BASIC CALCULUS

Module No. 4: Week 4: First Quarter

(Derivatives)

Welcome to the Basic Calculus module.

This module was created to offer meaningful opportunities for guided and independent
learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the contents of this
module while being an active learner.

Remember that your academic success lies in your own hands so enjoy your journey in
learning through this module.

Please be guided by the following reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
3. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
4. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next. Do not skip any part of this
module.
5. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.

If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to
consult your teacher. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain
deep understanding of the relevant competencies.
You can do it!

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 Learning Competencies
• Illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a function at a given point
(STEM_BC11LD-IIIe-1)
• Apply the definition of the derivative of a function at a given number
(STEM_BC11LD-IIIe-2)
• Relate the derivative of a function to the slope of the tangent line
(STEM_BC11LD-IIIe-3)

Objectives
At the end of this module, the learner shall be able to:
• Illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a function at a given point;
• Apply the definition of the derivative of a function at a given number; and
• Relate the derivative of a function to the slope of the tangent line

Let’s Recall
Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. Which of the following is NOT a general property of a tangent line to a circle?
A. It intersects the circle at exactly one point.
B. There exists exactly one other tangent line to the circle parallel to it.
C. There exists exactly one other tangent line to the circle perpendicular to it.
D. It is perpendicular to the radius of the circle passing through the point of
tangency.

2. What is the slope of the line through (1, 3) and (0, -2)?
1 1
A. -5 B. − C. D. 5
5 5

3. What is the slope of the line through (-4, 8) and (2, -12)?
10 10
A. -10 B. − C. D. 10
3 3

4. What is the slope of the line with equation y = 8 - 3x?

1
A. -3 B. − C. 3 D. 8
3

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 5. What is the slope of the line with equation -2y -10 + 2x = 0?
A. -2 B. -1 C. 0 D. 1

6. Which is the correct equation of the line with slope 2 and passing through (-1, 5)?
A. y + 1 = 2(x – 5) C. x + 1 = 2(y – 5)
B. y – 5 = 2(x + 1) D. x – 5 = 2(y + 1)

7. Which of the following lines is parallel to the line 5x – y = 7?

A. 5x + y = 4 C. x + 5y = 4
B. y – 5x = 4 D. 5y – x = 4

8. Which of the following lines is perpendicular to the line 5x – y = 7?

A. 5x + y = 4 C. x + 5y = 4
B. y – 5x = 4 D. 5y – x = 4

9. What is the slope of the line with equation x = 6?

A. -6 B. 0 C. 6 D. undefined

10. What is the slope of the line with equation y = -6?

A. -6 B. 0 C. 6 D. undefined

Let’s Understand

Are you familiar with the word “TANGENT LINE”? What do you know about it? The following
ideas may come to your mind as you come across with it:
• a line which touches the graph at only one point
• a line touching a circle at one point
• trigonometric function tangent (and cotangent)
• touching but not intersecting (from a dictionary)
• right beside
• tangent comes from the Latin word tàngere meaning “to touch”

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All of these ideas are correct in almost all cases but these could not be very precise in
general. In fact, the formal definition of a tangent line is stated using limits.

HOW TO DRAW TANGENT LINES TO CURVES AT A POINT

The definition of a tangent line is not very easy to explain without involving limits. We can
imagine that the curve looks like an arc of a circle. Hence, they can draw the tangent line
to the curve as they would to a circle.

Image: CHED Teaching Guide for Senior High School:

Basic Calculus

One more way to see this is to choose the line through a point that locally looks most like
the curve. Among all the lines through a point (c, f(c)), the one which best approximates
the curve y = f(x) near the point (c, f(c)) is the tangent line to the curve at that point.

Among all lines passing through (c, f(c)), the tangent line is the closest to the curve locally.
Image: CHED Teaching Guide for Senior High School:
Basic Calculus

4
Another way of qualitatively understanding the tangent line is to visualize the curve as a
roller coaster. The tangent line to the curve at a point is parallel to the line of sight of the
passengers looking straight ahead and sitting erect in one of the wagons of the roller
coaster.

