CALC 1034 CALCULUS

Week 5
The Derivative of a Function
Formulas for Differentiation of Algebraic Functions
Chain Rule, Implicit Differentiation and
Higher – Order Derivatives
LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a function at a point;
2. Apply the definition of the derivative of a function at a given number;
3. Relate the derivative of a function to the slope of the tangent line;
4. Determine the relationship between differentiability and continuity of a
function;
5. Apply the differentiation rules in computing the derivative of algebraic
functions;
6. Illustrate the chain rule of differentiation;
7. Solve problems using chain rule; and
8. Solve problems involving higher – order derivatives.
INTRODUCTION
In calculus, the study of change as a procedure is often called
Differentiation. The differentiation process is a function defined as the
limit of a difference quotient. Slope and tangent problems along the curve
are often discussed in differentiation. Several differentiation techniques are
given emphasis to easily facilitate the computation of derivatives.
LEARNING CONTENT

SLOPE OF THE LINE TANGENT TO A CURVE

The slope m of the line tangent to the curve y = f(x) at point is given by
the equation

provided that the limit exists. This is commonly called the limit of the
difference quotient.
The slope of the tangent line to a curve at point P is also used to find the
slope of the curve at that point. Consider the following illustrative
examples applying this formula.
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EXAMPLE 1
Consider the curve of the function
Find an expression for the slope of the curve at any point x.
Substitute the following into the
FORMULA formula

Expand

Distribute 4 to each of the terms in )

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Combine like terms

Factor out 3h

Cancel out common factor

Evaluate the limit by direct substitution

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Simplify the expression

Final Answer

Hence, the general expression for the slope of the line tangent to the curve
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b. Identify the slope at the point where x = 1.
To get for the slope of the line tangent to the curve at a specific point,
simply use substitution. Hence, the slope at x = 1 is
Graphical Representation
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EXAMPLE 2
Consider the curve of the function
a. Find an expression for the slope of the curve at any point x.

Substitute the following into the formula

FORMULA

Expand

Distribute 4 to each of the terms in

)
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Combine like terms

Factor out h

Cancel out common factor

Evaluate the limit by direct

substitution
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Simplify the expression

Final Answer

Hence, the general expression for the slope of the line tangent to the curve
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b. Identify the slope at the point where x = 2.
To get for the slope of the line tangent to the curve at a specific point,
simply use substitution. Hence, the slope at x = 2 is
Graphical Representation
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EXAMPLE 3
Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve

Substitute the following into the formula

FORMULA

Simplify the numerator, LCD is (x+h)(x)

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Distribute 3 to each of the terms in , then
multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of
the denominator

Combine like terms

Cancel out common factor

Evaluate the limit by direct substitution

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Simplify the expression

Substitute x = –1 to the derived expression

for m

Simplify

Final Answer

Hence, the slope of the tangent line at x = – 1 is – 3.

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Graphical Representation
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EXAMPLE 4
Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve

Substitute the following into the formula

FORMULA

Simplify the numerator,

LCD is (x + h + 1)(x + 1)
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Simplify the
numerator, then
multiply the numerator
by the reciprocal of the
denominator

Combine like terms

Cancel out common

factor

Evaluate the limit by

direct substitution
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Simplify the expression

Substitute x = 1 to the derived expression

for m

Simplify

Final Answer
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To solve for the point of tangency, substitute x = 1 to the given function,

The equation of the tangent line is determined by using the point – slope
equation:
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You have learned that the slope of the tangent Graphical Representation
line m to the curve y = f(x) is evaluated using
the equation

In calculus, the equation that gives the general

formula for this slope of f is called the
DERIVATIVE of the function and is denoted
by f ’ (read as “f prime”).
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Definition of the Derivative
The derivative of a function f with respect to x is the function that
approximates the slope of the line tangent to the f at any point on its
graph. Thus, provided that this limit exists,
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The process of finding the derivative of the function is called
DIFFERENTIATION. You may use the following steps in the
process of differentiation:
1.Evaluate f at x + h.
2.Subtract f(x) from f(x+h).
3.Divide the difference of f(x+h) and f(x) by h.
4.Take the limit of the quotient as h approaches zero.
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CONTINUITY and DIFFERENTIABILITY
Recall that for a limit of a function to exist, the left – hand and
the right – hand limit must be equal. In the same way, a function
is said to be differentiable at a point when its derivative exists at
that point. Hence, the function f is differentiable at the point c in
its domain if there is a defined value for the limit

