CALCULUS

Derivative from first principles

Example:

1. Determine the derivative from first principles: 𝑔(𝑥) = −4𝑥²

2. Determine the derivative from first principles: 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥² − 5

1
3. Determine the derivative from first principles: 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 3𝑥² .

4. Determine the derivative from first principles: 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3

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5. Determine the derivative from first principles : 𝑓(𝑥) =
−2
𝑥

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 Finding the derivative using the rules:

Rule:

• f(x) = a𝑥 𝑛 → f’(x) = a.n𝑥 𝑛−1

Notations:

• f(x) = 2𝑥 6 f’(x) = 2×6𝑥 6−1 =12𝑥 5

𝒅𝒚
• y = 2 𝑥6 = 2×6𝑥 6−1 =12𝑥 5
𝒅𝒙

• 𝑫𝒙 [2 𝑥 6 ] = 12𝑥 5
𝒅
• [2 𝑥 6 ] = 12𝑥 5
𝒅𝒙

Derivatives of some functions:

1.1 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 → 𝑓 ’(𝑥) = 0
1.
1.2 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝜋→ 𝑓’(𝑥) = 0

1.3 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘 2 → 𝑓 ’(𝑥) = 0

2.
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 → 𝑓 ’(𝑥) = 1

3. 3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 𝑥 → 𝑓 ’(𝑥) = 6

4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 → 𝑓 ’(𝑥) = 3𝑥²

4.

5.

6.

7.

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 Examples:

Use rules to determine the following derivatives:

1.
Determine if

2. 𝑑𝑦
Determine if 𝑦 = (2 − 5𝑥)²
𝑑𝑥

multiply

3. Determine if

Change from surd form to

exponent form

𝑎 𝑏
√𝑥 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎

4.  4 1
Determine if D x 4 − 3 − 4 
 x x 

Write in neg
exponent form

5
5.
if

If there is only one term

in the denominator

Write each term apart

separately

6. 𝑥²+𝑥−2
Given: 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥−1

6.1 Determine 𝑔’(𝑥) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≠ 1

If there is MORE THAN

ONE term in the
denominator

FACTORISE!

6.2 Explain why it would not be possible to determine 𝑔’(1) .

The function is not defined at 𝑥 = 1

Or
Deviding by 0 is not prohibitit.

7. Determine
dy
dx
( )2
if y = 1 + x .

6
8.
if

9. Determine
if

10.
1
𝑑𝑡
Determine if S = 3𝑡 2
𝑑𝑠

1
S = 3 𝑡2
1
𝑆
= 𝑡2
3
𝑠² Make t the subject of
=𝑡
9 the formula!
𝑑𝑡 2𝑠
=
𝑑𝑠 9

7
 Now try yourself:
Exercise 1

1. Determine if

2.

3.
Determine the derivative if:

2√𝑥+1
4. Determine 𝑓’(𝑥) if 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥²

5. Given and

Determine

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 MEMO: Excersize 1

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 𝑥+5
f(x) = 1
𝑥2

𝑥 5
f(x) = 1+ 1
𝑥2 𝑥2
1 −1
= 𝑥 2 +5𝑥 2
1 3
1 5
∴f’(x) = 𝑥 2 - 𝑥 −2
2 2

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 Gradient of a tangent.

Examples:

1. Determine the gradient of the tangent of the graph

𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 5 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = −1

2. Given: 𝑔(𝑥) = −2𝑥² − 9𝑥 + 5

Determine the equation of the tangent to the curve at 𝑥 = −1

3. Determine the values of a and b if 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥² + 𝑏𝑥 + 5 and the

equation of the tangent at 𝑥 = −1 is:𝑦 = −7𝑥 + 3

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 GRAPH : 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟑 + 𝒃𝒙² + 𝒄𝒙 + 𝒅

SUMMARY:

a>0

local maximum
a<0
y

E y-intercepts ( x =
0)
A O B C
x

x-intercepts (y=0)

inflection point [f”(x) =

0]
F

D
Turning point [f’(x) = 0]
Local minimum

Examples
1. Sketch: y = f(x)= -𝑥 3 + 10x² -17x -28

❖ Y-intercepts (x=0) : y = -28 (0;-28)

❖ X-intercepts (y=0) : 0 = −𝑥 3 + 10𝑥² − 17𝑥 − 28

0 = −(𝑥 3 − 10𝑥² + 17𝑥 + 28)
0 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 28)
0 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 4)
∴ 𝑥 = −1 ; 𝑥 = 7 ; 𝑥 = 4

(-1;0) ; (7;0) ; (4;0)

❖ Turning points [f ’(x) = 0] : − 3𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 – 17 = 0

