TOPIC 5.

3: The Definition of the Derivative

The expression
f (x) f (x0 )
lim
x!x0 x x0
computes more than just the slope of the tangent line. The fraction in the limit also
gives us the relative change of the function on the time or space interval [x0 , x]. Thus,
we may interpret this limit as the instantaneous rate of change of f with respect to x.
(See Enrichment) It is therefore fitting to make an abstraction out of this. Afterwards, we
can regard this as a tool that can be used in finding the slope of the tangent line, or in
finding the instantaneous rate of change. In what follows, we define this expression as the
derivative of f (x) at x0 .

Definition of the Derivative

Let f be a function defined on an open interval I ✓ R, and let x0 2 I. The derivative
of f at x0 is defined to be

f (x) f (x0 )
f 0 (x0 ) = lim
x!x0 x x0
if this limit exists. That is, the derivative of f at x0 is the slope of the tangent line
at (x0 , f (x0 )), if it exists.

Notations: If y = f (x), the derivative of f is commonly denoted by

d d dy
f 0 (x), Dx [f (x)], [f (x)], [y], .
dx dx dx

Remark 1: Note that the limit definition of the derivative is inherently indeterminate!
0
Hence, the usual techniques for evaluating limits which are indeterminate of type are
0
applied, e.g., factoring, rationalization, or using one of the following established
limits:

sin x 1 cos x ex 1
(i) lim =1 (ii) lim =0 (iii) lim = 1.
x!0 x x!0 x x!0 x

EXAMPLE 1: Compute f 0 (1) for each of the following functions:

1. f (x) = 3x 1 2x
3. f (x) =
x+1
p
2. f (x) = 2x2 + 4 4. f (x) = x + 8

1
Solution. Here, x0 is fixed to be equal to 1. Using the definition above,
f (x) f (1)
f 0 (1) = lim .
x!1 x 1
Remember that what we are computing, f 0 (1), is just the slope of the tangent line to
y = f (x) at x = 1.

1. Note that f (1) = 2, so by factoring

(3x
1) 2
f 0 (1) = lim
x!1x 1
3(x 1)
= lim
x!1 x 1
= lim 3
x!1

= 3.

2. Here, f (1) = 6 so again, by factoring,

(2x2 + 4) 6
f 0 (1) = lim
x!1 x 1
2(x + 1)(x 1)
= lim
x!1 x 1
= lim 2(x + 1)
x!1

= 4.

3. We see that f (1) = 1. So, from the definition,

2x
x+1 1
f 0 (1) = lim .
x!1 x 1
We multiply both the numerator and the denominator by x + 1 to simplify the complex
fraction:
2x
x+1 x+1 1
f 0 (1) = lim ·
x!1 x 1 x+1
2x (x + 1)
= lim
x!1 (x 1)(x + 1)
x 1
= lim
x!1 (x 1)(x + 1)
1 1
= lim = .
x!1 x + 1 2

2
4. Note that f (1) = 3. Therefore, by rationalizing the numerator (meaning, multiplying
p
by x + 8 + 3),
p p
0 x+8 3 x+8+3
f (1) = lim ·p
x!1 x 1 x+8+3
(x + 8) 9
= lim p
x!1 (x 1)( x + 8 + 3)
1
= lim p
x!1 x+8+3
1
= .
6
.

AN EQUIVALENT DEFINITION OF THE DERIVATIVE

Recall that we have defined the derivative of a function f at x0 as follows:

f (x) f (x0 )
lim .
x!x0 x x0
There is another definition of the derivative which is derived by using the substitution

x = x0 + x (2.1)

into the above limit definition of the derivative.

Observe that x measures the displacement as we move from x to x0 . Thus, in the figure
below, the point to the right of x0 becomes x0 + x, if x > 0. It should be clear
algebraically from (2.1), and from the figure, that letting x approach x0 is equivalent
to letting x approach 0. Applying the substitution, we now have
f (x0 + x) f (x0 )
f 0 (x0 ) = lim .
x!0 (x0 + x) x0

TL
Q
f (x0 + x)
y = f (x)
P
f (x0 )

x0 x0 + x
x

3
We present this fact formally below:

Alternative Definition of the Derivative

Let f be a function defined on an open interval I ✓ R, and let x 2 I. The derivative
of f at x is defined to be

f (x + x) f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim (2.2)
x!0 x
if this limit exists.

Teaching Tip
Confusion may arise when students think of x as ⇥ x or as an operator that
affects x. Here, x should be treated like any other variable. This is why many
textbooks use h instead of x. In this case, equation (2.2) becomes

f (x + h) f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim .
h!0 h
Usually, this is the definition used to obtain the general expression of the derivative
of a function at any point x 2 I.

Remark 2: Remember that f (x0 + h) is basically a composition of two functions. Therefore,

it is determined by replacing all instances of x in the definition of f by x0 + h. For example, if

f (x) = x2 + 3x and g(x) = cos(3x) ex ,

then

f (x0 + h) = (x0 + h)2 + 3(x0 + h) and g(x0 + h) = cos(3(x0 + h)) ex0 +h .

EXAMPLE 2: Let f (x) = sin x, g(x) = cos x, and s(x) = ex . Find f 0 (2⇡), g 0 (⇡), and
s0 (3).

Solution. We use the alternative definition of the derivative.

(a) Here, we substitute x0 = 2⇡.

f (2⇡ + h) f (2⇡)
f 0 (2⇡) = lim
h!0 h
sin(2⇡ + h) 0
= lim .
h!0 h

4
 Using the sum identity of the sine function: sin(↵ + ) = sin ↵ cos + cos ↵ sin , and
noting that sin(2⇡) = 0 and cos(2⇡) = 1, we get

sin(2⇡) cos h + cos(2⇡) sin h

f 0 (2⇡) = lim
h!0 h
sin h
= lim
h!0 h

= 1. (Why?)

(b)

g(⇡ + h) g(⇡)
g 0 (⇡) = lim
h!0 h
cos(⇡ + h) ( 1)
= lim .
h!0 h
Using the sum identity of the cosine function: cos(↵ + ) = cos ↵ cos sin ↵ sin ,
and noting that cos ⇡ = 1 and sin ⇡ = 0, we get
cos ⇡ cos h sin ⇡ sin h + 1
g 0 (⇡) = lim
h!0 h
cos h + 1
= lim
h!0 h
= 0. (Why?)

(c)

s(3 + h) s(3)
s0 (3) = lim
h!0 h
e3+h e3
= lim .
h!0 h

Using the exponent laws, e3+h = e3 eh . Moreover, since e3 is just a constant, we can
factor it out of the limit operator. So,

e3 eh e3
s0 (3) = lim
h!0 h
e h 1
= e3 lim
h!0 h
= e3 . (Why?)