Calculus 1 Lecture Notes

Lecture Note #8

Section (3.2):The Derivative as a Function

Dr. Mohammed A. Matar

November 28, 2022

CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

1 Derivative at a Point

We can define the derivative of y = f (x) at the point x = x0 to be the limit

 
′ f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
f (x0 ) = lim (provided the limit exists).
h→0 h

which represents the slope of the curve y = f (x) at the point P (x0 , f (x0)). The tangent
line to the curve at P is the line through P with this slope.

We now investigate the derivative as a function derived from f by considering the limit at
each point x in the domain of f .

2 The Derivative as a Function

Definition. Derivative Function.

The derivative of the function f (x) with respect to the variable x is the function f0 whose value
at x is
 
′ f (x + h) − f (x)
f (x) = lim (provided the limit exists).
h→0 h
′
provided the limit exists. Function f is differentiable at each value for which f exists.
There are a number of ways to denote the derivative of y = f (x):

′ ′ df dy d
f (x) = y = = = [f ]
dx dx dx

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

Notes.
′
• We can see that f (x) is the slope of the line tangent to y = f (x) as a function of x.
′
• The domain of f is the set of points in the domain of f for which the limit exists, which
means that the domain may be the same as or smaller than the domain of f .

Example 2.1

dv 1
Find the derivative where v = t − .
dt t
Solution
By the definition of derivative we have
   
1 1
(t + h) − − t−
dv v(t + h) − v(t) (t + h) t
= lim = lim
dt h→0
 h h→0
   h   
1 1 1 1 −1 1
= lim (t + h) − − t− = lim h+ +
h→0 h (t + h) t h→0 h t+h t
   
1 −t t+h 1 h
= lim h+ + = lim h+
h→0 h t(t + h) t(t + h) h→0 h t(t + h)
    
1 1 1 1
= lim h 1+ = lim 1 + = 1+ 2
h→0 h t(t + h) h→0 t(t + h) t

Example 2.2

′
Consider the graphs of y = f (x) and y = f (x):
Solution

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

′
• At point A the slope of f is 0 so at point A (with the same x-value as point A) the value
′
of f is 0.

′ ′
• At point B the slope of f is −1, so at point B the value of f is −1.

′ ′
• At point C the slope of f is −4/3, so at point C the value of f is −4/3.

′ ′
• At point D the slope of f is 0, so at point D the value of f is 0.

′ ′
• At point E the slope of f is ≈ 2 , so at point E the value of f is ≈ 2.

Notes.

′
• When f is decreasing (which happens between points A and D) that f is negative.

′
• When f is increasing (which happens to the right of point D) then f is positive.

′
• When the graph of f “levels off” (which happens at points A and D) then f has an
x-intercept.

3 Alternative Formula for the Derivative

If we write z = x + h, then h = z − x and h approaches 0 if and only if z approaches x. The

below formula is sometimes more convenient to use when finding a derivative function, and
focuses on the point z that approaches x.

′ f (z) − f (x)
f = lim
z→x z−x

4 Calculating Derivatives from the Definition

The process of calculating a derivative is called differentiation. To emphasize the idea that
differentiation is an operation performed on a function y = f (x), we use the notation

d
f (x)
dx

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

Example 4.1

1
Differentiate the function k(x) = and find the slope of the tangent line at the value
2+x
x = 2.
Solution
We have

1 1
−
′ k(x + h) − k(x) 2 + (x + h) 2 + x
k (x) = lim = lim
h→0
 h h→0 h 
1 2+x 2+x+h
= lim −
h→0 h (2 + x)(2 + x + h) (2 + x)(2 + x + h)
1 −h −1
= lim = lim
h→0 h (2 + x)(2 + x + h) h→0 (2 + x)(2 + x + h)

−1 −1
= = .
(2 + x)(2 + x + 0) (2 + x)2

′ −1 −1
Now the slope of k(x) at x = 2 is m = k (2) = 2
= .
(2 + (2)) 16

Example 4.2

Use the alternative formula of the derivative to find the derivative of f (x) = x2 − 3x + 4.
Solution
By the alternative formula we have

′ f (z) − f (x) (z 2 − 3z + 4) − (x2 − 3x + 4)

f (x) = lim = lim
z→x z−x z→x z−x
(z 2 − x2 ) − 3(z − x) (z − x)(z + x) − 3(z − x)
= lim = lim
z→x z−x z→x z−x
= lim (z + x) − 3 = ((x) + x) − 3 = 2x − 3.
z→x

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

Example 4.3

Match the given function with the derivative graphed in figures (a)–(d). Solution

′ ′
• Since y = f4 (x) has horizontal tangents at three points, then the graph of y = f4 (x) must
have three x-intercepts.

• So the derivative must be graphed in (c).

′
• The graph of y = f4 (x) is decreasing until it reaches a minimum and that the graph of y
is negative over the corresponding x values.

′
• The graph of y = f4 (x) is increasing until it reaches a maximum and that the graph of y
is positive over the corresponding x.

• Next, the graph of y = f4 (x) is decreasing between the origin and the next minimum and
′
the graph of y is negative over the corresponding x values.

′
• Finally, the graph of y = f4 (x) is increasing after the second minimum the graph of y is
positive over the corresponding x values.