(3𝑥 − 17)(𝑥 − 1) = 0
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𝑥= 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 1 … . 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑦
3
𝑦 = 14,8 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 = −36

𝟏𝟕
( ; 14,8) ; (1;-36)
𝟑

❖ Point of inflection [f”(x) = 0]: -6x + 20 = 0

-6x = -20
x = 10/ 3 .. 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑦
y = -10, 59

(10 /3 ; -10,59)

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SKETCH THE GRAPH :

Answer the following Questions:

QUESTION: ANSWER:

𝑓(𝑥) > 0 (𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠) 𝑥 < −1 𝑜𝑟 4 < 𝑥 < 7

𝑓(𝑥) < 0 (𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠) −1 < 𝑥 < 4 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 7

𝑓(𝑥) = 0 (𝑜𝑛 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠) 𝑦 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑥 = −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 4 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 7

𝑓’(𝑥) > 0 (𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒) 17

1 < 𝑥 <
3

𝑓’(𝑥) < 0(𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒) 𝑥 < 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 17/3

𝑓’(𝑥 ) = 0 (𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 ) gradient 17

𝑥 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 =
3

Example 2: (2 𝒙- intercepts)

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Sketch: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 1𝑥² − 8𝑥 + 12

❖ Y-intercept (x=0) : y = 12 (0;12)

❖ X-intercept (y=0) : 0 = 𝑥 3 − 1𝑥² − 8𝑥 + 12

= (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6)
= (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 2)
∴ 𝑥 = 2 ; 𝑥 = −3

(2;0) ; (-3;0)

❖ Turning point [f ’(x) = 0] : 3𝑥² − 2𝑥 – 8 = 0

(3𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2) = 0
4
∴ 𝑥 = − 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 = 2
3
𝑦 = 18,52 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 = 0
4
(- ; 18,52) ; (2;0)
3

❖ Point of inflection [𝑓 ”(𝑥) = 0]: 6𝑥 − 2 = 0

6𝑥 = 2
1
𝑥 =
3
𝑦 = 9,3

𝟏
( ; 𝟗, 𝟑)
𝟑

SKETCH GRAPH :

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Answer the following questions , using the graph:

𝑓(𝑥) > 0 )

𝑓(𝑥) < 0

𝑓(𝑥) = 0

𝑓’(𝑥) > 0

𝑓’(𝑥) < 0

𝑓’(𝑥) = 0

Example 3: (1 𝒙-intrcept) with 2 turning points

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Sketch: f(x) = 𝑥 3 - 1x² -x +10

❖ y-intercept (x=0) : y = 10 (0;10)

❖ x-intercept (y=0) : 0 = 𝑥 3 - 1x² -x +10

= (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥² − 3𝑥 + 5)

𝑥 = −2 or no solution

(-2;0)

❖ Turning point [f ’(x) = 0] : 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 – 1 = 0

(3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1) = 0
1
∴𝑥= − 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 = 1
3
𝑦 = 10,2 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 = 9

𝟏
(- ; 10,2) ; (1;9)
𝟑

❖ Point of inflection [𝑓 ”(𝑥) = 0]: 6𝑥 − 2 = 0

6𝑥 = 2
1
𝑥 =
3
𝑦 = 9,6

𝟏
( ; 9,6)
𝟑

SKETCH THE GRAPH :

Answer the following questions, using the graph:

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 𝑓(𝑥) > 0

𝑓(𝑥) < 0

𝑓(𝑥) = 0

𝑓’(𝑥) > 0

𝑓’(𝑥) < 0

𝑓’(𝑥) = 0

EXERCISE 2: Sketch the graph.

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1 Given: g ( x) = ( x − 6)( x − 3)( x + 2)

1.1 Determine the y-intercept of g.

1.2 Determine the x-intercepts of g.

1.3 Determine the turning points of g.

1.4 Sketch the graph, g.

1.5 Determine 𝑥 if: g(x). g / (x)  0 ?

2. 𝐺𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 30

2.1 Use the fact that f(2) = 0 to determine a factor of 𝑓(𝑥).

2.2 Determine the coordinates of the x-intercepts of 𝑓.

2.3 Determine the coordinates of the stationary points of 𝑓.

2.4 Sketch the graph. Show all intercepts with the axes and turning points

2.5 For what value(s) of 𝑥 will f’(x) <0?

3. 𝐺𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛: 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 10

3.1 Determine the y-intercept

3.2 Show that (2 ; 0) is the only x- intercept of the graph.

3.3 Determine the turning points of 𝑓.

3.4 Sketch the graph. Show all intercepts with the axes and turning points

4. The graph of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 + 16 is sketch

below.

