Tutorial 2

The Derivative

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 Outline
❑ The Slope of a Straight Line
❑ The Slope of a Curve at a Point
❑ The Derivative
❑ Limits and the Derivative
❑ Some Rules for Differentiation
❑ More About Derivatives
❑ The Derivative as a Rate of Change

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Nonvertical Lines

Definition Example
Equations of Non-vertical Lines: A
non-vertical line L has an equation of
the form
y = 3x − 4
y = mx + b
For this line, m = 3 and b = −4.
The number m is called the slope of L
and the point (0, b) is called the y-
intercept. The equation above is called
the slope-intercept equation of L.

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Lines – Positive Slope
EXAMPLE

The following are graphs of equations of lines that have positive slopes:

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Lines – Negative Slope
EXAMPLE

The following are graphs of equations of lines that have negative slopes:

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Interpretation of a Graph

EXAMPLE

A salesperson’s weekly pay depends on the volume of sales. If she sells x units
of goods, then her pay is y = 5x + 60 dollars. Give an interpretation of the slope
and the y-intercept of this straight line.
SOLUTION
The slope is 5, or 5/1. Since the numerator 460
(80, 460)
of this fraction represents the amount of
360
change in her pay relative to the amount of
change in her sales, the denominator, for 260

pay
every 1 sale that she makes, her pay 160

increases by 5 dollars. The y-intercept is 60 60

(0, 60)
and occurs on the graph at the point (0, 60).
-20-40 30 80 130
This point suggests that when she has # of sales
executed 0 sales, her pay is 60 dollars. This
$60 could be referred to as her base pay.
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Properties of the Slope of a Nonvertical Line

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Properties of the Slope of a Line

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Properties of the Slope of a Line

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Finding Slope and y-intercept of a Line
EXAMPLE
x +1
Find the slope and y-intercept of the line y = .
3
SOLUTION

First, we write the equation in slope-intercept form.

x +1
y= This is the given equation.
3
x 1 Divide both terms of the
y= +
3 3 numerator of the right side by 3.
1 1 x 1
y= x+ Rewrite as x .
3 3 3 3
Since the number being multiplied by x is 1/3, 1/3 is the slope of the line. Since the
other 1/3 is the number being added to the term containing x, 1/3, or (0, 1/3), is the y-
intercept.
Incidentally, it was a complete coincidence that the slope and y-intercept were the same
number. This does not normally occur.
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Sketching Graphs of Lines
EXAMPLE

Sketch the graph of the line passing through (−1, 1) with slope ½.

SOLUTION

We use Slope Property 1. We begin at the given point (−1, 1) and from there,
move up one unit and to the right two units to find another point on the line. We
connect the two points that have already been determined, since two points
determine a straight line.
5 5

3 3 (1, 2)
(-1, 1) 1
(-1, 1) 1

-5 -3 -1 -1 1 3 5 -5 -3 -1 -1 1 3 5

-3 -3

-5 -5

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Making Equations of Lines
EXAMPLE

Find an equation of the line that passes through the points (−1, 0) and (1, 2).

SOLUTION

Using the two points we will determine the slope by using Slope Property 2.
2−0 2
m= = =1
1 − (− 1) 2
y − y1 = m( x − x1 ) This is the equation from Property 3.

y − 2 = 1( x − 1) (x1, y1) = (1, 2) and m = 1.

y − 2 = x −1 Distribute.

y = x +1 Add 2 to both sides of the equation.

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Making Equations of Lines
EXAMPLE

Find an equation of the line that passes through the point (2, 0) and is
perpendicular to the line y = 2x.
SOLUTION
We know that the line we desire is perpendicular to the line y = 2x. Using Slope
Property 5, we know that the product of the slope of the line desired and the slope of the
line y = 2x is − 1. We recognize that the line y = 2x is in slope-intercept form and
therefore the slope of the line is 2. We can now find the slope of the line that we desire.
Let the slope of the new line be m.
(slope of a line)(slope of a new line) = −1 The slope of one line is 2 and the
2m = −1 slope of the desired line is denoted
m = −0.5 by m.
Now we can find the equation of the desired line using Property 3.
y − y1 = m( x − x1 ) This is the equation from Property 3.
y − 0 = −0.5( x − 2) (x1, y1) = (2, 0) and m = −0.5.
y = −0.5 x + 1 Distribute.
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Tangent Lines

Definition Example
Tangent Line to a
Circle at a Point P:
The straight line that
touches the circle at
just the one point P

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Slope of a Curve & Tangent Lines

Definition Example
The Slope of a
Curve at a Point P:
The slope of the
tangent line to the
curve at P

(Enlargements)

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Slope of a Graph
EXAMPLE

Estimate the slope of the curve at the designated point P.

