Differentiating 

ProductsandQuotients 12.1

Introduction
We have seen, in Chapter 11, how standard functions like xn , eax , sin ax, cos ax, ln ax etc., may
be dierentiated.
In this block we see how more complicated functions may be dierentiated. We concentrate, for
ax
the moment, on products and quotients of standard functions like xn eax , e sinlnx x etc.
We will see that two simple rules may be consistently employed to obtain the derivatives of such
functions.

Prerequisites
Before starting this Block you should . . .
be able to dierentiate standard functions:
logarithms, polynomials, exponentials, and
trigonometric functions
be able to manipulate algebraic
expressions.

Learning Outcomes Learning Style

To achieve what is expected of you . . .
After completing this Block you should be able
to . . .
allocate sucient study time
dierentiate products and quotients of
standard functions
briey revise the prerequisite material

dierentiate a quotient using the product attempt every guided exercise and most
rule of the other exercises
1. Differentiating a Product
In previous blocks we have examined the process of dierentiating functions. We found how to
obtain the derivative of many commonly occurring functions. These are recorded in the following
table.

dy
y
dx

xn nxn1
sin ax a cos ax
cos ax a sin ax
tan ax a sec2 ax
1
ln ax
x
eax aeax

In this block we consider how to dierentiate non-standard functions - in particular, in this

section - those which can be written as the product of standard functions. Being able to
dierentiate such functions depends upon the following key result.

Key Point
dy df dg
If y = f (x)g(x) then = g(x) + f (x)
dx dx dx
This is called the product rule.

We shall not prove this result, instead we shall concentrate on its use.

Example Dierentiate (a) y = x2 sin x (b) y = x ln x

Solution

df dg
1. (a) Here f (x) = x2 , g(x) = sin x = 2x , = cos x
dx dx
dy
and so = 2x(sin x) + x2 (cos x) = x(2 sin x + x cos x)
dx
df dg 1
(b) Here f (x) = x, g(x) = ln x =1, =
dx dx x
 
dy 1
and so = 1.(ln x) + x. = ln x + 1
dx x

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
Try each part of this exercise
Determine the derivatives of the following functions

Part (a) y = ex ln x,

Answer

e2x
Part (b) y =
x2
Write y = (x2 )e2x and then dierentiate Answer

More exercises for you to try

1. In each case nd the derivative of the function

(a) y = x tan x
(b) y = x4 ln(2x)
(c) y = sin2 x
(d) y = e2x cos 3x

2. Find the derivatives of:

x
(a) y =
cos x
(b) y = ex sin x

Obtain the derivative of y = xex tan x using the results of parts (a) and (b).
Answer
The rule for dierentiating a product can be extended to any number of products. If, for
example, y = f (x)g(x)h(x) then

dy df d
= [g(x)h(x)] + f (x) [g(x)h(x)]
dx dx dx 
df dg dh
= g(x)h(x) + f (x) h(x) + g(x)
dx dx dx
df dg dh
= g(x)h(x) + f (x) h(x) + f (x)g(x)
dx dx dx

That is, each function in the product is dierentiated in turn and the results added together.

dy
Example If y = xe2x sin x then nd
dx

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
Solution
Here f (x) = x, g(x) = e2x , h(x) = sin x

df dg dh
= 1, = 2e2x , = cos x
dx dx dx

dy
= 1(e2x sin x) + x(2e2x ) sin x + xe2x (cos x)
dx
= e2x [sin x + 2x sin x + x cos x]

Try each part of this exercise

Obtain the rst and second derivative of y = x2 (ln x) sinh x.

Part (a) Firstly identify your three functions.

