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Lecture-8, Tagent Line and Derivative, Cal-1

This document discusses the concept of the derivative in mathematics. It defines the derivative, provides examples of computing derivatives, and discusses the geometric interpretation of derivatives as the slope of the tangent line. Key points covered include definitions of the derivative using limits, an alternate expression using h, and interpreting the derivative as a slope-producing function.

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Orochi Scorpion
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views

Lecture-8, Tagent Line and Derivative, Cal-1

This document discusses the concept of the derivative in mathematics. It defines the derivative, provides examples of computing derivatives, and discusses the geometric interpretation of derivatives as the slope of the tangent line. Key points covered include definitions of the derivative using limits, an alternate expression using h, and interpreting the derivative as a slope-producing function.

Uploaded by

Orochi Scorpion
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Derivative (1)

Tangents:
If a curve C has equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and we want to find the tangent line to at
the point 𝑃 ( 𝑎, 𝑓(𝑎) ) , then we consider a nearby point Q ( 𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥) ), where
𝑥 ≠ 𝑎, and compute the slope of the secant line PQ:

𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑚𝑃𝑄 =
𝑥−𝑎
Then we let 𝑄 approach 𝑃 along the curve by letting 𝑥 approach 𝑎. If 𝑚𝑃𝑄

approaches a number 𝑚, then we define the tangent t to be the line through P


with slope 𝑚.

➢ This amounts to saying that the tangent line is the limiting position of the
secant line 𝑃𝑄 as 𝑄 approaches 𝑃. (See Figure)

Definition: Suppose that ‘a’ is in the domain of the function f. The tangent line to
the curve y = f ( 𝒙) at the point P (a, f(a)) is the line with equation

y − f(a) = 𝒎𝑷𝑸 ( 𝒙 − a )
Where

𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒂)
𝒎𝑷𝑸 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙−𝒂

provided the limit exists.

➢ For simplicity, we will also call this the tangent line to y = f ( 𝒙) at 𝒙 = a.


(2)
𝟐
Example: Find an equation of the tangent line to the parabola y = 𝒙 at the
point P (1, 1).
Solution: Here, we have a = 1 and f ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 , so the slope is
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(1)
𝑚𝑃𝑄 = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
𝑥2 − 1
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1

= lim (𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→1

= 1+1 = 2
Thus, an equation of the tangent line at P (1, 1) is given by
𝑦 − 1 = 2 (𝑥 − 1)
𝑦 = 2 𝑥 – 1.
Alternate Expression:
There is another expression for the slope of a tangent line that is sometimes
easier to use. Put ℎ = 𝑥 − 𝑎, then 𝑥 = 𝑎 + ℎ So, the slope of the secant line PQ is

𝑓(𝑎 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑚𝑃𝑄 =
ℎ

Notice that as 𝑥 → 𝑎, ℎ → 0, and so, the


expression for the slope of the tangent line in
definition becomes

𝑓 (𝑎 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑚𝑃𝑄 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

provided the limit exists.


(See Figure above where the case ℎ > 0 is illustrated and Q is to the right of P. If
it happened that ℎ < 0, however, Q would be to the left of P.)
(3)
𝟐
Example: Find an equation of the tangent line to the parabola y = 𝒙 at the
point P (1, 1). (Using definition in terms of h)
Solution: Here, we have a = 1 and f ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 , so the slope is
𝑓(1 + ℎ) − 𝑓(1)
𝑚𝑃𝑄 = lim
ℎ →0 ℎ
(1 + ℎ )2 − 1
= lim
ℎ →0 ℎ
1 + ℎ2 + 2ℎ − 1
= lim
ℎ →0 ℎ
= lim (ℎ + 2)
ℎ →0

= 2
Thus, an equation of the tangent line at P (1, 1) is given by
𝑦 − 1 = 2 ( 𝑥 − 1)
𝑦 = 2 𝑥 − 1.

Velocities: Suppose an object moves along a straight line according to an


equation of motion s=f(𝒕)
where s is the displacement (directed distance) of the object from the origin at
time. The function that describes the motion is called the position function of the
object.
In the time interval from 𝒕 = 𝒂 to 𝒕 = 𝒂 + 𝒉, the change in position is (See Figure)
(4)
The average velocity over this time interval is

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓(𝑎 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑎)


𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 ℎ

which is the same as the slope of the secant line PQ in previous section.

