2.1 2.

Slope of a Curve
What is the slope of y = x2 + 1?

How about the slope at x = 2? or 3? or 4?...

Perhaps we can find the slope at a general point x and then use that generalized slope for any value of x.

2.1 2.2

In summary:
The slope of a curve is found/defined at a _________________.
The slope of a curve at a point is defined as the slope of the line ______________ to the curve at that point.
The slope of a tangent line is found by finding the ________________ of the ___________________ of
_________________ lines to the curve.
If we do this limit business with a general point x then what we find is a formula/expression/function for
finding the slope at any _______________________ value of x.
This formula is known as the ___________________________ of the original function.

Notation for, and the definition of, a derivative:

We will concentrate on find the derivative of a function and not concern ourselves, for a while, with any
actual slope.
If f (x)

1
, find f (x)
x

If f(x) =

Homework
Page 102

19, 21, 23

2.1 2.2

Same original question. Different notation:

y

Lets use this new notation and find f '(x) if f(x) = x2 + 1.

2.1 2.2
1
f (x) find f '(x)
x

4
f(x) =

x find f '(x)

Homework
Page 102

19, 21, 23

Use h 0 notation

For which type of problems might these two formulas be better suited for?
x a involves more _________________________ in doing the something else

h 0 involves more __________________________ in doing the something else

2.1 2.2
IF you are finding the derivative of a MONOMIAL, there is a nicer way to find the derivative.

This pattern has a name.

Its name is The ___________________ __________________.
This pattern only applies to monomials or the sum/difference of monomials, a polynomials.
Find the derivative of the following:
1. f(x) = 4x3 3x2 + 2x 8

2. f(x) = 7x -3 5x 1.5

Notation: If the original problem is give in y = form, then the derivative can be written as __________.

Mo notation:

dy
is another way of noting a __________________.
dx

This notation is read _______ _______, ______ _______, or

Another way of reading

dy
is the _______________ of y with ______________ to x.
dx

If r = 4t2 + 3t 4 then r' =

= 8t + 3

2.1 2.2
Find the derivative of the following:
1. y = x2(2x 1)

3. f(x) = (3x2)3

5. y =

7. y =

4x

2 3

6
2. y = (3x2 x)2

4. f(x) =

6. f(x) =

4x
8x 3

1
2 x

3x 4 12x 2 1
2x

Homework
Page 113 3, 7, 9, 41, 43, 45

2.1 2.2
y = sin(x)

7
y'=

New notation:
d
cos(x) =
dx

y = 4sin(t)
dy

dt

Homework
Page 113 19, 21, 23

2.1 2.2

What is the slope of the f(x) = 4x2 - 7x + 2 at the point where x = 2?

Write the equation of the line tangent to the graph of y = 3x3 x + 3 at the point where x = -2.

Homework
Page 113 35, 37, 53, 55

Find all if any points where the line tangent to the graph of f(x) = x3 - 3x is horizontal.

Homework
Page 113 57 63 odd

2.1 2.2

Since a derivative is a ______________________ and limits sometimes ______ __________ __________,

derivatives therefore must have sometimes when they do ____________ exist. Interestingly there are
________________ times/______________ when a derivative does not exist;
But remember that a derivative is not a limit of ___ - ______________,
a derivative is a limit of __________________. So a function must have a ________________ from the left
and a slope from the __________________ and those slopes must be the ____________________.
f (x)

1
x

f (x) 3 x

x
f (x) 2
x

3 reasons derivatives DNE:

1.

2.

3.

x 1
x 1

2.1 2.2

10

f ( x) x 3 find f '(x)

f(0) =
f '(0) =
f '(4) =
f '(3) =

Homework
Page 104 81, 83, 85, 89 - 92
Page 114 65
Page 102 33, 35, 37, 48

Slope of a line vs slope of a curve.

Average rate of change vs instantaneous rate of change. Notation

Derivative is not just about slopes. Derivatives are about quantities that change, could be slope position,
velocity, income, friends

2.1 2.2
s = 8t2 4t + 1 On the interval t: [1, 4], find the average rate of change of s on the interval [1, 4].

11

Now find the instantaneous rate of change of s when t = 1.

A little Physics for ya:

The height, in feet, of an object in free fall, at t seconds of falling, can be found using the general equation
h(t) = -16t2 + (initial velocity)t + initial height.
A ball is thrown upward, from a 10 foot tall roof at the rate of 36 feet per second.
Find an equation for the height of the object at t seconds.
Find the average velocity of the ball on the interval t:[0,1].
Find the instantaneous velocity at t = 1.
Find the velocity when the ball hits the ground.

Homework
Page 115 81 86, 89, 90, 91, 92