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WEEK # 04

Objectives 3.1 Defining the Derivative

3.2 The Derivative as a Function
3.4 Derivatives as Rates of change

DERIVATIVES AND RATES OF CHANGE

The problem of finding the tangent line to a curve and the problem of finding the
velocity of an object both involves finding the same type of limit.
The special type of limit is called a Derivative and We will say that it can be
interpreted as a rate of change in any of sciences or engineering.
Tangent:
The tangent line to the curve y= f(x) is shown in Graph…
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Definition: The tangent line to the curve y = f(x) at the point P (a , f(a)) is the line
through P with slope

(Provided limit exists)

Equation of Tangent Line :

y  y 1  m ( x  x1 )

Example 1. Find an equation of the tangent line to the parabola y  x

2

at the point P(1,1).

Solution:
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SLOPE OF TANGENT LINE = SLOPE OF THE CURVE

We sometimes refer to the slope of the tangent line to a curve at a point as the
slope of the curve at the point.

f (a  h)  f (a)
ANOTHER METHOD TO FIND THE SLOPE m  lim
h 0 h

Normal Line: A line perpendicular to tangent line is called normal or normal line.

1
Equation of normal or normal line is given by: y  y1   ( x  x1 )
m
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VELOCITIES
In general , suppose an object moves along a straight line according to an
equation of motion s = f(t),where ‘s’ is the displacement of the object from
origin at time ‘ t ’. The function f describes the motion is called Position function
of the object. In time t = a to t = a+h the change in position is f (a+h) – f(a).
So

Displacement f (a  t )  f (a)
Average Velocity  
time t

INSTANTANEOUS VELOCITY :
Suppose we compute the average velocity over shorter time intervals [a ,a+h]. If
h tends to zero as average velocity at t = a becomes instantaneous velocity :

f (a  t )  f (a )
V ( Inst .)  lim
t 0 t
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EXAMPLE . A Ball falling from rest under the influence of gravity follows
approximately this equation of motion
s ( t )  4.9 t 2 Where s(t) is the distance fallen measured in metres.
And t is the time elapsed in seconds. Find
(a) At the end of 5 secs, how far has body fallen.
(b) Use definition of derivatives to find its instantaneous velocity at the end of 5
secs?
SOLUTION:
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DERIVATIVES (First Principle OR By Definition)

The derivative of a function ‘ f ’ at a number ‘ a ’ is denoted by f ’(a) and is given

by :

f (a  h )  f (a )
f ' ( a )  lim if this limit exists
h0 h

This formula is also called First Principle OR By Definition

Alternatively
If x  a  h then h  x  a
and h  0 as x a
f ( x)  f (a )
f '( a )  lim
x  a x  a

1) Question:
Find the derivative of the function f ( x )  x 2  3x  9 .
2) Question:
Find the derivative of the function f ( x )  x 2  3x  9 at ' a ' .
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TANGENT LINE
The tangent line to y = f (x) at (a , f(a)) is the line through (a, f(a)) whose slope
is = f’(a) = Derivative of f at ‘a’.
Equation of Tangent line

The tangent line to y  f ( x ) at  a , f (a )  is the line through  a , f ( a ) 

whose slope is  f '(a )  Derivative of f at ' a '.

The tangent line to y  f ( x ) at  a , f (a )  is the line through  a, f ( a ) 

whose slope is  f '(a )  Derivative of f at ' a '.

Equation of the tangent line is given by :

y  f (a )  f ' ( a )[ x  a ]
Question : Find an equation of the tangent line to the parabola
y  x 2  8 x  9 at point ( 3,  6 ).
Solution :
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MORE EXAMPLES
Find an equation of the tangent line & normal line to the curve at the given
point for the following :
1) y  4 x  x3 at (2 , 0)
2) y  x 3x  1
3
at (2 , 3)
3) y  x at (2 , 2 )
2x 1
4) y  at (1 ,1)
x  2

ALSO FIND THE DERIVATIVE OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.

