Limit Definition of The Derivative
Limit Definition of The Derivative
Limit Definition of The Derivative
Derivative
Objective
To use the limit definition to find the
derivative of a function.
TS: Devoloping a capacity for working
within ambiguity.
Slope
Slope: the rate at which a line rises or falls
To
calculate the slope of the tangent line
we will use the difference quotient.
The Difference Quotient
Limit Definition of the Derivative
The derivative is the formula which gives
the slope of the tangent line at any point x
for f (x), and is denoted
f ( x x) f ( x)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
f '( x) “f prime of x”
Prime notation
y' “y prime”
dy
Leibniz notation “the derivative of y with respect to x”
dx
Derivatives
The process of finding derivatives is called
differentiation.
f ( x x) f ( x)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
Limit Definition of the Derivative
f ( x) x 2 3x 5
f ( x x) f ( x)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
( x x) 2 3( x x) 5 ( x 2 3 x 5)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
x 2 2 xx (x) 2 3 x 3x 5 x 2 3 x 5
f '( x) lim
x0 x
Limit Definition of the Derivative
2 xx (x) 3x 2
f '( x) lim
x0 x
x(2 x x 3)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
f '( x) 2 x 3
A formula for finding the
slope of the tangent line
of f (x) at a given point.
Limit Definition of the Derivative
Use the limit definition to find the
derivative of:
f ( x) 8 x 2 1
f ( x x) f ( x)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
Limit Definition of the Derivative
f ( x) 8 x 2 1
f ( x x) f ( x)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
8( x x) 2 1 (8 x 2 1)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
8( x 2 2 xx (x) 2 ) 1 8 x 2 1
f '( x) lim
x0 x
Limit Definition of the Derivative
8 x 2 16 xx 8(x) 2 1 8 x 2 1
f '( x) lim
x0 x
x(16 x 8x)
f '( x) lim
x0 x
f '( x) 16 x
A formula for finding the
slope of the tangent line
of f (x) at a given point.
Differentiability
Not every function is differentiable at all
points.
Some common situations in which a
function will not be differentiable at a point
include:
1. Vertical tangent lines
2. Discontinuities (like a hole, break, or vertical
asymptote)
3. Sharp turns (called cusps & nodes)
Differentiability
Differentiability
Differentiability
Differentiability
CALCULUS JEOPARDY!
$200
Answer:
It’s computed by finding the limit of the
difference quotient as ∆x approaches 0.
Question:
What is the derivative?
CALCULUS JEOPARDY!
$400
Answer:
It’s used to find the slope of a function
at a point.
Question:
What is the derivative?
CALCULUS JEOPARDY!
$600
Answer:
It’s used to find the slope of the tangent
line to a graph f (x), and is usually denoted
f’(x).
Question:
What is the derivative?
CALCULUS JEOPARDY!
$800
Answer:
It’s used to find the instantaneous rate of
change of a function.
Question:
What is the derivative?
CALCULUS JEOPARDY!
$1000
Answer:
It’s the thing we love most about calculus.
Question:
What is the derivative?
The Derivative is…
computed by finding the limit of the difference
quotient as ∆x approaches 0.