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Derivatives

This document introduces derivatives and how to calculate them. It explains that derivatives represent the slope of a function at a given point. To find the derivative of a function f(x), we use the slope formula: Change in Y / Change in X. We take the limit as the change in x (Δx) approaches 0. For example, the derivative of x^2 is 2x, meaning the slope of x^2 at any point x is 2x. The derivative of x^3 is 3x^2. Derivative rules can be used to simplify finding derivatives of more complex functions, like trigonometric functions.

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46 views3 pages

Derivatives

This document introduces derivatives and how to calculate them. It explains that derivatives represent the slope of a function at a given point. To find the derivative of a function f(x), we use the slope formula: Change in Y / Change in X. We take the limit as the change in x (Δx) approaches 0. For example, the derivative of x^2 is 2x, meaning the slope of x^2 at any point x is 2x. The derivative of x^3 is 3x^2. Derivative rules can be used to simplify finding derivatives of more complex functions, like trigonometric functions.

Uploaded by

gaby1mihalcea
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Derivatives

It is all about slope!

Slope = Change in YChange in X


gradient

We can find an average slope between two points.

average slope = 24/15

But how do we find the slope at a point?

There is nothing to measure!


slope 0/0 = ????

But with derivatives we use a small difference ...

... then have it shrink towards zero.


slope delta y / delta x
Let us Find a Derivative!

To find the derivative of a function y = f(x) we use the slope formula:

Slope = Change in Y Change in X = ?y?x

slope delta x and delta y

And (from the diagram) we see that:


x changes from x to x+?x
y changes from f(x) to f(x+?x)

Now follow these steps:

Fill in this slope formula: ?y?x = f(x+?x) - f(x)?x


Simplify it as best we can
Then make ?x shrink towards zero.

Like this:
Example: the function f(x) = x2

We know f(x) = x2, and we can calculate f(x+?x) :


Start with: f(x+?x) = (x+?x)2
Expand (x + ?x)2: f(x+?x) = x2 + 2x ?x + (?x)2

The slope formula is: f(x+?x) - f(x) ?x


Put in f(x+?x) and f(x): x2 + 2x ?x + (?x)2 - x2 ?x
Simplify (x2 and -x2 cancel): 2x ?x + (?x)2 ?x
Simplify more (divide through by ?x):= 2x + ?x
Then as ?x heads towards 0 we get:= 2x

Result: the derivative of x2 is 2x


In other words, the slope at x is 2x

We write dx instead of "?x heads towards 0".

And "the derivative of" is commonly written d/dx :

d/dxx2 = 2x
"The derivative of x2 equals 2x"
or simply "d dx of x2 equals 2x"

slope x^2 at 2 is 4
What does d/dxx2 = 2x mean?

It means that, for the function x2, the slope or "rate of change" at any point is
2x.

So when x=2 the slope is 2x = 4, as shown here:

Or when x=5 the slope is 2x = 10, and so on.

Note: sometimes f�(x) is also used for "the derivative of":

f�(x) = 2x
"The derivative of f(x) equals 2x"
or simply "f-dash of x equals 2x"

Let's try another example.


Example: What is d/dxx3 ?

We know f(x) = x3, and can calculate f(x+?x) :


Start with: f(x+?x) = (x+?x)3
Expand (x + ?x)3: f(x+?x) = x3 + 3x2 ?x + 3x (?x)2 + (?x)3

The slope formula: f(x+?x) - f(x) ?x


Put in f(x+?x) and f(x): x3 + 3x2 ?x + 3x (?x)2 + (?x)3 - x3 ?x
Simplify (x3 and -x3 cancel): 3x2 ?x + 3x (?x)2 + (?x)3 ?x
Simplify more (divide through by ?x): = 3x2 + 3x ?x + (?x)2
Then as ?x heads towards 0 we get:= 3x2

Result: the derivative of x3 is 3x2

Have a play with it using the Derivative Plotter.

Derivatives of Other Functions

We can use the same method to work out derivatives of other functions (like sine,
cosine, logarithms, etc).

But in practice the usual way to find derivatives is to use:

Derivative Rules
Example: what is the derivative of sin(x) ?

On Derivative Rules it is listed as being cos(x)

Done.

Using the rules can be tricky!


Example: what is the derivative of cos(x)sin(x) ?

You can't just find the derivative of cos(x) and multiply it by the derivative of
sin(x) ... you must use the "Product Rule" as explained on the Derivative Rules
page.

It actually works out to be cos2(x) - sin2(x)

So that is your next step: learn how to use the rules.

Notation

"Shrink towards zero" is actually written as a limit like this:

f-dash of x equals lim as delta x goes to 0 of ( f(x + delta x) - f(x) ) / delta x


"The derivative of f equals the limit as ?x goes to zero of f(x+?x) - f(x) over ?x"

Or sometimes the derivative is written like this (explained on Derivatives as


dy/dx):

dy/dx ( f(x + dx) - f(x) ) / dx

The process of finding a derivative is called "differentiation".

You do differentiation ... to get a derivative.

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