Dr. J's Maths.com
Where the techniques of Maths
are explained in simple terms.

Calculus - Differentiation - Basic techniques.
Test Yourself 1.



Find the gradient function of the following functions - that is "differentiate each of the following functions" with respect to the given variable. All questions use only the direct technique as described - no special rules.

As always - your first step is to look at the structure and decide what you need to do.

The questions below focus on the structures of:
1. the basic format.
2. the use of simple brackets.
3. the use of the d/dx format.
4. radicals.
5. terms in the denominator.
6. fractions with only one term in the denominator.

1. Basic format. 1. y = x3 + x
Answer.3x2 + 1.
2. y = 3x3 + 2x2 - x - 42

Answer.9x2 + 4x - 1.

3. y = 4x2 + 5x

Answer.3x2 + 1.

  4. y = 3t - 5t2

Answer.3 - 10t.

5. y = 0.5x4 + 1.5x2 - 42

Answer.2x3 + 3x.

6. y = x2.5

Answer.2.5x1.5.

2. Simple brackets. 7. s = 2t2(3t + 4)

Answer.18t2 + 16t

8. m = 4n3(n5 + 3n - 1)

Answer.32n7 + 48n3 - 12n 2

9. y = 3x3(2x4 - 5x2 - x)

Answer.42x6 - 75x4 - 12x3

3. Use of d/dx format. 10.

Answer.3t2 + 10t - 7

11.

Answer.3u2 + 10u - 12

12.

Answer.-9z-4

  13.

Answer.-2 - 12x2

14.

Answer.y - 5

15.

Answer.v3 - 4v

The number 4 is a decoration - leave it where it is.
Rewrite the square root as an exponent and combine with the other x term in the denominator.Move the combined x term to the numerator using a negative exponent.
Then differentiate normally.

4. Radicals. 16.

Hint.Rewrite the square root as an exponent (1/2)and add to the index of 2 in the first term to give x5/2. Then differentiate normally.

Answer.2.5x1.5

17.

Answer.-2.5 x -3.5

18.

Hint.Rewrite the fifth root as an exponent and use a negative index to bring the t term into the numerator.
Combine the exponents.
Then differentiate normally.

(see the Solutions for the answers to Q 18 - 21). 19. 20. 21.
5. terms in the denominator - so the neeed to use negative signs. 22.

Hint.The 5 is a number in the denominator - leave it there.
Use a negative index to bring the x term into the numerator.
Then differentiate normally.

Answer.-2 /(5x 3)

23.

Answer.-3 /(4x2)

24.

Hint.Leave the 4 and the 3 where they are. Combine the x terms to give x3/2 and bring that to the numerator with a negative index.
Differentiate normally.

  25.

Answer.-2 /(x + 5)2

26.

Answer.-8 /(2t - 7)2

27.

Answer.-18 /(1 - 2t)4

6. Fractions with 1 term in the denominator. 28.
Hint.How many terms in the denominator? ONE.
So divide each term in the numerator by the term in the denominator and then differentiate normally.

Answer.4 - 4x-3

29.

Answer.1 + 3x -2 - 6x -4

30.

Answer.9/(5x 8) -2x3 + 3 /(10x2)