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Derivative as a limit

Learning goals

  • Writes the derivative as a limit of a difference quotient.
  • Interprets the quotient as a secant slope before taking the limit.
  • Evaluates simple derivative limits algebraically.
  • Connects the limiting value to tangent slope and instantaneous rate of change.

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Derivative as a limit 1
Which expression represents \(f'(3)\)? A) \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(3+h)-f(3)}{h}\) B) \(\lim_{h\to3}\frac{f(h)-f(3)}{h}\) C) \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(3+h)-f(h)}{3}\)

Hints

- A derivative at a point uses a difference quotient whose input change approaches zero. - The numerator should compare the function value at the base point with a nearby function value. - Check that the denominator is exactly the same input change used in the nearby input.

Solution

1. The derivative at \(x=3\) is defined by comparing \(f(3+h)\) with \(f(3)\) and dividing by the input change \(h\). 2. The input change must approach \(0\). 3. Therefore, expression A is the derivative definition for \(f'(3)\).

Answer

A) \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(3+h)-f(3)}{h}\)
Derivative as a limit 2
Write \(f'(-2)\) using the \(h\to0\) limit definition of the derivative. Do not evaluate the limit.

Hints

- Keep the base input fixed at the point where the derivative is requested. - The nearby input differs from the base input by \(h\). - The denominator is the same change \(h\), which approaches \(0\).

Solution

1. Use the base input \(a=-2\) in the derivative definition \(f'(a)=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(a+h)-f(a)}{h}\). 2. Substituting \(a=-2\) gives \(f'(-2)=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(-2+h)-f(-2)}{h}\).

Answer

\(f'(-2)=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(-2+h)-f(-2)}{h}\)
Derivative as a limit 3
Let \(y=f(x)\). Suppose \(\left.\frac{dy}{dx}\right|_{x=2}=7\). a) Write the same fact in prime notation. b) Find \(\left.\frac{d}{dx}f(x)\right|_{x=2}\). c) Write an \(h\to0\) limit that equals this same derivative value.

Hints

- Separate notation for the derivative function from notation for its value at one input. - When \(y=f(x)\), prime notation and Leibniz notation refer to the same derivative. - In the limit definition at a specific point, keep the base input fixed and let only the increment approach zero.

Solution

1. Since \(y=f(x)\), the notations \(\frac{dy}{dx}\) and \(f'(x)\) describe the same derivative function. Therefore, \(f'(2)=7\). 2. Likewise, \(\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=f'(x)\), so \(\left.\frac{d}{dx}f(x)\right|_{x=2}=7\). 3. The derivative at \(x=2\) is also represented by the limit \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(2+h)-f(2)}{h}\). Its value is \(7\).

Answer

a) \(f'(2)=7\) b) \(\left.\frac{d}{dx}f(x)\right|_{x=2}=7\) c) \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(2+h)-f(2)}{h}=7\)
Derivative as a limit 4
For \(f(x)=x^3\), write the limit of a difference quotient that defines \(f'(2)\). Substitute the function values, but do not evaluate the limit.

Hints

- Which two function values appear in a secant slope at \(x=2\)? - What happens to the input difference in the derivative limit?

Solution

1. The derivative at \(2\) is \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(2+h)-f(2)}{h}\). 2. Since \(f(2+h)=(2+h)^3\) and \(f(2)=8\), the required expression is \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{(2+h)^3-8}{h}\).

Answer

\(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{(2+h)^3-8}{h}\)
Derivative as a limit 5
Use the limit definition to find \(f'(2)\) for \(f(x)=5x-2\).

Hints

- Evaluate the function at \(2+h\) and at \(2\) before subtracting. - Simplify the quotient for nonzero \(h\) before finding its limit.

Solution

1. Form the difference quotient: \(\frac{f(2+h)-f(2)}{h}=\frac{(8+5h)-8}{h}\). 2. For \(h\ne0\), the quotient is \(5\). Its limit as \(h\to0\) is \(5\).

