L1t - Derivative of Polynomial Functions
L1t - Derivative of Polynomial Functions
L1t - Derivative of Polynomial Functions
MCV4U
Jensen
In advanced functions, you should have been introduced to the idea that the instantaneous rate of change is
represented by the slope of the tangent at a point on the curve. You also learned that you can determine this
value by taking the derivative of the function using the Newton Quotient.
3(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥ℎ + ℎ2 ) + 2𝑥 + 2ℎ + 4 − 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 4
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2 + 2𝑥 + 2ℎ + 4 − 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 4
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
6𝑥ℎ + 3ℎ2 + 2ℎ
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ(6𝑥 + 3ℎ + 2)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 + 3(0) + 2
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 + 2
f(x)
b) Calculate 𝑓′(5). What does it represent? (5, f(5))
𝑓 ′ (5 ) = 6 (5 ) + 2
𝑓 ′ (5) = 32
This tells us that the instantaneous rate of change of the original function
when 𝑥 = 5 is 32. Graphically speaking, this means the slope of the
tangent line drawn on the original function at (5, 𝑓(5)) is 32.
Mathematicians have derived a set of rules for calculating derivatives that make this process more efficient.
𝑑 𝑛 (𝑥 + ℎ)𝑛 − 𝑥 𝑛
𝑥 = lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ Use Binomial Theorem:
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛 ( 0 )𝑥 𝑛 ℎ0 + ( 1 )𝑥 𝑛−1 ℎ1 + ( 2 )𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ2 + ⋯ + (𝑛)𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛 − 𝑥 𝑛 𝑛
𝑥 = lim 𝑡𝑟+1 = ( ) 𝑎𝑛−𝑟 𝑏𝑟
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ 𝑟
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛 ( 1 )𝑥 𝑛−1 ℎ1 + ( 2 )𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ2 + ⋯ + (𝑛)𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛
𝑥 = lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛 ℎ[( 1 )𝑥 𝑛−1 + ( 2 )𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ1 + ⋯ + (𝑛)𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛−1 ]
𝑥 = lim
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑑 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑥 = lim ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−2 ℎ1 + ⋯ + ( ) 𝑥 0 ℎ𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥 ℎ→0 1 2 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑥 = ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ( ) 𝑥 𝑛−2 01 + ⋯ + ( ) 𝑥 0 0𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥 1 2 𝑛
𝑑 𝑛
𝑥 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥
Example 1: Determine the equation of the derivative of each of the following functions:
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2
1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 15𝑥 4
1
1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2 𝑥 2−1
1
1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2 𝑥 −2
1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) =
2√𝑥
1 1
d) 𝑦 = 3√𝑥 e) 𝑦 = 𝑥 f) 𝑦 = − 𝑥 5
1
𝑦 = 𝑥3 𝑦 = 𝑥 −1 𝑦 = −1𝑥 −5
1 1
𝑦 ′ = −1𝑥 −2
𝑦 ′ = 3 𝑥 3−1 𝑑𝑦
= 5𝑥 −6
𝑑𝑥
−1
1 −2
𝑦′ = 𝑥2 𝑑𝑦 5
𝑦′ = 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥6
3
1
𝑦′ = 2
3𝑥 3
−8𝑥 6 +8𝑥 2
c) 𝑔(𝑥) = (2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1) d) ℎ(𝑥) = 4𝑥 5
−8𝑥 6 8𝑥 2
𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 −𝑥−3 ℎ(𝑥) = + 4𝑥 5
4𝑥 5
ℎ′ (𝑥) = −2 − 6𝑥−4
6
ℎ′ (𝑥) = −2 −
𝑥4
Example 3: Determine an equation for the tangent to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 5 at 𝑥 = −1.
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
−6 = 6(−1) + 𝑏
𝑏=0
𝑦 = 6𝑥
Example 4: Determine the point(s) on the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 (𝑥 + 3) where the slope of the tangent is 24.
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2
𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥
𝑑𝑥
24 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥
0 = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 24
0 = 3(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8)
0 = (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)
𝑥1 = −4 𝑥2 = 2
Point 1: Point 2:
𝑦 = −16 𝑦 = 20