THE DERIVATIVE

The Derivative is …
◆ Used to find the “slope” of a function at a point.

◆ Used to find the “slope of the tangent line” to

the graph of a function at a point.

◆ Used to find the “instantaneous rate of change”

of a function at a point.

◆ Computed by finding the limit of the difference

quotient as ∆x approaches 0. (Limit Definition)
 Notations for the
Derivative of a Function
f '( x) “f prime of x”

y' “y prime”

dy “the derivative of y with respect to x”

dx
dy
is a noun.
dx
d
is a verb. “Take the derivative with respect to x…”
dx
 Rules for Differentiation
◆ Differentiation is the process of
computing the derivative of a function.

You may be asked to:

◆ Differentiate.

◆ Derive.

◆ Find the derivative of…

 The Power Rule
d N N −1
[ x ] = Nx , N is any real number
dx

d
[ x] = 1
dx
 The Constant Rule
d
[c] = 0, c is a constant
dx

◆ The derivative of a constant function is

zero.
 The Constant Multiple Rule

d
[c ( f ( x) )] = c ( f '( x) ), c is a constant
dx

◆ The derivative of a constant times a

function is equal to the constant times
the derivative of the function.
The Sum and Difference Rules

d
[ f ( x) + g ( x)] = f '( x) + g '( x)
dx
The derivative of a sum is the sum of the derivatives.

d
[ f ( x) − g ( x)] = f '( x) − g '( x)
dx
The derivative of a difference is the difference of the derivatives.
 Constant Rule
◆ Find the derivative of:
f ( x) = 7
f '( x) = 0

y = −3
dy
=0 or y ' = 0
dx
 Power Rule
◆ Differentiate:
3 100
f ( x) = x g ( x) = x
2 99
f '( x) = 3 x g '( x) = 100 x

9
y=x
dy 8
= 9x
dx
 Constant Multiple Rule
◆ Find the derivative of:
1
y = 2x 3

dy − 23
= 2( 1
3 x )
dx
dy 2
= 2
dx 3 x 3
 Constant Multiple Rule
◆ Find the derivative of:
2
4x 4 2
f ( x) = = x
5 5
f '( x) = 4
5 (2x )
8
f '( x) = x
5
 Constant Multiple Rule
◆ Find the derivative of:
7
g ( x) = 5 x

6
g '( x) = 35 x
 Rewriting Before Differentiating
Function Rewrite Differentiate Simplify

5 5 −3 5 15
f ( x) = f ( x) = x f '( x ) = ( −3 x −4 ) f '( x ) = − 4
2 x3 2 2 2x
 Rewriting Before Differentiating
Function Rewrite Differentiate Simplify

7 7 2 7 14
g( x ) = −2
g( x ) = x g '( x ) = (2 x ) g '( x ) = x
3x 3 3 3
 Rewriting Before Differentiating
Function Rewrite Differentiate Simplify

1 1 − 12 1
h( x ) = x h( x ) = x 2 h '( x ) = x h '( x ) = 1
2 2x 2
 Rewriting Before Differentiating
Function Rewrite Differentiate Simplify

1
j( x ) = 2
1 2x
3
1 ⎛ 2 −53 ⎞ 1
j( x ) = j '( x ) = ⎜ − x ⎟ j '( x ) = − 5
3
2 x 2
2⎝ 3 ⎠ 3x 3
1 −23
j( x ) = x
2
 Sum & Difference Rules
◆ Differentiate:
2
f ( x) = 5 x + 7 x − 6
f '( x) = 10x +7

6 5 2
g ( x) = 4 x − 3 x − 10 x + 5 x + 16
5
g '( x) = 24x −15x −20x +5
4
…TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTION…
 LOGARITHMIC AND EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

x
d(ln x) 1 d(e )
= =e x
dx x dx
x
d(log a x) 1 d(a )
= = a ln a
x

dx x ln a dx
…PRODUCT RULE…
d d d
⎡⎣ f (x )⋅ g (x )⎤⎦ = [ f ( x)]g ( x) + [g ( x)] f ( x)
dx dx dx

○ In words, the derivative of a product of two

functions is the first function times the derivative
of the second plus the second function times of the
first.
…QUOTIENT RULE…
d d
g ( x ) [ f ( x ) ]− f ( x ) [g ( x ) ]
d ⎡ f ( x )⎤ dx dx
⎢ ⎥= 2
dx ⎣ g ( x) ⎦ [g ( x)]

○ In words, the derivative of a quotient is the

denominator times the derivative of the numerator
minus the numerator times the derivative of the
denominator, all divided by denominator squared.
 …EXAMPLES…
Product Rule Quotient Rule
…CHAIN RULE…
If h( x) = g ( f ( x) ) then

hʹ( x) = g ʹ ( f ( x) )⋅ f ʹ( x)

EG -

○ The derivative of f(g(x)) is the derivative of the

outside function evaluated at the inside function
times the derivatives of inside function.
SEATWORK.( 1/2 CW) DIFFERENTIATE THE FF. FUNCTIONS : ( 15 MINS)

2
1. f (x) = 5x − 2 3

x
2.y = 2(x − 2x)
3 3

3. s(t) = (t − 4)(3t +6t) 2 4

3
8w
4. q(w) =
2w − 3
5. g(x) = −5 x + 4 3
DERIVATIVE as SLOPE OF THE TANGENT LINE

The slope of the tangent

line at the point (a,f(a)) = f ' (a)
Ta
n
ge
nt
lin
ea
tx
=3

Slope of this line = f ' (a)

SLOPE OF THE TANGENT LINE
AVERAGE RATE OF CHANGE AND INSTANTANEOUS RATE OF CHANGE

average rate of change instantaneous rate of change =

average rate of change of y

Δy Δy
with respect to x over the
=
Δx = lim
interval [x1,x2] Δx →0 Δx

f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
= lim
x2 → x1 x2 − x1

Derivative of y with respect to x

dy/dx
EXAMPLE