Answer

\(f'(2)=5\)
Derivative as a limit 6
For \(f(x)=x^2\), the difference quotient at \(x=1\) simplifies to \(2+h\) when \(h\ne0\). Why must we take a limit instead of substituting \(h=0\) into the original quotient? What is the limit?

Hints

- Look at the denominator of the original expression at the proposed substitution. - How might nearby quotient values behave differently from the quotient at the exact input?

Solution

1. The original quotient is \(\frac{(1+h)^2-1}{h}\), which becomes \(\frac{0}{0}\) if \(h=0\). Division by zero is undefined. 2. For nonzero \(h\), it equals \(2+h\), whose limit as \(h\to0\) is \(2\).

Answer

The original quotient is undefined at \(h=0\); its limit is \(2\).
Derivative as a limit 7
Use the limit definition of the derivative to find \(f'(1)\) for \(f(x)=x^2\). Do not use the power rule.

Hints

- Substitute the function into the difference quotient before simplifying. - Expand the squared binomial and look for a common factor of \(h\). - Cancel only for nonzero \(h\), then take the limit.

Solution

1. Start with \(f'(1)=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{(1+h)^2-1}{h}\). 2. Expand the numerator: \((1+h)^2-1=2h+h^2\). 3. For \(h\ne0\), the quotient simplifies to \(2+h\). 4. Taking the limit gives \(f'(1)=2\).

Answer

\(f'(1)=2\)
Derivative as a limit 8
Use the alternate limit form \(f'(a)=\lim_{x\to a}\frac{f(x)-f(a)}{x-a}\) to find \(f'(4)\) for \(f(x)=\sqrt{x}\). Do not use derivative rules.

Hints

- Substitute the base input into the alternate derivative definition. - Direct substitution gives an indeterminate form. What algebraic identity can turn a difference of square roots into a factor of \(x-4\)? - After the factor causing the indeterminate form is removed, evaluate the limit.

Solution

1. Substitute \(a=4\): \(f'(4)=\lim_{x\to4}\frac{\sqrt{x}-2}{x-4}\). 2. Multiply by the conjugate: \(\frac{\sqrt{x}-2}{x-4}\cdot\frac{\sqrt{x}+2}{\sqrt{x}+2}=\frac{x-4}{(x-4)(\sqrt{x}+2)}\). 3. For \(x\ne4\), the quotient simplifies to \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}+2}\). 4. Therefore, \(f'(4)=\frac{1}{4}\).

Answer

\(f'(4)=\frac{1}{4}\)
Derivative as a limit 9
Let \(y=x^2+3x\). Use the derivative definition \(\frac{dy}{dx}=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{(x+h)^2+3(x+h)-(x^2+3x)}{h}\) to derive a formula for \(\frac{dy}{dx}\) that is valid for every real \(x\).

Hints

- Expand the expression involving \(x+h\) before trying to take the limit. - Look for a common factor involving \(h\) in every term of the numerator. - Simplify the difference quotient before letting \(h\) approach \(0\).

Solution

1. Expand the numerator: \((x+h)^2+3(x+h)-(x^2+3x)=2xh+h^2+3h\). 2. For \(h\ne0\), divide by \(h\): \(\frac{2xh+h^2+3h}{h}=2x+h+3\). 3. Take the limit as \(h\to0\): \(\frac{dy}{dx}=2x+3\).

Answer

\(\frac{dy}{dx}=2x+3\)
Derivative as a limit 10
Use the limit definition to find \(f'(-1)\) if \(f(x)=x^2+3x\). Do not use derivative rules.

Hints

- Be careful when substituting a negative number plus \(h\) into the square. - Subtract the original function value before dividing by \(h\). - Find the limit only after simplifying for nonzero \(h\).

Solution

1. \(f(-1)=-2\) and \(f(-1+h)=h^2+h-2\). 2. The difference quotient is \(\frac{f(-1+h)-f(-1)}{h}=\frac{h^2+h}{h}=h+1\) for \(h\ne0\). 3. Taking \(h\to0\) gives \(f'(-1)=1\).

