zuai-logo

Define the derivative of a function.

The instantaneous rate of change of a function at a given point.

Flip to see [answer/question]
Flip to see [answer/question]

All Flashcards

Define the derivative of a function.

The instantaneous rate of change of a function at a given point.

What does f(x)f'(x) represent?

The derivative of the function f(x)f(x), representing the slope of the tangent line at xx.

Define instantaneous rate of change.

The rate of change of a function at a specific instant in time, equivalent to the derivative at that point.

What is a tangent line?

A line that touches a curve at a single point and has the same slope as the curve at that point.

What is the limit definition of the derivative?

A formal way of defining the derivative as the limit of the difference quotient as h approaches zero.

Define yy' notation.

A notation representing the first derivative of yy with respect to the independent variable (usually xx).

Define dydx\frac{dy}{dx} notation.

Leibniz's notation for the derivative of yy with respect to xx, representing an infinitesimally small change in yy divided by an infinitesimally small change in xx.

What does 'rate of change' mean in calculus?

How one quantity changes in relation to another quantity, often represented by the derivative.

What is the difference quotient?

The expression f(x+h)f(x)h\frac{f(x + h) - f(x)}{h}, used to calculate the average rate of change of a function over an interval of length hh.

What is the meaning of slope of a curve?

The slope of the tangent line to the curve at a specific point, representing the instantaneous rate of change at that point.

How to find the derivative of f(x)=x2f(x) = x^2 using the limit definition?

  1. Plug into the limit definition: limh0(x+h)2x2h\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{(x+h)^2 - x^2}{h}. 2. Expand: limh0x2+2xh+h2x2h\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{x^2 + 2xh + h^2 - x^2}{h}. 3. Simplify: limh02xh+h2h\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{2xh + h^2}{h}. 4. Factor and cancel: limh0(2x+h)\lim_{h \to 0} (2x + h). 5. Evaluate the limit: 2x2x.

How to find the tangent line to f(x)=x2f(x) = x^2 at x=1x = 1?

  1. Find f(x)f'(x): f(x)=2xf'(x) = 2x. 2. Find the slope at x=1x = 1: f(1)=2f'(1) = 2. 3. Find the y-coordinate at x=1x = 1: f(1)=1f(1) = 1. 4. Use point-slope form: y1=2(x1)y - 1 = 2(x - 1).

How to find where the tangent line is horizontal for f(x)=x33xf(x) = x^3 - 3x?

  1. Find f(x)f'(x): f(x)=3x23f'(x) = 3x^2 - 3. 2. Set f(x)=0f'(x) = 0: 3x23=03x^2 - 3 = 0. 3. Solve for xx: x=±1x = \pm 1.

How to evaluate limh01x+h1xh\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{\frac{1}{x+h} - \frac{1}{x}}{h}?

  1. Find a common denominator: limh0x(x+h)x(x+h)h\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{\frac{x - (x+h)}{x(x+h)}}{h}. 2. Simplify: limh0hx(x+h)h\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{\frac{-h}{x(x+h)}}{h}. 3. Multiply by the reciprocal: limh0hx(x+h)h\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{-h}{x(x+h)h}. 4. Cancel hh: limh01x(x+h)\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{-1}{x(x+h)}. 5. Evaluate the limit: 1x2\frac{-1}{x^2}.

How to find the derivative of y=3x2+4xy = 3x^2 + 4x using the limit definition?

  1. Plug into the limit definition: limh0[3(x+h)2+4(x+h)][3x2+4x]h\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{[3(x+h)^2 + 4(x+h)] - [3x^2 + 4x]}{h}. 2. Expand: limh03x2+6xh+3h2+4x+4h3x24xh\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{3x^2 + 6xh + 3h^2 + 4x + 4h - 3x^2 - 4x}{h}. 3. Simplify: limh06xh+3h2+4hh\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{6xh + 3h^2 + 4h}{h}. 4. Factor and cancel: limh0(6x+3h+4)\lim_{h \to 0} (6x + 3h + 4). 5. Evaluate the limit: 6x+46x + 4.

What does the graph of f(x)>0f'(x) > 0 tell us about f(x)f(x)?

f(x)f(x) is increasing.

What does the graph of f(x)<0f'(x) < 0 tell us about f(x)f(x)?

f(x)f(x) is decreasing.

What does the graph of f(x)=0f'(x) = 0 tell us about f(x)f(x)?

f(x)f(x) has a horizontal tangent, which could be a local max, local min, or a stationary point.

What does the graph of f(x)>0f''(x) > 0 tell us about f(x)f(x)?

f(x)f(x) is concave up.

What does the graph of f(x)<0f''(x) < 0 tell us about f(x)f(x)?

f(x)f(x) is concave down.

What does the graph of f(x)=cf(x) = c (a constant) tell us about f(x)f'(x)?

f(x)=0f'(x) = 0 (a horizontal line at y=0).

What does a sharp corner or cusp on the graph of f(x)f(x) tell us about f(x)f'(x)?

f(x)f'(x) does not exist at that point (non-differentiable).

If the graph of f(x)f(x) is a straight line, what is the graph of f(x)f'(x)?

The graph of f(x)f'(x) is a horizontal line, representing the constant slope of f(x)f(x).