The Derivative, Slope and Rate of Change

Differentiation – process of finding the derivative of a function.

Notations commonly used to denote the derivatives of a function defined by 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) are the
𝑑𝑦
following: 𝑑𝑥 , 𝑦′ , 𝐷𝑥 𝑦 can be read as “the derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥.
To find the derivative of a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) use the slope formula:
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦 ∆𝑦
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 = ∆𝑥

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
P’
𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥)
P ∆𝑦

𝑓(𝑥)
𝑦

∆𝑥
𝑥

x changes from 𝑥 to 𝑥 + ∆𝑥
y changes from 𝑦 to 𝑦 + ∆𝑦; where 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
Thus
Δ𝑦 𝑓(𝑥+∆𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥)
=
Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥
Taking the limits of both sides as ∆𝑥 approaches zero
∆𝑦 𝑓(𝑥+∆𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥)
lim = lim
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
Δ𝑦
Fundamental definition: The derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 is the limit of the ratio Δ𝑥 when ∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦
approaches zero. The derivative is designated by the symbol .
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= lim
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
𝑓(𝑥+∆𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥)
= lim
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
Determination of the derivative (General Process)
1. Replace 𝑥 by (𝑥 + ∆𝑥) and 𝑦 by 𝑦 + ∆𝑦
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) (1)
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) (2)
2. Eliminate 𝑦 by subtraction thus solving ∆𝑦
∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥) (3)
3. Express ∆𝑥 as a function at the right member of (3).
4. Divide both members by ∆𝑥
Δ𝑦 𝑓(𝑥+∆𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥)
=
Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥
5. Determine the limit as ∆𝑥 approaches zero.
Prepared by:
Engr. Rosalinda B. Mole𝐧̃o
Engr. Ma. Yvonne C. Bangero
Engr. Cristina A. Vale
1
Examples:
𝑑𝑦
Find the derivative ( ).
𝑑𝑥
Given:
A. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5
1
B. 𝑦 = 𝑥−2

Solution:
A. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5
1. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5 (1)
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 3(𝑥 + ∆𝑥)2 + 5
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 3(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 ) + 5
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥∆𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 2 + 5 (2)
2. Subtract (1) from (2)
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥∆𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 2 + 5
−(𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 5)
∆𝑦 = 6𝑥∆𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 2
3. ∆𝑦 = ∆𝑥(6𝑥 + 3∆𝑥)
Δ𝑦 ∆𝑥(6𝑥+3∆𝑥)
4. =
Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥
Δ𝑦
Δ𝑥
= 6𝑥 + 3∆𝑥

Δ𝑦
5. lim Δ𝑥 = lim (6𝑥 + 3∆𝑥)
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= lim
∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 6𝑥 + 3(0)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 6𝑥

1
B. 𝑦 = 𝑥−2
1
1. 𝑦 = 𝑥−2 (1)
1
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = (𝑥+∆𝑥)−2 (2)
1 1
2. ∆𝑦 = (𝑥+∆𝑥)−2 − 𝑥−2
(𝑥−2)−[(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2]
∆𝑦 = [(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2](𝑥−2)
𝑥−2−𝑥−∆𝑥+2
∆𝑦 = [(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2](𝑥−2)
−∆𝑥
3. ∆𝑦 = [(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2](𝑥−2)
−∆𝑥
Δ𝑦 [(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2](𝑥−2)
4. Δ𝑥
= ∆𝑥
Δ𝑦 −1
Δ𝑥
= [(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2](𝑥−2)

Prepared by:
Engr. Rosalinda B. Mole𝐧̃o
Engr. Ma. Yvonne C. Bangero
Engr. Cristina A. Vale
2
 Δ𝑦 −1
5. lim Δ𝑥 = lim [(𝑥+∆𝑥)−2](𝑥−2)
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= lim
∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥
𝑑𝑦 −1
𝑑𝑥
= (𝑥−0−2)(𝑥−2)
𝑑𝑦 1
=−
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥−2)2

Exercises:
Find the derivative of the following:
1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 3
3
2. 𝑦 = 𝑥+1
1
3. 𝑦 = 5 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥

Derivative Interpreted as a Slope (𝑚)

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
=𝑚
Since 𝑚 = tan ∝
Δ𝑦
𝑚=
Δ𝑥
Rate of Change
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= lim Δ𝑥
∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= rate of change of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥

Prepared by:
Engr. Rosalinda B. Mole𝐧̃o
Engr. Ma. Yvonne C. Bangero
Engr. Cristina A. Vale
3