UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Differential Calculus

Math 213a
 Topic Outline
• Introduction
• Functions and Continuity
• The Derivative, Slope and Rate of Change
• Derivatives of Algebraic Functions
• Polynomial Curves
• Derivatives of Transcendental Functions
• Application of the Derivatives

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 Intended Learning Outcomes
After learning this course, the student must be able to:
ILO 1. Graph different types of functions
ILO 2. Interpret the graph of functions
ILO 3. Interpret derivatives as slope and rate of change
ILO 4. Perform basic differential of Algebraic Functions
ILO 5. Sketch the curve and determine different parts of a curve.
ILO 6. Perform basic differential of Transcendental Functions
ILO7. Solve word problems using derivatives

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Introduction to Differential
Calculus

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 What is Differential Calculus
Differential calculus is about describing in a
precise fashion the ways in which related
quantities change.

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 What is Differential Calculus
In day to day life we are often interested in the
extent to which a change in one quantity affects a
change in another related quantity. This is called a
rate of change. For example, if you own a motor
car you might be interested in how much a change
in the amount of fuel used affects how far you have
travelled. This rate of change is called fuel
consumption.
If your car has high fuel consumption then a large
change in the amount of fuel in your tank is
accompanied by a small change in the distance you
have travelled

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 What is Differential Calculus
Sprinters are interested in how a change in time is related
to a change in their position. This rate of change is called
velocity. Other rates of change may not have special
names like fuel consumption or velocity, but are
nonetheless important.
For example, an agronomist might be interested in the
extent to which a change in the amount of fertilizer used
on a particular crop affects the yield of the crop.
Economists want to know how a change in the price of a
product affects the demand for that product.

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 Functions
When two quantities x and y are related so that for some
range of values of x the value of y is determined by that
of x, we say that y is a function of x.
The variable x is called the independent variable and y is
called the independent variable or the response variable.

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
Ex.
𝑦=𝑥
𝑦 = 5𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
𝑦 = 𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶

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 Graph of a Function
The function can be graphed by setting a set of
values of dependent variable and determining the
value of the response variable and connecting the
points on a cartesian plane or polar plane.
Ex. 𝑦 = 5𝑥
x y
-2 -10
-1 -5
0 0
1 5
2 10

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 Limits
Let 𝑓(𝑥) be a function of 𝑥 and let 𝑎 be constant.
If there is a number L such that in order to make
the value of f(x) as close to L as may desired, it is
sufficient to choose x close enough to a, but
different from a, then we say that the limit of f(x),
as x approaches a, is L.
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎

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 Signum Function
It is sometimes convenient to make use of what
is called a signum function. Sgn.
sgn 𝑥 = −1 for 𝑥 < 0
sgn 𝑥 = 0 for 𝑥 = 0
sgn 𝑥 = 1 for 𝑥 > 0

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 Limits
The limit of a f(x) can be identified using the
following procedures.
1. Direct substitution.
lim (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5) = 4 2 + 3(4) − 5
𝑥→4
= 16 + 12 − 5
= 23

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 Limits
2. Factoring the common term.
𝑥2 − 1
lim ( )
𝑥→1 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 4

In this function, direct substitution of 1 to x will result to

0
𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑, thus we need to factor the common term
0
between the numerator and denominator.

(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
lim ( )
𝑥→1 (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1)

𝑥+1 1+1
lim =
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 4 1+4
2
=
5
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 Limits
3. Using left hand and right hand limits
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 12
lim ( 2 )
𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 3
Using left hand limit:
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 12
lim ( )
𝑥→3− 2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 3
We will substitute multiple values that are close to 1 from the left.
Say 2.9, 2.99, 2.999. 2.99999 until the answers gets closer and
closer or farther.

2.992 + 2.99 − 12 233

lim− ( 2
)= ≈ 1.4
𝑥→3 2(2.99) − 7(2.99) + 3 166
2
2.999 + 2.999 − 12 2333
lim−( 2
)= ≈ 1.4
𝑥→3 2(2.999) − 7(2.999) + 3 1666

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 Limits
3. Using left hand and right hand limits
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 12
lim ( 2 )
𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 3
Using right hand limit:
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 12
lim+( 2 )
𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 3
We will substitute multiple values that are close to 1 from the
right. Say 3.1, 3.01, 3.001, 3.0001 until the answers gets closer and
closer or farther.

3.012 + 3.01 − 12 701

lim−( 2
)= = 1.396 ≈ 1.4
𝑥→1 2(3.01) − 7(3.01) + 3 502
2
3.001 + 3.001 − 12
lim− ( 2
) = 1.399 ≈ 1.4
𝑥→1 2(3.001) − 7(3.001) + 3

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 Limits
Using left hand and right hand limits, the answers get
closer to 1.4 therefore, it is safe to say that
𝑥 2 +𝑥−12
lim ( 2 ) = 1.4 .
𝑥→3 2𝑥 −7𝑥+3

In any case that the answers using left hand and right
hand limits both goes to ∞ and the same direction, the
limit is ∞ with the same direction (say +∞ 𝑜𝑟 − ∞).
If the answers between left hand and right hand limits
goes to ∞ but with different direction the limit does not
exist.