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

Example 4.4

x
Use the definition to differentiate f (x) = .
x−1
Solution

x+h x
f (x + h) − f (x) −
= lim x + h − 1 x − 1
′
f (x) = lim
h→0
 h h→0 h
1 (x + h)(x − 1) − x(x + h − 1)
= lim
h→0 h (x + h − 1)(x − 1)
   
1 −h −1
= lim = lim
h→0 h (x + h − 1)(x − 1) h→0 (x + h − 1)(x − 1)
 
−1 −1
= lim = .
h→0 (x + h − 1)(x − 1) (x − 1)2

Example 4.5

√ √
Find the derivative of f (x) = x for x > 0, and then find the tangent line to the curve y = x
at x = 4.
Solution
√ √
′ f (z) − f (x) z− x
f (x) = lim = lim
z→x z−x z→x z−x
√ √
z− x 1 1
= lim √ √ √ √ = lim √ √ = √ .
z→x ( z − x)( z + x) z→x z + x 2 x

The slope of the curve at x = 4 is

′ 1 1
f (4) = √ = .
2 4 4

1
The tangent is the line through the point (4, 2) with slope . Recall that the line equation
4
with slope m is f (x) = mx + b.

1
y = 2 + (x − 4)
4
1
y = x+1
4

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

5 Differentiable on an Interval; One-Sided Derivatives

′
Definition. A function f is differentiable on an open interval if f (x) is defined for each x in
the open interval. Function f is differentiable on a closed interval [a, b] if it is differentiable on
the interval (a, b) and if the limits:

f (a + h) − f (a)
Right-hand derivative at a : lim+
h→0 h
f (b + h) − f (b)
Left-hand derivative at b : lim−
h→0 h

exist at the endpoints a and b.

Example 5.1

Show that the function y = |x| is differentiable on (−∞, 0) and on (0, ∞) but has no derivative
at x = 0.
Solution

• From Section 3.1, the derivative of y = mx + b is the slope m. Thus, to the right of the
origin, when x > 0,
d d d
(|x|) = (x) = (1 ∗ x + 0) = 1.
dx dx dx

• For x < 0
d d d
(|x|) = (−x) = (−1 ∗ x + 0) = −1.
dx dx dx

There is no derivative at the origin (x = 0) because the one-sided derivatives differ there:

|0 + h| − |0| |h| h
Right-hand derivative of |x| at zero = lim+ = lim+ = lim+ = 1.
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h
|0 + h| − |0| |h| −h
Left-hand derivative of |x| at zero = lim− = lim− = lim− = −1.
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

Example 5.2

√
Explain if the right-hand derivative of f (x) = x exists at x = 0 or not.
Solution
Not that the domain of the function is [0, ∞],so
√ √
0+h− 0 1
lim+ = lim+ √ = ∞
h→0 h h→0 h

Since the (right-hand) limit is not finite, there is no derivative at x = 0.

Example 5.3

Determine if the piecewise defined function g is differentiable at the origin:


2x − x3 − 1, x ≥ 0


g(x) =
1
x −

 , x<0
x+1

Solution
Since g is piecewise defined, we consider left- and right-hand derivatives at0. First, the right-
hand derivative at 0 is:
g(0 + h) − g(0)
lim+
h→0 h
(2(0 + h) − (0 + h)3 − 1) − (2(0) − (0)3 − 1)
= lim+
h→0 h
3
2h − h − 1 + 1 h(2 − h2 )
= lim+ = lim+ = lim+ (2 − h2 ) = 2 − (0)2 = 2 .
h→0 h h→0 h h→0

Next, the left-hand derivative at 0 is:

√ √
0+h− 0
lim
h→0− h

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

 
1
(0 + h) − − (2(0) − (0)3 − 1)   
(0 + h) + 1 1 1
= lim− = lim− h− + (1)
h→0 h h→0 h h+1
1 h2 + h − 1 + h + 1
   
1 h(h + 1) − 1 + (h + 1)
= lim− = lim−
h→0 h h+1 h→0 h h+1
2
1 h + 2h 1 h(h + 2) h+2 (0) + 2
= lim− = lim− = lim− = = 2.
h→0 h h + 1 h→0 h h + 1 h→0 h + 1 (0) + 1
Since the left- and right-hand derivatives exist and are equal, then
the (two-sided) derivative exists and is 2 .

6 When Does a Function Not Have a Derivative at a Point?

There are a number of reasons as to why a function might not have a derivative at a point.
Some of these reasons are illustrated here:

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CHAPTER 3 Derivatives

7 Differentiable Functions are Continuous

A function is continuous at every point where it has a derivative.

Theorem 1. Differentiability Implies Continuity
If f has a derivative at x = c, then f is continuous at x = c.
Proof. By the definition of continuity, we need to show that lim f (x) = f (c) or equivalently
x→c

lim f (c + h) = f (c).Then
h→0

 
f (c + h) − f (c)
lim f (c + h) = lim f (c) + h
h→0 h→0 h
f (c + h) − f (c)
= lim f (c) + lim lim h
h→0 h→0 h h→0
′
= f (c) + f (c)(0) = f (c).

Therefore f is continuous at x = c.
Note. The converse of Theorem 1 does not hold. That is, a function can be continuous
at a point and yet not differentiable. It is shown in Example 5.1 that the continuous function
f (x) = |x| is not differentiable at 0.

Example 7.1

Consider function f with domain D = [−3, 3] graphed below. At what domain points does
the function appear to be (a) differentiable, (b) continuous but not differentiable, (c) neither
continuous nor differentiable?

THE END
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