Arkansas Tech University

MATH 2914: Calculus I

Dr. Marcel B. Finan

2.1 The Derivative of a Function

In this section we introduce the definition of the derivative and its geomet-
rical significance.
The instantaneous rate of change of a function f (x) at a point x = a is
the value that the difference quotient or the average rate of change

f (a + h) − f (a)
h
approaches over smaller and smaller intervals(i.e. when h → 0). This in-
stantaneous rate of change is called the derivative of f (x) with respect
to x at x = a and will be denoted by f 0 (a). Thus,

f (a + h) − f (a)
f 0 (a) = lim .
h→0 h
If this limit exists then we say that f is differentiable at a. To differ-
entiate a function f (x) at x = a means to find its derivative at the point
(a, f (a)). The process of finding the derivative of a function is known as
differentiation.

Example 2.1.1
√
Use the definition of the derivative to find f 0 (x) where f (x) = x, x > 0.

Solution.

f (x + h) − f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim
h→0 h
√ √
x+h− x
= lim
h→0 h
√ √ √ √ 
x+h− x x+h+ x
= lim √ √
h→0 h x+h+ x
x+h−x
= lim √ √
h→0 h( x + h + x)
1
= lim √ √
h→0 x+h+ x
1
= √
2 x

1
Graphically, f 0 (a) is the slope of the tangent line to the graph of f (x) at the
point (a, f (a)). See Figure 2.1.1.

Figure 2.1.1
The equation of the tangent line to the graph of f (x) at x = a is then given
by the formula
y − f (a) = f 0 (a)(x − a).
The equation of the normal line to the graph of f (x) at x = a is given by
1
y − f (a) = − (x − a),
f 0 (a)
assuming that f 0 (a) 6= 0.
Example 2.1.2
(i) Find the derivative of the function f (x) = x2 at x = 1.
(ii) Write the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f at the point
(1, f (1)).
Solution.
(i)
f (1 + h) − f (1)
f 0 (1) = lim
h→0 h
(1 + h)2 − 1
= lim
h→0 h
1 + 2h + h2 − 1
= lim
h→0 h
h(2 + h)
= lim
h→0 h
= lim (2 + h) = 2.
h→0

2
(ii) The equation of the tangent line is given by

y − f (1) = f 0 (1)(x − 1)

or in slope-intercept form
y = 2x − 1

Example 2.1.3
Find the equation of the line that is perpendicular to the tangent line to
f (x) = x2 at x = 1.

Solution.
The equation of the line is given by

y = mx + b.

Since m × f 0 (1) = −1 and f 0 (1) = 2, we find m = − 21 . Thus, y = − 12 x + b.

Since the line crosses the point (1, 1), we have 1 = − 21 + b or b = 23 . Hence,
the equation of the normal line is
1 3
y =− x+
2 2
Remark 2.1.1
By letting x = a + h in the definition of f 0 (a) we obtain an alternative form
of f 0 (a) given by
f (x) − f (a)
f 0 (a) = lim .
x→a x−a