Answer

Part (b) Now nd the derivative of each of these functions

Answer

dy
Part (c) Finally obtain
dx
Answer

d y2
Part (d) Now nd dx 2 by dierentiating each of the three terms: 2x ln x sinh x, x sinh x,
2
x ln x cosh x using the dierentiating a product rule. Finally, simplify your answer by collecting
like terms together.
Answer

2. Differentiating Quotients
f (x)
In this section we consider functions of the form y = . To nd the derivative of such a
g(x)
function we make use of the following key result:

Key Point
df dg
f (x) dy g(x) f (x)
If y = then = dx dx
g(x) dx [g(x)]2

This is called the quotient rule

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
 ln x
Example Find the derivative of y =
x

Solution
Here f (x) = ln x and g(x) = x
df 1 dg
= and =1
dx  x dx
1
x 1(ln x)
dy x 1 ln x
Hence = =
dx [x]2 x2

Try each part of this exercise

Using the formula for dierentiating a product and the formula for dierentiating a quotient
obtain the derivative of y = sin
x2
x

Part (a) rst, write y = x2 sin x then nd dy

dx

Answer

dy
Part (b) Now use the quotient rule to nd
dx
Answer

More exercises for you to try

1. Find the derivatives of the following functions.

(a) (2x3 4x2 )(3x5 + x2 )

2x3 +4
(b) x2 4x+1
x2 +2x+1
(c) x2 2x+1
(d) (x + 3)(2x 5)(3x + 2)
2

(2x+1)(3x1)
(e) x+5
(f) (ln x) sin x
(g) (ln x)/ sin x
(h) ex /x2
ex sin x
(i) cos 2x
Answer

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
 End of Block 12.1

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
dy ex
= ex ln x +
dx x
Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
dy 2e2x
= (2x3 )e2x + x2 (2e2x ) = 3 (1 + x)
dx x
Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
 dy
1. (a) dx
= tan x + x sec2 x
dy x4
(b) dx
= 4x3 ln(2x) + x
= x3 (4 ln(2x) + 1)
(c) y = sin x. sin x
dy
dx
= cos x sin x + sin x cos x = 2 sin x cos x = sin 2x
(d) dy
dx
= (2e2x ) cos 3x + e2x (3 sin 3x) = e2x (2 cos 3x 3 sin 3x)

2. (a) y = x sec x dy
dx
= sec x + x sec x tan x
dy
(b) dx
= ex sin x + ex cos x = ex (sin x + cos x)
Therefore the derivative of y = xex tan x = (x sec x)(ex sin x) is

dy d d
= (x sec x).ex sin x + (x sec x) (ex sin x)
dx dx dx
= (sec x + x sec x tan x)ex sin x + x sec x(ex )(sin x + cos x)
 
= ex x + tan x + x tan x + x tan2 x

Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
f (x) = x2 , g(x) = ln x, h(x) = sinh x

Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
df dg 1 dh
= 2x, = , = cosh x
dx dx x dx
Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
  
dy 2 1
= 2x(ln x) sinh x + x sinh x + x2 ln x(cosh x)
dx x
= 2x ln x sinh x + x sinh x + x2 ln x cosh x

Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
d2 y
= (2 + x2 ) ln x sinh x + 3 sinh x + 2x cosh x + 4x ln x cosh x
dx2
Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
 dy dy 2 sin x + x cos x
y = x2 sin x = (2x3 ) sin x + x2 cos x =
dx dx x3

Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
 sin x dy x2 [cos x] (2x) sin x x cos x 2 sin x
y= = =
x2 dx 2
[x ] 2 x3

Back to the theory

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12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation
 1. (a) 48x7 84x6 + 10x4 16x3
2x4 16x3 +6x2 8x+16
(b) (x2 4x+1)2

(c) 4(x+1)
(x1)3

(d) 24x3 33x2 + 16x 33

6(x2 +10x+1)
(e) (x+5)2
1
(f) x
sin x + (ln x) cos x
sin x( x1 )(ln x) cos x
(g) sin2 x
= cosecx( x1 cot x ln x)
x2 ex 2xex
(h) x4
= (x2 2x3 )ex
cos 2x[ex sin x+ex cos x]+2 sin 2xex sin x
(i) cos2 2x
= ex [(sin x + cos x) sec 2x + 2 sin x sin 2x sec2 2x]

Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 16

12.1: Techniques of Dierentiation