Image: CHED Teaching Guide for Senior High School:

Basic Calculus

THE TANGENT LINE DEFINED MORE FORMALLY

The precise definition of a tangent line relies

on the notion of a secant line. Let C be the
graph of a continuous function y = f(x) and let
P be a point on C. A secant line to y = f(x)
through P is any line connecting P and another
̅̅̅̅ is
point Q on C. In the figure on the right, 𝑃𝑄
a secant line of y = f(x) through P.

We now construct the tangent line to y = f(x) at P.

Choose a point Q on the right side of P, and

connect the two point to construct the secant line
̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝑄 .

Choose another point Q1 in between P and Q.

Connect the two points P and Q1 to construct the
̅̅̅̅1 .
secant line 𝑃𝑄

Choose another point Q2 in between P and Q1.

Images: CHED Teaching Guide for Senior High School:
̅̅̅̅2 .
Construct the secant line 𝑃𝑄 Basic Calculus

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Consider also the case when Q is to the left of P and perform the same process. Intuitively,
we can define the tangent line through P to be the limiting position of the secant line ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝑄 as
the point Q (whether to the left or right of P) approaches P.

If the sequence of secant lines to the graph of

y = f(x) through P approaches one limiting
position (in consideration of points Q to the left
and from the right of P), then we define this line to
be the tangent line to y = f(x) at P. Image: CHED Teaching Guide for Senior High School:
Basic Calculus

We summarize below the definitions of the secant line through a point, and the tangent line
at a point of the graph of y = f(x).

DEFINITION
Let C be the graph of a continuous function y = f(x) and let P be a point on C.
1. A secant line to y = f(x) through P is any line connecting P and another
point Q on C.
2. The tangent line to y = f(x) at P is the limiting position of all secant lines
̅̅̅̅ as Q → P.
𝑃𝑄

THE EQUATION OF THE TANGENT LINE

Earlier, we just have the formal definition of a tangent line. However, there is a slight
problem with this definition because we have no means of computing the limit of lines.
Hence, we need to work on the numbers that characterize the lines.

Given a function y = f(x), how do we find the equation of the tangent line at a point
P(x0, y0)?

Consider the graph of a function y = f(x) whose graph is given below. Let P(x0, y0) be a
point on the graph of y = f(x). Our objective is to find the equation of the tangent line (TL)
to the graph at the point P(x0, y0).

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 • Find any point Q(x, y) on the curve.
• Get the slope of this secant line ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝑄 :
𝑦 − 𝑦0
𝑚𝑃𝑄
̅̅̅̅ =
𝑥 − 𝑥0
• Observe that letting Q approach P is
equivalent to letting x approach x0.

Image: CHED Teaching Guide for Senior High School:

Basic Calculus

We use the formal definition of the tangent line:

Since the tangent line is the limiting position of the secant lines as Q approaches P, it
follows that the slope of the tangent line (TL) at the point P is the limit of the slopes of the
secant lines ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝑄 as x approaches x0. In symbols,
𝑦 − 𝑦0 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(0)
𝑚 = lim = lim .
𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥 − 𝑥0

Finally, since the tangent line passes through P(x0, y0), then its equation is given by
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥0 )

Example 1: Find the equation of the tangent line to y = x2 at x = 2.

Solution: To get the equation of the line, we need the point P(x0,y0) and the slope m. We
are only given x0 =2. However, the y-coordinate of x0 is easy to find by substituting
x0 = 2 into y = x2. This gives us y0 =4. Hence, P has the coordinates (2,4). Now,
we look for the slope:
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(0) 𝑥2 − 4
𝑚 = lim = lim = 𝟒.
𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2

Finally, the equation of the tangent line with slope m = 4 and passing through
P(2, 4) is y – 4 = 4 (x – 2) or y = 4x – 4.

Example 2: Find the slope-intercept form of the tangent line to 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 at x = 4.

Solution: Again, we find the y-coordinate of x0 = 4: y0 = f(x0) = √𝑥 = √4 = 2. Hence, P has
coordinates (4, 2). Now we look for the slope of the tangent line. Notice that we
have to rationalize the numerator to evaluate the limit.