SOLUTION
The slope of a graph at a point is by definition the slope of the tangent line at that point.
The figure above shows that the tangent line at P rises one unit for each unit change in x.
Thus the slope of the tangent line at P is
change in y 1
= = 1.
change in x 1
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Slope of a Curve: Rate of Change

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The Derivative (Differentiation)

Definition Example
Derivative: The slope formula Given the function f (x) = x3, the
for a function y = f (x), denoted: derivative is

y = f (x) f ( x) = 3 x 2
Differentiation: The process of
computing a derivative.

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Differentiation: Rules

These examples can be summarized by the following rule:

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Differentiation: Illustration

f (x) 7 x3 x −2 a 3×106 1/x

f ́ (x) 0 3x2 −2x −3 0 0 −x −2

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Differentiation: Examples
EXAMPLE
1
Find the derivative of f ( x) = 7 .
x

SOLUTION
1
f ( x) = 7 This is the given equation.
x
1
f ( x) = 1 7 Rewrite the denominator as an
x exponent.
f ( x) = x −1 7
Rewrite with a negative exponent.

What we’ve done so far has been done for the sole purpose of rewriting the
function in the form of f (x) = xr.
1 −1 7 −1 1 −1 7 −7 7 1 −8 7 Use the Power Rule where r

f ( x) = − x =− x =− x
7 7 7 = − 1/7 and then simplify.

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Differentiation Examples
EXAMPLE

Find the slope of the curve y = x5 at x = − 2.

SOLUTION
We must first find the derivative of the given function.

f ( x) = x5 This is the given function.

f ( x) = 5 x 4 Use the Power Rule.

Since the derivative function yields information about the slope of the original function,
we can now use f `(x) to determine the slope of the original function at x = − 2.

f (−2) = 5(− 2)4 Replace x with − 2.

f (−2) = 5(16 ) = 80 Evaluate.

Therefore, the slope of the original function at x = − 2 is 80 (or 80/1).

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Equation & Slope of a Tangent Line

EXAMPLE
Find the slope of the tangent line to the graph of y = x2 at the point (−0.4, 0.16) and then
write the corresponding equation of the tangent line.

SOLUTION
The slope of the graph of y = x2 at the point (x, y) is 2x. The x-coordinate of (−0.4,
0.16) is −0.4, so the slope of y = x2 at this point is 2(−0.4) = − 0.8.
We shall write the equation of the tangent line in point-slope form. The point is (−0.4,
0.16) and the slope (which we just found) is −0.8. Hence the equation is:

y − 0.16 = −0.8x − (− 0.4)

y = −0.8 x − 0.16
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Equation of the Tangent Line
EXAMPLE

Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f (x) = 3x at x = 4.

SOLUTION
We must first find the derivative of the given function.

f ( x) = 3 x This is the given function.

f ( x) = 3 Differentiate.

Notice that in this case the derivative function is a constant function, 3. Therefore, at x
= 4, or any other value, the value of the derivative will be 3. So now we use the
Equation of the Tangent Line that we just saw.
y − f (4) = f (4)( x − 4) This is the Equation of the
Tangent Line.
y − 12 = 3( x − 4 ) f (4) = 12 and f (x ) = 3.
y = 3x Simplify.

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Leibniz Notation for Derivatives

Ultimately, this notation is a better and more effective notation for working with derivatives.

