Prepared by : Mr.

Jaymel Briones
Lecturer, Basic Calculus
 Learning Outcomes of the Lesson

• Illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a

function at a given point;
• Apply the definition of the derivative of a
function at a given number; and
• Relate the derivative of a function to the
slope of the tangent line
Tangent Line to the Graph of a function at
a point
A.Definition Let C be the graph of a
continuous function y = f(x) and let
P be a point on C.
1. A secant line to y = f(x) through
P is any line connecting P and
another point Q on C.
2. The tangent line to y = f(x) at P is
the limiting position of all secant
lines PQ as Q→P.
 Equation of the Tangent Line
2-step process:
y = f(x) at the point P(𝑥0 ,𝑦0 )
• Get the slope of the tangent line
by computing
𝒚−𝒚𝟎 𝒇(𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 or 𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙−𝒙𝟎 𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙−𝒙𝟎

• Substitute this value of m and the

coordinates of the known point
P(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) into the point-slope form to
get
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝒎𝑻𝑳 (𝑥 − 𝑥0 ).
 Equation of the Tangent Line

Find the equation of the tangent line to y = 𝒙𝟐 at x = 1.

𝑥2 − 1 𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 2 (1, 1)
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1
𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑦 − 1 = 2(𝑥 − 1)
= lim 𝑥 + 1 𝑦 − 1 = 2𝑥 − 2
𝑥→1
= 1+1
𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = 2
 Equation of the Tangent Line

Find the equation of the tangent line to y = 𝒙𝟐 at x = 1.

𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 2

(1, 1)

𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
 Equation of the Tangent Line

Find the slope-intercept form of the tangent line to y = 𝑥 at

x=4.
m = 1/4 (4, 2)
𝑥 −2
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥−4
𝑥→4 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
𝑥 −2 𝑥+2 1
= lim . 𝑦 − 2 = (𝑥 − 4)
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4 𝑥+2
𝑥−4
4
= lim 1
𝑥→4 (𝑥 − 4)( 𝑥 + 2) 𝑦−2= 𝑥−1
4
1
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 =
4 𝒚 = 𝟏ൗ𝟒 𝒙 + 𝟏
 Equation of the Tangent Line

Find the slope-intercept form of the tangent line to y = 𝑥 at

x=4.

m = 1/4

(4, 2)

𝒚 = 𝟏ൗ𝟒 𝒙 + 𝟏
 Equation of the Tangent Line

Find the equation of the normal line to y = 𝑥 at (4, 2).

𝑥 −2
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim m = -4 (4, 2)
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4
𝑥 −2 𝑥+2 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
= lim .
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4 𝑥+2
𝑥−4
𝑦 − 2 = −4(𝑥 − 4)
= lim 𝑦 − 2 = −4𝑥 + 16
𝑥→4 (𝑥 − 4)( 𝑥 + 2)
1
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = 𝒚 = −𝟒𝒙 + 𝟏𝟖
4
m = -4
 Equation of the Tangent Line

Find the equation of the normal line to y = 𝑥 at (4, 2).

m = -4

(4, 2)

𝒚 = −𝟒𝒙 + 𝟏𝟖
 Equation of the Tangent Line

Equation of Vertical Tangent Lines

Let f be a function that is continuous at 𝑥0 .
Assuming that the tangent line to the graph of
y = f(x) at the point P(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) is vertical, then its
equation is
𝒙 = 𝒙𝟎
Definition of the Derivatives
Slope of a curve

Rate of change Instantaneous Velocity

𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Let 𝑓 be a function defined on an open interval 𝐼 ⊆ ℝ ,

and let c ∈ 𝐼.. The derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑐 is defined to be
𝒇 𝒙 − 𝒇(𝒄)
𝒇′ (𝒄) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙−𝒄
if this limit exists. That is, the derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑥0 is the
slope of the tangent line at (𝑐, 𝑓(𝑐)), if it exists.

Notations: If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), the derivative of 𝑓 is commonly denoted by

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
′
𝑓 𝑥 , 𝐷𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) , 𝑓(𝑥) , 𝑦 , .
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Remark: Note that the limit definition of the derivative is

inherently indeterminate! Hence, the usual techniques for
0
evaluating limits which are indeterminate of type are applied,
0
e.g., factoring, rationalization, or using one of the following
established limits:

sin 𝑥 1−cos 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 −1
lim =1 lim =0 lim =1
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Find the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 − 2 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 1.

𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑐)
𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 − 2 𝑓 ′ (𝑐)
= lim
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥−𝑐
𝑓(1) = 5(1) − 2 5𝑥 − 2 − 3
𝑓′(1) = lim
𝑓(1) = 5−2 𝑥→1 𝑥−1
𝑓(1) = 3 5𝑥 − 5
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1
5(𝑥 − 1)
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1

=5
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Find the derivative of ℎ (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 8 at x = 1

𝑥−1
ℎ 𝑥 − ℎ(𝑥0 ) = lim
ℎ (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 8 ℎ′(𝑥0 ) = lim 𝑥→1 (𝑥 − 1)( 𝑥 + 8 + 3)
𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥 − 𝑥0
1
ℎ (1) = 1 + 8 𝑥+8 −3 = lim
ℎ′(1) = lim 𝑥→1 ( 𝑥 + 8 + 3)
ℎ (1) = 9 𝑥→1 𝑥−1
𝑥+8 −3 𝑥+8+3 1
ℎ (1) = 3 = lim ∗ =
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑥+8+3 ( 1 + 8 + 3)
𝑥+8 −9 1
= lim =
𝑥→1 (𝑥 − 1)( 𝑥 + 8 + 3) 3+3 𝟏
=
𝟔
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Let 𝑓 be a function defined on an open interval 𝐼 ⊆ ℝ ,

and let 𝑥0 ∈ 𝐼. The derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑥is defined to be
𝒇 𝒙 +△ 𝒙 − 𝒇(𝒄)
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎
△𝒙→𝒄 △𝒙
if this limit exists. Or simply,
𝒇 𝒙 + 𝒉 − 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒉→𝟎 𝒉

Notations: If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), the derivative of 𝑓 is commonly denoted by

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
𝑓′ 𝑥 , 𝐷𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) , 𝑓(𝑥) , 𝑦 , .
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Remark: 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) is basically a composition of

two functions. Therefore, it is determined by
replacing all instances of x in the definition of 𝑓
by 𝑥 + ℎ.
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Find the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 − 2 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 1.

