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Derivatives

The deriviative of f(x) at x=a is given by

The quotient represents the slope of the line (called the secant line) through the points (a, f(a)) and (a+h, f(a+h)):

Slope of secant line is [f(a+h)-f(a)]/h

Consider the function f(x) = x2 at x = 0.5:

f(x) = x^2 at x = 0.5

Investigate the Limit as h Approaches 0 from the Left

Let's calculate the slope of the secant line for h = -1.5, -1.0, and -0.5:

Slopes of Secant lines for h = -1.5, -1.0, and -0.5

These secant lines (and their slopes) are shown on the following graph:

Graph

As h gets smaller and smaller (approaching 0 from the left), the secant line pivots around and gets closer and closer to the tangent line shown in red. That is,

Limit as h approaches zero from the left is one.

Investigate the Limit as h Approaches 0 from the Right

Let's calculate the slope of the secant line for h = 1.5, 1.0, and 0.5:

Limit as h approaches zero from the right is one.

These secant lines (and their slopes) are shown on the following graph:

Graph

As h gets smaller and smaller (approaching 0 from the right), the secant line gets closer and closer to the tangent line shown in red. That is,

Limit as h approaches zero from the right is one.

Conclusion

Since both one-sided limits exist and are equal we can assert that

Limit as h approaches zero is one

Therefore, the derivative of f(x) = x2 at x = 0.5 is 1. That is, f '(0.5) = 1. The animated graphic below illustrates the secant lines as h approaches zero from the left and from the right. In both cases, the secant line approaches the tangent line which has a slope of one.

Animation Illustration

A Generalization

Rather than finding the limit of the slope at some particular value of x, let's find the limit in terms of x:

Finding the derivative of f(x) = x^2

The slope of the line tangent to the curve f(x) = x2 at any value of x is given by f''(x) = 2x. In the graph below, several lines tangent to the curve f(x) = x2 are shown (with the corresponding slopes). Notice that, in every case, the slope = 2x where x is the x-coordinate of the corresponding point on the curve.

Tangents to the curve f(x) = x^2