Math Analysis Derivatives Study

Guide

Difference Quotient:
fx+h-f(x)h

Limit:
Ex. Limit
X x+3x2-9=
-3 (x+3)x+3(x-3)= 1x-3= 1-3-3= -16

Shortcuts for Derivatives:

Power Rule: fx= axn f'x= nax(n-1) *where a is a constant

Derivative of a Constant: fx= a f'x=0 *where a is a constant

**this equals the slope of a horizontal line

Derivatives of multiple functions:

fx= gx+ hx+ ix…. f'x=g'x+ h'x+ i'x+ ….

Product Rule: fx= gx× hx f'x=g'x×hx+gx×h'x

Quotient Rule: fx=gxhx f'x=g'x×hx-gx×h'x

Chain Rule: fx=ghx f'x=g'x×hx×h'x

Example:
fx=3x5 -2x f'x=12(3x5-2x)1/2×15x4-2 f'x=15x4-223x5 -2x

Critical Points – (relative max’s, min’s, and points of

inflection)

© 2009 Maya Balakrishnan and Tara Balakrishnan

 Relative max Slope of tangent = 0

point of inflection

Relative min

So essentially if you set the derivative = 0, then you can find the relative max’s and
min’s, aka local max’s and min’s

Example:
f(x) = x3-3x2+5
f’(x)= 3x2-6x
0=3x2-6x
0= 3x(x-2)
Max’s and min’s at 0 and 2, now find the coordinates
f(x) = 03-3(0)2+5 f(x) = 23-3(2)2+5
f(x)=5 f(x)=1
(0,5) (2,1)
So the max’s and min’s are at 0 and 2, but to tell which is the max and which is the
miin…
+ - +
slope
-1 0 1 2 3
therefore (0,5) is the max and (2,1) is the min

the point of inflection is the point where the function changes concavity
to find them set the derivative of the derivative = 0
continuing with the above example:
f(x) = x3-3x2+5
f’(x)= 3x2-6x
f’’(x)= 6x-6
0= 6x-6
x=1
f(x) = (1)3-3(1)2+5
f(x)= 3 point of inflection is (1,3)

to find x intercepts simply plug in y=0 of f(x)=0 and solve

to find y intercepts plug in x=0 and solve

© 2009 Maya Balakrishnan and Tara Balakrishnan