CALCULUS 1:

DIFFERENTIATION
By:
Divine Piddah
Gradient (slope) of a straight line ()
30
• Use any two points in the graph
25 𝑓 (𝑥)=6 𝑥 − 4 of to find the gradient.
• Using the two points and , the
20
gradient is:
15

10

0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
Gradient (slope) of a straight line ()
30
• Use any two points in the graph
25 𝑓 (𝑥)=6 𝑥 − 4 of to find the gradient.
• Using the two points and , the
20
gradient is:
15

10

0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
The gradient of a curve at a point
30
• Use the graph of to find the
25 2 gradient of the curve at the
𝑓 ( 𝑥)=𝑥
point .
20
• Using the two points and on
15 the tangent, the gradient is:
10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
The gradient of a curve at a point
30
• Use the graph of to find the
25 2 gradient of the curve at the
𝑓 ( 𝑥)=𝑥
point .
20
• Using the two points and on
15 the tangent, the gradient is:
10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
The gradient of a curve at a point
• Gradient (slope) can be refered to as the degree of
inclination of a straight line to the horizontal.
• The gradient of a straight line is constant. On a curve
however, the gradient is changing from one point to another.
• We define the gradient at any point on a curve therefore to
be the gradient of the tangent to the curve at that point.
• Calculus is a very important branch of mathematics which
was developed by Newton (1642 - 1727) and Leibnitz (1646 -
1716) to deal with changing quantities. The gradient of a
curve is an example of such a quantity and we begin with
this.
The gradient of a secant line
• A secant line is a straight line that
joins two points that are on a
𝑓 ( 𝑥 +h) Q
curve.
• What is the gradient of the secant
line in the graph of ?
𝑓 ( 𝑥) P
• The gradient of the secant line PQ
is:
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥)=𝑥

𝑥 ( 𝑥+ h)
Problem1: The gradient of a secant line
Write an expression for the gradient
of a secant line for . Simplify your
expression.
Problem2: The gradient of a secant line
Write and simplify the expression for
the gradient of a secant line of the
curve .
Differentiation from first principles: Gradient function or
As , the inclination of the tangent
Q to the horizontal (the gradient of
𝑓 ( 𝑥 +h)
the tangent) is equivalent to the
inclination of the curve/secant
P
line to the horizontal (gradient of
𝑓 ( 𝑥)
h the curve) at the point . Thus,

2 is the same as and is called the

𝑓 ( 𝑥)=𝑥
differential coefficient or the
derivative. This process of finding
𝑥 ( 𝑥+ h) the derivative is called
differentiating from first principles.
Problem1: Differentiation from first principles:
Obtain from first principles, the • is read as: the derivative of or
derivative of . Hence, find the prime of .
gradient of the curve at .
• is a function that gives the
gradient of at . It is called the
gradient function.
Problem2: Differentiation from first principles:
Given that , obtain from first • is read as: ‘the derivative of
principles, the derivative of with with respect to’ ,or ‘’
respect to . Hence, find the slope of
the curve at . • The gradient of a curve at a
point is obtained by
subtituting into the gradient
function .
Problem3: Differentiation from first principles:
Given that , obtain from first • is read as: ‘the derivative of
principles, the derivative of with with respect to’ ,or ‘’
respect to . Hence, find the slope of
the curve at . • is a function that gives the
gradient of at .
Problem4: Differentiation from first principles:
Find from first principles, the
derivative with respect to of the
function . Hence, find the
gradient of the curve at .
Problem5: Differentiation from first principles:
Find from first principles, the
derivative with respect to of the
function Hence, find the
gradient of the curve at .
Problem6: Differentiation from first principles:
Given that , obtain from first
principles, the derivative of with
respect to . Hence, find the slope of
the curve at .
Problem7: Differentiation from first principles:
Obtain from first principle, the Answers
derivative of the following: a)
a) b)
b) c) 0
c) d)
d) e)
e) f)
f)
Problem1: Rules of differentiation
Find the gradient function if Rules
i) If , then
Find at
ii) If , where is a
constant, then
iii) If , where is a
constant, then .
Problem2: Rules of differentiation
. Note:
Evaluate . Hence, find the slope of at
the point where .
Rules
i) If , then

ii) If , where is a
constant, then
iii) If , where is a
constant, then .
Problem3: Rules of differentiation
Given that , Note:
evaluate . Rules:
Find the gradient at . i) If , then

ii) If , where is a
constant, then
iii) If , where is a
constant, then .
Problem4: Rules of differentiation
Given that , Note:
Find at . Rules:
i) If , then

ii) If , where is a
constant, then
iii) If , where is a
constant, then .
Problem5: Rules of differentiation
Given that , Note:
Find Rules:
i) If , then

ii) If , where is a
constant, then
iii) If , where is a
constant, then .
Problem6: Rules of differentiation
Given that The gradient of a curve at a point
, find the slope at the point on its graph, expressed as the slope
where . of the tangent line at that point
represents the rate of change of the
value of the function and is called
derivative of the function at that
point, written or .
Problem7: Rules of differentiation
Find the gradient of the ff functions at the Answers
point where a) 640
a)
b) 15
b)
c) 0
c)
d)
d)
e)
e)
f)
f)
g)
g)
Problem8: Rules of differentiation
Find the coordinates of the point on the Answer: (1.5, 5)
curve at which its gradient is .
Problem9: Rules of differentiation
Find the coordinates of the points on the Answer:
curve at which its gradient is . (, )
Problem9: Rules of differentiation
Find the values of for which the slope of the Answer:
ff curve is zero:
Tangent and Normal to a curve
• , ) is a point on the curve. The • The equation of the tangent is:
tangent and the normal meet
at at .
• The gradient of the tangent
and the normal are and • The gradient of a tangent, , to a
respectively. curve at is obtained by
substituting into .
Normal,

𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) • The equation of the normal is:

𝑦 )
𝑃( 𝑥 1, 1
Tangen
t ,
Problem1: Tangent and Normal to a curve
Find the equation of the
a) tangent b) normal
to the curve at the point where .
Problem2: Tangent and Normal to a curve
Find the equation of the a) tangent
b) normal to the curve

at the point where .

Problem3: Tangent and Normal to a curve
The gradient of a curve at any point
is given by . If the curve passes
through the point , find the equation
of the tangent and the normal to the
curve at the point .
Problem4: Tangent and Normal to a curve
The gradient function of Answer:
is . The function has a minimum
value of 1. Find the values of and .
Problem5: Tangent and Normal to a curve
Find the value of for which Answer:
is perpendicular to the tangent of
the curve
Problem6: Tangent and Normal to a curve
The tangent to the curve , where is a Answer:
constant, at passes through the points
and . Find the value of .
Problem7: Tangent and Normal to a curve
The tangent to the curve Answer:
at passes through the points and .
Find the possible coordinates of .
Problem8: Tangent and Normal to a curve
The curve passes through the point Answer:
and the tangent to it at this point
makes an angle of with the positive
axis. Find the values of and .
Problem9: Tangent and Normal to a curve
Find the coordinates of the points on
the curve where the tangent is
parallel to the .
Problem10: Tangent and Normal to a curve
Find the equation of the tangent to Answer:
the curve at the point where the
curve meets the line
.
Problem11: Tangent and Normal to a curve
Find the equation of the normals to Answer:
the curve at the point where the ,
curve cuts the axis.
Problem12: Tangent and Normal to a curve
The normal to the curve Answer:
at the point meets the axis at point .
Find the coordinates of .
Problem13: Tangent and Normal to a curve
The normal to the curve Answer:
at point is parallel to the tangent to
the curve
at . Find the values of and .
Maxima & Minima: Stationary/Turning point
The stationary/turning point of a • At the stationary point, the
curve is the point on the curve tangent to the curve is parallel
where . to the axis.
• The turning point is a
maximum one.
• The turning point is a minimum
one.
• The point is a point of inflexion.
Problem1: Curve sketching
a) Find the stationary points of
b) Determine the nature of the
turning points of .
c) Sketch the curve .
• At the stationary point (turning
point), .
• The turning point is a
maximum one.
• The turning point is a minimum
one.
• The point is a point of inflexion.
Problem2: Curve sketching
a) Find the stationary points of
b) Determine the nature of the
turning points of .
c) Sketch the curve .
• At the stationary point (turning
point), .
• The turning point is a
maximum one.
• The turning point is a minimum
one.
• At the intercepts, .
• At the intercepts, .
Problem3: Curve sketching
Sketch the curve . • At the stationary point (turning
point), .
• The turning point is a
maximum one.
• The turning point is a minimum
one.
• At the intercepts, .
• At the intercepts, .
Problem4: Curve sketching
Sketch the curve . • At the stationary point (turning
point), .
• The turning point is a
maximum one.
• The turning point is a minimum
one.
• At the intercepts, .
• At the intercepts, .
 Problem5: Curve sketching
Sketch the curve . • At the stationary point (turning
point), .
• The turning point is a
maximum one.
• The turning point is a minimum
one.
• At the intercepts, .
• At the intercepts, .
Problem2: Maxima & Minima - Stationary/Turning point
Find the maximum and minimum • At the stationary point, the
points of the curve tangent to the curve is parallel
to the axis.
• The turning point is a
maximum one.
• The turning point is a minimum
one.
• The point is a point of inflexion.

[Answer: Max(1, ), Min(3, 0)]

 Problem1: Practical problems involving maximum &
minimum values
A rectangular sheet of metal 60cm by 50cm has Answer:
squares each of side cm cut off from its corners.
The remainder is then formed into a cuboid of 12096.32
volume . Find the value of for which the volume
of the box will be a maximum. Find the maximum
volume of the box.
 Problem2: Practical problems involving maximum &
minimum values
A rectangular box with a square base of side cm Answer:
and height cm is to be made from a cardboard. If
the box holds a volume of 200, find the least area 205.2
of cardboard needed to make the box.
 Problem3: Practical problems involving maximum &
minimum values
A rectangular has perimeter 28m. What is its Answer:
maximum area?
49
 Problem4: Practical problems involving maximum &
minimum values
100cm of fencing is to be used to make a Answer:
rectangular enclosure. Find the greatest possible
area of the enclosure. 625
 Problem5: Practical problems involving maximum &
minimum values
Determine the area of the largest piece of Answer:
rectangular ground that can be enclosed by 100m
of fencing, if part of an existing straight wall is 1250
used as one side.
 Problem6`: Practical problems involving maximum &
minimum values
A ball is thrown vertically upwards from the Answer:
ground level and its height after seconds is , find:
a) the greatest height it reaches; and
b) the time it takes to reach there.