AcademyDifferentiation

Academy

Product Rule

Level 1 - Math I (Physics) topic page in Differentiation.

Product Rule

Used to differentiate products of functions.

Product Rule
\[\frac{d}{dx}[f(x)g(x)] = f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x)\]

Memory Aid

"First times derivative of second plus second times derivative of first"

Example

Find \(\frac{d}{dx}[x^2 \sin(x)]\)

Let \(f(x) = x^2\), \(g(x) = \sin(x)\)

Example
\[\frac{d}{dx}[x^2 \sin(x)] = 2x \cdot \sin(x) + x^2 \cdot \cos(x)\]

Multiple Functions

For three functions:

Three Functions
\[\frac{d}{dx}[fgh] = f'gh + fg'h + fgh'\]

Leibniz Notation

Leibniz
\[\frac{d(uv)}{dx} = v\frac{du}{dx} + u\frac{dv}{dx}\]