Differentiation Rules
1. The Sum Rule
In calculus, the sum rule in differentiation is a method of finding the derivative of a function that is the sum of two other functions for which derivatives exist.[1]
Given:
h ( x ) = f ( x ) + g ( x )
Proofs:
h ′ ( x ) = f ′ ( x ) + g ′ ( x )
h ′ ( x ) = lim Δ x → 0 h ( x + Δ x ) − h ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) + g ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) − g ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) + g ( x + Δ x ) − g ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) Δ x + g ( x + Δ x ) − g ( x ) Δ x = f ′ ( x ) + g ′ ( x )
2. The Product Rule
In calculus, the product rule is a formula used to find the derivatives of products of two or more functions.[2]
Given:
h ( x ) = f ( x ) ⋅ g ( x )
Proofs:
h ′ ( x ) = f ′ ( x ) g ( x ) + f ( x ) g ′ ( x )
h ′ ( x ) = lim Δ x → 0 h ( x + Δ x ) − h ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) ⋅ g ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) ⋅ g ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) ⋅ g ( x + Δ x ) − [ f ( x ) ⋅ g ( x + Δ x ) + f ( x ) ⋅ g ( x + Δ x ) ] − f ( x ) ⋅ g ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 [ f ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) ] ⋅ g ( x + Δ x ) + f ( x ) ⋅ [ g ( x + Δ x ) − g ( x ) ] Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) Δ x ⋅ lim Δ x → 0 g ( x + Δ x ) + lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) ⋅ lim Δ x → 0 g ( x + Δ x ) − g ( x ) Δ x = f ′ ( x ) g ( x ) + f ( x ) g ′ ( x )
3. The Quotient Rule
In calculus, the quotient rule is a method of finding the derivative of a function that is the ratio of two differentiable functions.[3]
Given:
h ( x ) = f ( x ) g ( x )
Proofs:
h ′ ( x ) = f ′ ( x ) g ( x ) − f ( x ) g ′ ( x ) g ( x ) 2
h ′ ( x ) = lim Δ x → 0 h ( x + Δ x ) − h ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) g ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) g ( x ) Δ x = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) g ( x ) − f ( x ) g ( x + Δ x ) Δ x ⋅ g ( x ) g ( x + Δ x ) = lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) g ( x ) − f ( x ) g ( x + Δ x ) Δ x ⋅ 1 g ( x ) g ( x + Δ x ) = [ lim Δ x → 0 f ( x + Δ x ) − f ( x ) Δ x ⋅ lim Δ x → 0 g ( x ) − lim Δ x → 0 f ( x ) ⋅ lim Δ x → 0 g ( x + Δ x ) − g ( x ) Δ x ] ⋅ 1 g ( x ) 2 = f ′ ( x ) g ( x ) − f ( x ) g ′ ( x ) g ( x ) 2
Reference
[1] Wikipedia-Sum rule in differentiation
[2] Wikipedia-Product rule
[3] Wikipedia-Quotient_rule