CHAPTER 2

LESSON 1|THE SLOPE OF THE TANGENT LINE

BASIC CONCEPTS OF DERIVATIVES
 TANGENT LINE AT A GIVEN
POINT AND ITS SLOPE

LESSON 1|THE SLOPE OF THE TANGENT LINE

 The derivative of the function f the function f´ whose
value at a number x in the domain of f is given by

if the limit exists.

LESSON 2|
 For example, let us compute the derivative of the
function f(x) = 3x2 + 4.
*Computing first the numerator*

LESSON 2|
 *Including the denominator*

LESSON 2|
 DIFFERENTIATION RULES

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

LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES

 DIFFERENTIATING CONSTANT FUNCTIONS

The graph of a constant function is a horizontal line and

a horizontal line has zero slope. The derivative measures
the slope of the tangent, and so the derivative is zero.

THEOREM 1: The Constant Rule

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 where c is a constant, then 𝑓′(𝑥) = 0. The
derivative of a constant is equal to zero.
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 DIFFERENTIATING POWER FUNCTIONS

THEOREM 2: The Power Rule

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑛 where n ∈ N, then 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 .

LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES

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 DIFFERENTIATING A CONSTANT
TIMES A FUNCTION

THEOREM 3: The Constant Multiple Rule

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘 · ℎ(𝑥)where k is a constant, then 𝑓′(𝑥) =
𝑘 · ℎ′(𝑥).

LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES

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 DIFFERENTIATING
SUMS AND DIFFERENCES OF FUNCTIONS

THEOREM 4: The Sum & Difference Rule

If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑔 𝑥 ± ℎ(𝑥) where g and h are differentiable
functions, then 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑔′ 𝑥 ± ℎ′(𝑥).

LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES

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 DIFFERENTIATING
PRODUCTS OF TWO FUNCTIONS
THEOREM 5: The Product Rule
If f and g are differentiable functions, then

𝐷𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔′ 𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑥 ∙ 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 .
Rule 5 states that the derivative of the product of two differentiable functions is the
first function times the derivative of the second function plus the second function times
the derivative of the first function.

LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES

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 DIFFERENTIATING
QUOTIENTS OF TWO FUNCTIONS
THEOREM 6: The Quotient Rule
Let f(x) and g(x) be two differentiable functions with
g(x)≠0. Then
𝑓(𝑥) ′
𝑔 𝑥 ∙𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥 ∙𝑔 𝑥 ′
𝐷𝑥 = .
𝑔(𝑥) [𝑔(𝑥)]2
Rule 6 states that the derivative of the quotient of two functions is the fraction having as its
denominator the square of the original denominator, and as its numerator the denominator times the
derivative of the numerator minus the numerator times the derivative of the denominator.
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 DIFFERENTIATING TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
THEOREM 7: Derivatives of trigonometric functions

1. 𝐷𝑥 sin 𝑥 = cos 𝑥 4. 𝐷𝑥 cot 𝑥 = −𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥

2. 𝐷𝑥 cos 𝑥 = −sin 𝑥 4. 𝐷𝑥 sec 𝑥 = sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥

3. 𝐷𝑥 tan 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 4. 𝐷𝑥 c𝑠𝑐 𝑥 = −𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑥 cot 𝑥

LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES

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 DIFFERENTIATING
AN EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION
THEOREM 8: Derivative of an exponential function

If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥
𝑒 , then 𝑓′ 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 .

LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES

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 Y
O Find the derivative of the
U following functions:
R 1.
T 2.
U 3.
R 4.
N
LESSON 2|DIFFERENTIATION RULES