3.1 Defining the Derivative

Now that we have both a conceptual understanding of a limit and the practical ability to compute limits, we have established the foundation for our study of calculus, the branch of mathematics in which we compute derivatives and integrals. Most mathematicians and historians agree that calculus was developed independently by the Englishman Isaac Newton $(1643-1727)$ and the German Gottfried Leibniz $(1646-1716),$ whose images appear in Figure 3.2. When we credit Newton and Leibniz with developing calculus, we are really referring to the fact that Newton and Leibniz were the first to understand the relationship between the derivative and the integral. Both mathematicians benefited from the work of predecessors, such as Barrow, Fermat, and Cavalieri. The initial relationship between the two mathematicians appears to have been amicable; however, in later years a bitter controversy erupted over whose work took precedence. Although it seems likely that Newton did, indeed, arrive at the ideas behind calculus first, we are indebted to Leibniz for the notation that we commonly use today.

Photos of Newton and Leibniz. — Figure 3.2Newton and Leibniz are credited with developing calculus independently.

Tangent Lines

We begin our study of calculus by revisiting the notion of secant lines and tangent lines. Recall that we used the slope of a secant line to a function at a point $(a, f (a))$ to estimate the rate of change, or the rate at which one variable changes in relation to another variable. We can obtain the slope of the secant by choosing a value of $x$ near $a$ and drawing a line through the points $(a, f (a))$ and $(x, f (x)),$ as shown in Figure 3.3. The slope of this line is given by an equation in the form of a difference quotient:

m_{s e c} = \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a} .

We can also calculate the slope of a secant line to a function at a value a by using this equation and replacing $x$ with $a + h,$ where $h$ is a value close to 0. We can then calculate the slope of the line through the points $(a, f (a))$ and $(a + h, f (a + h)) .$ In this case, we find the secant line has a slope given by the following difference quotient with increment $h :$

m_{s e c} = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{a + h - a} = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h} .

These two expressions for calculating the slope of a secant line are illustrated in Figure 3.3. We will see that each of these two methods for finding the slope of a secant line is of value. Depending on the setting, we can choose one or the other. The primary consideration in our choice usually depends on ease of calculation.

This figure consists of two graphs labeled a and b. Figure a shows the Cartesian coordinate plane with 0, a, and x marked on the x-axis. There is a curve labeled y = f(x) with points marked (a, f(a)) and (x, f(x)). There is also a straight line that crosses these two points (a, f(a)) and (x, f(x)). At the bottom of the graph, the equation msec = (f(x) - f(a))/(x - a) is given. Figure b shows a similar graph, but this time a + h is marked on the x-axis instead of x. Consequently, the curve labeled y = f(x) passes through (a, f(a)) and (a + h, f(a + h)) as does the straight line. At the bottom of the graph, the equation msec = (f(a + h) - f(a))/h is given. — Figure 3.3We can calculate the slope of a secant line in either of two ways.

In Figure 3.4(a) we see that, as the values of $x$ approach $a,$ the slopes of the secant lines provide better estimates of the rate of change of the function at $a .$ Furthermore, the secant lines themselves approach the tangent line to the function at $a,$ which represents the limit of the secant lines. Similarly, Figure 3.4(b) shows that as the values of $h$ get closer to $0,$ the secant lines also approach the tangent line. The slope of the tangent line at $a$ is the rate of change of the function at $a,$ as shown in Figure 3.4(c).

This figure consists of three graphs labeled a, b, and c. Figure a shows the Cartesian coordinate plane with 0, a, x2, and x1 marked in order on the x-axis. There is a curve labeled y = f(x) with points marked (a, f(a)), (x2, f(x2)), and (x1, f(x1)). There are three straight lines: the first crosses (a, f(a)) and (x1, f(x1)); the second crosses (a, f(a)) and (x2, f(x2)); and the third only touches (a, f(a)), making it the tangent. At the bottom of the graph, the equation mtan = limx → a (f(x) - f(a))/(x - a) is given. Figure b shows a similar graph, but this time a + h2 and a + h1 are marked on the x-axis instead of x2 and x1. Consequently, the curve labeled y = f(x) passes through (a, f(a)), (a + h2, f(a + h2)), and (a + h1, f(a + h1)) and the straight lines similarly cross the graph as in Figure a. At the bottom of the graph, the equation mtan = limh → 0 (f(a + h) - f(a))/h is given. Figure c shows only the curve labeled y = f(x) and its tangent at point (a, f(a)). — Figure 3.4The secant lines approach the tangent line (shown in green) as the second point approaches the first.

