3.

2: Definition of Derivative
(Def 3.5): Derivative
The derivative of a function is the function defined by f f
'
( )
( ) ( )
0
lim
h
f x h f x
f x
h

+
'
=
(Def 3.6): Alternative Definition of Derivative
( )
( ) ( )
lim
x a
f x f a
f a
x a

'
=

Example: Differentiate the function .

( )
3 f x x =
( )
( ) ( )
0
3 3
lim
h
x h x
f x
h

+
'
=
0
3
lim
h
h
h

=
0
lim3
h
= 3 =
( )
3 f x
'
=
(Def 3.16): Derivative Notations
( )
f x
'
y
'
dy
dx
( )
d
f x
dx
( )
x
D f x
df
dx
f prime of x
y prime
d y d x
d f d x
d d x of f of x
Im not fond of this one
They all mean the same
thing so long as . y f =
The derivative of with
respect to .
f
x
(Def 3.7): Applications of the Derivative
(i) Tangent Line: The slope of the tangent line to the graph of
at the point is .
( )
y f x =
( ) ( )
, a f a
( )
f a
'
The equation of the tangent line is
( ) ( )( )
y f a f a x a
'
=
(ii) Rate of Change: If , the instantaneous rate of
change of with respect to at is .
( )
y f x =
f
x a
( )
f a
'
(Def 3.8): Differentiability
A function is differentiable on an open interval if
exists for every in .
f
( )
, a b
( )
f x
'
x
( )
, a b
A function is differentiable on a closed interval if is
differentiable on the open interval and if the following
limits exist:
f
| |
, a b f
( )
, a b
( ) ( )
0
lim
h
f a h f a
h
+

+
and
( ) ( )
0
lim
h
f b h f b
h

+
Right hand derivative at a. Left hand derivative at b.
Basically, a function is differentiable if it is continuous and smooth.
Non-Differentiability
Corner
( )
1 f x x a = +
Continuous and left
and right hand
derivatives exist at a,
but are not equal.
Cusp
( ) ( )
2
3
1 f x x a = +
Continuous and left
and right hand
derivatives are
opposite types of
infinity at a.
Vertical
Tangent
( ) ( )
3
1 f x x a = +
Continuous and left
and right hand
derivatives are types
of infinity at a. Or
one sided derivative
at endpoint is
infinite.
Discontinuity Obviously.
Example: If , find
( )
f x x =
a) the domain of f
b)
( )
f x
'
c)
( )
4 f
'
d) the domain of f
'
a)
| )
dom 0, f =
b)
( )
0
lim
h
x h x
f x
h

+
'
=
( )
0
lim
h
x h x
h x h x

+
=
+ +
0
1
lim
h
x h x

=
+ +
1
2 x
=
c) ( )
1
4
2 4
f
'
=
1
4
=
d)
( )
dom 0, f
'
=
We could have used the one sided limit
( ) ( )
0
lim
h
f a h f a
h
+

+
Example: Show that is not differentiable at . ( )
2
3
1 f x x = 1 x =
( ) ( )
0
1 1
lim
h
f h f
h
+

+
2
3
0
1 1 0
lim
h
h
h
+

+
=
2
3
0
lim
h
h
h
+

=
2
3
0
lim
h
h
h
+

=
1
0
3
1
lim
h
h
+

=
=
( ) ( )
0
1 1
lim
h
f h f
h

+
2
3
0
1 1 0
lim
h
h
h

+
=
2
3
0
lim
h
h
h

=
( )
2
3
0
lim
h
h
h

=
1
0
3
1
lim
h
h

=
=
There is a cusp at and therefore is not differentiable there. 1 x = f
(Th 3.11):
If a function is differentiable at , then is continuous at . f a f a
duh.
(Rule 3.12): Derivative of a Linear Function
( ) ( )
f x mx b f x m = +
'
=
(Rule 3.13): Derivative of a Constant Function
( ) ( )
0 f x b f x
'
= =
Think derivative = slope
Slope of a horizontal line = 0.
(Rule 3.14): Power Rule
Let be an integer. n
( ) ( )
1 n n
f x x f x nx

'
= =
provided when . 0 x = 0 n s
(Th 3.15): Generalized Power Rule
( ) ( )
1 n n
f x cx f x cnx

'
= =
True for all real and . c n
Example:
2
3
3
d
x
dx
| |
|
\ .
1
3
2x

=
3
2
x
=
Example: If , find ( )
2
3 4 1 f x x x = +
a) the equation of the tangent line to at the point . f
b) the equation of any horizontal tangent lines.
( )
3,16
a)
( )
6 4 f x x
'
=
( ) ( )
3 6 3 4 f
'
= 14 =
( )
16 14 3 y x =
b)
( )
0 f x
'
= Let
6 4 0 x =
6 4 x =
2
3
x =
2
2 2 2
3 4 1
3 3 3
f
| | | | | |
= +
| | |
\ . \ . \ .
4 8
1
3 3
= +
1
3
=
1
3
y =
(Def 3.17): Higher Derivative Notations
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
4
, , , , ,
n
f x f x f x f x f x
' '' '''
( ) ( ) 4
, , , , ,
n
y y y y y
' '' '''
2 3 4
2 3 4
, , , , ,
n
n
dy d y d y d y d y
dx dx dx dx dx
2 3 4
, , , , ,
n
x x x x x
D y D y D y D y D y
Without the parentheses
these would be powers
of functions.
More on what these are used for later
Derivatives on the TI-89:
You must be able to calculate derivatives with the
calculator and without.
Remember that half the AP Exam is no calculator.
3
y x = Example: Find at x = 2.
dy
dx
d ( x ^ 3, x )
ENTER
returns
2
3x
This is the derivative symbol, which is .
8
2nd
It is not a lower case letter d.
Use the up arrow key to highlight and press .
2
3x
ENTER
3 ^ 2 2 x x =
ENTER
returns 12
or use:
( )
^3, 2 d x x x = ENTER
Warning:
The calculator may return an incorrect value if you evaluate a
derivative at a point where the function is not differentiable.
Examples:
( )
1/ , 0 d x x x =
returns
( ) ( )
, 0 d abs x x x =
returns
1
dx does not mean d times x !
dy does not mean d times y !
dy
dx
does not mean !
dy dx
(except when it is convenient to think of it as division.)
df
dx
does not mean !
df dx
(except when it is convenient to think of it as division.)
(except when it is convenient to treat it that way.)
( )
d
f x
dx
does not mean times !
d
dx
( )
f x
In the future, all will become clear.
0
1
2
3
4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
( )
y f x =
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
( )
y f x
'
=
The derivative
is the slope of
the original
function.
The derivative is defined at the end points
of a function on a closed interval.