Understanding Differentiation: Gradients, Tangents, and More!

Open

Kate

15/09/2023

Maths

AQA Pure Math- Differentiation- Year 1 and 2

Subjects

Maths

Pure maths

Differentiation

Understanding Differentiation: Gradients, Tangents, and More!

A comprehensive guide to first principles of differentiation explained, covering fundamental calculus concepts and advanced differentiation techniques.

The guide explores differentiation from first principles, including the limit definition and practical applications
Covers essential topics like gradient and tangents in calculus, increasing/decreasing functions, and stationary points
Details various differentiation rules including chain rule, product rule, and implicit differentiation in calculus
Examines trigonometric differentiation and special functions like exponentials and logarithms
Includes practical examples and step-by-step solutions for complex differentiation problems

15/09/2023

C
Differentiation
.
Differentiation
y = f (oc)
dy = f (x)
doc
• First Principles
f'(x) = lim f(x+h)-f(x)
[→]
h
as h tends to zero'
example
p

Page 2: Tangents, Normals, and Function Behavior

Definition: A tangent has the same gradient as the curve at the point of contact, while a normal is perpendicular to the tangent

Highlight: Second derivatives $f"(x$ ) are crucial for determining the nature of turning points and curve behavior

Example: For a quadratic function f $x$ = ax² + bx + c, where a > 0, the second derivative helps identify maximum and minimum points

Vocabulary: Stationary point - a point where the gradient equals zero

Page 3: Advanced Differentiation Rules

This page covers more complex differentiation techniques, including trigonometric functions, exponentials, and the chain rule. It provides comprehensive examples of various differentiation methods.

Definition: Chain rule states that if y is a function of u, which is a function of x, then dy/dx = dy/du × du/dx

Example: Differentiating y = ekx results in dy/dx = kekx, demonstrating the application of the chain rule

Highlight: The product rule is essential for differentiating products of functions: d/dx $uv$ = u $dv/dx$ + v $du/dx$

Vocabulary: Product rule - a method for differentiating the product of two functions

Page 4: Quotient Rule and Implicit Differentiation

This page explains the quotient rule and implicit differentiation, including applications to trigonometric functions and complex expressions.

Definition: Quotient rule states that d/dx $u/v$ = $v(du/dx$ - u $dv/dx$ )/v²

Example: Differentiating y = $x²+1$ / $x-3$ using the quotient rule demonstrates practical application

Highlight: Implicit differentiation is crucial when dealing with equations where y cannot be easily isolated

Vocabulary: Implicit differentiation - a method used when y cannot be explicitly expressed in terms of x

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Subjects

Maths

Pure maths

Differentiation

Maths

•

210

•

10 Jul 2025

•

4 pages

Understanding Differentiation: Gradients, Tangents, and More!

Kate

@katerevisionotes

A comprehensive guide to first principles of differentiation explained, covering fundamental calculus concepts and advanced differentiation techniques.

The guide explores differentiation from first principles, including the limit definition and practical applications
Covers essential topics like gradient and tangents in... Show more

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Page 2: Tangents, Normals, and Function Behavior

This page delves into the properties of tangents and normals, along with the analysis of increasing and decreasing functions. It also covers second derivatives and their applications in finding turning points.

Definition: A tangent has the same gradient as the curve at the point of contact, while a normal is perpendicular to the tangent

Highlight: Second derivatives $f"(x$ ) are crucial for determining the nature of turning points and curve behavior

Example: For a quadratic function f $x$ = ax² + bx + c, where a > 0, the second derivative helps identify maximum and minimum points

Vocabulary: Stationary point - a point where the gradient equals zero

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Page 3: Advanced Differentiation Rules

This page covers more complex differentiation techniques, including trigonometric functions, exponentials, and the chain rule. It provides comprehensive examples of various differentiation methods.

Definition: Chain rule states that if y is a function of u, which is a function of x, then dy/dx = dy/du × du/dx

Example: Differentiating y = ekx results in dy/dx = kekx, demonstrating the application of the chain rule

Highlight: The product rule is essential for differentiating products of functions: d/dx $uv$ = u $dv/dx$ + v $du/dx$

Vocabulary: Product rule - a method for differentiating the product of two functions

Page 4: Quotient Rule and Implicit Differentiation

This page explains the quotient rule and implicit differentiation, including applications to trigonometric functions and complex expressions.

Definition: Quotient rule states that d/dx $u/v$ = $v(du/dx$ - u $dv/dx$ )/v²

Example: Differentiating y = $x²+1$ / $x-3$ using the quotient rule demonstrates practical application

Highlight: Implicit differentiation is crucial when dealing with equations where y cannot be easily isolated

Vocabulary: Implicit differentiation - a method used when y cannot be explicitly expressed in terms of x

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Page 1: First Principles and Basic Differentiation

This page introduces the fundamental concepts of differentiation, starting with the first principle formula and its applications. The content focuses on basic differentiation rules and gradient calculations.

Definition: First principle of differentiation is defined as f' $x$ = lim $h→0$ $f(x+h)-f(x)$ /h

Example: Proving the first principle of 5x³ results in 15x², demonstrating the practical application of the limit definition

Highlight: Understanding gradient at a point is crucial for analyzing curve behavior, as shown in the example where gradient at point $2,2$ is calculated

Vocabulary: Derivative $f'(x$ ) - the rate of change of a function at any given point

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