In Figure 3.5 we show the graph of $f (x) = x$ and its tangent line at $(1, 1)$ in a series of tighter intervals about $x = 1.$ As the intervals become narrower, the graph of the function and its tangent line appear to coincide, making the values on the tangent line a good approximation to the values of the function for choices of $x$ close to $1.$ In fact, the graph of $f (x)$ itself appears to be locally linear in the immediate vicinity of $x = 1.$

This figure consists of four graphs labeled a, b, c, and d. Figure a shows the graphs of the square root of x and the equation y = (x + 1)/2 with the x-axis going from 0 to 4 and the y-axis going from 0 to 2.5. The graphs of these two functions look very close near 1; there is a box around where these graphs look close. Figure b shows a close up of these same two functions in the area of the box from Figure a, specifically x going from 0 to 2 and y going from 0 to 1.4. Figure c is the same graph as Figure b, but this one has a box from 0 to 1.1 in the x coordinate and 0.8 and 1 on the y coordinate. There is an arrow indicating that this is blown up in Figure d. Figure d shows a very close picture of the box from Figure c, and the two functions appear to be touching for almost the entire length of the graph. — Figure 3.5For values of $x$ close to $1,$ the graph of $f (x) = x$ and its tangent line appear to coincide.

Formally we may define the tangent line to the graph of a function as follows.

Just as we have used two different expressions to define the slope of a secant line, we use two different forms to define the slope of the tangent line. In this text we use both forms of the definition. As before, the choice of definition will depend on the setting. Now that we have formally defined a tangent line to a function at a point, we can use this definition to find equations of tangent lines.

Example 3.1Finding a Tangent Line

Find an equation of the line tangent to the graph of $f (x) = x^{2}$ at $x = 3.$

Solution

First find the slope of the tangent line. In this example, use Defining the Derivative.

m_{t a n} = lim_{x \to 3} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( 3 )}{x - 3} = lim_{x \to 3} \frac{x ^{2} - 9}{x - 3} = lim_{x \to 3} \frac{( x - 3 ) ( x + 3 )}{x - 3} = lim_{x \to 3} (x + 3) = 6 Apply the definition. Substitute f (x) = x^{2} and f (3) = 9. Factor the numerator to evaluate the limit.

Next, find a point on the tangent line. Since the line is tangent to the graph of $f (x)$ at $x = 3,$ it passes through the point $(3, f (3)) .$ We have $f (3) = 9,$ so the tangent line passes through the point $(3, 9) .$

Using the point-slope equation of the line with the slope $m = 6$ and the point $(3, 9),$ we obtain the line $y - 9 = 6 (x - 3) .$ Simplifying, we have $y = 6 x - 9.$ The graph of $f (x) = x^{2}$ and its tangent line at $3$ are shown in Figure 3.6.

Figure 3.6The tangent line to

f (x)

x = 3.

Example 3.3Finding the Equation of a Tangent Line

Find an equation of the line tangent to the graph of $f (x) = 1 / x$ at $x = 2.$

Solution

We can use Defining the Derivative, but as we have seen, the results are the same if we use Defining the Derivative.

m_{t a n} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( 2 )}{x - 2} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{\frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{2}}{x - 2} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{\frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{2}}{x - 2} \cdot \frac{2 x}{2 x} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{( 2 - x )}{( x - 2 ) ( 2 x )} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{- 1}{2 x} = - \frac{1}{4} Apply the definition. Substitute f (x) = \frac{1}{x} and f (2) = \frac{1}{2} . Multiply numerator and denominator by 2 x to simplify fractions. Simplify. Simplify using \frac{2 - x}{x - 2} = - 1, for x \neq = 2. Evaluate the limit.

We now know that the slope of the tangent line is $- \frac{1}{4} .$ To find an equation of the tangent line, we also need a point on the line. We know that $f (2) = \frac{1}{2} .$ Since the tangent line passes through the point $(2, \frac{1}{2})$ we can use the point-slope equation of a line to find an equation of the tangent line. Thus the tangent line has the equation $y = - \frac{1}{4} x + 1.$ The graphs of $f (x) = \frac{1}{x}$ and $y = - \frac{1}{4} x + 1$ are shown in Figure 3.7.

Figure 3.7The line is tangent to

f (x)

x = 2.

