B.1 The Product Rule

Let's now develop and practice using "The Product Rule," which we routinely need to find the derivative of the product of two differentiable functions, $𝑓 \cdot 𝑔 .$ For instance, maybe we need find the derivative of $𝑒 𝑥 \sqrt 𝑥,$ which is the product of $𝑒 𝑥$ and $\sqrt 𝑥 .$ Or perhaps we'd like to find the derivative of $𝑥 s i n 𝑥,$ which is the product of $𝑥$ and $s i n 𝑥 .$

The goal of this screen is to develop and provide lots of practice using a simple rule to compute the derivative of the product of two such differentiable functions, $𝑓 \cdot 𝑔 .$ We'll also build a sense for why the rule has the form that it does. We assume from the outset that the two functions, f and g, are both differentiable, so $𝑓'$ and $𝑔'$ exist.

A naive approach that does not work

Let's think through a super-quick example you can do in your head to illustrate a crucial point: Consider the function $𝑥 \cdot 𝑥,$ which is the product of $𝑥$ and $𝑥 .$ Of course we can instead view this product as being the function $𝑥 2,$ and so you immediately know from the Power Rule that the derivative is $𝑑 (𝑥 2) 𝑑 𝑥 = 2 𝑥 .$ But what if we view it as the product $𝑥 \cdot 𝑥$ and choose to compute its derivative using whatever approach comes immediately to mind for "the product rule"? If you were going to naively calculate this derivative of the function $𝑥$ multiplied by the function $𝑥,$ without knowing anything else, what would you try?

If you're like most people who first encounter this question, you would find the derivative of each function individually and then simply multiply them together. We are going to spoil this naive thought immediately and say that this approach is incorrect:

[𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥)]' \neq 𝑓' (𝑥) 𝑔' (𝑥)

Let's apply the naive reasoning to $𝑥 \cdot 𝑥$ to see how it leads to an incorrect result:

𝑑 (𝑥 2) 𝑑 𝑥 = 𝑑 (𝑥 \cdot 𝑥) 𝑑 𝑥 ? ⏞ = 𝑑 𝑥 𝑑 𝑥 \cdot 𝑑 𝑥 𝑑 𝑥 [D o e s n a i v e a p p r o a c h w o r k ? ?] ? ⏞ = 1 \cdot 1 ? ⏞ = 1 \neq 2 𝑥 ✗ [N o! 𝑑 (𝑓 \cdot 𝑔) 𝑑 𝑥 \neq 𝑑 𝑓 𝑑 𝑥 \cdot 𝑑 𝑔 𝑑 𝑥]

Do not simply multiply the two derivatives together

That is, since the naive approach does not return what we know is the correct answer of $𝑑 (𝑥 2) 𝑑 𝑥 = 2 𝑥,$ we see immediately that the derivative of the product of two functions is not simply the product of the derivatives of the two functions: $[𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥)]' \neq 𝑓' (𝑥) \cdot 𝑔' (𝑥) .$ That prime on the outside does not simply distribute to the components on the inside of the brackets.

Instead, the derivative of the product of two functions is a little (only a little!) more complicated.

Developing the Product Rule

Let's ground our work here in what the derivative of this product of functions tells us: We're finding the rate at which the product $𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥)$ changes when we vary the input x by a little bit. (Remember, a derivative is always telling how much a function changes, or "reacts," when we change its input a little bit. The function we're currently considering happens to be a function which is the product of two other functions.) For instance, we can imagine increasing the input x by a small amount h, to $𝑥 + ℎ .$ The animation below uses our usual area model of multiplication to illustrate the idea.

To develop the correct Product Rule, we return — as always — to the Definition of the Derivative, now applied to the product of two functions, $𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥)$ : $[𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥)]' = l i m ℎ \to 0 𝑓 (𝑥 + ℎ) 𝑔 (𝑥 + ℎ) - 𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥) ℎ$ You can see how the numerator of this expression represents the difference in the areas between the newly-grown rectangle, $𝑓 (𝑥 + ℎ) 𝑔 (𝑥 + ℎ),$ and the original rectangle, $𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥) .$

Looking at the expression, it's not immediately clear what to do with the limit and hence how to proceed. But the area model will help, since we can use it to write this initial expression in a way that includes the the terms

𝑓 (𝑥 + ℎ) - 𝑓 (𝑥) ℎ a n d 𝑔 (𝑥 + ℎ) - 𝑔 (𝑥) ℎ

Once those terms are in place, when we take the limit as $ℎ \to 0,$ those two expressions will be $𝑓' (𝑥)$ and $𝑔' (𝑥)$ respectively, as you'll see!

