Lecture #3: Introduction to Derivatives

Last time: Continuity of functions and piecewise continuity Todays learning objective: Calculate derivatives from first principles

18.01 Calculus Spring 2012 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jan. 23, 2012

Why do we care about derivatives?

2012 Ferrari 599 GTB 60F1 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S
Images from http://supercars.com

Top Speed: 206 mph 0 to 60 mph in: 3.8 s

Top Speed: 187 mph 0 to 60 mph in: 3.2 s Derivative of distance traveled, with respect to time Derivative of Speed, with respect to time
2

Speed Acceleration

18.01 Calculus Spring 2012 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Definition of Derivative
Derivative = Rate of change of a function of a variable, with respect to that variable Let f be a function of a variable, x, defined on a domain where it is continuous. The average rate of change of the function, at any given point x in this domain, is + The differential rate of change of the function is, + 0 lim We call this differential rate of change to be the derivative of the function f(x), with respect to the variable x, at a given point x in the domain. Notation: we write this as + d d lim = = = = 0 d d
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Examples: Calculating the derivative

In each of the questions below, f(x) is a function defined on the domain -100 < x < 100 Find the derivative of f(x). Problem 1: f(x) = 5

Problem 2: f(x) = x

Problem 3: f(x) = x2

Read: Example 2 (pg 155) and Example 4 (pg 156) of the textbook
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Derivatives of Composite Functions

If f(x) and g(x) are two functions that are defined, continuous and differentiable over a common interval, and h(x) is a composite function of f(x) and g(x) over that interval: Constant Rule: If h(x) = c . f(x), where c is a scalar constant, then Sum Rule: If h(x) = f(x) + g(x), then Product Rule: If h(x) = f(x) * g(x), then Quotient Rule: If =
() , () d d d d d d

= .

d d

d d

d d

= .

d d

+ .

d d

then

d d

. d . d 2

Proofs given on pg. 179-180 of the book.

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Summary
The Derivative of a function f(x) is defined as: + d d = = = = 0 d d lim

Homework Self-assessment: Find the derivatives of the following functions. Easy: f(x) = x3 defined on Real space. Moderate: f(x) = xn where n is any integer, defined on Real space. Hint: The binomial theorem: + = =0 Brain-teaser: f(x) = |x| (the absolute value function) defined on Real space. Is there anything interesting about the derivative?

Next class: Graphical interpretation of derivatives

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