BASIC CALCULUS LESSON GUIDE 4

THE DERIVATIVE AS THE SLOPE OF THE TANGENT LINE

Objectives: By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to
▪ illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a function at a given point.
▪ applies the definition of the derivative of a function at a given number.
▪ relate the derivative of a function to the slope of the tangent line.
_______________________
The Tangent Line to the Graph of a Function at a Point

The tangent line is a line that touches the curve at exactly one point known
as point of tangency.

There can only be one tangent line through the given point on the curve
otherwise the line is called a secant line.

The curve has tangents at different points on the curve. One

tangent can be drawn at each point on the curve. The A B E
tangents vary at the different points on the curve and have
varying slopes as well. The slopes of the tangent lines at
points A, D, and E are positive as the curve is rising at these
points while the slope of the tangent lines at points B and C C
D
are negative since the curve is falling at these points.

A line that touches the curve at a point is called a tangent

line, and it matches the curve’s slope at that point. The slope of the tangent line at its point of tangency is the same
as the slope of the curve at that given point. If the function is increasing at the point of tangency, then the slope of
the tangent line is said to be positive. On the other hand, the slope of the tangent line is negative, if the function is
decreasing at the given point of tangency.

Consider a moving point Q on the curve in the plane and another fixed-point P,
different from Q, on the same curve, where line PQ is a secant line.

If Q changes its position several times and

moves along the curve toward P, several
secant lines are formed.

If Q comes close to P, that is, if Q is near

enough to P, then the secant line will pass through one point only, passing through
P. Therefore, the tangent line 𝒕, is the limiting position of the secant line.

The Equation of the Tangent Line

Consider the graph of the function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). Let 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) be a point on the graph of
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), how do we find the equation of the tangent line at a point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )?

𝑆𝐿 Since the tangent line is the limiting position of the secant lines as 𝑄
approaches 𝑃, it follows that the slope of the tangent line, 𝑇𝐿 at the point
𝑃, is the limit of the slopes of the secant lines 𝑃𝑄 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑥0.
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎
𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒎𝑺𝑳 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒎𝑷𝑸 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎

Since the tangent line passes through 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ), then its equation is

𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 = 𝒎𝑻𝑳 (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 )
Example
1. Find the equation of the tangent line to 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 9 at 𝑥 = 2.
Given: Solution:
𝑥0 = 2, then
𝑓(𝑥0 ) = 𝑦0 = 3(2)2 − 9 = 3
Solution:
Slope of the tangent line
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
3𝑥 2 − 9 − 3
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
3𝑥 2 − 12
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2

3(𝑥 2 − 4)
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim 3(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥→2

𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝟏𝟐

The equation of the tangent line with

𝑚 = 12 and passing through 𝑃(2,3) is

𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 = 𝒎𝑻𝑳 (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 )
𝑦 − 3 = 12(𝑥 − 2)
𝑦 = 12(𝑥 − 2) + 3
𝑦 = 12𝑥 − 24 + 3
𝒚 = 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏

Example
2. Find the slope-intercept form of the tangent line to 𝑦 = √𝑥 + 1 at 𝑥 = 3.
Given: Solution:
𝑥0 = 3, then The equation of the tangent line with
1
𝑓(𝑥0 ) = 𝑦0 = √3 + 1 = 2 𝑚 = 4 and passing through 𝑃(3,2) is

Solution: 𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 = 𝒎𝑻𝑳 (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 )
Slope of the tangent line 1
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 𝑦 − 2 = (𝑥 − 3)
𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 4
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
1
𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 ) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3) + 2
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 4
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 1 3
𝑦 = 𝑥− +2
√𝑥 + 1 − 2 4 4
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim 𝟏 𝟓
𝑥→3 𝑥−3 𝒚= 𝒙+
√𝑥 + 1 − 2 √𝑥 + 1 + 2 𝟒 𝟒
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim ∙
𝑥→3 𝑥−3 √𝑥 + 1 + 2
𝑥+1−4
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)(√𝑥 + 1 + 2)

𝑥−3
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)(√𝑥 + 1 + 2)

1
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→3 √𝑥 + 1 + 2
𝟏
𝒎𝑻𝑳 =
𝟒
Example
3. Verify that the tangent line to the line 𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 1 at (1 ,4) is the line itself.
Given: Solution:
𝑥0 = 1
𝑓(𝑥0 ) = 𝑦0 = 4
Solution:
Slope of the tangent line
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
3𝑥 + 1 − 4
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
3𝑥 − 3
𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1

𝑚 𝑇𝐿 = lim 3
𝑥→1

𝒎𝑻𝑳 = 𝟑

The equation of the tangent line with

𝑚 = 3 and passing through 𝑃(1,4) is

𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 = 𝒎𝑻𝑳 (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 )
𝑦 − 4 = 3(𝑥 − 1)
𝑦 = 3(𝑥 − 1) + 4
𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3 + 4
𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏

The tangent line to a given line at any point P is the

line itself.

The Definition of the Derivative

Let 𝑓 be a function defined on an open interval 𝐼 ⊆ ℝ, and let 𝑥0 ∈ 𝐼. The derivative of 𝑓at 𝑥0 is defined
𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
𝒇′ (𝒙𝟎 ) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
If this limit exists. That is, the derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑥0 is the slope of the tangent line at (𝑥0 , 𝑓(𝑥0 )), if it exists.

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), the derivative of 𝑓 is commonly denoted by 𝑓 ′ (𝑥), 𝐷𝑥 [𝑓(𝑥)], 𝑑𝑥 [𝑓(𝑥)], 𝑑𝑥 [𝑦], 𝑑𝑥 .