In other words, the function will not be differentiable at x = c

when the limit does not exist at c or when the limit is infinity.
DIFFRENTIATION RULES
The derivative of a constant is zero. If c is a
CONSTANT RULE constant, the

IDENTITY FUNCTION RULE

If k is any real number constant and u is a

CONSTANT MULTIPLE RULE differentiable function of x, then

If u and v are two differentiable functions of x,

SUM & DIFFERENCE RULE then
DIFFRENTIATION RULES

If u and v are two differentiable functions of x,

PRODUCT RULE then

If u and v are two differentiable functions of x,

QUOTIENT RULE then
DIFFRENTIATION RULES
If n is any real number and u is a differentiable
POWER RULE function of x, then
LEARNING CONTENT

EXAMPLE 1
Find the derivative of the of the function
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EXAMPLE 1
Find the derivative of the following:

Apply the following rules:

Power Rule (1st & 2nd term)
Constant Multiple Rule
(3rd term)
Constant Rule (4th term)

Simplify

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 2
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 2

Rewrite radicals into fractional

exponents

Apply Power Rule

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Example 2:

Simplify

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 3
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 3

Apply Power Rule

Simplify

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 4
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 4

Apply Power Rule

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 5
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 5

Apply Power Rule

Simplify

Cancel out 2

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 6
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 6

Apply Power Rule

Simplify and factor out 2

Multiply 5 by 2

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 7
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 7

Apply Power Rule

Simplify

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 8
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 8

Rewrite the function

Apply Power Rule

Simplify and factor out 2

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Example 8

Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 9
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Apply Product Rule

Factor out 2

Simplify
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Final Answer
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EXAMPLE 10
Find the derivative of the of the function
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Example 10

Apply Product Rule

Simplify the numerator

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Example 10

Remove grouping symbols

Final Answer
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IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
In the previous lessons, we have been concerned mainly with functions defined by
the equation

In this form, y is said to be an explicit function of x. Examples of explicit functions

are:

1. .
2.
3.
4.

5.
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If y is a function of x but is not expressed explicitly in terms of x, then y is
said to be an implicit function of x. In each of the equations below, y is an
implicit of x.
1. .
2.
3.
4.
5.
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PROBLEM 1
Apply Power Rule
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PROBLEM 1

Final Answer
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PROBLEM 2
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PROBLEM 2

Apply
Power Rule (first and last terms)
Product Rule (second term)
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PROBLEM 2

Cancel out

Final answer
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PROBLEM 3
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PROBLEM 3

Apply
Power Rule (first term)
Product Rule (2nd t& 3rd term)
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PROBLEM 3

Cancel out
Factor our –5 in the numerator and
5x in the denominator

Simplify

Final Answer
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PROBLEM 4
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PROBLEM 4

Apply Power Rule

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PROBLEM 4

Cancel out

Final Answer
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HIGHER – ORDER DERIVATIVES
Recall that from the equation, we get by differentiation the equation
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The derivative of the function f is a number that depends on x. Hence,

is itself a function of x and may be differentiated again with respect to x.
This process is represented symbolically by any of the following
notations:
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If we refer to

then we shall refer to

The operator
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Further differentiations give us the derivatives of order higher than 2.
These derivatives are defined and denoted as follows:

3rd derivative

4th derivative

nth derivative
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EXAMPLE 1
Find the third derivative of the given function.
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EXAMPLE 1
Find the third derivative of the given function.

First derivative

Second derivative

Third derivative
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EXAMPLE 2
Find the third derivative of the given function.
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EXAMPLE 2
Find the third derivative of the given function.

First derivative

Second derivative

Third derivative
Thank You !