′
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
5(𝑥 + ℎ) − 2 − 5𝑥 − 2
𝑓′(1) = lim
𝑥→1 ℎ
5𝑥 + 5ℎ − 2 − 5𝑥 + 2
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
= lim 5
5ℎ ℎ→0
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ =5
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

Find the derivative of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 at any point

2𝑥ℎ + ℎ2
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓′(𝑥) = lim
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ→0 ℎ
(𝑥 + ℎ)2 −𝑥 2 ℎ(2𝑥 + ℎ)
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim 𝑓′(𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥ℎ + ℎ2 − 𝑥 2 𝑓′(𝑥) = lim 2𝑥 + ℎ
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim ℎ→0
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

𝑑𝑦
The derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥. Find
𝑑𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑦 𝑥+ℎ−𝑥
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 (ℎ)( 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥)
𝑑𝑦 𝑥+ℎ− 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 1
= lim = lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑥+ℎ− 𝑥 𝑥+ℎ+ 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 1
= lim ∗ = 𝑑𝑦 1
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑥+ℎ+ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 =
𝑥+0+ 𝑥
𝑑𝑦 ( 𝑥 + ℎ)2 − ( 𝑥)2 𝑑𝑦 1 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑥
= lim = 𝒅𝒚 𝒙
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 (ℎ)( 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 𝑥+ 𝑥
=
𝒅𝒙 𝟐𝒙
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

The derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 𝑥, Find 𝑓′(2𝜋)

𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′(𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
sin(2𝜋 + ℎ) − sin 𝑥
𝑓′(2𝜋) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
sin 2𝜋 cos ℎ + cos 2𝜋 sin ℎ − sin 2𝜋
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
sin ℎ
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
=1
 • Derivative of 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕

The derivative of g(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 , Find g′(3)

𝑒 3+ℎ −𝑒 3
g′(3) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑒 𝑒 − 𝑒3
3 ℎ
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑒 3 (𝑒 ℎ − 1)
= lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
= 𝒆𝟑
 Try This!
Let h(x) = 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1, Find h′(-1)

2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1 + 2
ℎ′ −1 = lim
𝑥→−1 𝑥+1
(2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1)
= lim
𝑥→−1 (𝑥 + 1)
= lim (2𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→−1
= -1
 Instantaneous velocity

Let 𝑠(𝑡) denote the position of a particle that moves along

a straight line at each time 𝑡 ≥ 0. The instantaneous
velocity of the particle at time t = 𝑡0

′
𝒔 𝒕 − 𝒔(𝒕𝟎 )
𝒔 𝒕𝟎 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒕→𝒕𝟎 𝒕 − 𝒕𝟎
 Instantaneous velocity
A ball is shot straight up from a building. Its height (in meters)
from the ground at any time 𝑡 (in seconds) is given by
s 𝑡 = 40 + 35𝑡 − 5𝑡 2

a. the height of the building.

b. the time when the ball hits the ground.
c. the average velocity on the interval [1, 2].
d. the instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 1 and 2.
 Instantaneous velocity
a.The height of the building is the initial position of the ball. So,
the building is s(0) = 40 meters tall.

b. The ball is on the ground when the height s of the ball from
the ground is zero. Thus we solve the time t when 𝑠(𝑡) = 0:
s 𝑡 = 40 + 35𝑡 − 5𝑡 2
0 = 5(8 − 𝑡)(1 + 𝑡 )
𝑡 = 8 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 = −1

Since time is positive, we choose 𝑡= 8 seconds.

 Instantaneous velocity
c. The average velocity of the ball on [1, 2]
𝑠 2 −𝑠(1)
=
2−1
90−70
=
1
= 20

The average velocity of the ball on [1, 2] is 20 m/s.

 Instantaneous velocity
d. Then instantaneous velocity at time t = 1 is

′
𝑠 𝑡 − 𝑠(𝑡0 )
𝑠 𝑡0 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑡→𝑡0 𝑡 − 𝑡0
2
′
40 + 35𝑡 − 5𝑡 − 70
𝑠 1 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑡→1 𝑡−1 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 −5(𝑡 − 6)
−30 + 35𝑡 − 5𝑡 2 𝑡→1
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 25
𝑡→1 𝑡−1
−5(𝑡 − 6)(𝑡 − 1) The instantaneous velocity at
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑡→1 𝑡−1 time t = 1 is 25 m/s.
 Instantaneous velocity
d. Then instantaneous velocity at time t = 2 is

′
𝑠 𝑡 − 𝑠(𝑡0 )
𝑠 𝑡0 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑡→𝑡0 𝑡 − 𝑡0 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 −5(𝑡 − 5)
2 𝑡→2
40 + 35𝑡 − 5𝑡 − 90
𝑠 ′ 2 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 15
𝑡→2 𝑡−1
−50 + 35𝑡 − 5𝑡 2
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑡→2 𝑡−1
−5(𝑡 − 5)(𝑡 − 2) The instantaneous velocity at
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑡→2 𝑡−2 time t = 2 is 15 m/s.