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Longhand

Chapter 2: Derivatives

The definition of the derivative

The derivative is a limit before it is a rule. Working through the difference quotient by hand is what makes later shortcuts meaningful, and it is where the link between slope, instantaneous rate of change and the tangent line is established. It is also where differentiability is tested: a corner, a cusp or a mismatched join is a limit that fails to exist.

Practice questions

Every question below is original material written for Longhand. Open a solution to read the full working, or answer it yourself to have it counted towards your progress.

  • Introductory2 marks · 3 min

    Which limit represents g(9)g'(9) for g(x)=xg(x) = \sqrt{x}?

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  • Introductory1 mark · 2 min

    A particle moves along a line with position s(t)=t2+4ts(t) = t^{2} + 4t metres at time tt seconds. Find its average velocity over the interval from t=1t = 1 to t=4t = 4.

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  • Introductory1 mark · 2 min

    Let T(d)T(d) be the temperature of a lake, in degrees Celsius, at a depth of dd metres below the surface on a summer afternoon. What are the units of T(d)T'(d), and what sign would you expect it to have?

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  • Standard3 marks · 4 min

    Use the limit definition of the derivative to find f(2)f'(2) for f(x)=x24xf(x) = x^{2} - 4x.

    f(a)=limh0f(a+h)f(a)hf'(a) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(a + h) - f(a)}{h}
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  • Standard3 marks · 5 min

    Use the definition of the derivative to find f(1)f'(1) for the function below.

    f(x)=3x+2f(x) = \frac{3}{x + 2}
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  • Standard3 marks · 5 min

    Use the definition of the derivative to find f(4)f'(4) for the function below.

    f(x)=2x+1f(x) = \sqrt{2x + 1}
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  • Standard2 marks · 4 min

    Let f(x)=x2f(x) = |x - 2|. Which statement about ff at x=2x = 2 is correct?

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  • Challenging4 marks · 6 min

    Find the values of the constants aa and bb for which the function below is differentiable everywhere, and enter a+ba + b.

    f(x)={2x2+1,x1ax+b,x>1f(x) = \begin{cases} 2x^{2} + 1, & x \leq 1 \\[4pt] ax + b, & x > 1 \end{cases}
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  • Challenging3 marks · 5 min

    A ball is thrown straight up from a balcony. Its height in metres after tt seconds is h(t)=1.2+14.7t4.9t2h(t) = 1.2 + 14.7t - 4.9t^{2}. Find the maximum height the ball reaches.

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  • Capstone5 marks · 10 min

    Let f(x)=x2sin ⁣(1x)f(x) = x^{2}\sin\!\left(\dfrac{1}{x}\right) for x0x \neq 0 and f(0)=0f(0) = 0. Using the definition of the derivative, show that f(0)f'(0) exists and find its value.

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  • Limits

    Limit laws, the indeterminate form 0/0, one-sided limits, the squeeze theorem and limits at infinity.

    10 questions

  • Continuity and the Intermediate Value Theorem

    The definition of continuity, removable and infinite discontinuities, and existence arguments with the IVT.

    10 questions

  • Differentiation rules

    Power, sum, product and quotient rules, tangent lines and higher-order derivatives.

    10 questions