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MATH 114 – differential calculus

Handout #3

Derivative of a Function
The process of finding the derivative of a function is called differentiation and the branch of
calculus that deals with this process is called differential calculus. Differentiation is an important
mathematical tool in physics, mechanics, economics and many other disciplines that involve change
and motion.
Consider a continuous function y  f ( x) . Let P and Q be any distinct points of the curve

which determine secant PQ . Representing the point P by ( x, f ( x)) and Q by ( x  x, f ( x  x)) we

know that the slope of PQ will be

f ( x  x)  f ( x)
x
We can see that as x approaches zero, the
point Q becomes nearer and nearer to point P . At

the same time that point Q approaches P , the

secant PQ rotates about the point P . Intuitively, the

limiting position of the secant PQ as Q approaches

P is that of the position of the tangent line to the

curve y  f ( x) at point P . In symbols,

lim f ( x  x)  f ( x)
x0 x

is equal to the slope of the tangent line at P . This shows that the derivative of y  f ( x) at the point P

is equal to the slope of the tangent line at the same point.

Using the functional notation y  f ( x) , the following are the usual symbols used to mean the
first derivative:
dy d d
y ' ; f '( x) ; ; ( y) ; [ f ( x)] ; Dx y ; Dx f ( x) ; etc.
dx dx dx
Considering a continuous function y  f ( x) , we define

f ( x  x)  f ( x)
y '  lim the first derivative of the function f .
x0 x

Note:
 The symbol x , read as “delta x ,” is a single entity which means increment or change in x .
 To find the slope of the tangent line to the curve at point P means that we are to find the value
of the derivative at that point P.

There are two ways of finding the derivative of a function:

1. By using the increment method or the three-step rule
2. By using the differentiation formulas

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998

Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002
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The Increment Method (Three-Step Rule)

Based on the definition of the derivative,
f ( x  x)  f ( x)
y '  lim
x0 x
we can write the steps in solving for this derivative. These are as follows:
Step 1. Write down the expression for f ( x  x)  f ( x) and simplify.

Step 2. Divide the result in Step 1 by x , again simplify.

Step 3. Find the limit of the result in Step 2 as x approaches zero. The obtained limit is
the derivative.

Example 1. Given f ( x)  x2  3x , find the first derivative f '( x) using the three-step rule.

Example 2. Find the first derivative of f ( x)  x2  4 x  3 .

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998

Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002
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1
Example 3. Given y  , y'.
x 1

3
Example 4. Given y  , find y ' .
x7

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998

Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002
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2x
Example 5. Given f ( x)  , find f '( x) .
x 1

Example 6. Given f ( x)  ( x2  2)2 , find f '( x) .

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998

Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002
 5

2x 1
Example 7. Given y  , find y ' .
1  2x

Example 8. Given y  3x2  2 x , find y ' .

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998

Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002
 6

x 1
Example 9. Given f ( x)  , find f '( x) .
x

Example 10. Given f ( x)  a4 (a  x)3 ; a is constant. Find f '( x) .

Panopio, F.M. Simplified Differential Calculus. Feliber Publishing House. 1998

Leithold,Louis. The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd. 2002