AP CALCULUS AB

CHAPTER 2 NOTES

SECTION (2.1):
THE DERIVATIVE AND THE TANGENT LINE PROBLEM

The Tangent Line Problem

How do you find the slope of a curve at a point?

To find this slope of f at x, you want the slope of the line tangent to f at x.

The limit used to define the slope of a tangent line is also used to define one of the two fundamental
operations of calculus: differentiation.

Provided the limit exists, the derivative (slope) of f at x

( ) = lim

( + )

( )

Differentiability and Continuity

If f is differentiable at x = c, then f is continuous at x = c.

In general, if the graph of a function has a bend, corner, or kink in it, then the graph of f has no
tangent at this point and f is not differentiable.

This is NOT necessarily true the other way around.

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AP CALCULUS AB

CHAPTER 2 NOTES

SECTIONS (2.2 2.3):

BASIC DIFFERENTIATION RULES, PRODUCT RULE, QUOTIENT RULE

Basic Differentiation Rules

Let f be a differentiable function and c be a real number.

Constant Rule:

=0
=

Power Rule:
Constant Multiple Rule:
Sum/Difference Rule:

( ) =

( )

The sum/difference of two differentiable functions is also differentiable.

Sine Function:

sin

= cos

Cosine Function:

cos

Tangent Function:

tan

= sec

Cotangent Function:

cot

csc

Cosecant Function:

csc

csc cot

Secant Function

sec

= sec tan

sin

Product Rule:

( ) ( ) = ( )

Quotient Rule

( )
( )
=
( )

( )

( )+ ( )

( )

( )

( )

Hint: The derivative a trig. function with the letter c in it is negative.

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( )

Rate of Change

Another way to use the derivative is to find the instantons velocity of an object given a position function.
Position Function = ( ) =

Average Velocity = slope =

1
2

change in distance
change in time

Instantaneous Velocity = ( )
Acceleration Function = ( )

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AP CALCULUS AB

CHAPTER 2 NOTES
SECTION (2.4):
THE CHAIN RULE

The Chain Rule

When you have a composite function, you can use the Chain Rule to differentiate.

= ( ) is a differentiable function of u and

( ) is a differentiable function of x and

If

( )

EXAMPLE:

( ) ( )

Find the derivative of

= cos(

= ( ) is a differentiable function of x, then

= sin(

4) 2 = 2 cos(

4).

4)

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AP CALCULUS AB

CHAPTER 2 NOTES

SECTIONS (2.5):
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION

Implicit Form

So far, all of our functions have been written in explicit form.

When a function is written in implicit form, this is not the case.

This means y has explicitly been written as a function of x.

Steps for Implicit Differentiation

1) Differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x.

2) Every time you differentiate something with a y, write in

3) Solve for

EXAMPLE:

Find the derivative of y with respect to x of

+2

+2

+2
=

(2 + 2) =
=

=0

3
3

3
(2 + 2)

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+ 2 = 6.