Lesson 2: Tangent Lines and the Derivative

Topic 2.2: Defining the Derivative of a Function and Using Derivative Notation

There are two main concepts in calculus, known as the tangent line problem (derivatives) and the
area problem (integrals). Both of these big ideas are related to limits.
In the previous lesson, we applied the difference quotient to a function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥), and found a general
“slope formula.” This calculated the slope of a tangent line at any point on the curve, provided the limit
exists at that point. This general “slope formula” is also a function and is called the derivative
function of 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 or 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥) [read as “f prime of x”]. A function that has a derivative at a point is said to
be differentiable at that point.

Definition of the Derivative

The derivative of the function f with respect to x is the function 𝑓𝑓 ′ whose value at x is

𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 + ℎ − 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
𝑚𝑚 = 𝑓𝑓 ′ 𝑥𝑥 = lim
ℎ→ 0 ℎ
provided the limit exists.

NOTE: The domain of 𝑓𝑓 ′ , which consists of all values of x in the domain of 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) for which
the limit exists, may be smaller than the domain of 𝑓𝑓. If 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥) exists, we say that
f is differentiable at x.

Using Proper Notation:

There are many ways to denote the derivative of a function, 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥). Some of the more common
notations we will use are shown below.

Notation for
Read as: Benefits and pitfalls:
derivatives:

Formal, names the function and the

𝒇𝒇′ 𝒙𝒙 “𝑓𝑓 prime of x”
independent variable

Shorthand, brief, but this doesn’t name the

𝒚𝒚′ “y prime”
independent variable

𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 “dy dx” or “the derivative of y Uses d for derivative and names
𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 with respect to x” both variables; awkward to use

𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 “df dx” or “the derivative of f Emphasizes the function’s name;

𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 with respect to x” awkward to use.

𝒅𝒅 “d dx of f at x” or “the derivative Shows that differentiation is an

𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) of f at x” operation performed on f.
𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅

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 The Limit Definition of the Derivative

Graphically: The derivative of a function at a point P is the slope of a tangent line to the graph
of 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) at 𝑃𝑃.
Numerically: The derivative at a point is the limit of slopes of the secant lines or the limit of
the difference quotient.
Verbally: A function 𝑓𝑓 is said to be “differentiable” at a point 𝑎𝑎, 𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎 if and only if it has a
defined slope at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎. If a function does not have a tangent at a specified point, then
the function cannot have a slope there either.

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
EX #1: Use the limit process of the derivative to find the general formula, 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
for the derivative
of 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥.

EX #2: Given 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑥 , use the definition of derivative to find 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥).

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 ALTERNATE FORMS OF THE DERIVATIVE:
The numeric value of the derivative at a point 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎 is also found by:
𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎+ℎ −𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)
𝑓𝑓 ′ 𝑎𝑎 = 𝑚𝑚𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = lim ℎ
or by 𝑓𝑓 ′ 𝑎𝑎 = lim 𝑥𝑥−𝑎𝑎
ℎ→0 𝑥𝑥→𝑎𝑎

provided the limit exists.

For all a for which the limit exists, 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥) is a function of a.

EX #3: Use the alternate form of the derivative to find 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑎𝑎) for 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 = 3𝑥𝑥 + 1 at 𝑎𝑎 = 1.

Observations for using the derivative formulas:

When finding the derivative at a point, there are two approaches. You can either find the general
formula first and substitute your x-value, or your can substitute the x-value from the start.

Question Types and Equivalent Terminology:

If given two points, 𝒂𝒂, 𝒇𝒇 𝒂𝒂 and 𝒃𝒃, 𝒇𝒇 𝒃𝒃

If given one point, 𝒂𝒂, 𝒇𝒇 𝒂𝒂 , you are finding:
you are finding:

 Instantaneous rate of change at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎  Average rate of change on the interval [𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏]

 Slope of the tangent line  Slope of the secant line

 Derivative at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑐𝑐 𝑓𝑓 𝑏𝑏 −𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎
 𝑏𝑏 −𝑎𝑎
𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎+ℎ −𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎
 𝑓𝑓 ′ 𝑐𝑐 = lim ℎ
ℎ→0

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Topic 2.3: Estimating Derivatives of a Function at a Point

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EX #4: Find the slope of the tangent line to the hyperbola 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥
at 𝑥𝑥 = 3 .

𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 −𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎
A. Using 𝑚𝑚 = lim
𝑥𝑥 →𝑎𝑎 𝑥𝑥 −𝑎𝑎

𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎+ℎ −𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎
B. Using lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

Verbally speaking, you are finding all of the following:

1. The slope of the tangent line to f at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎
2. The instantaneous rate of change of f at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎
3. The derivative of f at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎
4. The limit of the difference quotient of f at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎

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 Understanding the Derivative Graphically

EX #5: Grab some colored pencils and a ruler.

The graph of the function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝐹𝐹(𝑥𝑥) at right, is

differentiable on the interval 𝑎𝑎, 𝑎𝑎 + ℎ .

Instructions:
Use the expression in Column I:
1. State whether the expression represents a
length or a slope.
2. Draw the geometric representation of the
expression on the graph of F using
• A blue pencil to represent any length
• A red pencil to represent any slope

Notation Length or Slope? Terminology

1. 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)

2. 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎 + ℎ)

3. 𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎 + ℎ − 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)

4. ℎ

𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎+ℎ −𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)
5. ℎ

𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎+ℎ −𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)
6. lim ℎ
ℎ→0

7. 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑎𝑎)

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 Understanding the Derivative Symbolically

Oftentimes you will be asked to extend your knowledge base for operations in calculus where you
need to recognize functions, procedures, processes, theorems, and properties. You might also need to
“decompose or deconstruct” mathematical operations symbolically. Here is a sample of such instances.

EX #6: Each of the following expressions represents the derivative of some function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) for
some value, 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑐𝑐. Identify the function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) and the value for 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑐𝑐.

A. ℎ+4−2 B. 𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝜋𝜋+ℎ

− 𝑒𝑒 −1
lim lim
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ

C. tan 2 2 + ℎ − 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 4 D. 1 6+ℎ

lim lim 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 ℎ 6

E. 𝑥𝑥 − 1 2 − 4 F.
3
𝑥𝑥 − 6 −
3
−8
lim lim
𝑥𝑥 →3 𝑥𝑥 − 3 𝑥𝑥 →−2 𝑥𝑥 + 2

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