The Derivative of a Function at a Point

The type of limit we compute in order to find the slope of the line tangent to a function at a point occurs in many applications across many disciplines. These applications include velocity and acceleration in physics, marginal profit functions in business, and growth rates in biology. This limit occurs so frequently that we give this value a special name: the derivative. The process of finding a derivative is called differentiation.

Velocities and Rates of Change

Now that we can evaluate a derivative, we can use it in velocity applications. Recall that if $s (t)$ is the position of an object moving along a coordinate axis, the average velocity of the object over a time interval $[a, t]$ if $t > a$ or $[t, a]$ if $t < a$ is given by the difference quotient

v_{ave} = \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .

As the values of $t$ approach $a,$ the values of $v_{ave}$ approach the value we call the instantaneous velocity at $a .$ That is, instantaneous velocity at $a,$ denoted $v (a),$ is given by

v (a) = s^{'} (a) = t \to a lim \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .

To better understand the relationship between average velocity and instantaneous velocity, see Figure 3.8. In this figure, the slope of the tangent line (shown in red) is the instantaneous velocity of the object at time $t = a$ whose position at time $t$ is given by the function $s (t) .$ The slope of the secant line (shown in green) is the average velocity of the object over the time interval $[a, t] .$

This figure consists of the Cartesian coordinate plane with 0, a, and t1 marked on the t-axis. The function y = s(t) is graphed in the first quadrant along with two lines marked tangent and secant. The tangent line touches y = s(t) at only one point, (a, s(a)). The secant line touches y = s(t) at two points: (a, s(a)) and (t1, s(t1)). — Figure 3.8The slope of the secant line is the average velocity over the interval $[a, t] .$ The slope of the tangent line is the instantaneous velocity.

We can use Defining the Derivative to calculate the instantaneous velocity, or we can estimate the velocity of a moving object by using a table of values. We can then confirm the estimate by using Defining the Derivative.

Example 3.7Estimating Velocity

A lead weight on a spring is oscillating up and down. Its position at time $t$ with respect to a fixed horizontal line is given by $s (t) = sin t$ (Figure 3.9). Use a table of values to estimate $v (0) .$ Check the estimate by using Defining the Derivative.

Figure 3.9A lead weight suspended from a spring in vertical oscillatory motion.

Solution

We can estimate the instantaneous velocity at $t = 0$ by computing a table of average velocities using values of $t$ approaching $0,$ as shown in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1Average velocities using values of t approaching 0

$t$	$\frac{s i n t - s i n 0}{t - 0} = \frac{s i n t}{t}$
$- 0.1$	$0.998334166$
$- 0.01$	$0.9999833333$
$- 0.001$	$0.999999833$
$0.001$	$0.999999833$
$0.01$	$0.9999833333$
$0.1$	$0.998334166$

From the table we see that the average velocity over the time interval $[- 0.1, 0]$ is $0.998334166,$ the average velocity over the time interval $[- 0.01, 0]$ is $0.9999833333,$ and so forth. Using this table of values, it appears that a good estimate is $v (0) = 1.$

By using Defining the Derivative, we can see that

v (0) = s^{'} (0) = t \to 0 lim \frac{sin t - sin 0}{t - 0} = t \to 0 lim \frac{sin t}{t} = 1.

Thus, in fact, $v (0) = 1.$

As we have seen throughout this section, the slope of a tangent line to a function and instantaneous velocity are related concepts. Each is calculated by computing a derivative and each measures the instantaneous rate of change of a function, or the rate of change of a function at any point along the function.

Example 3.8Chapter Opener: Estimating Rate of Change of Velocity

Figure 3.10(credit: modification of work by Codex41, Flickr)

Reaching a top speed of $270.49$ mph, the Hennessey Venom GT is one of the fastest cars in the world. In tests it went from $0$ to $60$ mph in $3.05$ seconds, from $0 to 100$ mph in $5.88$ seconds, from $0 to 200$ mph in $14.51$ seconds, and from $0 to 229.9$ mph in $19.96$ seconds. Use this data to draw a conclusion about the rate of change of velocity (that is, its acceleration) as it approaches $229.9$ mph. Does the rate at which the car is accelerating appear to be increasing, decreasing, or constant?

Solution

First observe that $60$ mph = $88$ ft/s, $100$ mph $\approx 146.67$ ft/s, $200$ mph $\approx 293.33$ ft/s, and $229.9$ mph $\approx 337.19$ ft/s. We can summarize the information in a table.

