The Derivative (3.1.3)

Question 1

What are tangent lines graphic representations of?

Answer 1

• Tangent lines are graphic representations of instantaneous rates of change.

Question 2

How do you find the slope of a tangent line?

Answer 2

• To find the slope of a tangent line, take the limit as the change in the independent variable approaches zero..

Question 3

What is the derivative function?

Answer 3

• The derivative is a function that gives you the instantaneous rate and slope of the tangent at a point. The derivative got its name from the fact that it is derived from another function.

f’(x) = lim (delta x -> 0)

(f(x + delta x) - f(x))/delta x