URDANETA CITY

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

AND ARCHITECTURE
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

THE DERIVATIVE
Given a continuous function, y = f(x) ①
let us choose some fixed value of x, the corresponding value of y being given ①. Now consider
another value of x differing from the first one by an amount (positive or negative) which we will
call the increment of x, and will be denote by the symbol Δx. For this value of x, y will have anew
value, differing from the original by an amount Δy. In other words, when x changes to the value
x + Δx, y changes to the value y + Δy, and we have
y + Δy = f(x + Δx)
Δy = f(x + Δx) – f(x) ②

Δ𝑦
Now let us form the ratio , and investigate the
Δ𝑥

behaviour of this ratio when Δx approaches zero. Since

f(x) is continuous, the Δy of equation ② also
approaches zero.We have found that when both
numerator and denominator of a fraction approach
zero, the fraction itself may, or may not, approach a
limit. In Fig. 2-1, let the curve AB represent the graph
Δ𝑦
of the given function. The ratio Δ𝑥 is the slope of the

Y joining the points P(x,y) and P’ ( x + Δx, y + Δy). As Δx approaches zero, P’ approaches P
along the curve, and in all ordinary cases, the line PP’ approaches a certain straight line ( PT in
Δ𝑦
the figure ) as a limiting position. That is, for a sufficiently well-behaved curve, the ratio Δ𝑥

approaches a limit, the slope of the line PT. This limit is called the derivative of y with respect
to x.
Δ𝑦
Fundamental Definition: the derivative of y with respect to x is the ratio when Δx
Δ𝑥
𝐝𝒚
approaches zero. The derivative is designated by the symbol𝐝𝒙;

The operation of finding the is called differentiation.

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 URDANETA CITY
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

DETERMINATION OF THE DERIVATIVE ( FOUR-STEP RULE)

1. Replace x by (x + Δx) and y by (y + Δy). The function y = f(x) becomes y+Δy = f(x + Δx).
2. Solve for Δy such that Δy = f(x + Δx) – y. the right side of the equation.
3. Divide both sides of the resulting equation by Δx.

4. Determine the limit as Δx approaches zero.

Before proceeding to examples, knowledge of expanding the expression (𝑥 + ∆𝑥 )2 or

(𝑥 − ∆𝑥 )2 where n is the exponent is important. Below is a triangle representing the constant
corresponding to the exponent of the expanded expression.
The presentation at the left is called the Pascal’s
triangle. The numbers on the respective lines are
the values of the constants when the expression
(𝑥 + ∆𝑥 )𝑛 or (𝑥 − ∆𝑥 )𝑛 is expanded. The
numbers ①, ② etc. are the respective values of
the exponent n. For the expression (𝑥 + ∆𝑥 )𝑛 the
constants have + sign while for the expression
(𝑥 − ∆𝑥 )𝑛 the constant have alternate + and –
signs, the first being +.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Using the four-step rule, determine the derivative of the functions.

1. y = 𝒙𝟓 − 3𝒙𝟒 + 1000

Solution:

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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

𝟓𝒙𝟐 −𝟑
2. y =
𝟒𝒙𝟐 +𝟐

Solution:

3. y = √𝟓 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐

Solution:

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 URDANETA CITY
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

4. y = cos x

Solution:

DERIVATIVE INTERPRETED AS SLOPE

Δ𝑦
In Fig. 2. , the slope of the line PP ’ = Δ𝑥. As Δx approaches zero, ’ approaches p along the
curve. The slope of the line PP’ approaches as its limit the slope of the curve at point. This limit
is the derivative of y with respect to x.
The derivative of a function is equal to the slope of the graph of the function. To find the
slope of the curve at point P (x,y), determine the derivative of the function with respect to x
and substitute the value of x.

Rate of Change
For the function y = f(x), if the value of x is changed by Δx , there is a corresponding value
Δ𝑦 Δ𝑦
Δy as the change in y. The ratio Δ𝑥 is the average rate of change over the interval Δx . The lim
∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥

is the rate of change of y with respect to x.

The velocity of vehicles which may be expressed in kilometers per hour is the rate of change
𝒅𝒔
of the distance, s, with respect to the time, t, hence it may be expressed as . The discharge of
𝒅𝒕
water flowing through a pipe may be expressed as the rate of change of volume of water with
respect to the time t.

(075) 600 - 1507

San Vicente West, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
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 URDANETA CITY
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. Find the slope of the curve at the given/described point.
a. 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 at x=-2
Solution:

b. 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 at the points of intersection with the x –axis.

Solution:

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 URDANETA CITY
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

2. Find how fast a) the circumference, b) the area, of a circle increases when the radius
increases.
Solution:

3. A right circular cylinder has affixed height of 6 units. Find the rate of change of the
total surface area A with respect to radius r.
Solution:

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