2.2 The Derivative Function

Transcription

1 2.2 The Derivative Function Arkansas Tech University MATH 2914: Calculus I Dr. Marcel B. Finan Recall that a function f is differentiable at x if the following it exists f f(x + h) f(x) (x) =. (2.2.1) Thus, we associate with the function f, a new function f whose domain is the set of points x at which the it (2.2.1) exists. We call the function f the derivative function of f. The Derivative Function From a Formula Now, if a formula for f is given then by applying the definition of f (x) as the it of the difference quotient we can find a formula of f as shown in the following example. Example (Derivative of a Linear Function) Find the derivative of the linear function f(x) = mx + b. We have Thus, f (x) = m f f(x + h) f(x) (x) = m(x + h) + b (mx + b) = mh = = m. The Derivative Function Graphically Since the derivative at a point represents the slope of the tangent line, one can obtain the graph of the derivative function from the graph of the original function. It is important to keep in mind the relationship between the graphs of f and f. If f (x) > 0 then the tangent line must be tilted upward and the graph of f is rising or increasing. Similarly, if f (x) < 0 then the tangent line is tilted downward and the graph of f is falling or decreasing. If f (a) = 0 then the tangent line is horizontal at x = a. Example Sketch the graph of the derivative of the function shown in Figure

2 Figure Note that for x < 1.12 the derivative is positive and getting less and less positive. At x 1.12 we have f ( 1.12) = 0. For 1.12 < x < 0 the derivative is negative and getting more and more negative till reaching x = 0. For 0 < x < 1.79 the derivative is less and less negative and at x = 1.79 we have f (1.79) = 0. Finally, for x > 1.79 the derivative is getting more and more positive. Thus, a possible graph of f is given in Figure Figure The Derivative Function Numerically Here, we want to estimate the derivative of a function defined by a table. The derivative can be estimated by using the average rate of change or the 2

3 difference quotient f (a) f(a + h) f(a). h If a is a left-endpoint then f (a) is estimated by f (a) f(b) f(a) b a where b > a. If a is a right-endpoint then f (a) is estimated by f (a) f(a) f(b) a b where b < a. If a is an interior point then f (a) is estimated by f (a) 1 ( ) f(a) f(b) f(c) f(a) + 2 a b c a where b < a < c. Example Find approximate values for f (x) at each of the x values given in the following table We have x f(x) f f() f(0) (0) = 6 f () 1 ( f(10) f() + 2 ( f(1) f(10) f (10) f (1) 1 ( f(20) f(1) + 2 f f(20) f(1) (20) = 1.2 ) f() f(0) f(10) f() f(1) f(10) = 4. ) = 2.4 ) = 1. 3

4 Leibniz Notation for The Derivative When dealing with mathematical models that involve derivatives it is convenient to denote the prime (or Newton) notation of the derivative of a function y = f(x) by dy. That is, dy = f (x). This notation is called Leibniz notation (due to W.G. Leibniz). For example, we can write dy = 2x for y = 2x. When using Leibniz notation to denote the value of the derivative at a point a we will write dy Thus, to evaluate dy x=a = 2x at x = 2 we would write dy = 2x x=2 = 2(2) = 4. x=2 Remark When you think about it, the Leibniz notation better indicates what is going on when you take a derivative than does the Newton notation. For one thing, it clearly shows that a derivative of a function is taken with respect to a particular independent variable. This will prove to be handy when we deal with the applications of the derivative. One of the advantages of Leibniz notation is the recognition of the units of the derivative. For example, if the position function s(t) is expressed in meters and the time t in seconds then the units of the velocity function ds dt are meters/sec. In general, the units of the derivative are the units of the dependent variable divided by the units of the independent variable. Example The cost, C ( in dollars) to produce x gallons of ice cream can be expressed as C = f(x). What are the units of measurements and the meaning of the statement dc x=200 = 1.4? dc is measured in dollars per gallon. The notation dc = 1.4 x=200 4

5 means that if 200 gallons of ice cream have already been produced then the cost of producing the next gallon will be roughly 1.4 dollars An Example of a Non-Differentiable Function Up to this point, we have encountered differentiable functions. The next example exhibits a function that is not differentiable at a point. Example 2.2. Show that the function f(x) = x is not differentiable at x = 0. This shows an example of a non-differentiable function at a sharp or corner point. f (0) would exist if the following it exists and is equal to f (0) f(0 + h) f(0) h =. According to Figure 1..3 of Section 1. of these notes, whereas h h 0 + h h = 1. Thus, h 0 h h h 0 h = 1 does not exist. This shows that f(x) is not differentiable at x = 0. Note that the graph of f(x) has a corner point at x = 0 Are there other functions that fail to be differentiable? Example Show that f(x) = x 1 3 is not differentiable at x = 0. This is an example of a non-differentiable function at a point where the tangent line is vertical. Figure shows the graph of f(x). Figure 2.2.3

6 Notice that at x = 0 the tangent line is vertical. Looking at the difference quotient at x = 0 we find 1 h 3 h 0 f(0 + h) f(0) = h = h 0 1 h 2 3 =. Thus, f(x) has a vertical tangent at x = 0 and f (0) does not exist Example f(x) = { x 2 + if x 2 x 2 if x > 2 is not differentiable at x = 2. This shows an example of a non-differentiable function at a point of discontinuity. Finding the left hand derivative we obtain f(2 + h) f(2) (2 + h) 2 ( 4) = h 0 h h 0 h = 4) = 4. h 0 ( h Similarly, the right hand derivative is f(2 + h) f(2) (2 + h) 2 1 = h 0 + h h 0 + h h 1 = =. h 0 + h It follows that f (2) does not exist It follows from the above examples that a function fails to be differentiable at a point if: the point is a sharp corner point. See Example The tangent line is vertical at the point since vertical lines have no slopes. See Example The function is discontinuous at a point. See Example The following result can be used for testing the differentiability of a function. It says that if a function is not continuous then it can not be differentiable. 6

7 Theorem If a function f(x) is differentiable at x = a then it is continuous there. Proof. Since f (a) exists, we have Thus, x a f(x) f(a) = f (a). x a x a f(a) f(x) = [(x a)f(x) + f(a)] x a x a f(x) f(a) = (x a) x a x a x a =0 f (a) + f(a) = f(a). + f(x) f(a) f(a) x a That is, x a f(x) = f(a) and this shows that f is continuous at x = a Remark According to Example 2.2. or Example 2.2.6, a continuous function need not be differentiable. That is, the converse of the above theorem is not true in general. So be careful not to consider all continuous functions to be differentiable. Higher Order Derivatives Let f(x) be a differentiable function. If the it f (x + h) f (x) exists then we say that the function f (x) is differentiable and we denote its derivative by f (x) or using Leibniz notation d 2 y 2 = d ( ) dy. We call f (x) the second derivative of f(x). Likewise, we define the third derivative by f (x) = h 0 f (x + h) f (x) h 7

8 or using Leibnitz notation d 3 y 3 = d ( d 2 ) y 2 and so on. As an application to the second derivative, we consider the motion of an object determined by the position function s(t). Recall that the velocity of the object is defined to be the first derivative of s(t), i.e. v(t) = s (t) = ds dt and the absolute value of v(t) is the speed. When the object speeds up we say that he/she accelerates and when the object slows down we say that he/she decelerates. We define the acceleration of an object as the derivative of the velocity function and consequently as the second derivative of the position function a(t) = d2 s dt 2 = ds dt. 8