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RATE OF CHANGE
Suppose y is a quantity that depends on another quantity x. Thus y is a function of
x and we will write y = f(x).

If x changes from x 1 to x 2 then changes in x will be

x  x2  x1

And corresponding changes in y is y = f (x 2 ) - f (x 1 )

The Difference Quotient

y f ( x2 )  f ( x1)

x x2  x1

is called the Average Rate Of Change in y with respect to x over interval

 x1 , x2  .

INSTANTANEOUS RATE OF CHANGE

y f (x2)  f (x1)
lim  lim
x0 x x2x1 x 2x1
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QUESTION:

Example : If f ( x )  x2
a ) Use the definition of the derivative to find the slope of the tangent line
to the curve y  f (x) at ( 3 ,1).
b ) Find an equation of the tangent line in part (a ).
Sol : ( a )
f (3  h )  f ( 3 )
Slope  m  f '(3)  li m
h 0 h
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QUESTION :

(a) State The Definition of Derivative f '(x) as a function .

(b) Use only the definition of the derivative to find f '(x)
1
if f(x) =
2+x

SOLUTION :

f ( x  h)  f ( x)
a) f ' ( x)  lim (if this limit exists)
h0 h

b) f ' ( x) 
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TRY : Find the derivative f '( x ) of the follow ing by

First principle ( By definition ) :
1x
1) f ( x )  x3  x 2 ) f ( x) 
2  x
3) f ( x )  x. 4) f ( x )  1  x.
5) f ( x )  x 2 x . 6) f ( x)  2x 1  x
1 1
7 ) f ( x)  8) f ( x ) 
1 2x x
1 1x
9 ) f ( x)  10) f ( x ) 
2  x 2  x

Find the derivative of the Function using the definition of Derivative. State the
domain of the function and the domain of its derivatives.
1 1
1) f ( x )  x  2) f ( x )  mx  b
2 3
3) f (t )  t  9t 2 4) f ( x )  1.5 x 2  x  3.7
5) f ( x )  x 3  3 x  5 6) f ( x )  x  x
x2  1
7) f ( x )  9 x 8) f ( x ) 
2 x3
1  2t 3
9) G ( t )  10) f ( x )  x 2
3t
11) f (t )  t 4

OTHER NOTATIONS OF DERIVATIVES

dy df d
f '(x)  y'    f (x)  D f (x)
dx dx dx
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DIFFERENTIABLE FUNCTIONS:
Def. : A function f is differentiable at a if f ’(a) exists . It is differentiable on an
open interval (a ,b ) if it is differentiable at every number in the interval.

Q. Use the definition of the derivative to show that

 x 2  1, if x  1
f ( x)    is differentiable at x  1.
 2 x, if x  1
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Q. Use the definition of the derivative to show that

 x 2 , if x  1 
f ( x)    is differentiable at x  1.
2 x  1, if x  1
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Q. Using the definition of the derivative, find the value( s) of a such that
 x2 , if x  1
function f ( x)    is differentiable at x  1.
 ax  a  1, if x  1 
Sol. By definition, if f is differentiable at x  1, then
f (1  h)  f (1)
f '(1)  lim
h 0 h
The left  handed derivative of f at x  1 is given by :
1  h 2   1
f (1  h)  f (1)   lim h  2h  2...........(1)
2
f '(1)  lim  lim 
h 0 h h 0 h h 0  h
The right  handed derivative of f at x  1 is given by :
f (1  h)  f (1)  a 1  h   a  1  1 ah
f '(1)  lim  lim   lim  a........(2)
h 0 h h 0 h h 0 h
For f ( x) to be differentiable at x  1, left and right handed derivative need
f (1  h)  f (1) f (1  h)  f (1)
to be equal i.e. f '(1)  lim  lim
h 0 h h 0 h
2 a using (1) and (2)
Hence for a  2, the given function f ( x) will be differentiable at x  1.
Alternatively By definition, if f is differentiable at x  1, then
f ( x)  f (1)
f '(1)  lim
x 1 x 1
The left  handed derivative of f at x  1 is given by :
f ( x)  f (1) x2 1
f '(1)  lim  lim  lim  x  1  2...........(1)
x 1 x 1 x 1 x  1 x1 
The right  handed derivative of f at x  1 is given by :
f ( x)  f (1) ax  a  1  1 a  x  1
f '(1)  lim  lim  lim  a........(2)
x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
For f ( x) to be differentiable at x  1, left and right handed derivative need
f ( x)  f (1) f ( x)  f (1)
to be equal i.e. f '(1)  lim  lim
x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
2 a using (1) and (2)
Hence for a  2, the given function f ( x) will be differentiable at x  1.
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Q. Using the definition of the derivative, find the value( s) of k