Example
Compute 𝑓′(2) for each of the following functions:
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 9
3𝑥
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 6

𝑥0 is fixed to be equal to 2. Using the definition above,

𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(2)
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2

Remember that 𝑓 ′ (2), is just the slope of the tangent line to 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at 𝑥 = 2.
Solution: Solution:
1. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟑𝒙
3. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙−𝟏
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(2)
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(2)
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
(2𝑥 + 1) − [2(2) + 1] 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 3𝑥 3(2)
𝑥−2 − [2 − 1 ]
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 1
(2𝑥 + 1) −5 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 3𝑥
2𝑥 + 1−5 −6
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑥 − 1
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2
2𝑥 −4 3𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 6
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑥−1
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
2(𝑥 − 2) 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim −3𝑥 + 6
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 2 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑥 − 1
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2
𝒇′ (𝟐) = 𝟐 −3(𝑥 − 2)
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑥→2 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2)
−3
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 1
𝒇′ (𝟐) = −𝟑

Solution: Solution:
2. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗 4. 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝒙 + 𝟔
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(2) √𝑥 + 6 − √2 + 6
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
2
(3𝑥 − 9) − [3(2)2 − 9] √ 𝑥 + 6 − √8
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
(3𝑥 2
− 9) −3
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim √ 𝑥 + 6 − √8 √𝑥 + 6 + √8
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim ∙
3𝑥 2
−9−3 𝑥→2 𝑥−2 √𝑥 + 6 + √8
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim ′ (2)
𝑥+6−8
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑓 = lim
2 𝑥→2 (𝑥 − 2)(√𝑥 + 6 + √8)
3𝑥 − 12
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 𝑥−2
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
3(𝑥 2 − 4) 𝑥→2 (𝑥 − 2)(√𝑥 + 6 + √8)
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 1
𝑓 ′ (2) = lim 3(𝑥 + 2) 𝑓 ′ (2) = lim
𝑥→2 √𝑥 + 6 + √8
𝑥→2
𝒇′ (𝟐) = 𝟏𝟐 1
𝑓 ′ (2) =
2√8
√𝟐
𝒇′ (𝟐) =
𝟖

An Equivalent Definition of the Derivative

From the definition of derivative of a function 𝑓 at 𝑥0

𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
𝒇′ (𝒙𝟎 ) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
and 𝑥 = 𝑥0 + ∆𝑥

then,

𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 ) 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 + ∆𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )

𝒇′ (𝒙𝟎 ) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 ∆𝒙→𝟎 𝒙𝟎 + ∆𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎
𝒇(𝒙𝟎 + ∆𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙

In other words, the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) with respect to 𝑥 is the function 𝑓′(𝑥) and is defined as
𝒇(𝒙 + ∆𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
if the limit exists.
where: ∆𝑥 is the change in 𝑥, and
𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥) is the change in y
The derivative of a function at a given value is the slope of the line tangent to the function at that value. It is the
instantaneous rate of change of a function at that value.
NOTE:
Other references use ℎ instead of ∆𝑥 to avoid confusion, thus,
𝒇(𝒙 + ∆𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝒇(𝒙 + 𝒉) − 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒉→𝟎 𝒉
This is the definition used to obtain the general expression of the derivative of a function at any point 𝑥 ∈ 𝐼.
Example
Compute 𝑓′(2) for each of the following functions:
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 9
3𝑥
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 6
Solution: Solution:
1. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟑𝒙
3. 𝒇(𝒙) =
𝒙−𝟏
𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
[2(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) + 1] − (2𝑥 + 1) 3(𝑥 + ℎ) 3𝑥
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim −𝑥−1
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 𝑓 ′ (𝑥)
= lim 𝑥 + ℎ − 1
2𝑥 + 2∆𝑥 + 1 − 2𝑥 − 1 ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim (3𝑥 + 3ℎ)(𝑥 − 1) − 3𝑥(𝑥 + ℎ − 1)
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 (𝑥 + ℎ − 1)(𝑥 − 1)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
2∆𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim 3𝑥 2
− 3𝑥 + 3𝑥ℎ − 3ℎ − 3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥ℎ + 3𝑥
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ′ (𝑥)
𝑓 = lim
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim 2
ℎ→0 ℎ(𝑥 + ℎ − 1)(𝑥 − 1)
∆𝑥→0 −3ℎ
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟐 ℎ→0 ℎ(𝑥 + ℎ − 1)(𝑥 − 1)
−3
𝒇′ (𝟐) = 𝟐 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 (𝑥 + ℎ − 1)(𝑥 − 1)
−𝟑
𝒇′ (𝒙) =
(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐
′ (𝟐)
𝒇 = −𝟑

Solution: Solution:
2. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗 4. 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝒙 + 𝟔

𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
[3(𝑥 + ℎ)2 − 9] − (3𝑥 2 − 9) √ 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 − √𝑥 + 6
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
√ 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 − √𝑥 + 6 √𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 + √𝑥 + 6
3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2 − 9 − 3𝑥 2 + 9 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim ∙
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 √𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 + √𝑥 + 6
ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 − 𝑥 − 6
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥(√𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 + √𝑥 + 6)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ∆𝑥
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
3ℎ(2𝑥 + ℎ) ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥(√𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 + √𝑥 + 6)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim 1
ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
′ (𝑥) ∆𝑥→0 √𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 6 + √𝑥 + 6
𝑓 = lim [3(2𝑥 + ℎ)]
ℎ→0 𝟏
𝒇′ (𝒙) =
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟔𝒙 𝟐√ 𝒙 + 𝟔
𝟏 𝟏 √𝟐
𝒇′ (𝟐) = 𝟔(𝟐) = 𝟏𝟐 𝒇′ (𝟐) = = =
𝟐√𝟖 𝟒√𝟐 𝟖