Table 3.2

v (t)

at different values of t

$t$	$v (t)$
$0$	$0$
$3.05$	$88$
$5.88$	$146.67$
$14.51$	$293.33$
$19.96$	$337.19$

Now compute the average acceleration of the car in feet per second per second on intervals of the form $[t, 19.96]$ as $t$ approaches $19.96,$ as shown in the following table.

Table 3.3Average acceleration

$t$	$\frac{v ( t ) - v ( 19.96 )}{t - 19.96} = \frac{v ( t ) - 337.19}{t - 19.96}$
$0.0$	$16.89$
$3.05$	$14.74$
$5.88$	$13.53$
$14.51$	$8.05$

The rate at which the car is accelerating is decreasing as its velocity approaches $229.9$ mph $(337.19$ ft/s).

Example 3.9Rate of Change of Temperature

A homeowner sets the thermostat so that the temperature in the house begins to drop from $70 ° F$ at $9$ p.m., reaches a low of $60 °$ during the night, and rises back to $70 °$ by $7$ a.m. the next morning. Suppose that the temperature in the house is given by $T (t) = 0.4 t^{2} - 4 t + 70$ for $0 \leq t \leq 10,$ where $t$ is the number of hours past $9$ p.m. Find the instantaneous rate of change of the temperature at midnight.

Solution

Since midnight is $3$ hours past $9$ p.m., we want to compute $T^{'} (3) .$ Refer to Defining the Derivative.

T^{'} (3) = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{T ( t ) - T ( 3 )}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 t ^{2} - 4 t + 70 - 61.6}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 t ^{2} - 4 t + 8.4}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 ( t - 3 ) ( t - 7 )}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} 0.4 (t - 7) = - 1.6 Apply the definition. Substitute T (t) = 0.4 t^{2} - 4 t + 70 and T (3) = 61.6. Simplify. = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 ( t - 3 ) ( t - 7 )}{t - 3} Cancel. Evaluate the limit.

The instantaneous rate of change of the temperature at midnight is $- 1.6 ° F$ per hour.

Example 3.10Rate of Change of Profit

A toy company can sell $x$ electronic gaming systems at a price of $p = - 0.01 x + 400$ dollars per gaming system. The cost of manufacturing $x$ systems is given by $C (x) = 100 x + 10, 000$ dollars. Find the rate of change of profit when $10, 000$ games are produced. Should the toy company increase or decrease production?

Solution

The profit $P (x)$ earned by producing $x$ gaming systems is $R (x) - C (x),$ where $R (x)$ is the revenue obtained from the sale of $x$ games. Since the company can sell $x$ games at $p = - 0.01 x + 400$ per game,

R (x) = x p = x (- 0.01 x + 400) = - 0.01 x^{2} + 400 x .

Consequently,

P (x) = - 0.01 x^{2} + 300 x - 10, 000.

Therefore, evaluating the rate of change of profit gives

P^{'} (10000) = lim_{x \to 10000} \frac{P ( x ) - P ( 10000 )}{x - 10000} = lim_{x \to 10000} \frac{- 0.01 x ^{2} + 300 x - 10000 - 1990000}{x - 10000} = lim_{x \to 10000} \frac{- 0.01 x ^{2} + 300 x - 2000000}{x - 10000} = 100.

Since the rate of change of profit $P^{'} (10, 000) > 0$ and $P (10, 000) > 0,$ the company should increase production.

Key Concepts

The slope of the tangent line to a curve measures the instantaneous rate of change of a curve. We can calculate it by finding the limit of the difference quotient or the difference quotient with increment $h .$
The derivative of a function $f (x)$ at a value $a$ is found using either of the definitions for the slope of the tangent line.
Velocity is the rate of change of position. As such, the velocity $v (t)$ at time $t$ is the derivative of the position $s (t)$ at time $t .$ Average velocity is given by
$v_{ave} = \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .$
Instantaneous velocity is given by
$v (a) = s^{'} (a) = t \to a lim \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .$
We may estimate a derivative by using a table of values.

