1. Miss Battaglia AB Calculus
2.1 The Derivative Objective: Find the slope of the tangent line to a curve at a point; Use the limit definition to find the derivative of a function.
Miss Battaglia
AB Calculus

2. The Tangent Line Problem
Given a point, P, we want to define
and calculate the slope of the
line tangent to the graph at P.
Definition of Tangent Line with Slope m
If f is defined on an open interval containing c, and if the limit
lim ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑦 ∆𝑥 = lim ∆𝑥→0 𝑓 𝑐+∆𝑥 −𝑓(𝑐) ∆𝑥 =𝑚
exists, then the line passing through (c, f(c)) with slope m is the tangent line to the graph of f at the point (c,f(c)).

3. The Slope of the Graph of a Linear Function
Find the slope of the graph of f(x)=2x-3 at the point (2,1)
lim ∆𝑥→0 𝑓 𝑐+∆𝑥 −𝑓(𝑐) ∆𝑥

4. Tangent Lines to the Graph of a Nonlinear Function
Find the slope of the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 +1 at the point (0,1) and (-1,2)
lim ∆𝑥→0 𝑓 𝑐+∆𝑥 −𝑓(𝑐) ∆𝑥

5. What is the derivative?
The derivative measures the steepness of the graph of a function at some particular point on the graph. Thus, the derivative is a slope.

6. The Derivative of a Function
The derivative of f at x is given by
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim ∆𝑥→0 𝑓 𝑥+∆𝑥 −𝑓(𝑥) ∆𝑥
provided the limit exists. For all x for which this limit exists, f’ is a function of x.
Notations: f’(x), 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 , y’, 𝑑 𝑑𝑥 [𝑓 𝑥 ], 𝐷 𝑥 [𝑦]
(they all mean the same thing!)

7. Finding the Derivative by the Limit Process
Find the derivative of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 +2𝑥
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = lim ∆𝑥→0 𝑓 𝑥+∆𝑥 −𝑓(𝑥) ∆𝑥

8. Using the Derivative to Find the Slope at a Point
Find f’(x) for 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 . Then find the slopes of the graph of f at the points (1,1) and (4,2). Discuss the behavior of f at (0,0).

9. Finding the Derivative of a Function
Find the derivative with respect to t for the function 𝑦= 2 𝑡

10. Classwork/Homework
Read 2.1
Page 104 #15-29 odd, 43, 44, 57, 58