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 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(0) √𝑥 − 2 √𝑥 + 2
𝑚 = lim = lim ∙
𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4 √𝑥 + 2

𝑥−4
= lim
𝑥→4 (𝑥 − 4)(√𝑥 + 2)
1 𝟏
= lim = .
𝑥→4 (√𝑥 + 2) 𝟒
1
Finally, with point P(4, 2) and slope 𝑚 = 4 , the equation of the tangent line is
𝟏 𝒙
𝒚−𝟐= (𝒙 − 𝟒) 𝒐𝒓 𝒚= + 𝟏.
𝟒 𝟒

Example 3: Show that the tangent line to y = 3x2 – 12x + 1 at the point (2, -11) is horizontal.
Solution: Recall that a horizontal line has zero slope. Now, computing for the slope, we
get:
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(0) (3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 1) − (−11)
𝑚 = lim = lim
𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
(3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 12)
= lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
3(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4)
= lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
3(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)
= lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
= lim [3(𝑥 − 2)] = 3(2 − 2)
𝑥→2

Since the slope of the tangent line is 0, it must be horizontal. Its equation is
y – (-11) = 0 (x – 2) or y = -11.

THE DERIVATIVE

DEFINITION OF THE DERIVATIVE

𝑓(𝑥)−𝑓(0)
• The derivative of f at x0: 𝑓′(𝑥0 ) = lim 𝑥−𝑥0
; another term for the slope of
𝑥→𝑥0

the tangent line.

• Notations: If y = f(x), the derivative of f is commonly denoted by
𝒅 𝒅 𝒅𝒚
𝒇′ (𝒙), 𝑫𝒙 [𝒇(𝒙)], {𝒇(𝒙)], [𝒚],
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙

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Note that the limit definition of the derivative is inherently indeterminate. Hence, the usual
0
techniques for evaluating limits which are indeterminate of type 0
are applied, e.g.,

factoring, rationalization, or using one of the following established limits:

sin 𝑥 1−cos 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 −1
𝑎. lim =1 𝑏. lim =0 𝑐. lim =1
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥

Example 1: Compute f’(1) for each of the following functions:

2𝑥
1. f(x)= 3x – 1 3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1

2. f(x) = 2x2 + 4 4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 8

𝑓(𝑥)−𝑓(1)
Solution: Here, x0 is fixed to be equal to 1. Using the definition above, 𝑓 ′ (1) = lim 𝑥−1
.
𝑥→1

Remember that what we are computing, f’(1), is just the slope of the tangent line to y = f(x)
at x = 1.

1. Note that f(1) = 2, so by factoring

(3𝑥 − 1) − 2
𝑓 ′ (1) = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
3𝑥−3
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
3(𝑥 − 1)
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
= lim 3
𝑥→1

=𝟑

2. Here, f(1)= 6 so again, by factoring

(2𝑥 2 + 4) − 6
𝑓 ′ (1) = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
2(𝑥 2 −1)
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
2(𝑥+1)(𝑥−1)
= lim 𝑥−1
𝑥→1

= lim 2(𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→1

=𝟒

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 3. We see that f(1) = 1. So, from the definition,
2𝑥
−1
𝑓 ′ (1) = lim 𝑥+1
𝑥−1
𝑥→1

We multiply both the numerator and the denominator by x + 1 to simplify the

complex fraction:
2𝑥
−1 𝑥+1
𝑓 ′ (1) = lim 𝑥+1 ∙
𝑥−1 𝑥+1
𝑥→1
2𝑥−(𝑥+1)
= lim (𝑥−1)(𝑥+1)
𝑥→1
𝑥−1
= lim
𝑥→1 (𝑥−1)(𝑥+1)
1
= lim
𝑥→1 (𝑥+1)
𝟏
=𝟐

4. Note that f(1) = 3. Therefore, by rationalizing the numerator (meaning, multiplying

by √𝑥 + 8 + 3,
√𝑥 + 8 − 3 √𝑥 + 8 + 3
𝑓 ′ (1) = lim ∙
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 √𝑥 + 8 + 3
(𝑥+8)−9
= lim (𝑥−1)
𝑥→1 √𝑥+8+3

1
= lim
𝑥→1 √𝑥 +8+3
1
=
6

AN EQUIVALENT DEFINITON OF THE DERIVATIVE

𝑓(𝑥)−𝑓(0)
Recall that we have defined the derivative of a function f at x0 as follows: lim 𝑥−𝑥0
𝑥→𝑥0

There is another definition of the derivative which is derived by using the substitution
x = x0 + x into the above limit definition of the derivative.

