Let 𝑓 be a function defined on an open interval 𝐼 ⊆ ℝ, and let 𝑥0 ∈ 𝐼.

The
derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑥0 is defined to be
𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥0
𝑓′ 𝑥0 = lim
𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥 − 𝑥0
If this limit exists.

The derivative of 𝒇 at 𝒙𝟎 is the slope of the tangent line at

𝒙𝟎 , 𝒇 𝒙𝟎 , if it exists.

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
𝑓′ 𝑥 , 𝐷𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑦,
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Compute the derivative of the function at the given value of 𝑥0 .

𝑥+1
𝑓 𝑥 = ; 𝑓′ 2
𝑥−1
Let 𝑓 be a function defined on an open interval 𝐼 ⊆ ℝ, and let 𝑥0 ∈ 𝐼. The
derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑥0 is defined to be
𝑓 𝑥0 + ℎ − 𝑓 𝑥0
𝑓′ 𝑥0 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
If this limit exists.
Compute the derivative of the function at the given value of 𝑥0 .

′ 𝜋
1. 𝑓 𝑥 = sin 𝑥; 𝑓
2
Compute the derivative of the function at the given value of 𝑥0 .

2. 𝑓 𝑥 = cos 𝑥; 𝑓 ′ 2𝜋
Compute the derivative of the function at the given value of 𝑥0 .

3. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 ; 𝑓 ′ 1
Instantaneous Velocity of a Particle in Rectilinear
Motion

Suppose that an object or a particle starts from

a fixed point 𝐴 and moves along a straight line
towards a point 𝐵. Suppose also that its position
along line 𝐴𝐵 at time 𝑡 is 𝑠. Then the motion of the
particle is completely described by the position
function
𝒔=𝒔 𝒕 , 𝒕≥𝟎
and since the particle moves along a straight line,
it is said to be in rectilinear motion.
Example. Suppose that a particle moves along a line
with position function 𝑠 𝑡 = 2𝑡 2 + 3𝑡 + 1 where 𝑠 is in
meters and 𝑡 in seconds.

a. What is its initial position?

b. Where is it located after 𝒕 = 𝟐 seconds?

c. At what time is the particle at position 𝒔 = 𝟔?

d. What is the average velocity of the particle moves

on the interval [𝟏, 𝟑]?
Recall: Average velocity of a particle is

displacement s t final − s t initial

average velocity = =
time elapsed t final − t initial

d. What is the average velocity of the particle moves on the

interval [𝟏, 𝟑]?

e. What is the particle’s velocity at the instant when 𝒕 = 𝟏?

Instantaneous velocity

Let 𝑠 𝑡 denote the position of a particle

that moves along a straight line at each
time 𝑡 ≥ 0. The instantaneous velocity of the
particle at time 𝑡 = 𝑡0 is

′
𝒔 𝒕 − 𝒔 𝒕𝟎
𝒔 𝒕𝟎 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒕→𝒕𝟎 𝒕 − 𝒕𝟎
if this limit exists.
e. What is the particle’s velocity at the instant when 𝒕 = 𝟏?
Example:
A ball is shot straight up from a building. Its height
(in meters) from the ground at any time 𝑡 (in
seconds) is given by 𝑠 𝑡 = 40 + 35𝑡 − 5𝑡 2 . Find

a. the height of the building.

b. the time when the ball hits the ground.
c. the average velocity on the interval 1,2 .
d. the instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 1.
e. the instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 3.
f. the instantaneous velocity at any time 𝑡0 .
a. the height of the building.

b. the time when the ball hits the ground.

c. the average velocity on the interval 1,2 .

d. the instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 1.
e. the instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 3.