Tool to compute derivatives. The differentiation is a fundamental tool when analyzing a function, it allows to measure the sensitivity to change of a function.
Derivative - dCode
Tag(s) : Functions
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Derivative
Derivative Calculator
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is a derivative? (Definition)
Mathematicians have defined derivatives by the formula $$ \frac{d}{dx}f = f'(x) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h} $$
The derivative of a function $ f $ is denoted $ f' $ (with an apostrophe named prime) or $ \frac{d}{dx}f $ where $ d $ is the derivative operator and $ x $ the variable on which to derivate.
The derivative calculation is the inverse operation of primitive calculation (indefinite integral).
How to calculate a derivative?
The derivation calculation (first order derivative) is based mainly on a list of usual derivatives, already calculated and known (see below).
On dCode, the derivative calculator knows all the derivatives, indicate the function and the variables on which to derivate to obtain the result of the derivative computation.
Example: $$ f(x) = x^2+\sin(x) \Rightarrow f'(x) = 2 x+\cos(x) $$
Derivative calculus is often used in physics to compute a velocity.
What is the list of common derivatives?
The more useful derivatives are:
| Name | Function | Derivative |
|---|---|---|
| constant/number | $$ k \in \mathbb{R} $$ | $$ 0 $$ |
| variable | $$ x $$ | $$ 1 $$ |
| power n (exponent) | $$ x^n $$ | $$ n x^{n-1} $$ |
| negative power | $$ x^{-n} $$ | $$ -n x^{-n-1} $$ |
| inverse | $$ \frac{1}{x} $$ | $$ -\frac{1}{x^2} $$ |
| inverse power | $$ \frac{1}{x^n} $$ | $$ -\frac{n}{x^{n+1}} $$ |
| root | $$ \sqrt{x} $$ | $$ \frac 1{2\sqrt{x}} $$ |
| nth root | $$ \sqrt[n]x $$ | $$ \frac{1}{n\sqrt[n]{x^{n-1}}} $$ |
| fractional power | $$ x^{1/n} $$ | $$ (1/n)x^{(1/n)-1} $$ |
| natural logarithm | $$ \ln |x| $$ | $$ \frac{1}{x} $$ |
| logarithm base a | $$ \log_a |x| $$ | $$ \frac{1}{x \ln a} $$ |
| exponential | $$ e^x $$ | $$ e^x $$ |
| exponent x | $$ a^x $$ | $$ a^x \ln a $$ |
| sine | $$ \sin(x) $$ | $$ \cos(x) $$ |
| cosine | $$ \cos(x) $$ | $$ - \sin(x) $$ |
| tangent | $$ \tan(x) $$ | $$ \frac{1}{\cos^2(x)} \\ = \sec^2(x) \\ = 1+\tan^2(x) \\ = \frac{2}{1+\cos(2x)} $$ |
| secant | $$ \sec(x) = \frac{1}{\cos(x)} $$ | $$ \frac{\tan(x)}{\cos(x)} \\ = \sec(x)\tan(x) \\ = \frac{2\sin(x)}{1+\cos(2x)} $$ |
| cosecant | $$ \csc(x) = \frac{1}{\sin(x)} $$ | $$ -\frac{\cos(x)}{\sin^2(x)} \\ = -\cot(x)\csc(x) \\ = \frac{2\cos(x)}{-1+\cos(2x)} $$ |
| cotangent | $$ \cot(x) = \frac{1}{\tan(x)} $$ | $$ - \frac{1}{\sin^2(x)} \\ = -1-\cot^2(x) \\ = -\csc^2(x) \\ = \frac{2}{-1+\cos(2x)} $$ |
| arcsine | $$ \arcsin(x) $$ | $$ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}} $$ |
| arccosine | $$ \arccos(x) $$ | $$ -\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}} $$ |
| arctangent | $$ \arctan(x) $$ | $$ \frac{1}{1+x^2} $$ |
| sine hyperbolic | $$ \sinh(x) $$ | $$ \cosh(x) $$ |
| cosine hyperbolic | $$ \cosh(x) $$ | $$ \sinh(x) $$ |
| tangent hyperbolic | $$ \tanh(x) $$ | $$ \frac{1}{\cosh^2(x)} \\ = 1 - \tanh^2(x) $$ |
| cotangent hyperbolic | $$ \coth(x) $$ | $$ \frac{-1}{\sinh^2(x)} \\ = 1 - \coth^2(x) $$ |
| arcsinus hyperbolic | $$ \operatorname{arcsinh} x $$ | $$ \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^2}} $$ |
| arccosinus hyperbolic | $$ \operatorname{arccosh} x $$ | $$ \frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2-1}} $$ |
| arctangent hyperbolic | $$ \operatorname{arctanh} x $$ | $$ \frac{1}{1-x^2} $$ |
How to calculate a second derivative?
A second derivative is equivalent to compute the derivative twice, for dCode, indicate twice the same variable to get the second derivative.
Second derivative calculation is often used in physics to compute acceleration (derivative of velocity).
How to calculate a partial derivative?
A partial derivative is a derivative that only applies to one variable, leaving the others intact.
On dCode, indicate a single variable if the function has several to obtain a partial derivative.
How to calculate a primitive?
Use the primitive calculator tool available on dCode.
Source code
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