Differentiation Basics
Differentiation helps us find the rate at which something is changing. The derivative of a function f(x) shows how quickly the function's output changes when its input changes, written as f'(x) or df/dx.
Learning a few key rules makes differentiation manageable. The power rule tells us that when we differentiate xⁿ, we get nx^n−1. For more complex functions, we use specialized techniques like the product rule (fg)' = f'g + fg', the quotient rule f/g' = f′g−fg′/g², and the chain rule for composite functions.
Real-world applications of derivatives are everywhere. We can calculate how fast objects are moving, find the best (maximum or minimum) values in optimization problems, and analyze rates of change in various scenarios.
💡 Try it yourself: To differentiate f(x) = 2x² - 3x + 1, apply the power rule to each term. The derivative is f'(x) = 4x - 3, which tells you the slope of this parabola at any point!