Derivative of Sec x is sec x tan x. Derivative of Sec x refers to the process of finding the change in the secant function with respect to the independent variable. The specific process of finding the derivative for trigonometric functions is referred to as trigonometric differentiation, and the derivative of Sec x is one of the key results in trigonometric differentiation.

In this article, we will learn about the derivative of sec x and its formula including the proof of the formula using the first principle of derivatives, quotient rule, and chain rule as well.

What is Derivative in Math?

The derivative of a function is the rate of change of the function with respect to any independent variable. The derivative of a function f(x) is denoted as f'(x) or (d /dx) [f(x)]. The differentiation of a trigonometric function is called a derivative of the trigonometric function or trig derivatives.

Read More: Calculus in Maths

What is Derivative of Sec x?

The derivative of the sec x is (sec x ).(tan x). The derivative of sec x is the rate of change with respect to angle i.e., x. Among the trig derivatives, the derivative of the sec x is one of the derivatives. The resultant of the derivative of sec x is (sec x ).(tan x).

Derivative of Sec x Formula

The formula for the derivative of sec x is given by:

d/dx [sec x] = (sec x).(tan x)

or

(sec x)’ = (sec x).(tan x)

Proof of Derivative of Sec x

The derivative of sec x can be proved using the following ways:

• By using the First Principle of Derivative
• By using Quotient Rule
• By using Chain Rule

Derivative of Sec x by First Principle of Derivative

To prove derivative of sec x using First Principle of Derivative, we will use basic limits and trigonometric formulas which are listed below:

1. cos A – cos B = -2 sin (A+B)/2 sin (A-B)/2.
2. lim_x→0 (sin x) / x = 1
3. 1/cos x = sec x
4. sin x/cos x = tan x.

Let’s start the proof for the derivative of sec x ,assume that f(x) = sec x.

By first principle, the derivative of a function f(x) is,

f'(x) = lim_h→0[f(x + h) – f(x)] / h … (1)

Since f(x) = sec x, we have f(x + h) = sec (x + h).

Substituting these values in (1),

f’ (x) = lim_h→0 [sec (x + h) – sec x]/h

⇒ lim_h→0 1/h [1/(cos (x + h) – 1/cos x)]

⇒lim_h→0 1/h [cos x – cos(x + h)] / [cos x cos(x + h)]

⇒ 1/cos x lim_h->0 1/h [- 2 sin (x + x + h)/2 sin (x – x – h)/2] / [cos(x + h)] {By 1}

⇒ 1/cos x lim_h->0 1/h [- 2 sin (2x + h)/2 sin (- h)/2] / [cos(x + h)]

Multiply and divide by h/2,

⇒ 1/cos x lim_h->0 (1/h) (h/2) [- 2 sin (2x + h)/2 sin (- h/2) / (h/2)] / [cos(x + h)]

When h → 0, we have h/2 → 0. So,

⇒ 1/cos x Lim _h/2->0 sin (h/2) / (h/2). lim_h->0(sin(2x + h)/2)/cos(x + h)

⇒ 1/cos x. 1. sin x/cos x {By 2}

⇒ sec x · tan x {By 3 & 4}

Therefore, f'(x) = d/dx [sec x] = sec x . tan x

Derivative of Sec x by Quotient Rule

To prove derivative of sec x using Quotient rule, we will use basic derivatives and trigonometric formulas which are listed below:

1. sec x = 1/cos x
2. (d/dx) [u/v] = [u’v – uv’]/v²

Let’s start the proof of the derivative of sec x, assume that f(x) = sec x = 1/cos x.

We have f(x) = 1/cos x = u/v

By quotient rule,

f'(x) = (vu’ – uv’) / v²

f'(x) = [cos x d/dx (1) – 1 d/dx (cos x)] / (cos x)²

⇒ [cos x (0) – 1 (-sin x)] / cos²x

⇒ (sin x) / cos²x

⇒ 1/cos x · (sin x)/ (cos x)

⇒ sec x · tan x

Therefore, f'(x) = d/dx [sec x] = sec x. tan x

Derivative of Sec x by Chain Rule

To prove derivative of sin x using chain rule, we will use basic derivatives and trigonometric formulas which are listed below:

1. a^-m = 1/a^m
2. d/dx [cos x] = – sin x
3. d/dx [xⁿ] = nx^n-1

Let’s start the proof of the derivative of sec x, assume that f(x) = sec x = 1/cos x.

