Introduction to Differentiation

Motion Graphs

Travel Graph

3 5

2 1

Describe what is happening at each stage of this travel graph.

Travel Graph

3 5

2 1

Travel Graph

What is the link between the speed of the car and the graph?
2 1

What is the average speed of the car in each section?

Projectile Motion

Projectile Motion

What shape is the flight path of the basketball?

Projectile Motion
h(t) (m)
3

t (s) Describe what is happening at each stage of this projectile motion graph.

Projectile Motion
h(t) (m)
3

t (s)

Projectile Motion
h(t) (m)
3

How can we calculate this?

t (s) What is the instantaneous speed of the projectile at each point?

Calculating the Gradient of a Curve

tangent

h(t) (m)
normal

t (s)
Draw a normal to the curve then a tangent at that point.

Calculating the Gradient of a Curve

tangent

h(t) (m)
normal

t (s)
Calculate the gradient of the tangent.

Calculating the Gradient of a Curve

tangent

h(t) (m)
The basketball is travelling at 10m/s at this point.

(1.5,20)

(0.5,10)

The gradient of the tangent equals the gradient of the curve at this point.

t (s) The Rate of Change of the graph is equal to the gradient at that point.

Gradient Function
Use your calculated values for the gradients to complete the following table.

x
gradient

20

10

10

20

Now plot these points on squared paper.

Gradient Function
You have plotted the value of the gradient at each point x on the curve for 0 x 4.

This is called the

Gradient Function

Find the equation of this function.

Using (0,20) and (2,0) we get

y2 y1 m x2 x1

0 20 m 2 0 20 m 2
m 10

c 20

y 10 20 x
y 20 10 x

Projectile Motion

Use your knowledge of quadratic functions to obtain the equation of this function.

Roots at x = 0 an x = 4

y ax( x 4)
When x = 2, y = 20

20 a( 2)(( 2) 4)
20 4a

y 5x ( x 4)

y 5x 2 20 x y 20 x 5x 2

a 5

Equation of the projectile curve:

y 20 x 5x 2

Equation of the gradient function:

y 20 10 x

Can you spot a link?

Here is another pair that might help you:

y 2x 3 5x 2 y 6x 2 10 x

Gradient Function, Secant & Tangent

Click image to open Flash animation: Differentiation Animation

Differentiation : the gradient of f(x)

y y = f(x)

Q (x + h, f(x + h))
P (x, f(x)) x x+h x

The gradient of PQ is given by:

mPQ
mPQ mPQ

yQ y P xQ xP
f x h f x xhx f x h f x h

Differentiation : the derivative of f(x)

y y = f(x)

Q (x + h, f(x + h))
P (x, f(x)) x x+h

T
x

The gradient of tangent at P is given by:

lim f x h f x h0 h