathematics, the gamma function (represented by , the capital letter gamma from the Greek alphabet) is one commonly used extension of the factorial function to complex numbers. The gamma function is defined for all complex numbers except ...
:\Gamma(x) = \int_0^\infty t^ e^\, dt :\begin \Gamma'(x) & = \int_0^\infty t^ e^ \ln t\,dt \\ & = \Gamma(x) \left(\sum_^\infty \left(\ln\left(1 + \dfrac\right) - \dfrac\right) - \dfrac\right) \\ & = \Gamma(x) \psi(x) \end with \psi(x) being the digamma function, expressed by the parenthesized expression to the right of \Gamma(x) in the line above. ;
Riemann Zeta function The Riemann zeta function or Euler–Riemann zeta function, denoted by the Greek letter (zeta), is a mathematical function of a complex variable defined as \zeta(s) = \sum_^\infty \frac = \frac + \frac + \frac + \cdots for \operatorname(s) > ...
:\zeta(x) = \sum_^\infty \frac :\begin \zeta'(x) & = -\sum_^\infty \frac =-\frac - \frac - \frac - \cdots \\ & = -\sum_ \frac \prod_ \frac \end


Derivatives of integrals

Suppose that it is required to differentiate with respect to ''x'' the function :F(x)=\int_^f(x,t)\,dt, where the functions f(x,t) and \frac\,f(x,t) are both continuous in both t and x in some region of the (t,x) plane, including a(x)\leq t\leq b(x), x_0\leq x\leq x_1, and the functions a(x) and b(x) are both continuous and both have continuous derivatives for x_0\leq x\leq x_1. Then for \,x_0\leq x\leq x_1: : F'(x) = f(x,b(x))\,b'(x) - f(x,a(x))\,a'(x) + \int_^ \frac\, f(x,t)\; dt\,. This formula is the general form of the Leibniz integral rule and can be derived using the fundamental theorem of calculus.


Derivatives to ''n''th order

Some rules exist for computing the -th derivative of functions, where is a positive integer. These include:


Faà di Bruno's formula

If and are -times differentiable, then \frac
(g(x)) G, or g, is the seventh letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''gee'' (pronounced ), plural ''gees''. History The ...
n! \sum_ f^(g(x)) \prod_^n \frac \left(g^(x) \right)^ where r = \sum_^ k_m and the set \ consists of all non-negative integer solutions of the Diophantine equation \sum_^ m k_m = n.


General Leibniz rule

If and are -times differentiable, then \frac (x)g(x)= \sum_^ \binom \frac f(x) \frac g(x)


See also

* * * * * * * * * * * *


References


Sources and further reading

These rules are given in many books, both on elementary and advanced calculus, in pure and applied mathematics. Those in this article (in addition to the above references) can be found in: *''Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables (3rd edition)'', S. Lipschutz, M.R. Spiegel, J. Liu, Schaum's Outline Series, 2009, . *''The Cambridge Handbook of Physics Formulas'', G. Woan, Cambridge University Press, 2010, . *''Mathematical methods for physics and engineering'', K.F. Riley, M.P. Hobson, S.J. Bence, Cambridge University Press, 2010, *''NIST Handbook of Mathematical Functions'', F. W. J. Olver, D. W. Lozier, R. F. Boisvert, C. W. Clark, Cambridge University Press, 2010, .


External links


Derivative calculator with formula simplification
{{Analysis-footer Articles containing proofs *
Derivatives The derivative of a function is the rate of change of the function's output relative to its input value. Derivative may also refer to: In mathematics and economics * Brzozowski derivative in the theory of formal languages * Formal derivative, an ...
Derivatives The derivative of a function is the rate of change of the function's output relative to its input value. Derivative may also refer to: In mathematics and economics * Brzozowski derivative in the theory of formal languages * Formal derivative, an ...
Mathematical identities Theorems in analysis Theorems in calculus