We can write f(x) as,

f(x) = 1/cos x = (cos x)^-1

By power rule and chain rule,

f'(x) = (-1) (cos x)^-2 d/dx (cos x) {By 3}

⇒ -1/cos²x · (- sin x) {By 1 & 2}

⇒ (sin x) / cos²x

⇒ 1/cos x · (sin x)/ (cos x)

⇒ sec x · tan x

Therefore, f'(x) = d/dx [sec x] = sec x. tan x

Read More:

• Derivative of Cosec x
• Differentiation Formulas
• Differentiation of Trigonometric Functions

Derivative of Sec x Examples

Example 1: Find the derivative of sec x ·tan x.

Solution:

Let f(x) = sec x · tan x = u.v

By product rule,

f'(x) = u.v’ + v.u’

⇒ (sec x) d/dx (tan x) + (tan x) d/dx (sec x)

⇒ (sec x)(sec²x) + (tan x) (sec x · tan x)

⇒ sec³x + sec x tan²x

Therefore f'(x)=sec³x + sec x tan²x.

Example 2: Find the derivative of (sec x)².

Solution:

Let f(x) = (sec x)²

By power rule and chain rule,

f'(x) = 2 sec x d/dx (sec x)

⇒ 2 sec x · (sec x · tan x)

⇒ 2 sec²x tan x

Therefore f'(x)=2 sec²x tan x.

Example 3: Find the derivative of sec^-1x.

Solution:

Let y = sec^-1x.

Then, sec y = x … (1)

Differentiating both sides with respect to x,

⇒ sec y · tan y (dy/dx) = 1

⇒ dy/dx = 1 / (sec y · tan y)… (2)

By one of the trigonometric identities,

[ tan y = √sec²y – 1 = √x² – 1 ]

⇒ dy/dx = 1/(x √x² – 1)

Therefore f'(x)= 1/(x √x² – 1).

Derivative of Sec x Practice Questions

1. Find the derivative of sec 7x

2. Find the derivative of x².sec x

3. Evaluate: (d/dx) [sec x/(x² + 2)]

4. Evaluate the derivative of: sin x. tan x. cot x

5. Find: (tan x)^{sec x}

Summary

To find the derivative of \sec(x), we start by expressing [Tex]\sec(x)[/Tex] as [Tex]\frac{1}{\cos(x)}[/Tex]​. Using the quotient rule for differentiation, where the derivative of a quotient [Tex]\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}[/Tex] is given by )[Tex]\frac{f'(x)g(x) – f(x)g'(x)}{(g(x))^2}[/Tex]​, we let f(x)=1 and g(x)=cos⁡(x). The derivatives are f′(x)=0 and g′(x)=−sin⁡(x). Substituting these into the quotient rule, we get [Tex]\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{1}{\cos(x)} \right) = \frac{0 \cdot \cos(x) – 1 \cdot (-\sin(x))}{(\cos(x))^2}[/Tex][Tex]\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{1}{\cos(x)} \right) = \frac{0 \cdot \cos(x) – 1 \cdot (-\sin(x))}{(\cos(x))^2}[/Tex]​, which simplifies to[Tex] \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos^2(x)}[/Tex]. Recognizing that \frac[Tex]{\sin(x)}{\cos^2(x)} = \sec(x) \tan(x)[/Tex] we conclude that the derivative of sec⁡(x) is sec⁡(x)tan⁡(x).

FAQs on Derivative of Sec x

What is derivative?

The derivative of the function is defined as the rate of change of the function with respect to a variable.

Write the formula for derivative of sec x.

The formula for derivative of sec x is:

d/dx(sec x) = sec x. tan x

What is the derivative of sec (-x)?

Derivative of sec (-x) is sec(-x).tan(-x).(-1)

What are the different Methods to Prove Derivative of Sec x?

The different methods to prove derivative of sin x are:

• By using First Principle of Derivative
• By Quotient Rule
• By Chain Rule

What is the derivative of Negative sec x?

Derivative of negative sec x i.e., -sec x is (-sec x. tan x).

What is derivative of Cos x?

Derivative of cos x is -sin x.

What is the derivative of 2 sec x?

Derivative of 2sec x is 2 sec x. tan x

What is the derivative of Tan x?

Derivative of tan x is sec² x.