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Perplex
Perplex
Dashboard
Topics
Exponents & LogarithmsApproximations & ErrorSequences & SeriesMatricesComplex NumbersFinancial Mathematics
Cartesian plane & linesFunction TheoryModellingTransformations & asymptotes
2D & 3D GeometryVoronoi DiagramsTrig equations & identitiesVectorsGraph Theory
ProbabilityDescriptive StatisticsBivariate StatisticsDistributions & Random VariablesInference & Hypotheses
DifferentiationIntegrationDifferential Equations
Review VideosFormula BookletMy Progress
BlogLanding Page
Sign UpLogin
Perplex
IB Math AIHL
/
Differentiation
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Skills
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Skill Checklist

Track your progress across all skills in your objective. Mark your confidence level and identify areas to focus on.

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IB Math AIHL
/
Differentiation
/
Skills
Edit

Skill Checklist

Track your progress across all skills in your objective. Mark your confidence level and identify areas to focus on.

Track your progress:

Don't know

Working on it

Confident

📖 = included in formula booklet • 🚫 = not in formula booklet

Track your progress:

Don't know

Working on it

Confident

📖 = included in formula booklet • 🚫 = not in formula booklet

Skill Checklist

Track your progress across all skills in your objective. Mark your confidence level and identify areas to focus on.

27 Skills Available

Track your progress:

Don't know

Working on it

Confident

📖 = included in formula booklet • 🚫 = not in formula booklet

Track your progress:

Don't know

Working on it

Confident

📖 = included in formula booklet • 🚫 = not in formula booklet

Limits and Derivatives

9 skills
Basic concept of a limit
SL 5.1

The limit ​x→alim​f(x)​ is the value ​f(x)​ approaches as ​x​ approaches ​a.

Slope as a Limit
SL 5.1

The IB may test your understanding of the gradient of the curve as the limit of

​
m=x2​−x1​y2​−y1​​
​

as ​(x2​−x1​)​ goes to zero.


Limit from a graph
SL 5.1
​
x→1lim​f(x)=2
​
​
x→∞lim​f(x)=23​
​
​
x→−∞lim​f(x)=23​
​
Limit from a table
SL 5.1

Given a table of values:

​
xf(x)​0.91.62​0.991.9121​0.9991.9972201​……​
​


​
x→1lim​f(x)=2
​
Gradient
SL 5.1

For a curve ​y=f(x),  ​f′(x)​ is the gradient or slope.

Graphing a derivative with a GDC
SL 5.1

You can graph ​f′(x)​ using the following steps:

  • Press the Y= key.

  • In one of the available function lines (e.g. Y_1), enter the expression for ​f(x).

  • In another available line (e.g. Y_2), input the derivative function usingMATH then 8:nDeriv( in the following format:

    ​
    dXd​(Y1​(x))∣X=X​
    ​


  • To enter ​Y1​, press VARS then scroll to Y-VARS and select FUNCTION then ​Y1​.

  • Press GRAPH to display both the original graph ​f​ and the derivative ​f′.

  • The graph of ​f′​ may take a little bit longer depending on the original function.

After graphing ​f′, you may use all the other graphing functions on the calculator (intersect, zero, and value).

Rate of Change
SL 5.1

​dxdy​​ is the rate of change of ​y​ with respect to ​x​. That is, ​dxdy​​ tells us how much ​y​ changes in response to a change in ​x.


If ​y=f(x), then ​dxdy​=f′(x).

