METHODS OF DIFFERENTIATION 291
G
(c) Wheny=6ln2xthen
dy
dx
= 6
(
1
x
)
=
6
x
Problem 8. Find the gradient of the curve
y= 3 x^4 − 2 x^2 + 5 x−2 at the points (0,−2) and
(1, 4).
The gradient of a curve at a given point is given by
the corresponding value of the derivative. Thus, since
y= 3 x^4 − 2 x^2 + 5 x−2.
then the gradient=
dy
dx
= 12 x^3 − 4 x+5.
At the point (0,−2),x=0.
Thus the gradient=12(0)^3 −4(0)+ 5 = 5.
At the point (1, 4),x=1.
Thus the gradient=12(1)^3 −4(1)+ 5 = 13.
Problem 9. Determine the co-ordinates of the
point on the graphy= 3 x^2 − 7 x+2 where the
gradient is−1.
The gradient of the curve is given by the derivative.
Wheny= 3 x^2 − 7 x+2 then
dy
dx
= 6 x− 7
Since the gradient is−1 then 6x− 7 =−1, from
which,x= 1
Whenx=1,y=3(1)^2 −7(1)+ 2 =− 2
Hence the gradient is−1 at the point (1,−2).
Now try the following exercise.
Exercise 117 Further problems on differen-
tiating common functions
In Problems 1 to 6 find the differential coeffi-
cients of the given functions with respect to the
variable.
- (a) 5x^5 (b) 2. 4 x^3.^5 (c)
1
x
[
(a) 25x^4 (b) 8. 4 x^2.^5 (c)−
1
x^2
]
- (a)
− 4
x^2
(b) 6 (c) 2x
[
(a)
8
x^3
(b) 0 (c) 2
]
- (a) 2
√
x(b) 3
√ 3
x^5 (c)
4
√
x
[
(a)
1
√
x
(b) 5
√ 3
x^2 (c)−
2
√
x^3
]
- (a)
− 3
√ (^3) x (b) (x−1)
(^2) (c) 2 sin 3x
⎡
⎣(a)
1
√ 3
x^4
(b) 2(x−1)
(c) 6 cos 3x
⎤
⎦
- (a)−4 cos 2x(b) 2e^6 x (c)
3
e^5 x
[
(a) 8 sin 2x(b) 12e^6 x(c)
− 15
e^5 x
]
- (a) 4 ln 9x (b)
ex−e−x
2
(c)
1 −
√
x
⎡ x
⎢
⎢
⎣
(a)
4
x
(b)
ex+e−x
2
(c)
− 1
x^2
+
1
2
√
x^3
⎤
⎥
⎥
⎦
- Find the gradient of the curvey= 2 t^4 +
3 t^3 −t+4 at the points (0, 4) and (1, 8).
[−1, 16] - Find the co-ordinates of the point on the
graphy= 5 x^2 − 3 x+1 where the gradient
is 2.
[( 1
2 ,
3
4
)]
- (a) Differentiatey=
2
θ^2
+2ln2θ−
2 (cos 5θ+3 sin 2θ)−
2
e^3 θ
(b) Evaluate
dy
dθ
in part (a) when θ=
π
2
,
correct to 4 significant figures.
⎡
⎢
⎢
⎣
(a)
− 4
θ^3
+
2
θ
+10 sin 5θ
−12 cos 2θ+
6
e^3 θ
(b) 22. 30
⎤
⎥
⎥
⎦
- Evaluate
ds
dt
, correct to 3 significant figures,
whent=
π
6
given
s=3 sint− 3 +
√
t [3.29]