Differentiation

Differentiation

Differentiation

publish date

Jun 30, 2025

duration

Difficulty

Beginner

what you'll learn

Lesson details

Unit 3: Foundations of Differentiation and First Derivatives

3.1 Concept of the Derivative

  • Limit Definition: f′(x)=lim⁡h→0f(x+h)−f(x)hf'(x) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h}f′(x)=limh→0​hf(x+h)−f(x)​, geometric interpretation.

  • Tangent and Secant Lines: Visual understanding of instantaneous vs. average rate of change.

  • Notation: f′(x),dydx,Df(x)f'(x), \frac{dy}{dx}, Df(x)f′(x),dxdy​,Df(x), interchangeable use and context.

3.2 Rules of Differentiation

  • Power Rule: ddx(xn)=nxn−1\frac{d}{dx}(x^n) = nx^{n-1}dxd​(xn)=nxn−1.

  • Constant & Constant Multiple Rules: ddx(c)=0\frac{d}{dx}(c) = 0dxd​(c)=0, ddx(cf(x))=cf′(x)\frac{d}{dx}(cf(x)) = c f'(x)dxd​(cf(x))=cf′(x).

  • Sum and Difference Rules: Differentiating term by term.

3.3 Applications of First Derivatives

  • Gradient Function: Relationship between function and its derivative.

  • Turning Points: Local maxima and minima via f′(x)=0f'(x) = 0f′(x)=0.

  • Increasing/Decreasing Intervals: Sign of f′(x)f'(x)f′(x) determines function behavior.

  • Sketching Derivative Graphs: From a given f(x)f(x)f(x), or matching derivative to original graph.

3.4 Real-World Applications

  • Rates of Change: Velocity from displacement, marginal cost from total cost.

  • Optimisation Problems: Finding best or worst values under constraints.

  • Motion Analysis: Interpreting velocity and acceleration using s(t),v(t),a(t)s(t), v(t), a(t)s(t),v(t),a(t).

Unit 4: Advanced Differentiation and Second Derivatives

4.1 Exponential and Trigonometric Differentiation

  • Exponential Rule

  • Trigonometric Rules

  • Product and Quotient Rules: Handling products and divisions of functions.

  • Chain Rule: Differentiating composite functions

4.2 Second Derivative and Curve Concavity

  • Second Derivative

  • Concavity & Inflection Points

  • Sketching with Second Derivatives: Visual features of inflection, curvature.

4.3 Problem Solving and Modelling Contexts

  • Applied Problems: Maximising volume/surface area, minimising cost/time.

  • Interpreting Graphs: Translating real scenarios into differentiation-based models.

  • Multiple Representations: Function table, graph, and derivative all tied together.

4.4 Technology Integration

  • Calculator Derivative Tools: Numerical and symbolic differentiation.

  • Graphing Derivatives: Using TI-Nspire/Casio to verify slopes, turning points.

  • Instantaneous Rate Approximations: From plotted data or discrete points.

Unit 3: Foundations of Differentiation and First Derivatives

3.1 Concept of the Derivative

  • Limit Definition: f′(x)=lim⁡h→0f(x+h)−f(x)hf'(x) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h}f′(x)=limh→0​hf(x+h)−f(x)​, geometric interpretation.

  • Tangent and Secant Lines: Visual understanding of instantaneous vs. average rate of change.

  • Notation: f′(x),dydx,Df(x)f'(x), \frac{dy}{dx}, Df(x)f′(x),dxdy​,Df(x), interchangeable use and context.

3.2 Rules of Differentiation

  • Power Rule: ddx(xn)=nxn−1\frac{d}{dx}(x^n) = nx^{n-1}dxd​(xn)=nxn−1.

  • Constant & Constant Multiple Rules: ddx(c)=0\frac{d}{dx}(c) = 0dxd​(c)=0, ddx(cf(x))=cf′(x)\frac{d}{dx}(cf(x)) = c f'(x)dxd​(cf(x))=cf′(x).

  • Sum and Difference Rules: Differentiating term by term.

3.3 Applications of First Derivatives

  • Gradient Function: Relationship between function and its derivative.

  • Turning Points: Local maxima and minima via f′(x)=0f'(x) = 0f′(x)=0.

