How to use the Derivative Calculator
- Type your function using x, e.g. x^3 + 2x*sin(x).
- Choose the first, second or third derivative.
- Optionally enter a value of x to evaluate the result there.
What does this tool do?
The calculator differentiates symbolically, applying the same rules you learn in class: the power, product, quotient and chain rules, plus the standard derivatives of sin, cos, tan, their inverses, e^x, ln x and square roots.
Results are simplified automatically. Different-looking answers can be equivalent — 2x and x·2 are the same — so use the “evaluate at” value to compare with your own working.
Why use it?
- Symbolic, not just a numeric slope.
- Up to the third derivative.
- Shows each derivative in turn.
The formula
Privacy
The calculation happens instantly in your browser. The numbers you enter are not sent to our servers or saved. There's no account to create and nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Which functions are supported?
sin, cos, tan, asin, acos, atan, sinh, cosh, tanh, exp, ln (natural log), log (base 10), sqrt and abs, plus the constants pi and e.
Can it do partial derivatives?
Not yet — it differentiates with respect to x, and other letters aren't allowed.
Last reviewed by the M2Toolkit team.