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Tangent Lines: The Derivative Function: Video Companion

1) The document discusses calculating the derivative of a function f(x) = x^2 using the limit definition of the derivative. It shows that the derivative f'(a) = 2a, which is positive if a is positive and negative if a is negative. 2) It then calculates the derivatives f'(a), f'(b), and f'(c) to show that the slope is greatest at b. 3) A graph is included showing the original function f(x) = x^2 and its derivative function f'(x) = 2x.

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Yandi Layadi
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65 views3 pages

Tangent Lines: The Derivative Function: Video Companion

1) The document discusses calculating the derivative of a function f(x) = x^2 using the limit definition of the derivative. It shows that the derivative f'(a) = 2a, which is positive if a is positive and negative if a is negative. 2) It then calculates the derivatives f'(a), f'(b), and f'(c) to show that the slope is greatest at b. 3) A graph is included showing the original function f(x) = x^2 and its derivative function f'(x) = 2x.

Uploaded by

Yandi Layadi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data Science Math Skills

Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger


Duke University

Tangent Lines: The Derivative Function


Video companion

1 Introduction
Derivative formula:
f (a + h) − f (a)
f 0 (a) = lim
h→0 h
y
f (x) = x2

x
c a b

• Slope is positive at a: f 0 (a) > 0

• Slope is positive at b and greater than at a: f 0 (b) > f 0 (a)

• Slope is negative at c: f 0 (c) < 0

1
Data Science Math Skills
Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger
Duke University

2 Calculate derivative
f (a + h) − f (a)
f 0 (a) = lim
h→0 h
(a + h) − a2
2
= lim
h→0 h
a + 2ah + h2 − a2
2
= lim
h→0 h
h(2a + h)
= lim
h→0 h
= lim (2a + h)
h→0
= 2a

f 0 (a) = 2a
f 0 (b) = 2b
f 0 (c) = 2c

Can verify 2a > 0, 2b > 2a, and 2c < 0

2
Data Science Math Skills
Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger
Duke University

3 Graph of derivative function


y f (x) = x2
f 0 (x) = 2x

Next video: Finding where derivative is zero (where the tangent line to the function is
horizontal) is important for optimization problems.

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