Data Science Math Skills

Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger

Duke University

Tangent Lines: The Derivative Function

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1 Introduction
Derivative formula:
f (a + h) − f (a)
f 0 (a) = lim
h→0 h
y
f (x) = x2

x
c a b

• Slope is positive at a: f 0 (a) > 0

• Slope is positive at b and greater than at a: f 0 (b) > f 0 (a)

• Slope is negative at c: f 0 (c) < 0

1
 Data Science Math Skills
Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger
Duke University

2 Calculate derivative
f (a + h) − f (a)
f 0 (a) = lim
h→0 h
(a + h) − a2
2
= lim
h→0 h
a + 2ah + h2 − a2
2
= lim
h→0 h
h(2a + h)
= lim
h→0 h
= lim (2a + h)
h→0
= 2a

f 0 (a) = 2a
f 0 (b) = 2b
f 0 (c) = 2c

Can verify 2a > 0, 2b > 2a, and 2c < 0

2
 Data Science Math Skills
Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger
Duke University

3 Graph of derivative function

y f (x) = x2
f 0 (x) = 2x

Next video: Finding where derivative is zero (where the tangent line to the function is
horizontal) is important for optimization problems.