GUC

MATH103
For Engineering
Winter 2023

Lecture # 9
Chapter 3
App’s of limits: Differentiation of functions
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 Remember
Course Outlines
Engineering
Mathematics 1

Math 103

Limits and Derivative and Integration

Basic functions continuity its applications

6 Lectures 2 Lectures 8 Lectures 4 lectures

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Main objectives

Introduce the formal definition of the derivative

of a function.

Study geometric meaning of the derivative as

the slope of the tangent line to a curve.

Interpret the derivative as the rate of change of

a varying quantity.

Introduce some basic rules of differentiation.

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 Derivative of Functions
1. By Definition.
2. Power function rule
3. Square root function rule.
4. Absolute value function rule.
5. Product “of 2 functions” rule.
6. Quotient “of 2 functions” rule.
7. Exponential function rule.
8. Logarithmic function rule.
9. Trigonometric functions rules and their inverses.
10. Hyperbolic functions rules and their inverses.
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1- The concept “Definition” of the derivative
For a function f(x), we define the derivative
of this function at any “x” in Df by:
f ( x + h) − f ( x )
f ( x ) = lim , if the limit exists
h→ 0 h
• N. B.: If the limit: Does Not Exist or equals to  
then we say that the function “is not differentiable” or
“has no derivative” at x.
The derivative is sometimes denoted by:
dy df
y = " or" Df ( x ) = f ' ( x ) =
dx dx

Notice that: Since f is a function of x, then its derivative f’

is also a function of x.
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 2- Derivative of power function xn
Example 1: Use the definition of derivative to
find f’ (x), if f (x) = x2

Solution:
f ( x ) = x 2  f ( x + h) = ( x + h) 2 
f ( x + h) − f ( x )
f ( x ) = lim
h→0 h
( x + h) 2 − x 2 x 2 + 2 xh + h2 − x 2
= lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h
2 xh + h2 h( 2 x + h)
= lim = lim = lim ( 2 x + h) = 2 x
h→0 h h→0 h h→0

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 3- Derivative of square root function
Example 2: Use the definition of derivative to find
f’(x), if f (x) = x
Solution:
f ( x) = x  f ( x + h) = x+h
f ( x + h) − f ( x )
f ( x ) = lim
h→ 0 h
x+h− x x+h− x x+h+ x
= lim = lim .
h→ 0 h h→ 0 h x+h+ x
( x + h) − ( x ) 1 1
= lim = lim =
h→ 0 h( x + h + x ) h→ 0 x+h+ x 2 x

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 4- Derivative of Absolute value function
Example 3: Use the definition of derivative to find
f’(x) for f (x) = |x| for any x ≠ 0.
Solution: We now find the derivative of |x| at any x ≠ 0.
f ( x ) = | x |  f ( x + h) = | x + h | 
f ( x + h) − f ( x ) | x + h|− | x |
f ( x ) = lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h
| x + h|− | x | | x + h|+ | x |
= lim . use "| x |2 = x 2 "
h→0 h | x + h|+ | x |
| x + h |2 − | x |2 h( 2 x + h) 2x x
= lim = lim = =
h→0 h(| x + h | + | x |) h→0 h(| x + h | + | x |) | x|+| x| | x|

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 Alternative definition

For a function y = f (x), we define the

derivative of this function at a point “a” in Df
by: f (a + h) − f (a )

f (a ) = lim  " number" ,
h→0 h
f ( x ) − f (a )
OR f (a ) = lim .
x →a x−a
• N. B.: If the limit: Does Not Exist or equals
to   then we say that the function “is not
differentiable” or “has no derivative” at “a”.
f (a ) = f ( x ) |
• N. B.: 1111111111111111 x =a

Theorem: “If a function is differentiable at certain point

then it is continuous at this point”
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Can you prove this Theorem?
 Example 4: Use the definition of derivative to find
f’(0), if f (x) = |x|
Solution :
f ( 0 ) = 0 = 0  f ( 0 + h) = 0 + h = h 
f ( 0 + h) − f ( 0 ) h −0 h
f (0) = lim = lim = lim .
h→ 0 h h→ 0 h h→ 0 h

Now we have to find the left hand and right hand limits.
− h −h
f ' (0 ) = lim = lim = −1, Notice that: this function is
h→ 0 − h h→ 0− h
continuous at x = 0 “why?”
+ h h but not differentiable at x = 0
f ' (0 ) = lim = lim = 1
h→ 0+ h h→ 0− h

h
 lim does not exist. i.e., f (0) = DNE as f (0+ )  f (0− )
h→ 0 h
Hence, f ( x ) = x has no derivative at x = 0. 10
 Summary:
If a function is differentiable, then it is continuous