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Calculating Derivatives Via the Difference Quotient

f (x + h) − f (x )
The Difference Quotient is .
h

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Calculating Derivatives Via the Difference Quotient

EXAMPLE

Apply the three-step method to compute the derivative of the following

function: f ( x) , where f ( x) = − x 2 + 2 .
SOLUTION
STEP 1: We calculate the difference quotient and simplify as much as possible.
f (x + h) − f (x )
= This is the difference quotient.
h

=
− (x + h) + 2− − x
2 2
+2  Evaluate f (x + h) and f (x).
h

=
− (x + 2 xh + h 2 ) + 2 + x 2 − 2
2

Simplify.
h
− x 2 − 2 xh − h 2 + 2 + x 2 − 2
= Simplify.
h
− 2 xh − h 2
= Simplify.
h

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Calculating Derivatives Via the Difference Quotient

CONTINUED
=
(− 2 x − h )h
Factor.
h

= −2 x − h Cancel and simplify.

STEP 2: As h approaches zero, the expression − 2x – h approaches − 2x, and hence

the difference quotient approaches − 2x.

STEP 3: Since the difference quotient approaches the derivative of f (x) = − x2 + 2

as h approaches zero, we conclude that f ( x ) = −2 x .

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Using Limits to Calculate a Derivative

EXAMPLE
1
Use the definition of the derivative to compute the derivative f ( x ) if f (x ) = .
2x + 5
SOLUTION

1 1 2x + 5 2 x + 2h + 5
− −
f (x + h ) − f (x ) 2( x + h ) + 5 2 x + 5 (2 x + 2h + 5)(2 x + 5) (2 x + 2h + 5)(2 x + 5)
lim = lim = lim
h →0 h h →0 h h →0 h

2 x + 5 − 2 x − 2h − 5 − 2h −2
= lim = lim = lim
h →0 h(2 x + 2h + 5)(2 x + 5) h →0 h(2 x + 2h + 5)(2 x + 5) h →0 (2 x + 2h + 5)(2 x + 5)

−2 2
= =−
(2 x + 5)(2 x + 5) (2 x + 5)2
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Using Limits to Calculate a Derivative
EXAMPLE

Use the definition of the derivative to compute the derivative f (x) for the
function f ( x) = x .

SOLUTION

f (x + h ) − f (x ) x+h − x x+h − x x+h + x

lim = lim = lim 
h →0 h h →0 h h →0 h x+h + x

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

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Using Limits to Calculate a Derivative
Use the definition of the derivative to compute the derivative of the function
f (x) = 3x3 + 2x − 1.

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Rules of Differentiation

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Differentiation
EXAMPLE
45
Differentiate f ( x) = .
1+ x + x

SOLUTION
45
f ( x) = This is the given function.
1+ x + x
d  45 
f ( x) =   We begin to differentiate.
dx  1 + x + x 

f ( x) =
d 
dx 

(
45 1 + x + x )−1 Rewrite the rational expression
with a negative exponent.

f ( x) = 45
d 
dx 
(
1+ x + x )−1 

Use the Constant Multiple Rule.

(
f ( x) = 45(− 1) 1 + x + x )−2  dxd (1 + x + x ) Use the General Power Rule taking
1 + x + x to be g(x).

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Differentiation
CONTINUED

(
f ( x) = 45(− 1) 1 + x + x )−2   dxd1 + dxd x + dxd x1 2  Use the Sum Rule and rewrite x
  as x1/2.

(
f ( x) = 45(− 1) 1 + x + x )−2   0 + 1 + 12 x−1 2  Differentiate.
 

(
f ( x) = 45(− 1) 1 + x + x )−2  1 
 1 + x −1 2  Simplify.
 2 

1  1 
f ( x) = −45  1 + 0.5 
( 2
1+ x + x  ) x
Simplify.

 0.5 
451 + 
f ( x) = −  
x
Simplify.
(
1+ x + x
2
)

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Differentiation
EXAMPLE
1
Find the points on the graph of f ( x) = at which the tangent line is
horizontal. x3 − 12 x + 1

SOLUTION
1
f ( x) = This is the given function.
x3 − 12 x + 1
d  1 
f ( x) =   We begin to differentiate.
dx  x3 − 12 x + 1 

f ( x) =
d  3
dx 

(
x − 12 x + 1
−1 

) Rewrite the rational expression
with a negative exponent.