 (k  1) x 2 , if x  1
such that f ( x)    is differentiable at x  1.
 2 x  1, if x  1 
Q. Using the definition of the derivative, find the value( s ) of t such that
 (2 x  1), if x  1 
function f ( x)    is differentiable at x  1.
1  t  tx, if x  1
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THEOREM If f is differentiable at a then f is continuous at a

OR Prove that every differentiable function is continuous
To prove f is continuous at a .
We will have to prove lim f ( x )  f ( a ) ........(  )
x a

As given f is differentaible
f ( x)  f (a )
f ' ( a )  lim ...........( 2 ) ( exists )
xa x  a
To connect the given and unknown we multiply & Divide f ( x )  f ( a ) by ( x  a )
f ( x)  f (a )
 f ( x)  f (a )  .( x  a )
( x  a)
Taking Limit both sides :
 f ( x)  f (a ) 
 lim  f ( x)  f ( a )   lim  .( x  a ) 
x  a x a
 ( x  a) 
 f ( x)  f (a )  
  lim  lim ( x  a ) 
 x a 
( x  a )   x a 

  f ' ( a )  .  0   0  From (2) 

So lim
x  a
 f ( x)  f (a )  0................. .................  A 
Now For the proof we add and subtract f ( a ) as fellow s :
lim
x  a
 f ( x)   lim
x  a
 f ( x)  f ( a )  f (a)

 lim
x  a
 f ( x)  f ( a )   lim f ( a )
x a

 0  f (a)
HENCE
lim
x  a
 f ( x)   f (a) (Which is same as   )
HENCE f is continuous at a .

NOTE: REVERSE OF ABOVE THEOREM IS NOT TRUE

i.e (EVERY CONTINUOUS FUNCTION NEED NOT BE DIFFERENTIABLE )
Ex. f ( x )  x is not differentiable at x  0
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Q. Discuss where is and not the function f ( x )  x is differentiable .

Sol . Three different cases arise :
Case 1) For x  0
Case 2 ) For x  0
Case 3 ) For x  0
C ase 1) For x  0 , x  x Case 2 ) For x  0 , x   x
So we can choose a small number h  0 s . t . So we can choose a small number h  0 s. t .
xh  x xh  x
f ' ( x )  lim f '( x )  lim
h 0 h h 0 h
x  h x ( x  h)  (  x )
 lim  1 ( exists )  lim   1 ( exists )
h 0 h h 0 h
So f is differentiable at x  0 So f is differentiable at x  0
Case 3 ) For x  0 , We have to investigate
So we can ch oose a small number h  0 s. t .
0h  0
f ' ( 0 )  lim
h 0 h
0h  0 h
 lim  lim (if it exists )
h 0 h h 0 h

So We will compute Left & Right limits separately ,

0h  0 h
h
L.H .L  lim  lim  lim
 1
h 0 h h 0 h h 0 h
0h  0 h h
R.H .L  lim  lim  lim  1
h 0 h h 0 h h 0 h
Since these limits are different
L. H . L  R . H . L
So f '( x ) does not exists a t x  0

