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 for ?
Answer this question yourself - Introductory1 mark · 2 min
A particle moves along a line with position metres at time seconds. Find its average velocity over the interval from to .
Answer this question yourself - Introductory1 mark · 2 min
Let be the temperature of a lake, in degrees Celsius, at a depth of metres below the surface on a summer afternoon. What are the units of , and what sign would you expect it to have?
Answer this question yourself - Standard3 marks · 4 min
Use the limit definition of the derivative to find for .
Answer this question yourself - Standard3 marks · 5 min
Use the definition of the derivative to find for the function below.
Answer this question yourself - Standard3 marks · 5 min
Use the definition of the derivative to find for the function below.
Answer this question yourself - Standard2 marks · 4 min
Let . Which statement about at is correct?
Answer this question yourself - Challenging4 marks · 6 min
Find the values of the constants and for which the function below is differentiable everywhere, and enter .
Answer this question yourself - Challenging3 marks · 5 min
A ball is thrown straight up from a balcony. Its height in metres after seconds is . Find the maximum height the ball reaches.
Answer this question yourself - Capstone5 marks · 10 min
Let for and . Using the definition of the derivative, show that exists and find its value.
Answer this question yourself
Related topics
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