Chapter 15

DIFFERENTIATION
Limits
Two concepts which are important in the theory of differential and integral calculus are
the limit of a function and continuity
Limits of Functions
In the calculus there is often an interest in the limiting value of a function as the
independent variable approaches some specific real number. This limiting value, when
it exists, is called limit. The notation
Lim x→a 𝑓(𝑥) = L
is used to express the limiting value of a function. When investigating a limit, one is
asking whether 𝑓(𝑥) approaches a specific value 𝐿 as the value of 𝑥 gets closer and
closer to 𝑎.
Notation of Limits
 The notation
Lim x→a- 𝑓(𝑥) = L
represents the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches ‘𝑎’ from the left (lefthand limit)

 The notation
Lim x→a+ 𝑓(𝑥) = L
represents the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches ‘𝑎’ from the right (right-hand limit).
 If the value of the function approaches the same number 𝐿 as 𝑥 approaches ‘𝑎’ from
either direction, then the limit is equal to 𝐿.
Test For Existence Of Limit
If Lim x→a- 𝑓(𝑥) = L= Lim x→a+ 𝑓(𝑥) then
Lim x→a 𝑓(𝑥) = L
 If the limiting values of 𝑓(𝑥) are different when 𝑥 approaches 𝑎
from each direction, then the function does not approach a limit
as 𝑥 approaches a
Example
Solution
Solution (cont…)
Practice problem 1
Find out whether the following limit exists or not

f(x)= 2x when x ≤ 4
2x + 3 when x ≥ 4
Solution: Practice problem 1
Practice problem 2
Properties Of Limits And Continuity
Limits and Infinity
 Frequently there is an interest in the behavior of a function as the independent
variable becomes large without limit (“approaching” either positive or negative
infinity)
Horizontal Asymptote
The line y = a is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of f(x) if and only if
Lim x→∞ f(x)= a
Vertical Asymptote
The line x = a is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f(x) if and only if
Lim x→a f(x)= ∞
Horizontal Asymptote
Vertical Asymptote
 Continuity
 In an informal sense, a function is described as continuous if it can be sketched without
lifting your pen or pencil from the paper (i.e., it has no gaps, no jumps, and no breaks). A
function that is not continuous is termed as discontinuous.
Continuity at a Point
A function f is said to be continuous at x = a if
1. the function is defined at x = a, and
2. Lim x→a f(x) = f(a)
Examples
Average Rate of Change and the Slope

The slope of a straight line can be determined by the two-point formula

The slope provides an exact measure of the rate of change in the value of y with
respect to a change in the value of x. With nonlinear functions the rate of change in
the value of y with respect to a change in x is not constant. One way of describing
nonlinear functions is by the average rate of change over some interval.
Average Rate of Change and the Slope
(cont..)
What Does The Difference Quotient
Represent
Given any two points on a function f having coordinates [𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥)] and [(𝑥 + 𝛥𝑥), 𝑓(𝑥 +
𝛥𝑥)] , the difference quotient represents
1. The average rate of change in the value of y with respect to the change in x while
moving from [𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥)] to [(𝑥 + 𝛥𝑥), 𝑓(𝑥 + 𝛥𝑥)]
2. The slope of the secant line connecting the two points
y = f(x) = 2x + 3 y = f(x)= x3
(1, 1); (2, 8); (3, 27)
Slope= (8-1)/ (2-1)= 7
Slope = (27-8)/ (3-2) = 19

(2, 7) point (4, 11)

m= (y2-y1)/ (x2-x1)
=(11-7)/ (4-2)
= -4/ 2
= -2

m= f(x + Δx) – f (x)/ Δx

= f (2+2) – f (2)/ 2
= f(4) – f(2)/ 2
=(11 – 7)/ 2
= -4/2
= -2
 The Derivative
Given a function of the form y = f(x), the derivative of the function is defined as

If this limit exists.

Comments About The Derivative
i. The above equation is the general expression for the derivative of the function f.
ii. The derivative represents the instantanteous rate of change in the dependent variable given a
change in the independent variable. The notation d𝑦/ d𝑥 is used to represent the instantaneous rate of
change in y with respect to a change in 𝑥. This notation is distinguished from 𝛥𝑦/𝛥𝑥 which represents the
average rate of change.
iii. The derivative is a general expression for the slope of the graph of 𝑓 at any point 𝑥 in the domain.
iv. If the limit in the above figure does not exist, the derivative does not exist.
Finding The Derivative (Limit Approach)

 Step 1 Determine the difference quotient for the given function.

 Step 2 Find the limit of the difference quotient as Δx → 0
Example: Find the derivative
Given function: f(x) = -5x + 9
f (0)= -5 (0) + 9
f ( x + Δx) = -5 (x + Δx) + 9

Solution
The function f(x)= -5x + 9 is linear with a slope -5. With the slope always -5, the derivative of f should equal -5
 The difference quotient for the given function is
Δy/ Δx = f (x + Δx) – f (x) / Δx
= [ -5 (x + Δx) + 9] – (-5x + 9) / Δx
= -5x- 5Δx + 9 + 5x -9 / Δx
= -5Δx / Δx
=-5

 The derivative is the limit of the difference quotient, that is

dy/dx = lim Δx→ 0 (-5)

= -5
 Thus the derivative is exactly what we anticipated
Practice problem
Find the difference quotient of f(x)= x2 = y
and find the derivative
Solution
Solution (cont..)
Using And Interpreting The Derivative
Problem
For the function f(x) = x2
 A) Determine the instantaneous rate of change in f(x) at x= -3
 B) Determine the instantaneous rate of change in f(x) at x= 0
 C) Determine the instantaneous rate of change in f(x) at x = +3
Solution
Points for thoughts and Discussion
 From chapter 4, we know that f(x) = x2 is a quadratic function
 We can confirm the values found through the derivatives by sketching the slope for x = -3, 0 and
+3
 The derivative dy/dx = 2x represents that as x becomes more negative the slope becomes more
negative
 Also, The derivative dy/dx = 2x represents that as x becomes more positive the slope becomes
more positive
Differentiation
 The process of finding the derivative is called the differentiation.

 A set of rules of differentiation exists for finding the derivative of many common functions.

 An alternate to dy/dx notation is to let 𝑓′ represent the derivative of the function 𝑓 at x

Rules of Differentiation
Rule 1: Constant Function
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐, where 𝑐 is any constant then 𝑓’(𝑥) = 0

Example
If y = f(x) = 50
Then f’ = dy/dx = 0
Rules of Differentiation (cont…)
Rule 2: Power Rule
Rules of Differentiation (Rule 2) (cont…)

If f(x) = x

then f’ = 1 X1-1

=1 X0

=1

Again,

 If f(x) = x5
 Then f′ (x) = 5 x5-1
 = 5x4
Rules of Differentiation (Rule 2)
(cont…)
 If f(x) = 1/x3 then we can write
f(x) = x-3
So, f′ (x) = -3x-3-1
 = -3x-4
Rules of Differentiation (Rule 2) (cont…)
Practice Problems
1. f(x) = 5
2. f(x) = x6
3. f(x) = 1/ x4
Rules of Differentiation
Rule 3: Constant Times a Function
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐. 𝑔(𝑥), where 𝑐 is a constant and 𝑔 is a differentiable function then 𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑐. 𝑔′(𝑥)

Example
if f(x) = 10x2
then f′ (x) = 10* 2x2-1
=20 x
Again,
if f(x) = -3/x
then f′ (x) = -3* x-1-1
=-3 x-2
=-3/x2