Now suppose we compute the average velocities over shorter and shorter time
intervals [ 𝒂 , 𝒂 + 𝒉 ]. In other words, we let 𝒉 approach 0. As in the example of
the falling ball, we define the velocity (or instantaneous velocity) 𝒗(𝒂) at time
𝒕 = 𝒂 to be the limit of these average velocities:

𝑓(𝑎 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝒗(𝒂) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

provided the limit exists.


This means that the velocity at time is equal to the slope of the tangent line at
𝒕 = 𝒂. Now that we know how to compute limits, let’s reconsider the problem of
the falling ball.
(5)
Example: Suppose that a ball is dropped from the upper observation deck of the
CN Tower, 450 m above the ground.
(a) What is the velocity of the ball after 5 seconds?
(b) How fast is the ball traveling when it hits the ground?
Solution: We will need to find the velocity both when 𝒕 = 𝟓 and when the ball
hits the ground, so it’s efficient to start by finding the velocity at a general time.
Using the equation of motion, s = f ( 𝒕 ) = 𝟒. 𝟗 𝒕𝟐 , we have
𝑓(𝑎 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝒗(𝒂) = lim
ℎ →0 ℎ

4.9 (𝑎 + ℎ )2 − 4.9 𝑎2
= lim
ℎ →0 ℎ

4.9 [ 𝑎2 + ℎ2 + 2𝑎ℎ − 𝑎2 ]
= lim
ℎ →0 ℎ

= lim 4.9 ( ℎ + 2 𝑎 ) = 9.8 𝑎


ℎ →0

(a) The velocity after 5 sec is 𝑣(5) = 9.8 (5) = 49 m\sec.

(b) Since the observation deck is 450 m above the ground, the ball will hit the
ground at the time 𝑡1 when, that is, 𝒔 (𝑡1 ) = 4.9 𝑡1 2 = 450

450 450
This gives t12 = and t1 =  9.6 sec
4.9 4.9

The velocity of the ball as it hits the ground is therefore

450
v(t1 ) = 9.8 t1 = 9.8  94 m \ sec .
4.9

-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Derivative (6)

The derivative of a function 𝒚 = 𝒇 (𝒙) at a number 𝑎 denoted by


𝑑𝑦
𝑓 ′ (𝑎) (Read as 𝒇 prime of 𝒂 ) or | is given
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=𝑎
by

𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑓 ′ (𝑎) = lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥−𝑎

provided the limit exists.

Alternatively:

𝑓(𝑎 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑓 ′ (𝑎) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

provided the limit exists.

The Derivative as a Function

Definition: The function 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) defined by the formula

𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
is called the derivative of function f with respect to x.

• The domain of 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) consists of all x in the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) for which the
limit exists and may be smaller than the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) .

❖ The term “derivative” is used because the function 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) is


derived from the function f by a limiting process.
(7)
′ (𝑥)
You can think of 𝑓 as a “slope-producing function” in the sense that the value
of f(x) at x = a is the slope of the tangent line to the graph of function f at x = a.
This aspect of the derivative is explained in detail by its geometrical description.

Geometrical Interpretation of Derivative


The derivative 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) can be interpreted geometrically as

the slope of the tangent line to the graph y=f(x) of at the point x

Let AB be a secant line, passing through the points 𝐴( 𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥)) and


𝐵(𝑥 + ∆ 𝑥, 𝑓 (𝑥 + ∆ 𝑥)). If the point 𝐵 → 𝐴, that is, ∆ 𝑥 approaches to zero, then

the secant line approaches the tangent line at the point 𝐴(𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥)).
Accordingly, the slope of the tangent line is the limit of the slope of the secant line
when ∆ 𝑥 → 0:
(8)

Since 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) can be interpreted as the slope of the tangent line to the graph of
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at x, it follows that 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) is positive where the tangent line has positive
slope, is negative where the tangent line has negative slope, and is zero where
the tangent line is horizontal.
Example: The graph of a function is given below. Use it to sketch the graph of the
derivative.

Solution: We can estimate the value of the derivative at any value of by


drawing the tangent at the point and estimating its slope.
Notice that the tangents at A, 𝐵 and C are horizontal, so the derivative is 0 there
and the graph of crosses the -axis at the points 𝐴′ , 𝐵′ and 𝐶 ′ directly beneath A,
B, and C. Between A and B the tangents have positive slope, so 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) is positive
there. But between B and C the tangents have negative slope, so 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) is negative
there.

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