Introduction to Calculus

Example:
Sketch the gradient function of each curve:

x1

x3

x2

Differentiation from first principles:

f ' x lim
ho

f x h f x
h

dy
y
lim
dx x 0 x

OR

Example:
Find the gradient of the tangent to the curve y = x 3- x at the point where x = -2
f(x) = x 3 x
3
f(-2) = (-2) 2
=-6
3

f(x+h) = (x+h) (x+h)

f(-2+h) = (-2 + h)3 (-2 + h)
= (- 2 + h)(4 4h +h2) (- 2 + h)

= h 3 6h 2+ 11h - 6
Now use first principles formula to work out answer!
Examples:
1) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve
y = 2x - 7 at the point where x = 1.
If f x x n , then f ' x n x n 1
Rule 1 Product Rule
: : If y = uv, then y = uv + vu
If f x K , then f ' x 0
y = 6x
2 y = 6
: If f x K g x , then f ' x K g ' x
WhenRule
x = 1,
vu ' f' ux v' g ' x h' x
u h x , then
Rule
3 Quotient
: If
m=6
y'
Rule
: Iff yx g ,xthen
v
v2
When x = 1, y = - 5
dy dy du
y + 5 Chain
= 6 (x -Rule
1)

:
dx du dx
y + 5 = 6x 6
6x y 11 = 0
Tangents
and
normals:
2) Find the gradient of the normal to the curve y = x + 2x 3 at the point (2, 5)
y = 2x + 2
At (2, 5), y = 6
m = 6 m = - 1/6
therefore gradient of normal is -1/6

The Quadratic Polynomial and the Parabola

For ax 2+ bx +c = 0

= b2 - 4ac
< 0 No real roots
= 0 Equal roots; x = -b/2a
0 Two real and unequal roots
> 0 AND a perfect square rational roots; x = -b
2a
Axis of Symmetry
x=-b
a
Determining Definites

< 0 and a > 0 Positive Definite

< 0 and a < 0 Negative Definite
Roots of Quadratic equations
this is when the parabola cuts the x-axis, if it touches the axis twice, then
there are two intercepts, if it touches the axis once (e.g. as the vertex) then
there is only one root
Example:
Sketch y = x - 2x 5 and determine how many roots this equations has.
a.o.s = -(-2)/ 2.1
=1
Sub in equation y = 1 - 2.1 5
=-6
2
min val (1, -6) which is also the vertex
the graph will have two x-intercepts, i.e. two roots

Intersection of curves and lines

Just solve the two equations simultaneously, that is given in the question
and then work out the Discriminant to see whether the tangent touches the
parabola or not.
Example:
Show that the line 4x + y + 4 = 0 is a tangent to parabola y = x2
y=x2
(1)
4x + y + 4 = 0
(2)
Sub (1) into (2)
x 2 + 4x + 4 = 0
= 4 2 - 4.1.4
= 0 quad eq only has 1 root, thus there is one pt. of intersection
the line is a tangent to the parabola
Quadratic Identities
a 1x 2 + b1 x + c1

ax

+ b2 x + c2 THEN a1 = a2 , b1 = b2 , c1 = c2

Examples:
1) Write 2x 2 - 3x + 5 in the form A(x-1) 2 + B(x - 1) +C
Expand RHS and then equate pronumerals
Sub each pronumeral into other equations to find the values of A, B
and C so then the eq. is re-written in that form
2) Find the eq of the parabola that passes thru the points (-1, -3), (0, 3) and (2, 21)
the parabola has the eq y = ax 2 + bx +c
Sub each x and y values from the points into the eq
this will give you the values of a, b and c and then put it in the form
y = ax 2 + bx +c

Sum and products of roots

x 2 - (+)x + = 0 where and are roots of the

equation
Examples:
1) Find the quad eq that has roots 6 and -1
Sub 6 and -1 into x 2 - (+) x + = 0
Result: x 2 - 5x - 6= 0
2) Find the quad eq with roots 3 + 2 and 3 - 2
Again sub in root eq
Result: x 2 - 6x + 7= 0

Sum:

+ = - b
a

Product:

= c
a

Locus and the Parabola

Equation

x 2 = 4ay

x 2 = - 4ay

Features

Vertex: (0, 0)
Focal Length: a
Focus: (0, a)
Directrix: y = - a
Axis: x = 0

Vertex: (0, 0)
Focal Length: a
Focus: (0, - a)
Directrix: y = a
Axis: x = 0

Diagram

(0, a)

a y = -a

y=a
a

(h, k + a)
(0, -a)

a
y=k-a

(x - h) = 4a (y - k)
2

y 2 = 4ax

y = - 4ax
2

(y - k) 2 = 4a (x - h)

Vertex: (h, k)
Focal Length: a
Focus: (h, k + a)
Directrix: y = k - a
Axis: Parallel to y-axis

Vertex: (0, 0)
Focal Length: a
Focus: (a, 0)
Directrix: x = -a
Axis: y = 0

(a, 0)

x = -a

Vertex: (0, 0)
Focal Length: -a
Focus: (-a, 0)
Directrix: x = a
Axis: y = 0

a
(-a, 0)
x=a

Vertex: (h, k)
Focal Length: a
Focus: (h + a, k)
Directrix: x = h - a
Axis: Parallel to x-axis

(h + a, k)
x=h-a

x2 + y2 =r2

(x - a) + (y b) = r
2

Centre: (0, 0)
Radius: r

Centre: (a, b)
Radius: r units from (a,b)

(a, b)

Locus
the path of a single moving point that according to certain conditions
Quick Example: Find the equation of the locus of point P (x, y) that is
equidistant from fixed point A (1, -2) and fixed with eq. y = 5 - B (x, 5)
PA 2 = PB 2 Solve from here
Tangents and Normals
The first derivative gives us the gradient of the tangent and normal
Example:
1) i) Find the eq of the tangent to the curve x 2 = -6y at the point where x = 3
y = x 2 / -6
y = 2x / -6
= x / -3
Now find the gradient
When x = 3
y = -1
Now find the y-value
when x = 3
y = -1.5
Now use the two-point formula to work out the equation
ii) Find the eq of the normal to this equation
Gradient of normal must be 1
y + 1.5 = 1 (x - 3)
y + 1.5 = x 3
= x y 9/2
= 2x 2y - 9