17
4.1 Determine the 𝑥-coordinates of the turning points of f

4.2 Determine the 𝑥-coordinates of the point where 𝑓’(𝑥) have a

maximum.

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 MEMO: Exercise 2 (SKETCH of GRAPHS)

1.1

y-intercepts

1.2

x-intercepts

1.3

Turning points

1.4

1.5

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2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

20
2.5

3.1

3.2

No solution

3.3

21
3.4

4.1

4.2

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TO DETERMINE THE EQUATION OF THE GRAPH

EXAMPLE 1 : 𝒙-intercepts given

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑏𝑥² + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑

Determine the numeric value of b, c and d

-6 -1 2

ANSWER:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝟏(𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2)

= (𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 2 − 1𝑥 − 2)
= 𝑥 3 + 5𝑥² − 8𝑥 − 12

𝑎 = 1 ; 𝑏 = 5 ; 𝑐 = − 8 𝑒𝑛 𝑑 = −12

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EXAMPLE 2: x-intercepts given:

f(x)= a𝑥 3 + bx² + cx + d
Determine the numeric value of a , b , c , and d

-2 3

ANSWER:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 3)

𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑙 (0; 9) 𝑖𝑛

9 = 𝑎 ( 2)(−3)(−3)
9 = 18𝑎
½ = 𝑎

𝑓(𝑥) = ½ (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 3)

𝑓(𝑥) = ½ (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9)

3
𝑓(𝑥) = ½𝑥 3 − 2𝑥² − 𝑥 + 9
2
−3
𝑎 = ½ 𝑏 = −2 𝑐 = 𝑑 = 9
2

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EXAMPLE 3: TP given

(0 ; -4)

(3 ; -4)

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑏𝑥² + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑

❖ 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑏𝑥² + 𝑐𝑥 – 4

𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 (3 ; −4)

𝒇(𝟑) = −𝟒
3
𝑓(3) = (3) + 𝑏(3)² + 𝑐(3) – 4 = −4
27 + 9𝑏 + 3𝑐 − 4 = −4
9𝑏 + 3𝑐 = −27
3𝑏 + 𝑐 = −9 … … … (1)

❖ 𝑓’(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

𝒇’(𝟑) = 𝟎
𝑓’(3) = 3(3)² + 2𝑏(3) + 𝑐 = 0

27 + 6𝑏 + 𝑐 = 0
6𝑏 + 𝑐 = −27 … . . (2)

(1) − (2) ∶ −3𝑏 = 18

𝑏 = −6

𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 (1) ∶ 3(−6) + 𝑐 = −9

𝑐 = 9
∴f(x) =𝒙𝟑 - 𝟔𝒙² + 𝟗𝒙 – 𝟒

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EXAMPLE 4 : TP given:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 3 + 5𝑥² + 4𝑥 + 𝑏. Determine the numeric value of a and b if

the turning point of the graph is (2 ; 9 ).

f(2) = 9 f’(2) = 0

𝒇(𝟐) = 𝑎(2)3 + 5(2)² + 4(2) + 𝑏 = 𝟗

8𝑎 + 20 + 8 + 𝑏 = 9
8𝑎 + 𝑏 = −19 … … (1)

𝑓’(𝑥) = 3𝑎𝑥² + 10 𝑥 + 4
𝒇’(𝟐) = 3𝑎(2)² + 10(2) + 4 = 𝟎
12𝑎 = −24
𝑎 = −2

𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 (1) ∶ 8(−2) + 𝑏 = −19

𝑏 = −3

𝒇(𝒙) = −𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟓𝒙² + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑

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 EXCERCISE 3

1. The graph below represents the functions 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 with

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 3 – 𝑐𝑥 − 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2.
A and (-1;0) is die 𝑥-intercepts of 𝑓. The graphs 𝑓 𝑒𝑛 𝑔 intersect at
A and C.

1.1 Determine the coordinates of A.

1.2 Show that a = 1 and c =-3

1.3 Determine the coordinates of B, the turning point of f.

1.4 Show that BC is parallel to the 𝑥-axis.

1.5 Determine the coordinates of the inflection point of f.

1.6 Write down the values of k where 𝑓(𝑥) = k will only have ONE
root.

1.7 Determine the values of x where 𝑓 ‘(𝑥)<0

27
2. The function 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 3 + 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 is sketch below.
The turning points of the graph f is T(2 ; -9) and S(5 ; 18)

2.1 Show that a = 21 , b= -60 and c= 43.

2.2 Determine the equation of the tangent of f at 𝑥 = 1

2.3 Determine the 𝑥-value where the graph will have a point of
inflection.

28
 MEMO : Exercise 3

1.1

1.2

1.3

29
1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

30
2.1

2.2

2.3

31