Answer

\(f'(-1)=1\)
Derivative as a limit 11
Name a simple power function \(f\) and input \(a\) that produce this derivative limit. Then evaluate it: \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{(5+h)^2-25}{h}\).

Hints

- Compare the expression with the general difference quotient at an input \(a\). - Look for the function value at \(a\) being subtracted. - Simplify the numerator before taking the limit.

Solution

1. The numerator compares \((5+h)^2\) with \(5^2\), so \(f(x)=x^2\) and \(a=5\). 2. Expand to obtain \(\frac{25+10h+h^2-25}{h}=10+h\) for \(h\ne0\). 3. Its limit is \(10\).

Answer

One example is \(f(x)=x^2\) at \(a=5\); the limit is \(10\).
Derivative as a limit 12
The curve is \(f(x)=x^2\). Which secant, \(r\) or \(s\), has a slope closer to the tangent slope at \((1,1)\)? Read both secant slopes from the graph. Then find the slope from \(x=1\) to \(x=1+h\), where \(h>0\), and its limit as \(h\to0^+\).
Figure for problem 562627

Hints

- Identify two points on each labeled line to read its rise and run. - How does the second point on the curve change when its x-coordinate changes by \(h\)? - What must happen to the extra terms as \(h\) approaches zero?

Solution

1. From the graph, \(s\) has slope \(\frac{4-1}{2-1}=3\), while \(r\) has slope \(\frac{2.25-1}{1.5-1}=2.5\). 2. In general, the secant slope is \(\frac{(1+h)^2-1}{h}=\frac{2h+h^2}{h}=2+h\). 3. As \(h\to0^+\), the slope approaches \(2\). Since \(2.5\) is closer to \(2\) than \(3\), secant \(r\) is closer to the tangent slope.

Answer

Secant \(r\) is closer: its slope is \(2.5\), compared with \(3\) for \(s\). The general slope is \(2+h\), whose limit is \(2\).
Derivative as a limit 13
Consider the function \(f(x)=x^2-1\). 1. Use the limit definition of the derivative to find \(f'(1)\). 2. Find an equation of the tangent line to the graph of \(f\) at \(x=1\). 3. Explain how the derivative values of \(f\) differ from those of a linear function such as \(g(x)=4x+1\).

Hints

- Substitute \(1+h\) for \(x\) and expand the square. - A tangent line is determined by its slope and the point of tangency. - Compare how the slope changes on a parabola with how it behaves on a line. - Think about what a derivative function says about slopes at different inputs.

Solution

1. Use the limit definition at \(x=1\): \(f'(1)=\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(1+h)-f(1)}{h}\). 2. Substitute and simplify: \(f'(1)=\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{(1+h)^2-1-(1^2-1)}{h}=\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{2h+h^2}{h}=\lim_{h\to 0}(2+h)=2\). 3. The point of tangency is \((1,f(1))=(1,0)\), and the slope is \(2\). Using point-slope form gives \(y-0=2(x-1)\), so the tangent line is \(y=2x-2\). 4. A linear function has the same slope at every point, so its derivative is constant. The slope of the parabola changes with \(x\), so the derivative values of \(f\) are not constant.

Answer

1. \(f'(1)=2\) 2. \(y=2x-2\) 3. A linear function has a constant derivative, while the derivative of \(f(x)=x^2-1\) varies with \(x\).
Derivative as a limit 14
Eszter tries to find the derivative of \(f(x)=x^3\) at \(x=1\) and writes \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(1+h)-f(h)}{h}\). Explain the error, write the correct limit, and evaluate it.

Hints

- Identify the input that must remain fixed in a derivative at a point. - Compare Eszter's numerator with the general \(h\to0\) derivative definition. - After correcting the setup, expand the cube and simplify before taking the limit.

Solution

1. The second function value must stay at the fixed base input, so the numerator should contain \(f(1)\), not \(f(h)\). 2. The correct limit is \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(1+h)-f(1)}{h}=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{(1+h)^3-1}{h}\). 3. Expanding gives \(\frac{3h+3h^2+h^3}{h}=3+3h+h^2\) for \(h\ne0\). 4. Taking the limit gives \(f'(1)=3\).