Derivative of xⁿ where n is an integer
SL 5.3
​
f(x)=xn, n∈Z⇒f′(x)=nxn−1📖
​
Derivatives of sums and scalar multiples
SL 5.3
​
dxd​(af(x))=af′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(f(x)+g(x))=f′(x)+g′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(af(x)+bg(x))=af′(x)+bg′(x)🚫
​

Differentiation rules

9 skills
Derivative of xⁿ where n is an integer
SL 5.3
​
f(x)=xn, n∈Z⇒f′(x)=nxn−1📖
​
Derivatives of sums and scalar multiples
SL 5.3
​
dxd​(af(x))=af′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(f(x)+g(x))=f′(x)+g′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(af(x)+bg(x))=af′(x)+bg′(x)🚫
​
Derivative of xⁿ where n is rational
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=xn, n∈Q⇒f′(x)=nxn−1📖
​
Chain rule
AHL AI 5.9
​
(g(f(x)))′=g′(f(x))⋅f′(x)🚫
​
​
y=g(u) where u=f(x)
​
​
dxdy​=dudg​⋅dxdu​📖
​
Derivative of e^x
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=ex⇒f′(x)=ex📖
​
Derivative of ln
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=lnx⇒f′(x)=x1​📖
​
Product and Quotient rule
AHL AI 5.9

The product and quotient rules are given by

​
(uv)′=u′v+v′u📖
​
​
(vu​)′=v2u′v−v′u​📖
​
Derivatives of sin and cos
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=sinx⇒f′(x)=cosx📖
​
​
g(x)=cosx⇒g′(x)=−sinx📖
​
Derivative of tan(x)
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=tanx⇒f′(x)=sec2(x)📖
​

Tangents and normals

2 skills
Tangent to f(x)
SL 5.4

​L:mx+c​ is tangent to ​f(x)​ at ​x=a​ means

​
same ysame y′​{f(a)=ma+cf′(a)=m​🚫
​

Using point slope form the equation of the tangent is:

​
y−f(a) ⇒y​=m⋅(x−a)🚫 =mx−ma+f(a)🚫​
​


Normal to f(x)
SL 5.4

The normal to ​f(x)​ at ​x=a​ is the line that passes through ​(a,f(a))​ and is perpendicular to the tangent:

​
mn​⋅mt​=−1⇔mn​  ​=−mt​1​🚫 =−f′(a)1​🚫​
​

Using point slope form the equation of the tangent is:

​
y−f(a) ⇒y​=mn​⋅(x−a)🚫 =mn​x−mn​a+f(a)🚫​
​

Applications of the First Derivative

3 skills
Stationary points & Increasing/Decreasing Regions
SL 5.2
​
f′(x)⎩⎪⎨⎪⎧​<0⇔f decreasing=0⇔f stationary>0⇔f increasing​🚫
​
Maxima & Minima
SL AI 5.6

Stationary points are often local extrema.


If ​f′(a)=0,  ​f​ is decreasing to the left of ​a​ (​f′(x)<0​), and ​f​ is increasing to the right of ​a​ (​f′(x)>0​), then ​(a,f(a))​ is a local minimum.


If ​f′(a)=0,  ​f​ is increasing to the left of ​a​ (​f′(x)<0​), and ​f​ is decreasing to the right of ​a​ (​f′(x)>0​), then ​(a,f(a))​ is a local maximum.

Optimisation
SL AI 5.7

Optimisation problems require you to find a minimum or maximum value by producing a function ​f(x), taking its derivative, solving ​f′(x)=0, and confirming which stationary point(s) are minima or maxima.

Second Derivatives and Applications

4 skills
Second Derivative
AHL AI 5.10

The derivative of the derivative of a function is its second derivative:

​
f′′(x)=(f′(x))′🚫
​
​
dx2d2y​=dxd​(dxdy​)=y′′🚫
​
Concavity
AHL AI 5.10

We determine concavity by the sign of ​f′′:

​
f′′{>0⇔f concave up<0⇔f concave down​🚫
​
Classifying stationary points using the second derivative
AHL AI 5.10

At a stationary point (​f′(a)=0​),

  • If ​f′′(a)>0, then ​f​ has a local minimum at ​x=a.

  • If ​f′′(a)<0, then ​f​ has a local maximum at ​x=a.

Using the second derivative to classify a stationary point is often called the second derivative test.

