Sections 2.2-2.3
Sections 2.2-2.3
Sections 2.2-2.3
2 THE DERIVATIVE AS A
FUNCTION: OBJECTIVES
Define the derivative function
Graph the derivative function
Identify where a function has no derivative
DEFINE THE DERIVATIVE FUNCTION
The derivative of 𝑓 at a real number 𝑐 has been defined as the real
number
′
𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑐)
𝑓 𝑐 = lim
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥 − 𝑐
provided the limit exists.
Letting 𝑥 = 𝑐 + ℎ, ℎ ≠ 0 we notice that as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐, then ℎ
approaches 0
𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑐) 𝑓 𝑐 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑐) 𝑓 𝑐 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑐)
𝑓 ′ 𝑐 = lim = lim = lim
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥 − 𝑐 ℎ→0 𝑐+ℎ − 𝑐 ℎ→0 ℎ
So an alternate form of the derivative is
′
𝑓 𝑐 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑐)
𝑓 𝑐 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
FINDING THE DERIVATIVE OF A
FUNCTION AT A NUMBER
Example: Find the derivative of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 at any
real number 𝑐 using the alternate definition.
𝑐 + ℎ 2 − 4 𝑐 + ℎ − (𝑐 2 − 4𝑐)
𝑓 𝑐 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑐)
𝑓′ 𝑐 = lim = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ(2𝑐 + ℎ − 4)
= lim = lim (2𝑐 + ℎ − 4) = 2c − 4
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0
′
𝑓 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 = lim = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑥 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥 𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑥
= lim ⋅ = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ( 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥)
ℎ 1 1
= lim = lim =
ℎ→0 ℎ( 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥) ℎ→0 𝑥 + ℎ + 𝑥 2 𝑥
The limit does not exist when 𝑥 = 0. But for all other 𝑥 in the domain of
𝑓, the limit does exist. So, the domain of the derivative function
1
𝑓′ 𝑥 = is {𝑥|𝑥 > 0}.
2 𝑥
INTERPRETING THE DERIVATIVE AS A
RATE OF CHANGE EXAMPLE
Example: The surface area 𝑆 (in square meters) of a balloon is
expanding as a function of time 𝑡 (in seconds) according to 𝑆 =
𝑆 𝑡 = 3𝑡 2 . Find the rate of change of the surface area of the balloon
with respect to time. What are the units of 𝑆′(𝑡)?
′ 𝑆 𝑡 + ℎ − 𝑆(𝑡) 3(𝑡 + ℎ)2 − 3𝑡 2
Solution: 𝑆 𝑡 = lim = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(3) (𝑥 − 3)4/7 1
lim+ = lim+ = lim+ =∞
𝑥→3 𝑥−3 𝑥→3 𝑥−3 𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)3/7
𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(3) 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(3)
Since lim = −∞ and lim+= ∞, we
𝑥→3− 𝑥−3 𝑥→3 𝑥−3
conclude that the derivative does not exist at 3.
SHOWING THAT A FUNCTION HAS NO
DERIVATIVE (2 of 2)
DIFFERENTIABILITY AND CONTINUITY
THEOREM
If a function 𝑓 has a derivative at a number 𝑐, then 𝑓 is
continuous at 𝑐. Continuity→Diffirentiability
Remark:
If a function 𝑓 is discontinuous at a number 𝑐, then 𝑓 has no
derivative at 𝑐.
Example
Derivative of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥
If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥, then
𝑑
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 𝑥=1
𝑑𝑥
THEOREM Simple Power Rule
The derivative of the power function 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑛 , where 𝑛 ≥ 1
is an integer, is
𝑑 𝑛
𝑦′ = 𝑥 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 Power Rule of Differentiation
𝑑𝑥
POWER RULE
Power Rule
The derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑛 , where 𝑛 is any integer, is
𝑑 𝑛
𝑦′ = 𝑥 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 −2
Examples: 1. 𝑥 = −2𝑥 −3
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 1 𝑑 −1
2. = 𝑢 = −1𝑢−2
𝑑𝑢 𝑢 𝑑𝑢
𝑑 3 𝑑 12
3. = 3𝑡 −4 =3⋅ −4𝑡 −5 = −12𝑡 −5 = − 5
𝑑𝑡 𝑡 4 𝑑𝑡 𝑡
CONSTANT MULTIPLE RULE
2. If 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 12 , then 𝑔′ 𝑥 = 12𝑥 11
𝑥+𝑥−3𝑥 2
3. If 𝑓(𝑥) = , find 𝑓 ′ 𝑥
𝑥
1
−2
𝑓 𝑥 =𝑥 + 1 − 3𝑥
3
−2
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 =(−1/2) 𝑥 −3
EXAMPLES
′ 𝑑 𝑑
𝑔 𝑡 = 𝑡 − 3, so 𝑔 𝑡 = 𝑡 − 1 =1−0=1
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
DIFFERENTIATE POLYNOMIAL
FUNCTIONS
Combining the rules for the derivative of a constant, a
power function, and sum or difference allows us to
differentiate any polynomial function.
Example: Find the derivative of
𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 5.
Solution:
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 3 𝑥4 − 4 𝑥3 +2 𝑥2 − 3 𝑥 − 5
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 3 ⋅ 4𝑥 3 − 4 ⋅ 3𝑥 2 − 2 ⋅ 2𝑥 − 3 ⋅ 1 − 0 = 12𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 3
DIFFERENTIATE THE EXPONENTIAL
FUNCTION
Derivative of the Exponential Function 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥
The derivative of the exponential function 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 is
𝑑 𝑥
𝑦′ = 𝑒 = 𝑒𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Example:
Find the derivative of 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑥 4 .
′
𝑑 𝑥 𝑑
𝑓 𝑥 =3 𝑒 + 𝑥 4 = 3𝑒 𝑥 + 4𝑥 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