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 Continuity and Discontinuity
The function is said to be continuous at x = a if all
three following conditions are satisfied.
𝑓 𝑎 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡
lim 𝑓 𝑥 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡
𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
If these conditions are not satisfied, then the
function is discontinuous at x = a.

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 Continuity and Discontinuity
𝑥 3 −9𝑥+10
Ex. The function 𝑓 𝑥 = is undefined
𝑥−2
when x = 2 because both the numerator nd the
denominator vanishes at x = 2. But
𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 + 10
lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
(𝑥−2)(𝑥 2 +2𝑥−5)
= lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
=lim 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 5 = 3
𝑥→2
Only one condition is satisfied, therefore the
function is discontinuous at x = 3.
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 The Derivative
Consider a continuous function
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
An increase in 𝑥 denoted by the symbol ∆𝑥 will also result in
an increase in 𝑦 denoted by ∆𝑦. When 𝑥 changes to 𝑥 + ∆𝑥,
the 𝑦 changes to 𝑦 + ∆𝑦. Now we have
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥)
∆𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑦
∆𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥
∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥+∆𝑥 −𝑓 𝑥
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
The derivative of y with respect to x is the limit of the ratio
∆𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∆𝑥 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 0 and is denoted by the symbol
∆𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥
= lim =
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
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 The Derivative
Example: Differentiate the function
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥

𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)3 −2 𝑥 + ∆𝑥

∆𝑦 = (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)3 −2 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥

∆𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 ∆𝑥 + 3(∆𝑥)2 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 − 2∆𝑥 − 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥

∆𝑦 3𝑥 2 ∆𝑥 + 3(∆𝑥)2 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 3 − 2∆𝑥
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥

∆𝑦 3𝑥 2 ∆𝑥 + 3(∆𝑥)2 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 3 − 2∆𝑥
lim =
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 The Derivative
∆𝑦 3𝑥 2 ∆𝑥 + 3(∆𝑥)2 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 3 − 2∆𝑥
lim =
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
∆𝑦
lim = 3𝑥 2 + 3 ∆𝑥 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2
−2
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

Substitute ∆𝑥 𝑡𝑜 0.
∆𝑦
lim = 3𝑥 2 − 2
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

𝑑 𝑑
Therefore, the (𝑦) = (𝑥 3 − 2𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

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 The Derivative interpreted as
slope
The equation of the line of the slope m can be written as 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
Deriving this function gives
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑚 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 𝑏
∆𝑦 = 𝑚 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 𝑏 − 𝑦
∆𝑦 = 𝑚 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 + 𝑏 − (𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏)
∆𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑚∆𝑥 + 𝑏 − 𝑚𝑥 − 𝑏
∆𝑦 = 𝑚∆𝑥
∆𝑦 𝑚∆𝑥
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦
= lim =𝑚
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

The slope of the tangent of the curve at any point s simple called the
slope of the curve at that point.

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 Rate of Change
The idea of rate of change of a function occurs constantly in
everyday experience. Such familiar expressions a miles per hour,
miles per gallon, pressure per square inch, value per acre, price per
ton, all represent rates.

Given the function 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 .

∆𝑦
The ratio is called the average rate of change over the interval
∆𝑥
∆𝑥. If we let ∆𝑥 approach zero, this ratio in general approaches a
limiting value, which is defined as the rate of change of y
corresponding to the given value of x, or the instantaneous rate.
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦
= lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
the rate of change of y with respect to x.
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 Summary
• A function is when two variables are related to each
other and the value of one ,x, determines the value of
the other, y.
• The limit of a function y=f(x) is determined when we
pick a point at x close to x=a but not a.
• The function is said to be continuous at point a when
f(a) and lim 𝑓 𝑥 exist and 𝑓 𝑎 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 .
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Otherwise, the function is discontinuous at a.
• The derivative of a function is also the slope of the
tangent line at that point and the rate of change.

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 References
Abao, Z., Gaquing, N., Guhao, E., Lopez-Conde, R., Montero-Galliguez, T. 2010.
Differential Calculus.
Cuaresma, G., Cuaresma M.C.N., Loyola, J., 2004. Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1.
UPLB Math Series Vol. 3.
Fradkin, L., 2012.Differential Calculus Simplified to the Bone. Retrieved from
https://www.freebookcentre.net/maths-books-download/Differential-Calculus-
Simplified-to-the-Bone.html
Love, C.E. Rainville, E.D. 1969. Differential and Integral Calculus. 6th Edition
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/old-differential-calculus/basic-differentiation-dc
http://www.mathtutor.ac.uk/differentiation
Mathalino.com, differential calculus.

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