Inflexion Points
AHL AI 5.10

Inflexion points occur when ​f′′(x)=0​ and ​f′′(x)​ changes sign. 🚫

Related Rates

2 skills
Related Rates
AHL AI 5.9

Given three variables ​x,  ​y, and ​z,

​
dzdy​=dzdx​⋅dxdy​.
​


Hence, given ​dzdx​,​ we can find an expression for ​dzdy​​ by calculating ​dxdy​.

Volume related rates
AHL AI 5.9

Given the time rate of change of radius, length, height, or width of a three dimensional object, you may find the time rate of change of volume by taking the derivative of the volume equation.

Skill Checklist

Track your progress across all skills in your objective. Mark your confidence level and identify areas to focus on.

27 Skills Available

Track your progress:

Don't know

Working on it

Confident

📖 = included in formula booklet • 🚫 = not in formula booklet

Track your progress:

Don't know

Working on it

Confident

📖 = included in formula booklet • 🚫 = not in formula booklet

Limits and Derivatives

9 skills
Basic concept of a limit
SL 5.1

The limit ​x→alim​f(x)​ is the value ​f(x)​ approaches as ​x​ approaches ​a.

Slope as a Limit
SL 5.1

The IB may test your understanding of the gradient of the curve as the limit of

​
m=x2​−x1​y2​−y1​​
​

as ​(x2​−x1​)​ goes to zero.


Limit from a graph
SL 5.1
​
x→1lim​f(x)=2
​
​
x→∞lim​f(x)=23​
​
​
x→−∞lim​f(x)=23​
​
Limit from a table
SL 5.1

Given a table of values:

​
xf(x)​0.91.62​0.991.9121​0.9991.9972201​……​
​


​
x→1lim​f(x)=2
​
Gradient
SL 5.1

For a curve ​y=f(x),  ​f′(x)​ is the gradient or slope.

Graphing a derivative with a GDC
SL 5.1

You can graph ​f′(x)​ using the following steps:

  • Press the Y= key.

  • In one of the available function lines (e.g. Y_1), enter the expression for ​f(x).

  • In another available line (e.g. Y_2), input the derivative function usingMATH then 8:nDeriv( in the following format:

    ​
    dXd​(Y1​(x))∣X=X​
    ​


  • To enter ​Y1​, press VARS then scroll to Y-VARS and select FUNCTION then ​Y1​.

  • Press GRAPH to display both the original graph ​f​ and the derivative ​f′.

  • The graph of ​f′​ may take a little bit longer depending on the original function.

After graphing ​f′, you may use all the other graphing functions on the calculator (intersect, zero, and value).

Rate of Change
SL 5.1

​dxdy​​ is the rate of change of ​y​ with respect to ​x​. That is, ​dxdy​​ tells us how much ​y​ changes in response to a change in ​x.


If ​y=f(x), then ​dxdy​=f′(x).

Derivative of xⁿ where n is an integer
SL 5.3
​
f(x)=xn, n∈Z⇒f′(x)=nxn−1📖
​
Derivatives of sums and scalar multiples
SL 5.3
​
dxd​(af(x))=af′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(f(x)+g(x))=f′(x)+g′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(af(x)+bg(x))=af′(x)+bg′(x)🚫
​

Differentiation rules

9 skills
Derivative of xⁿ where n is an integer
SL 5.3
​
f(x)=xn, n∈Z⇒f′(x)=nxn−1📖
​
Derivatives of sums and scalar multiples
SL 5.3
​
dxd​(af(x))=af′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(f(x)+g(x))=f′(x)+g′(x)🚫
​
​
dxd​(af(x)+bg(x))=af′(x)+bg′(x)🚫
​
Derivative of xⁿ where n is rational
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=xn, n∈Q⇒f′(x)=nxn−1📖
​
Chain rule
AHL AI 5.9
​
(g(f(x)))′=g′(f(x))⋅f′(x)🚫
​
​
y=g(u) where u=f(x)
​
​
dxdy​=dudg​⋅dxdu​📖
​
Derivative of e^x
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=ex⇒f′(x)=ex📖
​
Derivative of ln
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=lnx⇒f′(x)=x1​📖
​
Product and Quotient rule
AHL AI 5.9

