Differentiation of

Algebraic Functions
Calculus 1
Prepared by: Engr. Jessica B. Castillo
The process of finding the derivative of a
function (algebraic, trigonometric, exponential or
logarithmic) is called differentiation and the
branch of calculus dealing with this process is
called differential calculus. Differentiation is an
important mathematical tool in physics,
mechanics, economics and many more other
disciplines which involve change and motion.
The Symbol Δ

Any change in a variable quantity is called an

increment. The symbol Δ (read “delta”) is customarily
used to denote this change or increment. If we regard x
as the variable, then the symbol Δx (read “delta x”)
denotes the increment of x.

Suppose 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). A change Δx in x produces a

corresponding change Δy in y. That is,
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥
∆𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑦
But since 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), then we have the relation
∆𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
Example 1
If 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 , then 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)2 and
∆𝑦 = (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)2 −𝑥 2 .

Example 2
If A = 𝜋𝑟 2 , then A + ∆𝐴 = 𝜋(𝑟 + ∆𝑟)2 and
∆𝐴 = 𝜋(𝑟 + ∆𝑟)2 − 𝜋𝑟 2
The Derivative of a Function

Let the function 𝑓 given by 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) be a continuous function of x

in some interval containing x. We said that a change Δx in the
independent variable x produces a corresponding change Δy in
the dependent variable y.
If we divide both members of the equation ∆𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
by Δx, we have

∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
=
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥

Note that this ratio is the difference of the function values divided
by the difference of the x-values. For this reason, it is often
referred to as the difference quotient. It also denotes the average
∆𝑦
rate of change of f(x) between x and x+Δx. That is, ∆𝑥 is a
measure of the rate at which y is changing with respect to x for
the interval Δx.
Suppose we regard x as fixed and then let Δx vary and approach
zero. Then we define the expression

∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
lim or lim
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

as the instantaneous rate of change of f(x) at x or simply the rate

∆𝑦
of change of f(x) at x. If the difference quotient ∆𝑥 has a limit L,
then that number L is called the derivative of y with respect to x
𝑑𝑦
and this derivative is customarily denoted by the symbol 𝑑𝑥 .
Definition. The derivative of a function 𝑓 given by 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) with
respect to x at any x in its domain is the number
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
= lim = lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
provided the limits exists.

𝑑𝑦 𝑑
Note that the symbol 𝑑𝑥
may also interpreted as𝑑𝑥
(𝑦). Then the
𝑑
expression 𝑑𝑥 indicates the process of finding the “derivative with
respect to x of”. This expression is sometimes called the
“differentiating operator”.
𝑑𝑦
In addition to , other symbols used for the derivative of 𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑓(𝑥) are
′ ′
𝑑𝑓
𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝐷𝑥 𝑦, 𝐷𝑥 𝑓,
𝑑𝑥
If the limit exists at 𝑥 = 𝑎, then we say that the function 𝑓 is
differentiable at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
Example 1. Find the derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 .
Solution:
Example 2. Find the derivative of s = 3𝑡 2 − 4.
Solution:
Example 2. Find the derivative of s = 3𝑡 2 − 4.
Solution:
Example 3. Find the derivative of 𝑦 = 4 𝑥.
Solution:
Example 3. Find the derivative of 𝑦 = 4 𝑥.
Solution:
 2𝑥
Example 4. Find the derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥+1.
Solution:
 𝒅𝒚
Geometric Significance of
𝒅𝒙
Consider the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) shown in the figure. Let P(x, y) and Q(x+Δx,
y+Δy) be any two points on this curve. Line S which intersects the curve at P
and Q and having inclination 𝛼 is called the secant line of the curve. Note
that the slope of S is
Δ𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑚 = tan ∝ = =
Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥
The line T passing through point P and having inclination 𝜃 is the
tangent line to the curve at P. Let ∆𝑥 → 0, then α → 𝜃 or Q → P (P
remaining fixed) along the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). We note that the
secant S approaches the tangent T as its limiting position. That is,
the slope of S approaches the slope of T or symbolically tan 𝛼
→ tan 𝜃. Hence,
∆𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥)
lim = lim = slope of T at P
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
Thus we see that the derivative of y = f(x) at a point P on the
curve is equal to the slope of the tangent line at P. This is the
𝑑𝑦
geometric significance of the derivative 𝑑𝑥 .
The symbol
𝑑𝑦
ቤ
𝑑𝑥 (𝑎,𝑏)
is customarily used to denote the slope of the tangent line to the
curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at the point (𝑎, 𝑏).
Example. Find the slope of the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3
at the point (2, 8).
Example. Find the slope of the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3
at the point (2, 8).