Observe that x measures the displacement as we move from x to x0. Thus, in the figure
below, the point to the right of x0 becomes x0 + x, if x > 0. It should be clear algebraically
from x = x0 + x and from the figure that letting x approach x0 is equivalent to letting x
approach 0. Applying the substitution, we now have
𝑓(𝑥0 + 𝛥𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥0 )
𝑓′(𝑥0 ) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝛥𝑥→0 (𝑥0 + 𝛥𝑥) − 𝑥0

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 Image: CHED Teaching Guide for Senior High School:
Basic Calculus

ALTERNATIVE DEFINITION OF THE DERIVATIVE

𝑓(𝑥+𝛥𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥)
• The derivative of f at x is defined to be: 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝛥𝑥→0 𝛥𝑥

In finding the required limit, x is to be treated constant and it is only the separate variable
x that approaches zero. Remember that x is NOT  multiplied by x.

Example 2: Find the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1 .

√(𝑥+𝛥𝑥)+1−√𝑥+1 √𝑥+𝛥𝑥+1−√𝑥+1 √𝑥+𝛥𝑥+1+√𝑥+1
Solution: 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝛥𝑥
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝛥𝑥
∙
𝛥𝑥→0 𝛥𝑥→0 √𝑥+𝛥𝑥+1+√𝑥+1
𝛥𝑥
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝛥𝑥( 𝑥+𝛥𝑥+1+
𝛥𝑥→0 √ √𝑥+1
1
=2
√𝑥+1

Example 3: Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1. Use the definition of the derivative to find f’(-1).
Solution: Note that f(-1) = -2. Thus,
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(−1) 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1 + 2
𝑓 ′ (1) = lim = lim
𝑥→−1 𝑥 − (−1) 𝑥→−1 𝑥+1
(2𝑥+1)(𝑥+1)
= lim 𝑥+1
𝑥→−1

= lim (2𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→−1

= -1

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 Let’s Apply
A. Find the slope of the curve at the given point.

1. y = 4 – 3x2 at (-1, 1)
2. y = x2 – 5 at (1, -4)
3. y = 2x2 – 3x + 1 at (2, 3)
4. y = 3x2 – 2x + 1 at (-1, 6)
5. y = 3x2 + 4x – 2 at (-1, -3)

B. Find the derivative for each function.

1. y = 6x – 2 6. y = 3x2 – 6
2. y = 4x + 3 7. y = x2 + 2
3. y = 3x – 5 8. y = x2 – 3x + 2
4. y = 2x + 7 9. y = 2x2 – x + 3
5. y = x2 + 4 10. y = x3 + 2x - 1

Let’s Analyze
A. Find the equation of the tangent line (in slope-intercept form) to the following
functions at the specified point.

1. f(x) = 3x2 – 12x +1 at the point (0, 1)

2. f(x) = 2x2 – 4x +5 at the point (-1, 11)
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 9 at the point where x = 0
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √25 − 𝑥 2 at the point where x = 4
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + √𝑥 at the point where x = 1

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B. Find the derivative for each function.

1. y = -3x2 + 4
2. y = -4x2 – 5x – 2
3. y = 3x2 + 3x + 3
4. 𝑦 = √4𝑥 − 5
2
5. 𝑦 = − 2𝑥−1

Let’s Evaluate
A. Find the equation of the tangent line (in slope-intercept form) to the following
functions at the specified point.

1. y = x2 – 4x + 1 at (2, -3)
2. y = 2x2 – 3x + 1 at (-1, 6)
3. y = 2x2 – x + 2 at (-1, 5)
4. y = x2 – 3x + 3 at (3, 3)
5. y = 2x – 2x + 1
2
at (1, 1)
6. y = x3 – x2 + 1 at x=1
7. y = x4 – 3x3 + 5x2 – 2x + 1 at x = -1
8. y = x5 – x4 + x3 - x2 + x + 1 at x=1
9. y = 6x – 5x + 1
2
at x=½
10. 𝑦 = √𝑥 2 + 3 at x=1

B. For each of the following functions, find the indicated derivative.

1. f(x)= 2x2 + x – 1 ; f’ (1)

2. f(x) = 2 – x 3
; f’(-1)
3. f(x) = x5 – x4 + x3 – x2 +x + 1; f’(0)
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √3𝑥 − 5 ; f’ (2)
𝑥
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = ; f’(-3)
2𝑥−1

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