Differentiation
P1^
5
KEY POINTS
1 y = kxn ⇒ d
d
y
x
=knxn–1
y = c ⇒ d
d
y
x=^0
2 y = f(x) + g(x) ⇒ d
d
y
x
= f′(x) + g′(x).
3 Tangent and normal at (x 1 , y 1 )
Gradient of tangent, m 1 = value of d
d
y
x
when x = x 1.
Gradient of normal, m 2 = –^1
m 1
.
Equation of tangent is
y − y 1 = m 1 (x − x 1 ).
Equation of normal is
y − y 1 = m 2 (x − x 1 ).
4 At a stationary point, d
d
y
x
= 0.
The nature of a stationary point can be determined by looking at the sign of
the gradient just either side of it.
5 The nature of a stationary point can also be determined by considering the
sign of d
d
2
2
y
x
.
● If
d
d
2
2
y
x
< 0, the point is a maximum.
● If
d
d
2
2
y
x
> 0, the point is a minimum.
6 If
d
d
2
2
y
x
= 0, check the values of d
d
y
x
on either side of the point to determine
its nature.
7 Chain rule: d
d
d
d
d
d
y
x
y
u
u
x
=×.
Where k, n and c are
constants.
}
0
+ –
0
Maximum Minimum Stationary point of infection
0
+
+
+
- 0
+