HENCE WE CAN SAY f ( x )  x IS DIFFERENTIABLE AT ALL x EXCEP T x  0

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T RY :
1) f ( x )  x  1 is not differentiable at x  1
2 ) f ( x )  x  3 is not differentiable at x   3
3 ) Check for the continuty an d differentiability for
f ( x)  x  2 at x   2
4 ) Check for the continuty and differentiability for
f ( x ) 3 x 1 at x   1
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HOW CAN A FUNCTION FAIL TO BE DIFFERENTIABLE ?

1) If a Function is Discontinuous.
2) If a function has a corner or kink.

3) If a curve or the function has a vertical tangent line .

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HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES

If f is a differentiable function then f ’ is also a function .

Also (f’)’ =f” A new function is called second –derivative of f.

d  dy  d2y
    f '' ( x )  L eibnitz N otation 
dx  dx  dx 2

Sim ilarly
d  d2y 
   f '''( x )  T hird  derivative 
dx  dx 2 
d  d3y 
 3 
 f 4 ( x)  F ourth  deri vati v e 
dx  dx 
& So on ..........
T hese are called H igher  order derivat i v e s .

EXAMPLE :

If f ( x )  x 3  x . Find f ''( x ).
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EXAMPLE :

If f ( x)  x3  x . Find f '''( x) and f 4 ( x).

Solution : As f '( x )  3 x 2 1 & f ''( x)  6 x  From previous question 
f ''( x  h)  f ''( x) f '''( x  h)  f '''( x)
f '''( x)  lim f 4 ( x)  lim
h 0 h h 0 h
6( x  h)  6( x) 6 6
 lim  lim
h 0 h h 0 h
6 x  6h  6 x  0
 lim  6
h 0 h

IMPORTANT RELATIONS :
1) V E L O C IT Y

U n its : m / s e c , c m / s e c e tc.

2 ) A C C E L A R A T IO N

3) JE R K ( j) 
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TRY (Both examples are Related to higher derivatives)

1) A particle moves along a straight line with equation f (t )  100  50 t  4.9 t 2
Find the velocity and accelaration after t  5 sec onds .

2) If f (t )  3  t 2  t 3  4 t at t  3 sec then find J  ?

TRY MORE
1) : If f ( x)  x4  2 x , find f '( x). Also estimate f '(0), f '(1/ 2).
1
2): If f ( x)  x  , find f '( x). Also estimate f '(0), f '(1/ 2)
x
3) : If g ( x)  x , show that g '(0) does not exists.
2/3

4) : Show that the function f ( x)  x  6 is not differentiable at 6.

5) : Discuss the differentiability of f ( x)  x  3 at x   3.
6) The displacement (in metres) of a particle moving in a straight line is given by
1
the equation of motion s  2 , where t is measured in seconds. Find the velocity
t
of the particle at times t  a, t 1, t  2 and t  3.
7) The displacement (in metres ) of a particle moving in a straight line is given by
s  t 2  8 t  18, where t is measured in sec onds . Find average velocity over [3, 4].
Also find the instantaneous velocity when t  4.
8) Find an equation of the tan gent line to the graph of y  g ( x) at x  5 if g (5)   3
and g '(5)  4.
9) If the tangent line to y  f ( x) at (4,3) passes through the po int (0, 2), find f (4) and f '(4).
10) If f ( x)  3x2  x3 , find f '(1) and use it to find an equation of the tangent line to the curve
y  3x2  x3 at the point (1, 2).
11) If g ( x)  x4  2, find g '(1) and use it to find an equation of the tangent line to the curve
y  x4  2 at the point (1, 1).
5x
12) If g ( x)  , find g '(2) and use it to find an equation of the tangent line to the curve
1 x 2
5x
y at the point (2, 2).
1 x 2
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