(
f ( x) = −1 x3 − 12 x + 1 ) −2

dx
(
d 3
x − 12 x + 1 ) Use the General Power Rule
taking x3 −12 x + 1 to be g(x).
(
f ( x) = −1 x3 − 12 x + 1 )
−2 d d d 
  x3 − 12 x + 1
 dx dx dx 
Use the Sum Rule.

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Differentiation
CONTINUED

(
f ( x) = −1 x3 − 12 x + 1)  (3x − 12 + 0)
−2 2
Differentiate.

f ( x) = −1(x − 12 x + 1)  (3x − 12)

3 −2 2
Simplify.

f ( x) = −1
1
(3x − 12) 2

(x − 12 x + 1)
3 2 Simplify.

3 x 2 − 12
f ( x) = −
(x 3
− 12 x + 1 ) 2 Simplify.

3 x 2 − 12 Tangent line is horizontal when the

f ( x) = − =0
(x 3
− 12 x + 1 )2 slope (derivative) is 0.

3x 2 − 12 = 0  x 2 = 4  x = 2 Solve the equation.

 1 1 Points at which the tangent line is
 2, − 
, − 2, 
 15   17  horizontal.

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The Derivative as a Rate of Change

EXAMPLE
Let S(x) represent the total sales (in thousands of dollars) for month x in the year
2005 at a certain department store. Represent each statement below by an
equation involving S or S′.
(a) The sales at the end of January reached $120,560 and were rising at the rate
of $1500 per month.
(b) At the end of March, the sales for this month dropped to $80,000 and were
falling by about $200 a day (Use 1 month = 30 days).

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The Derivative as a Rate of Change
SOLUTION

(a) Since the sales at the end of January (the first month, so x = 1) reached
$120,560 and S(x) represents the amount of sales for a given month, we have:
S(1) = 120,560. Further, since the rate of change of sales (rate of change
means we will use the derivative of S(x)) for the month of January is a positive
$1500 per month, we have: S′(1) = 1500.

(b) At the end of March (the third month, so x = 3), the sales dropped to
$80,000. Therefore, sales for the month of March was $80,000. That is: S(3)
= 80,000. Additionally, since sales were dropping by $200 per day during
March, this means that the rate of change of the function S(x) was (30 days) ×
(−200 dollars) = −6000 dollars per month. Therefore, we have: S′(3) =
−6000.

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Differentiating Various Independent Variables

EXAMPLE

Find the first derivative of T = (1 + 2t)2 + t3.

SOLUTION
dT d
=
dt dt

(1 + 2t )2 + t 3  We begin to differentiate.

dT d d
= (1 + 2t )2 + t 3 Use the Sum Rule.
dt dt dt
dT d
= 2(1 + 2t )1  (1 + 2t ) + 3t 2 Use the General Power Rule.
dt dt
dT
= 2(1 + 2t )1  2 + 3t 2 Finish differentiating.
dt
dT
= 4(1 + 2t ) + 3t 2 Simplify.
dt
dT
= 4 + 8t + 3t 2 Simplify.
dt
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Second Derivatives
EXAMPLE

Find the first and second derivatives of f (P) = (3P + 1)5.

SOLUTION

f ( P) = (3P + 1)5 This is the given function.

f ( P) = 15(3P + 1)4 This is the first derivative.

f ( P) =
d
dP

dP

 f (P ) = d 15(3P + 1)4 = 180(3P + 1)3 This is the second derivative.

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Second Derivatives Evaluated at a Point
EXAMPLE

Compute the following: d2

dx2
3 x 4
+ 4 x 2
( ) x=2

SOLUTION

dy d
=
dx dx
( )
3x 4 + 4 x 2 = 12 x3 + 8 x Compute the first derivative.

d 2 y d  dy  d
dx 2
=   =
dx  dx  dx
12 x 3
+(8 x = 36 )
x 2
+8 Compute the second derivative.

d2y
2
dx x = 2
= (
36 x 2
+8 ) x=2
= 36(2)2 + 8 = 36  4 + 8 = 152 Evaluate the second derivative at
x = 2.

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

EXAMPLE

Suppose that f (x) = − 6/x. What is the (instantaneous) rate of change of f (x)
when x = 1?