As the derivation in the animation shows (and as summarized in images you can view and download a bit further down on the screen), the Product Rule for Derivatives is

PRODUCT RULE

In prime notation:

[𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥)]' = 𝑓' (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥) + 𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔' (𝑥) = [(d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e f i r s t) \times (t h e s e c o n d)] + [(t h e f i r s t) \times (d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e s e c o n d)]

And in Leibnitz notation:

𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 (𝑓 𝑔) = (𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 𝑓) 𝑔 + 𝑓 (𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 𝑔) = [(d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e f i r s t) \times (t h e s e c o n d)] + [(t h e f i r s t) \times (d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e s e c o n d)]

Crucially, using our area model we can make sense of this rule as shown in the following figure:

Product Rule Interpretation: The figure shows two copies of the original rectangle of width f(x) and height g(x). On the left, the rectangle has an additional vertical thin yellow strip with an arrow indicating it grows horizontally at the rate f'(x). Text states that the area of this thin strip of instantaneous height g(x) is growing at the rate f'(x) • g(x). On the right, the rectangle has an additional horizontal thin strip with an arrow indicating that it grows vertically at the rate g'(). Text states that the area of this thin strip of width f(x) grows at the rate f(x) • g'(x). Text at the bottom states that the overall area is growing at the rate equal to the sum of those two terms, which is the Product Rule.

If you'd like to see a different approach to deriving the Product Rule, open this box. We'll rely on the "trick" used in this derivation on the next screen when we develop the Quotient Rule.

Practice using the Product Rule

Most students find that the Product Rule becomes automatic and routine after you use it a fair number of times — and you will be using it often in the work to come. We'll of course let you practice below, and you should expect similar problems on both your midterm and final exams.

Let's first consider a few Examples to show how it works in practice.

Derivative of $ℎ (𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 \sqrt 𝑥$ .

Find the derivative of $ℎ (𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 \sqrt 𝑥$ .

Solution.

To apply the Product Rule, we first need to identify the two functions being multiplied, and then find the derivative of each:

ℎ (𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥) ⏞ 𝑒 𝑥 \cdot 𝑔 (𝑥) ⏞ \sqrt 𝑥

𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 𝑔 (𝑥) = \sqrt 𝑥 = 𝑥 1 / 2 𝑓' (𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 𝑔' (𝑥) = 1 2 \sqrt 𝑥

We can now apply the Product Rule:

ℎ (𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥) \cdot 𝑔 (𝑥) ℎ' (𝑥) = 𝑓' (𝑥) \cdot 𝑔 (𝑥) + 𝑓 (𝑥) \cdot 𝑔' (𝑥) ℎ' (𝑥) = 𝑓' (𝑥) ⏞ 𝑒 𝑥 \cdot 𝑔 (𝑥) ⏞ \sqrt 𝑥 + 𝑓 (𝑥) ⏞ 𝑒 𝑥 \cdot 𝑔' (𝑥) ⏞ 1 2 \sqrt 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 \sqrt 𝑥 + 𝑒 𝑥 2 \sqrt 𝑥 ✓

That's it. As long as you remember to find the derivative of each function separately (even if just in your head) and then make the correct substitutions in the Product Rule, this process is straightforward.

Consider $𝑓 (𝑥) = (𝑥 3 + 𝑥) \cdot (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6)$ .

(a) Use the Product Rule to find $𝑓' (𝑥) .$
(b) Instead, multiply out the two polynomials to make a single polynomial, and then find $𝑓' (𝑥)$ using only the Power Rule. Compare the result to that of (a).

Solution.

(a) First, we identify the two functions being multiplied, and take their derivatives. (Since the overall function is called $𝑓 (𝑥)$ , we're going to call the two functions being multiplied $𝑢 (𝑥)$ and $𝑤 (𝑥),$ but you could call them whatever you want. Soon, you won't call them anything special at all, and will just take these derivatives in your head as you go.)

𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑢 (𝑥) ⏞ (𝑥 3 + 𝑥) \cdot 𝑤 (𝑥) ⏞ ¯¯¯ ⏞ ¯¯¯ ⏞ (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6)

𝑢 (𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 𝑤 (𝑥) = 3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6 𝑢' (𝑥) = 3 𝑥 2 + 1 𝑤' (𝑥) = 9 𝑥 2 + 9

Then applying the Product Rule, we get

𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑢 (𝑥) \cdot 𝑤 (𝑥) 𝑓' (𝑥) = 𝑢' (𝑥) \cdot 𝑤 (𝑥) + 𝑢 (𝑥) \cdot 𝑤' (𝑥) = [(3 𝑥 2 + 1) \cdot (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6)] + [(𝑥 3 + 𝑥) \cdot (9 𝑥 2 + 9)] = [3 𝑥 2 (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6) + 1 (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6)] + [𝑥 3 (9 𝑥 2 + 9) + 𝑥 (9 𝑥 2 + 9)] = [9 𝑥 5 + 27 𝑥 3 - 18 𝑥 2 + 3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6] + [9 𝑥 5 + 9 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥] = 18 𝑥 5 + 48 𝑥 3 - 18 𝑥 2 + 18 𝑥 - 6 ✓

(b) We first multiply out the polynomials:

𝑓 (𝑥) = (𝑥 3 + 𝑥) (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6) = 𝑥 3 (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6) + 𝑥 (3 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 - 6) = 3 𝑥 6 + 9 𝑥 4 - 6 𝑥 3 + 3 𝑥 4 + 9 𝑥 2 - 6 𝑥 = 3 𝑥 6 + 12 𝑥 4 - 6 𝑥 3 + 9 𝑥 2 - 6 𝑥

Then, using the Power Rule

𝑓' (𝑥) = 18 𝑥 5 + 48 𝑥 3 - 18 𝑥 2 + 18 𝑥 - 6 ✓

This is happily the same result as we found in (a).

You can see that we can use using either method to find $𝑓' (𝑥)$ here. With experience, you'll see how in some cases using the Product Rule is easier, while in other cases simplifying the multiplication and then taking the derivative term-by-term is easier.

Practice Problems

Time to practice! This new rule may take a little getting used to, so please practice until you feel more comfortable with it. We'll be using it a lot going forward, so the more you can make it part of your working toolkit now, the easier things will be later.

value of $𝑥$	$𝑓 (𝑥)$	$𝑓' (𝑥)$	$𝑔 (𝑥)$	$𝑔' (𝑥)$
$𝑥 = - 3$	2	0	1	-5
$𝑥 = 0$	4	12	$12$	-3
$𝑥 = 5$	1	5	2	-9

Let's consider some problems where we need to find the derivative of the product of 3 functions. The Product Rule extends as you might expect:

Product Rule for the Product of 3 Functions

𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 (𝑓 𝑔 ℎ) = (𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 𝑓) 𝑔 ℎ + 𝑓 (𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 𝑔) ℎ + + 𝑓 𝑔 (𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 ℎ) = [(d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e f i r s t) \times (t h e s e c o n d) \times (t h e t h i r d)] + [(t h e f i r s t) \times (d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e s e c o n d) \times (t h e t h i r d)] + [(t h e f i r s t) \times (t h e s e c o n d) \times (d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e t h i r d)]

The Product Rule for 4 or more functions extends similarly.

The Upshot

The Product Rule for finding the derivative of the product of two functions is In prime notation:
$[𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥)]' = 𝑓' (𝑥) 𝑔 (𝑥) + 𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔' (𝑥) = [(d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e f i r s t) \times (t h e s e c o n d)] + [(t h e f i r s t) \times (d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e s e c o n d)]$
And in Leibnitz notation:
$𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 (𝑓 𝑔) = (𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 𝑓) 𝑔 + 𝑓 (𝑑 𝑑 𝑥 𝑔) = [(d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e f i r s t) \times (t h e s e c o n d)] + [(t h e f i r s t) \times (d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e s e c o n d)]$

On the next screen, we'll develop the Quotient Rule, so we can easily find the derivative of the quotient of two functions.

For now, what do you think about the Product Rule? Weird? Difficult to use? Easy? Please post on the Forum and let the Community know your thoughts . . . and also ask any questions that you have, or help answer someone else's!