College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Name: ____________________________________ Course & Year: ______________

Module 4 : Slope
Course Title : Differential Calculus
Course Number : Calculus 1
Course Description : An introductory course covering the core concepts of
limit, continuity and differentiability of functions
involving one or more variables. This also includes the
application of differential calculations in solving on
optimization, rate of change, related rates, tangents and
normal, and approximations; partial
differentiation and transcendental curve tracing.
Total Learning Time : 4 units (4 hours lecture per week)
Pre-requisites : N/A
(if there’s any)

Overview:

Everything changes. As the volume of a balloon changes, there is a

corresponding change in its radius. Population changes with time. A motion of a certain
object changes its position as time changes. Nothing is permanent, that’s why the study
of these phenomena gives birth to derivatives. Derivative describes the rate of change
of a certain thing. This also describes the behavior of the tangent lines to a graph which
can tell what the shape of that graph is. This chapter deals with the idea of derivatives,
the slope and rate of change.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, the student should be able to:

1. Find the derivative of a given function.
2. Find the slope of a given curve using derivatives.
3. Solve practical problems involving slope using derivatives.

Indicative Content:

This module discusses at least the following topics: Slope, The definition of slope,
Derivative interpreted as Slope.

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 1

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Name: ____________________________________ Date Submitted: __________
Course & Year: _____________________________ Rating: __________

Pre-Assessment:

Differentiate the given functions.

1. 𝑦 = 2 + 𝑥 2 , at (1,3)

2. 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 , at (2,16)

3. 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥, at (2,10)

4. 𝑦 2 = 2𝑥 + 1, at (0,1)

5. 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 − 3, at (1,4)
1 1
6. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2, at (4, 16)

7. 𝑦 = 9𝑥 2 − 5, at (1,4)

8. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 9, at (0,9)
35
9. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1, at (2,4)

10. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3, at (0, -3)

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 2

Discussion:

Slope

Figure A shows the graph of a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 ) and a line 𝑇, which is tangent
to the curve at point (𝑥, 𝑦). We will find for the slope of the tangent line 𝑇.

Figure B shows the graph similar to Figure A, but with a point (𝑥 + ∆𝑥 ) along
the 𝑥-axis and a line 𝑃 through the point (𝑥, 𝑦) and (𝑥 + ∆𝑥, 𝑦 + ∆𝑦).

The slope of 𝑃 is,

Δ𝑦 (𝑦+∆𝑦−𝑦)
=
Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥

Δ𝑦
The line 𝑃, joining the points (𝑥, 𝑦) and (𝑥 + ∆𝑥, 𝑦 + ∆𝑦) has the slope Δ𝑥 . As
∆𝑥 approaches zero, 𝑃′ approaches 𝑃 along the curve, the slope would approach the
slope 𝑇.

The tangent line of the curve at (𝑥, 𝑦) has a slope,

(𝑦+∆𝑦)−𝑦
𝑚 = lim
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

𝑑𝑦
𝑚 = 𝑑𝑥

The slope of the curve at point (𝑥, 𝑦) and the slope of the line at point (𝑥, 𝑦) is
likely the same. The equation of the line of slope 𝑚 is,

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 3

 Differentiating the equation,

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) + 𝑏
∆𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑚∆𝑥 + 𝑏 − 𝑚𝑥 − 𝑏
Δ𝑦 𝑚∆𝑥
= ∆𝑥
Δ𝑥
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
= lim = lim 𝑚
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦 ′
=𝑦 =𝑚
𝑑𝑥

Thus, the derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥, of the equation of a line is its

slope 𝑚.

Rate of Change

Given a function,
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
The derivative of the function which is,
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
= lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥

is the instantaneous rate of change of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥.

Δ𝑦
The ratio Δ𝑥 is the average rate of change over the interval Δ𝑥. As Δ𝑥 approaches
zero, the ratio is defined as the instantaneous rate of change.

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 4

Exercises/Drills:

1. Find the slope of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 8 at point (1,9).

Solution:

𝑦 = 𝑥3 + 8
y + ∆y = (x + ∆x)3 + 8
y + ∆y = 𝑥 3 +3x 2 ∆x + 3x∆𝑥 2 + ∆𝑥 3 + 8
∆y = 𝑥 3 +3x 2 ∆x + 3x∆𝑥 2 + ∆𝑥 3 + 8 − 𝑥 3 − 8
∆y = 3x 2 ∆x + 3x∆𝑥 2 + ∆𝑥 3
Δ𝑦
= 3x 2 + 3x∆𝑥 2 + ∆𝑥 2
Δ𝑥
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
= lim = lim (3𝑥 3 + 3x∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦 ′ 2
= 𝑦 = 3x
𝑑𝑥

At point, (1,9).