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 Example 5: Use the definition of derivative to find
f’(1), if f(x) = 2x2 + 3. When calculating derivative at a
given point, for simplicity, we use
Solution : (i) - By Definition The point right from the beginning

f (1) = 2 + 3 = 5, f (1 + h) = 2(1 + h)2 + 3 = 2(1 + 2h + h2 ) + 3 

f (1 + h) − f (1)
f (1) = lim =
h→ 0 h
[2(1 + 2h + h2 ) + 3] − 5 5 + 4h + 2h2 − 5
= lim = lim
h→ 0 h h→0 h
4h + 2h2 2h( 2 + h)
= lim = lim = lim 2( 2 + h) = 4
h→ 0 h h→ 0 h h→0

 f (1) = 4, exists, i.e. f is differentiable at x = 1.

Note Carefully : f (1) = f ( x ) |x =1 i.e., f (1)  [ f (1)]

(ii) - Without Definition : f (1) = f ( x ) |x =1 = 4 x |x =1 = 4(1) = 4.

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 Example 6: Find f’(3), if

9 x :x3
f ( x) =  1 3
 3 x + 18 : x  3
Solution :
9 : x  3
It is clear that f ( x ) =  2
x : x  3
 −
f ( 3 ) = 9, &  +
f ( 3 ) = x |x = 3 = 9
2


 f ( 3 ) = 9 = f ( 3 )  f ( 3) " exists" = 9
−
 +

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Geometric meaning of the derivative at a point
If the function y = f(x), represents a curve in the
xy-plane and x = x0 is a point in the domain of f(x)
then the derivative f’(x0) represents the slope m of
the tangent line at the point (x0, f(x0)) on the curve.

= f ( x 0 )

y − y0 = m( x − x0 )
Equation of any line through the
point (x0, y0) and with slope m 15
 The slope of the tangent line as
the derivative at a point
Given the curve of a function f (x):
Find the slope “m” of the tangent of f at x= a?
If x moves from “a” to “a + h”, the change in x: ∆x = (a + h) - (a)
Then the corresponding change in f(x): ∆f = f(a + h) - f(a).
I - The slope of the secant line (PQ) using the 2 points P & Q is:
Opp.  f f (a + h) − f (a )
tan( ) = = =
Slope of Secant line Adj. x h
II - The slope of the tangent line of f(x) at the point “a”; is obtained when
“the point Q moves to P” i.e., “as ∆x = h → 0”; by:

f (a + h) − f (a )
Slope of tangent line
m = lim = f (a )
h→ 0 h
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 Example: Find the equation of the tangent line
to the curve y = x , at the point x = 4.

Solution:
f(x) = x , y0=f(4) = 2 and f’(x) = 1/(2 x ), f’(4)=1/4,
hence, the slope of the tangent line at the point
(4,2) is m = f’(4) = 1/4.
Therefore, the equation of the required tangent
line is:
y - y0 =m(x - x0)
y - 2 = (1/4)(x - 4),
y - 2 = (1/4)x - 1,
y = (1/4) x +1
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 Example: Find the equation of the tangent
line to the curve y = 1/x , at the point x = 2.

d 1 d −1 −2 −1
Note that : [ ]= (x ) = −x = 2
dx x dx x

Solution:
y = 1/x, then y(2) = 1/2 and
y’(x) = -1/x2,, y’(2) = -1/4,
hence, the slope of the
tangent line m = -1/4
Therefore, the equation of
the required tangent line is
y -1/2 = (-1/4)(x - 2),
4 y - 2 = - x +2,
x+4y=4 18
 Example: Find the equation of the tangent line
2
to the curve, y= x+ at the point (1,3).
x
Note that : [ ] = d ( x −1 ) = − x −2 = − 12
d 1
dx x dx x
Solution :
d 2 d
y(x) = ( x + ) = ( x + 2 x −1 ) = 1 − 2 x − 2
dx x dx
 m = y( 1 ) = 1 − 2(1)− 2 = −1
the equation of the required tangent line is :
y - 3 = −1( x - 1 )  y = − x + 4

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 Rules of differentiation

The proof follows from

the definition. How?

d d
( 3) = 0, ( −1) = 0
dx dx

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The proof follows from the definition

d 2 d 7
x = 2 x, x = 7x 6

dx dx

The proof follows from the definition

d d 2
3x = 3 x = 6x
2

dx dx
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Thank you

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