Calculus 1

DERIVATIVES
Lesson 2.1 The Derivative of a Function
The Derivative of a Function

One of the significant application of

Calculus is to determine how one variable
(representing a quantity) changes with respect to
another variable (representing another quantity)
Calculus teach us techniques that can be used in
solving rates of change.
The Derivative of a Function

- is the function defined by

, provided the limit exists.
Things to know about derivatives:
1. If exists, then is said to be differentiable at .
2. The process of finding the derivative of a
function is called differentiation.
3. The notations for the derivative of a function
with respect to are:

4. We can also write the derivative of at x=c as

Example 1. Find the derivative of the
function
Example 2. Find the derivative of the
function
Example 3. Find the derivative of the
function
Example 4. Find the derivative of the
function
Seatwork 1. Find the derivative of the
function
Seatwork 2. Find the derivative of the
function
Seatwork 3. Find the derivative of the
function
Two Interpretations of the derivative of a
function.
a. The slope of a tangent line to the curve
at the point (c,f(c)) is the derivative of
f(x) at x=c. We have
, provided the limit exists.
Example 5: Find the slope of the tangent line to the
curve at the point (4,7).
Seatwork 3: Find the equation of the tangent line
to the curve at the point (-9,12).
The Normal Line to a Graph
The normal line to a graph at a given
point is the line perpendicular to the
tangent line at that point.
Example 6: Find the equation of the normal line of
the tangent line to the curve at the point (4,7).
Seatwork 4.
Find the equation of the normal line of the tangent
line to the curve at the point (3,-5).
b. The instantaneous velocity of the
object at the time t is given by the
derivative of
, provided the limit exists. is the
instantaneous rate of change.
Example 7: An object moves along a line so that its
position at anytime t is given by the function
where s is measured in meters and t is measured
in seconds
a. Find the objects position when t=3 seconds
b. Find the average velocity during the first 7
seconds.
c. Find the instantaneous velocity of the object
when t=7 seconds.
Seatwork 5. An object moves along a line so that
its position at any time t is given by the function
where s is measured in meters and t is measured
in seconds.
a. Find the object’s position when t=5 seconds.
b. find the average velocity during the first 10
seconds.
c. Find the instantaneous velocity of the object
when t=10 seconds.