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Section One
|
Derivatives
A derivative is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the limit of the ratio of the change ina function to the corresponding change in its independent variable as the latterchange approaches zero". This is rather hard to think about in those words,however, so instead, a derivative is more simply defined as the slope at any pointon a function. This slope at that point is defined as the slope of the tangent line. There are many ways to compute a derivative, ranging from the simple to thecomplex, but we'll get to those later. Instead, let's return to the definition thatMerriam-Webster gives us. To put this definition in equation form, you would get the following. Note, h = ∆ x.limh →0fx+h- f(x)hSo, as the change in x gets smaller, the average rate of change will eventuallybecome the instantaneous rate of change. This equation can also be interpreted asthe change in f(x) over the change in x. You can use this formula for calculating aderivative be substituting the function you want to find the derivative for into theequation for x. So, let’s say you want to find the derivative of x
3
. So, plug in x
3
forthe x’s in the above equation, and you will come up with this result:= (x+h)3- x3h= x3 + 3x2h + 3x2h2+ h3- x3 h= h(3x2+ 3xh+ h2)h= 3x2So, the derivative of x
3
is 3x
2
. This can be applied to many functions, however. For simple functions, the way tofind a derivative is to bring the exponent that x is raised to down as a coefficient,and then subtract the exponent by one to get the derivative. Below is a table of examples of this property:FunctionDerivativex
3
3x
2
12019x
4
76x
3
(5x
2
+ 12x +19)(10x + 12)x (or, x
1/2
)12x (or, ½x
-1/2
)Similarly, to evaluate a derivative at a point (that is, give the numeric value for theslope of the tangent line at that point), you simply plug in the x of the point that youare given. So evaluating the previous table at x = 2 will give you a set of slopes.FunctionDerivativeDerivative at x
 
= 2x
3
3x
2
12120none19x
4
76x
3
608(5x
2
+ 12x +19)(10x + 12)32x (or, x
1/2
)12x (or, ½x
-1/2
)122EXAMPLE PROBLEMS:
Section Two
|
Continuity & Differentiability 
 There are not always derivatives at every point of a function, however. To bedifferentiable at every point x on a function, the function must be continuous. Asimple definition of "continuous" is, if drawing the function, you have to lift yourpencil from the paper at any time to draw it, and it is not a continuous function. Thismeans that functions with asymptotes, holes, jumps, and other irregularities. Thereare no derivatives at the ends of piecewise functions and at cusps as well.
 
 There is also another special kind of function that has certain conditions for itsdifferentiability. With functions with the form x
fraction
, they must meet tworequirements to be differentiable at all points. To figure out those conditions, let'suse an example:GeneralFunctionExampleFunctionDerivativeDerivative at x =0x
even/odd
x
2/5
25x-35Undefinedx
odd/odd
x
5/3
53x230x
odd/even
x
1/2
12x-12UndefinedWith these general functions, the only form to have a derivative at all is x
odd/odd
.However, this is not always true either. For example, the function x
3/5
’s derivative isundefined at zero. Whether the derivative is zero or undefined depends on thefollowing two criteria:1.“X” is raised to a fraction that is an odd number over an odd number2.This fraction is > 0Cusps, which are made from the other fractional exponents, are not differentiable atall values of x either. To see why that is, look at this graph of a cusp: If you imagine a tangent line following this graph’spath, then at the point where the negative slopesbecome positive (the cusp point), a special tangentline is formed. This line is a horizontal line, which hasan undefined slope. That is why this function isn’talways differentiable, yet it is, technically,continuous. On the other hand, when a derivative ata point has a value of zero, this tangent line isvertical, since that would mean its slope is zero.
Section Three
|
Tangent and Normal Lines
 Tangent lines are, as mentioned, the line that is tangent to the graph at some pointx. To compute the equation for the tangent line, you need the slope of the tangent
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