  • Increasing/Decreasing Intervals: Sign of f′(x)f'(x)f′(x) determines function behavior.

  • Sketching Derivative Graphs: From a given f(x)f(x)f(x), or matching derivative to original graph.

3.4 Real-World Applications

  • Rates of Change: Velocity from displacement, marginal cost from total cost.

  • Optimisation Problems: Finding best or worst values under constraints.

  • Motion Analysis: Interpreting velocity and acceleration using s(t),v(t),a(t)s(t), v(t), a(t)s(t),v(t),a(t).

Unit 4: Advanced Differentiation and Second Derivatives

4.1 Exponential and Trigonometric Differentiation

  • Exponential Rule

  • Trigonometric Rules

  • Product and Quotient Rules: Handling products and divisions of functions.

  • Chain Rule: Differentiating composite functions

4.2 Second Derivative and Curve Concavity

  • Second Derivative

  • Concavity & Inflection Points

  • Sketching with Second Derivatives: Visual features of inflection, curvature.

4.3 Problem Solving and Modelling Contexts

  • Applied Problems: Maximising volume/surface area, minimising cost/time.

  • Interpreting Graphs: Translating real scenarios into differentiation-based models.

  • Multiple Representations: Function table, graph, and derivative all tied together.

4.4 Technology Integration

  • Calculator Derivative Tools: Numerical and symbolic differentiation.

  • Graphing Derivatives: Using TI-Nspire/Casio to verify slopes, turning points.

  • Instantaneous Rate Approximations: From plotted data or discrete points.

Unit 3: Foundations of Differentiation and First Derivatives

3.1 Concept of the Derivative

  • Limit Definition: f′(x)=lim⁡h→0f(x+h)−f(x)hf'(x) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h}f′(x)=limh→0​hf(x+h)−f(x)​, geometric interpretation.

  • Tangent and Secant Lines: Visual understanding of instantaneous vs. average rate of change.

  • Notation: f′(x),dydx,Df(x)f'(x), \frac{dy}{dx}, Df(x)f′(x),dxdy​,Df(x), interchangeable use and context.

3.2 Rules of Differentiation

  • Power Rule: ddx(xn)=nxn−1\frac{d}{dx}(x^n) = nx^{n-1}dxd​(xn)=nxn−1.

  • Constant & Constant Multiple Rules: ddx(c)=0\frac{d}{dx}(c) = 0dxd​(c)=0, ddx(cf(x))=cf′(x)\frac{d}{dx}(cf(x)) = c f'(x)dxd​(cf(x))=cf′(x).

  • Sum and Difference Rules: Differentiating term by term.

3.3 Applications of First Derivatives

  • Gradient Function: Relationship between function and its derivative.

  • Turning Points: Local maxima and minima via f′(x)=0f'(x) = 0f′(x)=0.

  • Increasing/Decreasing Intervals: Sign of f′(x)f'(x)f′(x) determines function behavior.

  • Sketching Derivative Graphs: From a given f(x)f(x)f(x), or matching derivative to original graph.

3.4 Real-World Applications

  • Rates of Change: Velocity from displacement, marginal cost from total cost.

  • Optimisation Problems: Finding best or worst values under constraints.

  • Motion Analysis: Interpreting velocity and acceleration using s(t),v(t),a(t)s(t), v(t), a(t)s(t),v(t),a(t).

Unit 4: Advanced Differentiation and Second Derivatives

4.1 Exponential and Trigonometric Differentiation

  • Exponential Rule

  • Trigonometric Rules

  • Product and Quotient Rules: Handling products and divisions of functions.

  • Chain Rule: Differentiating composite functions

4.2 Second Derivative and Curve Concavity

  • Second Derivative

  • Concavity & Inflection Points

  • Sketching with Second Derivatives: Visual features of inflection, curvature.

4.3 Problem Solving and Modelling Contexts

  • Applied Problems: Maximising volume/surface area, minimising cost/time.

  • Interpreting Graphs: Translating real scenarios into differentiation-based models.

  • Multiple Representations: Function table, graph, and derivative all tied together.

4.4 Technology Integration

  • Calculator Derivative Tools: Numerical and symbolic differentiation.

  • Graphing Derivatives: Using TI-Nspire/Casio to verify slopes, turning points.

  • Instantaneous Rate Approximations: From plotted data or discrete points.

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