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Differentiation From First Principles

The document defines differentiation from first principles as finding the derivative function using the limit definition of the derivative. It provides examples of differentiating x^2 and finding the gradient of 2x^2 - x from first principles. Finally, it gives exercises to find the derivative of various functions from first principles.

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lixus mwangi
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345 views3 pages

Differentiation From First Principles

The document defines differentiation from first principles as finding the derivative function using the limit definition of the derivative. It provides examples of differentiating x^2 and finding the gradient of 2x^2 - x from first principles. Finally, it gives exercises to find the derivative of various functions from first principles.

Uploaded by

lixus mwangi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DN1.

1: DIFFERENTIATION
FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES
The process of finding the derivative function using the definition

f ( x + h) − f ( x)
f ' ( x) = lim , h≠0
h→0 h

is called differentiating from first principles.

Examples

1. Differentiate x2 from first principles.

f ( x + h) − f ( x)
f ′( x) lim h≠0
h →0 h
( x + h) 2 − x 2
= lim
h→ 0 h
x + 2 xh + h 2 − x 2
2
= lim
h→ 0 h
2xh + h 2
= lim
h→ 0 h
h(2 x + h)
= lim
h→ 0 h
= lim 2x + h
h→ 0

= 2x

∴ If f ( x ) x=
= 2
then f ′ ( x ) 2 x

DN 1.1: Differentiation from First Principles Page 1 of 3 June 2012


2. Determine, from first principles, the gradient function for the curve
f (=
x ) 2 x 2 − x and calculate its value at x = 3

f ( x + h) − f ( x)
=f ′( x) lim ,h ≠ 0
h →0 h
2( x + h) 2 − ( x + h) − [2 x 2 − x]
= lim
h →0 h
2 x + 4 xh + 2h 2 − x − h − 2 x 2 + x
2
= lim
h →0 h
4 xh + 2h − h
2
= lim
h→ 0 h
h(4 x + 2h − 1)
= lim
h→ 0 h
= lim 4 x + 2h − 1
h→ 0

= 4x −1

∴ The gradient function is f ′ ( x=


) 4x −1.
At x = 3, f ′ ( x=
) 4 x − 1 = 4(3) – 1 = 11

1
3. Use differentiation from first principles to find the gradient function of y =
x

f ( x + h) − f ( x)
=f ′ ( x ) lim h≠0
h →0 h
1 1
−
= lim x + h x
h→ 0 h
1 x 1 x+h
× − ×
= lim x + h x x x+h
h→ 0 h
x−x−h

= lim
( x )( x + h )
h→ 0 h
−h

= lim
( x )( x + h )
h→ 0 h
1 −h 
= lim  
 ( x )( x + h ) 
h→ 0 h

 −1 
= lim  
 ( x )( x + h ) 
h→ 0

−1
=
x2

DN 1.1: Differentiation from First Principles Page 2 of 3 June 2012


Exercises

Find the derivative of the following, using differentiation from first principles.

1) f ( x) = 3x
2) f (=x) 5 x 2 − 4
3) f (=x) 3x 2 − 2 x
4) f ( x) = x 2 + 6 x + 9
1
5) f ( x) = 2 x 2 −
x
6) f ( x) = 10

Answers

1
1) 3 2) 10x 3) 6x – 2 4) 2x + 6 5) 4x + 2
6) 0
x

DN 1.1: Differentiation from First Principles Page 3 of 3 June 2012

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