Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Math 3A: Calculus with Applications

Lecture 07: The Derivative
• A Formal Definition of the Derivative„
• A Bunch of Example Derivatives,
• An Application & More!

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Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Formal Definition of Derivative

If y = f(x) is a function, then

f′ (a) = the derivative of f(x) at x = a

= the slope of the tangent line to y = f(x)

at the point (x, y) = (a, f(a))

dy
=
dx x=a

How Do We Compute The Derivative?

f′ (a) = the limit of slopes of secant lines to y = f(x)

between (x, y) = (a, f(a)) and (x, f(x))

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Derivative as a limit
y

f(x)
f(x)−f(a)
f(a)
x−a

rise f(x)−f(a)
m= run = x−a

a x x

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Let x approach a
y
rise f(x)−f(a)
m= run = x−a

f(x)−f(a)
slope of tangent = lim x−a
x→a

a x x

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Find the derivatives

f(x) − f(a)
1. Use the definition of derivative f′ (a) = lim to find the derivative of
x→a x−a
f(x) = 2x + 7 at x = 1.
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) DNE

y
f(x) − f(1) (2x + 7) − (9)
=
12 x−1 x−1
2x − 2
=
x−1
8
2(x − 1)
=
x−1
4 Answer: C
= 2 if x ̸= 1

f(x) − f(1)
x lim = lim(2) = 2.
1 2 3 x→1 x−1 x→1
Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Find the derivatives

f(x) − f(a)
2. Use the definition of derivative f′ (a) = lim to find the derivative of
x→a x−a
f(x) = x2 at x = 2.
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) DNE

12 f(x) − f(2) x2 − 4
=
x−2 x−2
Answer: D (x + 2)(x − 2)
8 =
x−2
4 = x + 2 if x ̸= 2

f(x) − f(2)
lim = lim(x + 2) = 4.
x→2 x−2 x→2
1 2 3 x
Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Find the derivatives

f(x) − f(a)
3. Use the definition of derivative f′ (a) = lim to find the derivative of
x→a x−a
f(x) = x3 + x at x = 1.
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) DNE

12 f(x) − f(1) x3 + x − 2
=
x−1 x−1
8 (x + x + 2)(x − 1)
2
=
x−1
4 = x2 + x + 2 if x ̸= 1
Answer: D f(x) − f(1)
lim = lim(x2 + x + 2) = 4.
x→1 x−1 x→1
1 2 3 x
Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Find the derivatives

f(x) − f(a)
4. Use the definition of derivative f′ (a) = lim to find the derivative of
√ x→a x−a
f(x) = x at x = 4.

(A) 0 (B) 1/4 (C) 1/2 (D) 1 (E) DNE

√ √
f(x) − f(4) x−2 x+2
3y = ·√
x−4 x−4 x+2
2 x−4
= √
(x − 4)( x + 2)
1 1
Answer: B =√ if x ̸= 4
x+2
0 1 2 3 4 5 x f(x) − f(4) 1 1
lim = lim √ = .
x→4 x−4 x→4 x+2 4
Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics
Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Find the derivatives

f(x) − f(a)
5. Use the definition of derivative f′ (a) = lim to find the derivative of
x→a x−a
f(x) = |x| at x = 0.

(A) −1 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) 2 (E) DNE

y
f(x) − f(0) |x| − 0
=
1 x−0 x−0
|x|
Answer: E =
x
.

f(x) − f(0)
−1 0 1 x lim DNE
x→4 x−0

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Alternate Notation
y

f(x)f(a+h)
f(x)−f(a)f(a+h)−f(a)
f(a)
x−ax−a=h

rise f(a +h)

f(a+ h)−−f(a)
f(a)
f′ (a)
m = = lim =
runh→0 hh

a xa+h x

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Question
6. We can think of the limit
(1 + h)−2 − 1
lim
h→0 h
as a derivative f′ (a) for some function f(x) and some value x = a. If we
assume a = 1, then this is f′ (1) for some function f(x). Which function?

(A) f(x) = x2 (B) f(x) = x−2 (C) f(x) = x−2 − 1

(D) f(x) = (x + h)−2 (E) None of these

Idea: f(1) = 1 and f(1 + h) = (1 + h)−2 . So f ( ) = −2

.

Answer: B

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Wolfe’s Royalties
7. For his 1936 memoir The Story of a Novel, Thomas Wolfe received royalties
(in dollars) of


 150x if 0 ≤ x ≤ 3

R(x) = 450 + 187.5(x − 3) if 3 < x ≤ 7.5


1293.75 + 225(x − 7.5) if x > 7.5

where x represents the number of thousands of books sold.

(A) Roughly sketch this function.

(B) Using the limit definition of derivative, try to compute R′ (1). In your own
words, what does R′ (1) represent? How does it relate to your sketch?
(C) Using the limit definition of derivative, try to compute R′ (3). Does it exist?
Why or why not? How does your answer relate to your sketch?

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics

Introduction Derivatives Notation Application

Wolfe
y
Royalties II
m=225

$1, 293.75

$1000
m=187.5

$450
m=150

3 6 7.5 9 12 x

Lecture 07: The Derivative Peter Garfield, UCSB Mathematics