The product and quotient rules are given by

​
(uv)′=u′v+v′u📖
​
​
(vu​)′=v2u′v−v′u​📖
​
Derivatives of sin and cos
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=sinx⇒f′(x)=cosx📖
​
​
g(x)=cosx⇒g′(x)=−sinx📖
​
Derivative of tan(x)
AHL AI 5.9
​
f(x)=tanx⇒f′(x)=sec2(x)📖
​

Tangents and normals

2 skills
Tangent to f(x)
SL 5.4

​L:mx+c​ is tangent to ​f(x)​ at ​x=a​ means

​
same ysame y′​{f(a)=ma+cf′(a)=m​🚫
​

Using point slope form the equation of the tangent is:

​
y−f(a) ⇒y​=m⋅(x−a)🚫 =mx−ma+f(a)🚫​
​


Normal to f(x)
SL 5.4

The normal to ​f(x)​ at ​x=a​ is the line that passes through ​(a,f(a))​ and is perpendicular to the tangent:

​
mn​⋅mt​=−1⇔mn​  ​=−mt​1​🚫 =−f′(a)1​🚫​
​

Using point slope form the equation of the tangent is:

​
y−f(a) ⇒y​=mn​⋅(x−a)🚫 =mn​x−mn​a+f(a)🚫​
​

Applications of the First Derivative

3 skills
Stationary points & Increasing/Decreasing Regions
SL 5.2
​
f′(x)⎩⎪⎨⎪⎧​<0⇔f decreasing=0⇔f stationary>0⇔f increasing​🚫
​
Maxima & Minima
SL AI 5.6

Stationary points are often local extrema.


If ​f′(a)=0,  ​f​ is decreasing to the left of ​a​ (​f′(x)<0​), and ​f​ is increasing to the right of ​a​ (​f′(x)>0​), then ​(a,f(a))​ is a local minimum.


If ​f′(a)=0,  ​f​ is increasing to the left of ​a​ (​f′(x)<0​), and ​f​ is decreasing to the right of ​a​ (​f′(x)>0​), then ​(a,f(a))​ is a local maximum.

Optimisation
SL AI 5.7

Optimisation problems require you to find a minimum or maximum value by producing a function ​f(x), taking its derivative, solving ​f′(x)=0, and confirming which stationary point(s) are minima or maxima.

Second Derivatives and Applications

4 skills
Second Derivative
AHL AI 5.10

The derivative of the derivative of a function is its second derivative:

​
f′′(x)=(f′(x))′🚫
​
​
dx2d2y​=dxd​(dxdy​)=y′′🚫
​
Concavity
AHL AI 5.10

We determine concavity by the sign of ​f′′:

​
f′′{>0⇔f concave up<0⇔f concave down​🚫
​
Classifying stationary points using the second derivative
AHL AI 5.10

At a stationary point (​f′(a)=0​),

  • If ​f′′(a)>0, then ​f​ has a local minimum at ​x=a.

  • If ​f′′(a)<0, then ​f​ has a local maximum at ​x=a.

Using the second derivative to classify a stationary point is often called the second derivative test.

Inflexion Points
AHL AI 5.10

Inflexion points occur when ​f′′(x)=0​ and ​f′′(x)​ changes sign. 🚫

Related Rates

2 skills
Related Rates
AHL AI 5.9

Given three variables ​x,  ​y, and ​z,

​
dzdy​=dzdx​⋅dxdy​.
​


Hence, given ​dzdx​,​ we can find an expression for ​dzdy​​ by calculating ​dxdy​.

Volume related rates
AHL AI 5.9

Given the time rate of change of radius, length, height, or width of a three dimensional object, you may find the time rate of change of volume by taking the derivative of the volume equation.