Answer

The error is using \(f(h)\) instead of the fixed value \(f(1)\). The correct limit is \(\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(1+h)-f(1)}{h}\), and its value is \(3\).
Derivative as a limit 15
Let \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x}\), and let \(a\ne0\). Use the limit definition of the derivative to derive a formula for \(f'(a)\). Do not use the power rule.

Hints

- Substitute the reciprocal function directly into the difference quotient. - Combine the two fractions in the numerator before dividing by \(h\). - Look for a factor of \(h\) that cancels before taking the limit.

Solution

1. Start with \(f'(a)=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{\frac{1}{a+h}-\frac{1}{a}}{h}\). 2. Combine the fractions in the numerator: \(\frac{1}{a+h}-\frac{1}{a}=\frac{-h}{a(a+h)}\). 3. For \(h\ne0\), the difference quotient simplifies to \(-\frac{1}{a(a+h)}\). 4. Taking the limit gives \(f'(a)=-\frac{1}{a^2}\).

Answer

\(f'(a)=-\frac{1}{a^2}\), for \(a\ne0\)
Derivative as a limit 16
The figure shows \(f(x)=\sin x\), the point \(P(0,0)\), and two secant segments through \(P\). The other marked points have x-coordinates \(-0.5\) and \(0.5\). a) Use the graph to estimate the slope of each secant. b) Use those slopes to estimate the limiting tangent slope at \(P\). c) Describe what should happen to the secant slopes as the second point moves closer to \(P\).
Figure for problem 551772

Hints

- Read the approximate y-coordinates of the two marked points from the graph. - Use rise over run with \(P\) as the fixed point for each secant. - The derivative is the common value approached by secant slopes as the moving point approaches \(P\).

Solution

1. From the graph, \(\sin(0.5)\approx0.48\) and \(\sin(-0.5)\approx-0.48\). 2. The left secant slope is approximately \(\frac{0-(-0.48)}{0-(-0.5)}\approx0.96\). 3. The right secant slope is approximately \(\frac{0.48-0}{0.5-0}\approx0.96\). 4. Both nearby secants suggest a limiting tangent slope near \(1\) at \(P\). 5. As the second point approaches \(P\) from either side, the secant slopes should approach the same limiting value.

Answer

a) Each secant slope is approximately \(0.96\). b) The limiting tangent slope is approximately \(1\). c) The secant slopes should approach the same value as the second point approaches \(P\).
Derivative as a limit 17
Verify the power rule for the negative integer exponent \(n=-1\). 1) For \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x}\), use the difference quotient \(\frac{f(x)-f(x_0)}{x-x_0}\) and the limit as \(x\to x_0\), where \(x_0\neq0\), to find \(f'(x_0)\). 2) Apply the power rule directly to \(f(x)=x^{-1}\). 3) Compare the results.

Hints

- Combine the two fractions in the numerator first. - Notice the sign relationship between \(x_0-x\) and \(x-x_0\). - Recall that \(x^{-k}=\frac{1}{x^k}\).

Solution

1. Begin with \(\frac{\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{x_0}}{x-x_0}\). Combining the numerator gives \(\frac{x_0-x}{xx_0(x-x_0)}\). Since \(x_0-x=-(x-x_0)\), this simplifies to \(-\frac{1}{xx_0}\) for \(x\neq x_0\). Therefore, \(f'(x_0)=\lim_{x\to x_0}-\frac{1}{xx_0}=-\frac{1}{x_0^2}\). 2. The power rule gives \(f'(x)=-x^{-2}=-\frac{1}{x^2}\). 3. Evaluating the power-rule result at \(x_0\) gives \(-\frac{1}{x_0^2}\), exactly matching the limit result.

Answer

1) \(f'(x_0)=-\frac{1}{x_0^2}\) 2) \(f'(x)=-x^{-2}=-\frac{1}{x^2}\) 3) Both methods give the same derivative for \(x\neq0\).

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