DERIVATIVES

Definition: The derivative of a function f at a point a, denoted by f ′(a), is

f ( a  h)  f ( a )
f (a)  lim
h 0 h

provided that the limit exists.

If we denote y = f (x), then f ′(a) is called the derivative of f, with respect to

(the independent variable) x, at the point x = a.

Recall that the value of this limit is, if it exists, is the slope of the line tangent to
the curve y = f (x) at the point x = a. As well, it also represents the instantaneous
rate of change, with respect to x, of the function f at a. Therefore, a positive f ′(a)
means that the function f is increasing at a, while a negative f ′(a) means that f is
decreasing at a. If f ′(a) = 0, then f is neither increasing nor decreasing at a.

Equivalently, the derivative can be stated as

f ( x)  f (a)
f (a)  lim
x a xa