Differential Calculus

CHAPTER II:
The Derivative of a
Function
CONTENTS

Chapter II DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

▰INCREMENT
▰DERIVATIVE
▰FOUR-STEP RULE
THE DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

INCREMENT
Increment of 𝑥 is a condition where 𝑥 changes
from one fixed value denoted by 𝑥1 to another 𝑥2 .
In symbol, it is denoted by ∆𝑥, which read a
“delta 𝑥”, which is an increment of 𝑥. ∆𝑦 is an increment
of 𝑦, and ∆𝑓(𝑥) is an increment of 𝑓(𝑥).
This increment may be positive or negative.
THE DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

DERIVATIVE
In a condition where an increment of ∆𝑦
of the given function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is being divided
∆𝑦
by ∆𝑥, denoted by ∆𝑥 , this gives the average rate
of change of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 with a given
interval from 𝑥 to 𝑥 + ∆𝑥. In symbol:

∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
THE DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

DERIVATIVE
In a condition where an increment of ∆𝑦
of the given function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is being divided
∆𝑦
by ∆𝑥, denoted by ∆𝑥 , this gives the average rate
of change of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 with a given
interval from 𝑥 to 𝑥 + ∆𝑥. In symbol:

∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
THE DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥+∆𝑥 −𝑓 𝑥
The =
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
approaches a limit as the increment of ∆𝑥 approaches zero, for a
fixed value of 𝑥. The derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 is the limit if there is a given value of 𝑥.

𝑑𝑦
Thus, the symbol of the derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 is and by definition:
𝑑𝑥

𝒅𝒚 ∆𝒚 𝒇 𝒙 + ∆𝒙 − 𝒇 𝒙
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒅𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
THE DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

To denote a derivative, other symbols may be used. These are 𝐷𝑥 𝑦, 𝐷𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑦 ′ , 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 ,

𝑑
𝑓 𝑥 where 𝑥 is the independent variable and 𝑦 is the dependent variable.
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
Differentiation is the process of finding ,
where 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 is expected to be known.
𝑑𝑥
This makes the derivative of 𝑓 𝑥 to exists and 𝑓 𝑥 is considered as differentiable function.

The Four-Step Rule is the summary of the procedure for finding the derivative of a given
function.
FOUR-STEP RULE

From the definition of the derivative and the properties of limits, the derivatives of
simple functions can be obtained directly using the four-step rule.
STEP 1: Substitute 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 for 𝑥 and 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 for 𝑦.
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥)

STEP 2: Subtract the second from the first to eliminate 𝑦.

∆𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥
FOUR-STEP RULE

STEP 3: Divide both sides by ∆𝑥.

∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
STEP 4: Determine the limit as ∆𝑥 approaches 0.
𝒅𝒚 ∆𝒚 𝒇 𝒙 + ∆𝒙 − 𝒇 𝒙
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒅𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
EXAMPLES

𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5
EXAMPLES

𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 18
EXAMPLES

3
𝑦= 2
𝑥
EXAMPLES

2
𝑦=
𝑥−1
EXAMPLES

𝑦 = 𝑥−2