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    The document summarizes the limit definition of the derivative. It states that the derivative f'(x) is defined as the limit of the slope of secant lines as they approach the tangent line. It provides examples of using this limit definition to derive the derivatives of f(x)=x^2 and f(x)=1/x. The summary notes that the limit definition is used to prove important results in calculus, such as the relationship between differentiability and continuity, and formulas for deriving polynomial derivatives.

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    The document summarizes the limit definition of the derivative. It states that the derivative f'(x) is defined as the limit of the slope of secant lines as they approach the tangent line. It provides examples of using this limit definition to derive the derivatives of f(x)=x^2 and f(x)=1/x. The summary notes that the limit definition is used to prove important results in calculus, such as the relationship between differentiability and continuity, and formulas for deriving polynomial derivatives.

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    2 views3 pages

    MatTutor 19

    Uploaded by

    Artist Recording
    The document summarizes the limit definition of the derivative. It states that the derivative f'(x) is defined as the limit of the slope of secant lines as they approach the tangent line. It provides examples of using this limit definition to derive the derivatives of f(x)=x^2 and f(x)=1/x. The summary notes that the limit definition is used to prove important results in calculus, such as the relationship between differentiability and continuity, and formulas for deriving polynomial derivatives.

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    Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial:

    Limit Denition of the Derivative


    Once we know the most basic dierentiation formulas and rules, we compute new derivatives using what we already know. We rarely think back to where the basic formulas and rules originated. The geometric meaning of the derivative f (x) = df (x) dx

    is the slope of the line tangent to y = f (x) at x.

    Lets look for this slope at P : The secant line through P and Q has slope f (x + x) f (x) f (x + x) f (x) = . (x + x) x x We can approximate the tangent line through P by moving Q towards P , decreasing x. In the limit as x 0, we get the tangent line through P with slope
    x0

    lim

    f (x + x) f (x) . x

    We dene

    f (x + x) f (x) f (x) = lim . x0 x

    If the limit as x 0 at a particular point does not exist, f (x) is undened at that point.

    We derive all the basic dierentiation formulas using this denition.

    Example For f (x) = x2 , f (x) = (x + x)2 x2 x0 x lim

    (x2 + 2(x)x + x2 ) x2 x0 x 2(x)x + x2 = lim x0 x = lim (2x + x) = lim


    x0

    = 2x as expected.

    Example For f (x) = 1 x f (x) = = = lim


    1 x+x

    x0

    1 x

    x0

    lim

    x(x+x) (x+x)(x)

    x
    x (x+x)(x)

    x 1 = lim x0 (x + x)(x) 1 = 2 x
    x0

    lim

    again as expected.

    Notes The limit denition of the derivative is used to prove many well-known results, including the following: If f is dierentiable at x0 , then f is continuous at x0 . Dierentiation of polynomials: d n [x ] = nxn1 . dx

    Product and Quotient Rules for dierentiation.

    Key Concepts
    We dene f (x) = lim f (x + x) f (x) . x0 x [Im ready to take the quiz.] [I need to review more.] [Take me back to the Tutorial Page]

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