- Solution 1: Suppose f(x) is an odd function. We investigate f′(x) using the chain rule:
f(−x)dxd{f(−x)}−f′(−x)f′(−x)=−f(x)=dxd{−f(x)}=−f′(x)=f′(x)(odd function)(chain rule)
So, when f(x) is odd, f′(x) is even.
Similarly, suppose f(x) is even.
f(−x)dxd{f(−x)}−f′(−x)f′(−x)=f(x)=dxd{f(x)}=f′(x)=−f′(x)(even function)(chain rule)
So, when f(x) is even, f′(x) is odd.
- Solution 2: Another way to think about this problem is to notice that “mirroring" a function changes the sign of its derivative. Then since an even function is “mirrored once" (across the y-axis), it should have f′(x)=−f′(−x), and so the derivative of an even function should be an odd function. Since an odd function is “mirrored twice" (across the y-axis and across the x-axis), it should have f′(x)=−(−f′(−x))=f′(−x). So the derivative of an odd function should be even.
These ideas are presented in more detail below.
First, we consider the case where f(x) is even, and investigate f′(x).

The whole function has a mirror-like symmetry across the y-axis. So, at x and −x, the function will have the same “steepness," but if one is increasing then the other is decreasing. That is, f′(−x)=−f′(x). (In the picture above, compare the slope at some point ai with its corresponding point −ai.) So, f′(x) is odd when f(x) is even.
Second, let's consider the case where f(x) is odd, and investigate f′(x). Suppose the blue graph below is y=f(x). If f(x) were even, then to the left of the y-axis, it would look like the orange graph, which we'll call y=g(x).

From our work above, we know that, for every x>0, −f′(x)=g′(−x). When x<0, f(x)=−g(x). So, if x>0, then −f′(x)=g′(−x)=−f′(−x). In other words, f′(x)=f′(−x). Similarly, if x<0, then f′(x)=−g′(x)=f′(−x). Therefore f′(x) is even. (In the graph below, you can anecdotally verify that f′(ai)=f′(−ai).)
