Differentiation

AN INTRODUCTION
Learning Objectives
• After the completion of the class, the student should be
able to:
• Define Derivative as a limit of function or first principle
• Derivative as a slope
• Find derivative of simple functions.
• Find derivative at a point
• Derivative of polynomials
• Derivative of product and quotient
The Derivative
• A Definition: mtan  lim f ( x  h)  f ( x)
h 0 h

f ( x  h)  f  x 
 Alternatively: f ( x)  lim
h 0 h

 The process of finding a derivative is …

Procedure for Finding the
Derivative of a Function
1. Find f(x + h).
2. Subtract f(x) from f(x + h).
3. Divide the result of step 2 by h.
4. For the result of step 3, find the
limit (if it exists) as h→0.
 Finding the Derivative of: f(x) = 4 - x2

1. Find f(x + h). 2

f ( x  h)  4  ( x  h)
 4  x 2  2 xh  h 2

2. Subtract f(x) f ( x  h)  f ( x )
from f(x + h).  2 2
 4  x  2 xh  h  4  x   2

2
 2 xh  h
Finding the Derivative of: f(x) = 4 - x2

f ( x  h)  f ( x )
3. Divide the
result of step
h
2 by h.  2 xh  h 2

h
 2 x  h
4. For the result of
f ( x  h)  f ( x)
step 3, find the
limit (if it exists)
lim
h 0 h
 2 x
as h→0.
Finding the Value of a Derivative

• We can find the value of a derivative at a

given point on the curve by substituting x
into the derivative.
• This is the same as finding the slope of a
tangent line to the curve.
• For example, where y = 4 – x2 , at P(1, 3)
dy
 2(1)  2
dx x 1 
Giving Meaning to the Derivative

• We are given the equation of a cubic

as: f(x) = x3 – 2x.
• If x = 2, what is y?

 What is the equation of the tangent line at

this given point?
• What is the derivative?
• f’(x) = 3x2 – 2
• What is f’(x) at 2?
• f’(2) = 10.

 Given a point and a slope, what is the tangent line to

the given curve?
Derivatives of Polynomials

• Strategies to determining derivatives are

summarized here.
• To find the derivative of polynomials, we
use the function
n n 1
f ( x)  a0 x  a1 x    an
The Derivative of a Constant

• The derivative of a constant is ‘0’.

• Example: If y = c, we obtain a line parallel to
the x-axis.
y dc
0
dx

y=c

x
Derivative of the Power of x

• The derivative of the nth power of x where

n
yx
n
dx n 1
 nx
dx
 This is true for negative & fractional
exponents.
Derivative of a Constant Times a
Function

• When the variable is multiplied by a constant:

y  cu
d  c du
c
dx dx
Derivative of a Sum

• The derivative of the sum of differentiable functions of x is

the sum of the derivatives of the functions.

y uv d  u  v  du dv
 
dx dx dx


Derivatives of Products and Quotients
of Functions

• Some polynomials will contain either

products where the unknown variable is
found in each expression.
• These expressions can be separated into
distinct functions.
• For example, f ( x)
p( x)  f ( x) g ( x) or p( x) 
g ( x)
Derivative of a Product

• This rule allows us to determine the derivative of a function

of x that consists of two discrete functions of x multiplied
together.
• That is: If y = uv

d  uv  dv du
u v
dx dx dx
Derivative of a Quotient

• A combination of the rules for working with negative

exponents and products is used.
• Let:

u
y
v
u
d   v du  u dv
 v   dx dx
2
dx v