DIFFERENTIATION

LECTURE 1
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WEEK 3
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outline
➢ Limits Definition of the Derivative

➢ Example of differentiation from first principles

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Limits Definition of the Derivative
➢ Once we know the most basic differentiation formulas and
rules, we compute new derivatives using what we already
know.

➢ We rarely think back to where the basic formulas and rules

originated.

➢ This rules call “First principle”

 Limits
z Definition of
the Derivative
➢ In the graph beside, the gradient/slope of
the curve at the point (𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥)) is equal to
the gradient of line 𝑙 which is a tangent of
the function.

➢ In other words, the differential function is

the gradient function.

➢ The geometric meaning of the derivative;

𝑑𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′ 𝑥 =
𝑑𝑥
is the slope of the line tangent to 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at 𝑥.
Limits
z Definition of the
Derivative
➢ Let's look for this slope at P:

➢ The secant line through P and Q has

slope

𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
=
𝑥+ℎ −𝑥 ℎ

where Δ𝑥 = ℎ

➢ We can approximate the tangent line

through P by moving Q towards P,
decreasing h.
 Limits
z Definition of the
Derivative
➢ In the limit as ℎ ⟶ 0, we get the tangent line
through P with slope:
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

➢ We define
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

Notes:

➢ If the limit as ℎ ⟶ 0 at a particular point does

not exist,𝑓′(𝑥)is undefined at that point.

➢ We derive all the basic differentiation formulas

using this definition.
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Limits Definition of the Derivative
In summary:

➢ we tiring to make secant line to become the tangent line.

➢ Derivate is the same as finding the slope of the curve.

➢ Differentiating from first principles is really an exercise in

evaluating limits
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
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Example 1
Find the derived function using first principal of:

a) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3

b) 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2
1
c) 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥
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Solution
a) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥3

Formula first principle:

𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥3
3
𝑓 𝑥+ℎ = 𝑥+ℎ

Substituted into the formula:

′
𝑥 + ℎ 3 − 𝑥3
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

Expand and simplify:

′
𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 ℎ + 3𝑥ℎ2 + ℎ3 − 𝑥 3
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

′
3𝑥 2 ℎ + 3𝑥ℎ2 + ℎ3
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
 z Solution

3𝑥 2 ℎ + 3𝑥ℎ2 + ℎ3
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ(3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥ℎ + ℎ)
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim 3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥ℎ + ℎ
ℎ→0

Using direct substitute to evaluate limits:

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 0 + 0 = 3𝑥 2
 Solution
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b) 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2
Formula first principle:
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ = 4(𝑥 + ℎ)2 +(𝑥 + ℎ) − 2

Substituted into the formula:

4(𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 𝑥 + ℎ − 2 − 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
Expand and simplify:
4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥ℎ + 4ℎ2 + 𝑥 + ℎ − 2 − 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
8𝑥ℎ + ℎ + 4ℎ2
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
 Solution
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2
8𝑥ℎ + ℎ + 4ℎ
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ(8𝑥 + 1 + 4ℎ)
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim 8𝑥 + 1 + 4ℎ
ℎ→0

Using direct substitute to evaluate limits:

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 8𝑥 + 1 + 4(0) = 8𝑥 + 1
 Solution
𝑓 𝑥 =z
1
c)
𝑥

Formula first principle:

′
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
1
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥
1
𝑓 𝑥+ℎ =
𝑥+ℎ
Substituted into the formula:
1 1
−𝑥
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim 𝑥 + ℎ
ℎ→0 ℎ

Expand and simplify:

𝑥 − (𝑥 + ℎ)
𝑥(𝑥 + ℎ)
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
 z Solution

′
−ℎ 1
𝑓 𝑥 = lim .
ℎ→0 𝑥(𝑥 + ℎ) ℎ

′
−1
𝑓 𝑥 = lim 2
ℎ→0 𝑥 + 𝑥ℎ

Using direct substitute to evaluate limits:

′
−1 −1
𝑓 𝑥 = 2 = 2
𝑥 + 𝑥(0) 𝑥
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CLASS ACTIVITY
Differentiate the following by First Principles

a) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑥 2

b) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥+5
1
c) 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥+5

d) 𝑓 𝑥 = −5𝑥 2
2
e) 𝑓 𝑥 =−
𝑥

f) 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 𝑥 − 1

g) 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 2
 Solution
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a) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑥 2

𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
′
𝑐 𝑥+ℎ 2
− 𝑐𝑥 2
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑐𝑥 2
+ 2𝑐𝑥ℎ + 𝑐ℎ 2
− 𝑐𝑥 2
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

′
ℎ(2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐ℎ)
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim 2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐ℎ
ℎ→0

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐 0
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 2𝑐𝑥
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Solution
b) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥+5

𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑥+ℎ+5− 𝑥+5
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
Multiply by the conjugate to simplify:

′
𝑥+ℎ+5− 𝑥+5 𝑥+ℎ+5+ 𝑥+5
𝑓 𝑥 = lim ×
ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑥+ℎ+5+ 𝑥+5
𝑥 + ℎ + 5 − (𝑥 + 5)
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ( 𝑥 + ℎ + 5 + 𝑥 + 5)
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Solution
′
𝑥 + ℎ + 5 − (𝑥 + 5)
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ( 𝑥 + ℎ + 5 + 𝑥 + 5)

′
ℎ
𝑓 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ( 𝑥 + ℎ + 5 + 𝑥 + 5)
1
𝑓′ 𝑥 = lim
ℎ→0 ( 𝑥 + ℎ + 5 + 𝑥 + 5)

Evaluating limits:
1
𝑓′ 𝑥 =
( 𝑥 + 0 + 5 + 𝑥 + 5)
1 1
𝑓′ 𝑥 = =
𝑥+5+ 𝑥+5 2 𝑥+5
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Continue with the activity

and
Do exercise 6.3 p.g#71 of
the course reader
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