SOLUTION

The rate of change of f (x) at x = 1 is equal to f  (1). We have

6
f ( x) =
x2
6 6
f (1) = 2
= = 6.
1 1

That is, the rate of change is 6 units per unit change in x.

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Position, Velocity & Acceleration

s(t) is the position function, v(t) is the velocity function, and a(t) is the
acceleration function.

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Position, Velocity & Acceleration
EXAMPLE
A toy rocket fired straight up into the air has height s(t) = 160t – 16t2 feet after t
seconds.
(a) What is the rocket’s initial velocity (when t = 0)?
(b) What is the velocity after 2 seconds?
(c) What is the acceleration when t = 3?
(d) At what time will the rocket hit the ground?
(e) At what velocity will the rocket be traveling just as it smashes into the
ground?
SOLUTION
(a) To determine what the rocket’s initial velocity is, we must first have a velocity
function and then evaluate t = 0 in that function.
s (t ) = 160t − 16t 2 This is the given position function.

v(t ) = s(t ) = 160 − 32t Differentiate to get the velocity

function.
MT129 – Calculus
© 2010 Pearsonand Probability
Education Inc. Goldstein/Schneider/Lay/Asmar, CALCULUS AND ITS APPLICATIONS, 12e – Slide 44 of 115
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
CONTINUED
v(0) = 160 − 32(0) = 160 − 0 = 160 Now replace t with 0 and evaluate.

Therefore, the initial velocity of the rocket is 160 feet per second.

(b) To determine the velocity after 2 seconds we evaluate v(2).

v(t ) = 160 − 32t This is the velocity function.
v(2) = 160 − 32(2) = 160 − 64 = 96 Replace t with 2 and evaluate.

Therefore, the velocity of the rocket after 2 seconds is 96 feet per second.

(c) To determine the acceleration when t = 3, we must first find the acceleration function.
v(t ) = 160 − 32t This is the velocity function.
a (t ) = v(t ) = −32 Differentiate to get the
acceleration function.
Since the acceleration function is a constant function, the acceleration of the rocket is a
constant − 32 ft/s2. Therefore, the acceleration when t = 3 is − 32ft/s2.
MT129 – Calculus
© 2010 Pearsonand Probability
Education Inc. Goldstein/Schneider/Lay/Asmar, CALCULUS AND ITS APPLICATIONS, 12e – Slide 45 of 115
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
CONTINUED
(d) To determine at what time the rocket will hit the ground we must determine what we
know about the position, velocity, or acceleration of the rocket when the rocket hits the
ground. We know that at the time of impact, the position of the rocket will be 0 feet
above the ground. Therefore, we will use the position function and replace s(t) with 0.
s (t ) = 160t − 16t 2 This is the given position function.
0 = 160t − 16t 2 Replace s(t) with 0.
0 = 10t − t 2 Factor 16 out of both terms on the
right and divide both sides by 16.
0 = t (10 − t ) Factor.
t = 0 t = 10 Solve for t.

Therefore, the rocket will be 0 feet above the ground at times t = 0 and t = 10. t = 0
corresponds to when the rocket first began its flight, so that would not be the solution.
So, the rocket hit the ground after 10 seconds, when t – 10 = 0.

MT129 – Calculus
© 2010 Pearsonand Probability
Education Inc. Goldstein/Schneider/Lay/Asmar, CALCULUS AND ITS APPLICATIONS, 12e – Slide 46 of 115
Position, Velocity & Acceleration
CONTINUED
(e) To determine at what velocity the rocket will be traveling just as it smashes into the
ground, we must use the velocity function. The question is, what do we use for t?
From part (d), we know that the rocket will hit the ground at t = 10 seconds.
Therefore, we will find v(10).
v(t ) = 160 − 32t This is the velocity function.
v(10) = 160 − 32(10 ) = 160 − 320 = −160 Replace t with 10 and evaluate.

Therefore, when the rocket hits the ground, it will be have a velocity of −160 ft/s. That
is, it will be traveling 160 ft/s in the downward direction.

MT129 – Calculus
© 2010 Pearsonand Probability
Education Inc. Goldstein/Schneider/Lay/Asmar, CALCULUS AND ITS APPLICATIONS, 12e – Slide 47 of 115