𝑦 = 3(1)2 = 3

Thus, the slope of the curve at point (1,9) is 3

2. Find the slope of the curve 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 1 at point (3,8).

Solution:

Differentiate the function,

𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 1
y + ∆y = 3(x + ∆x)2 + 6(x + ∆x) − 1
𝑦 + ∆y = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥∆𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 6∆𝑥 − 1
∆y = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥∆𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 6∆𝑥 − 1 − 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 1
∆y = 6𝑥∆𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 2 + 6∆𝑥
Δ𝑦
= 6𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 + 6
Δ𝑥
𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦
= lim = lim 6𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 + 6
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑦 ′
= 𝑦 = 6𝑥 + 6
𝑑𝑥
At point (-3,8),

𝑦 ′ = 6(−3) + 6
𝑦 ′ = −12

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 5

 𝑥
3. Find the slope of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2−1 at the origin.

Solution:

𝑥
𝑦=
𝑥2 − 1
𝑥+∆x
y + ∆y = (𝑥+∆𝑥)2 −1
𝑥 + ∆x
𝑦 + ∆y = 2
𝑥 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 − 1
𝑥+∆x 𝑥
∆y = 𝑥 2+2𝑥∆𝑥+∆𝑥 2 −1 − 𝑥 2−1

(𝑥 + ∆x)(𝑥 2 − 1) − 𝑥(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 − 1

∆y =
(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 − 1)(𝑥 2 − 1)

𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 ∆𝑥 − 𝑥 − ∆𝑥 − 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 ∆𝑥 − 𝑥∆𝑥 2 + 𝑥
∆y =
(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 − 1)(𝑥 2 − 1)
Δ𝑦 −𝑥 2 − 1 − 𝑥∆𝑥
= 2
Δ𝑥 (𝑥 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + ∆𝑥 2 − 1)(𝑥 2 − 1)

𝑑𝑦 Δ𝑦 −𝑥 2−1−𝑥∆𝑥
= lim = lim [(𝑥 2 +2𝑥∆𝑥+∆𝑥 2 −1)(𝑥 2−1)]
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑥 ∆𝑥→0

𝑑𝑦 ′
𝑥2 + 1
=𝑦 = 2
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 − 1)2

4. Find the slope of the parabola 𝑥 = 𝑦 2 at point (4,2).

Solution:

Differentiate the function

𝑥 = 𝑦2

x + ∆x = (y + ∆y)2
∆x = 𝑦 2 + 2𝑦∆𝑦 + ∆𝑦 2 − 𝑦 2
∆x = 2𝑦∆𝑦 + ∆𝑦 2
Δ𝑥
= 2𝑦 + ∆𝑦
Δ𝑦
𝑑𝑥 Δ𝑥
= lim = lim (2𝑦 + ∆𝑦)
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑥→0 Δ𝑦 ∆𝑥→0
𝑑𝑥
= 2𝑦
𝑑𝑦

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 6

 𝑑𝑦
Since the slope is 𝑑𝑥 , thus,

𝑑𝑥 1
= 𝑦 ′ = 2𝑦
𝑑𝑦

At point (4,2),

𝑑𝑥 1 1
= 𝑦 ′ = 2(2) = 4
𝑑𝑦

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 7

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Name: ____________________________________ Date Submitted: __________
Course & Year: _____________________________Rating: __________

Evaluation:

Evaluate the following limits. Write your solutions on the space provided.

1. 𝑦 = 2 − 𝑥 2 , at (3, -7)

2. If 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥, at (2,8)

3. 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥, at (-1,1)

4. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 , at (1,0)
1 1
5. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 , at (2,4)

1
6. 𝑦 = 𝑥+1, at (-2 -1)

7. 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥, at (1,2)

8. 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥, at (1, -2)

9. 𝑦 2 = 3𝑥 + 1, at (1,2)
1
10. 𝑦 2 = 3𝑥 +, at (8,0)

Additional Reading:

DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS WITH EXAMPLES AND

APPLICATIONS BY GEORGE A. OSBORNE, S.B.

References:

C.E. Love and E.D. Rainville. (1981). Differential and Integral Calculus, Sixth Edition.
New York: The Macmillan Company.
H.J. Terano. (2015). A Simplified Text in Differential Calculus. Camarines Sur
Plytechnic Colleges
E.D. Rainville. (1958). Elementary Differential Equations, Second Edition. Collier
Macmillan Canada, Ltd., Toronto Ontario

ENGR. SHAINA D. SUCGANG 8