Key Equations

Difference quotient	$Q = \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a}$
Difference quotient with increment $h$	$Q = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{a + h - a} = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h}$
Slope of tangent line	$m_{t a n} = lim_{x \to a} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a}$ $m_{t a n} = lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h}$
Derivative of $f (x)$ at $a$	$f^{'} (a) = lim_{x \to a} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a}$ $f^{'} (a) = lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h}$
Average velocity	$v_{a ve} = \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a}$
Instantaneous velocity	$v (a) = s^{'} (a) = lim_{t \to a} \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a}$

Tangent Lines

m_{s e c} = \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a} .

m_{s e c} = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{a + h - a} = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h} .

Formally we may define the tangent line to the graph of a function as follows.

Example 3.1Finding a Tangent Line

Find an equation of the line tangent to the graph of $f (x) = x^{2}$ at $x = 3.$

Solution

First find the slope of the tangent line. In this example, use Defining the Derivative.

m_{t a n} = lim_{x \to 3} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( 3 )}{x - 3} = lim_{x \to 3} \frac{x ^{2} - 9}{x - 3} = lim_{x \to 3} \frac{( x - 3 ) ( x + 3 )}{x - 3} = lim_{x \to 3} (x + 3) = 6 Apply the definition. Substitute f (x) = x^{2} and f (3) = 9. Factor the numerator to evaluate the limit.

Figure 3.6The tangent line to

f (x)

x = 3.

Example 3.3Finding the Equation of a Tangent Line

Find an equation of the line tangent to the graph of $f (x) = 1 / x$ at $x = 2.$

Solution

We can use Defining the Derivative, but as we have seen, the results are the same if we use Defining the Derivative.

m_{t a n} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( 2 )}{x - 2} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{\frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{2}}{x - 2} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{\frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{2}}{x - 2} \cdot \frac{2 x}{2 x} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{( 2 - x )}{( x - 2 ) ( 2 x )} = lim_{x \to 2} \frac{- 1}{2 x} = - \frac{1}{4} Apply the definition. Substitute f (x) = \frac{1}{x} and f (2) = \frac{1}{2} . Multiply numerator and denominator by 2 x to simplify fractions. Simplify. Simplify using \frac{2 - x}{x - 2} = - 1, for x \neq = 2. Evaluate the limit.

Figure 3.7The line is tangent to

f (x)

x = 2.

The Derivative of a Function at a Point

Velocities and Rates of Change

v_{ave} = \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .

As the values of $t$ approach $a,$ the values of $v_{ave}$ approach the value we call the instantaneous velocity at $a .$ That is, instantaneous velocity at $a,$ denoted $v (a),$ is given by

v (a) = s^{'} (a) = t \to a lim \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .

Example 3.7Estimating Velocity

Figure 3.9A lead weight suspended from a spring in vertical oscillatory motion.

Solution

We can estimate the instantaneous velocity at $t = 0$ by computing a table of average velocities using values of $t$ approaching $0,$ as shown in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1Average velocities using values of t approaching 0

$t$	$\frac{s i n t - s i n 0}{t - 0} = \frac{s i n t}{t}$
$- 0.1$	$0.998334166$
$- 0.01$	$0.9999833333$
$- 0.001$	$0.999999833$
$0.001$	$0.999999833$
$0.01$	$0.9999833333$
$0.1$	$0.998334166$

By using Defining the Derivative, we can see that

v (0) = s^{'} (0) = t \to 0 lim \frac{sin t - sin 0}{t - 0} = t \to 0 lim \frac{sin t}{t} = 1.

Thus, in fact, $v (0) = 1.$

Example 3.8Chapter Opener: Estimating Rate of Change of Velocity

Figure 3.10(credit: modification of work by Codex41, Flickr)

Solution

First observe that $60$ mph = $88$ ft/s, $100$ mph $\approx 146.67$ ft/s, $200$ mph $\approx 293.33$ ft/s, and $229.9$ mph $\approx 337.19$ ft/s. We can summarize the information in a table.

Table 3.2

v (t)

at different values of t

$t$	$v (t)$
$0$	$0$
$3.05$	$88$
$5.88$	$146.67$
$14.51$	$293.33$
$19.96$	$337.19$

Now compute the average acceleration of the car in feet per second per second on intervals of the form $[t, 19.96]$ as $t$ approaches $19.96,$ as shown in the following table.

Table 3.3Average acceleration

$t$	$\frac{v ( t ) - v ( 19.96 )}{t - 19.96} = \frac{v ( t ) - 337.19}{t - 19.96}$
$0.0$	$16.89$
$3.05$	$14.74$
$5.88$	$13.53$
$14.51$	$8.05$

The rate at which the car is accelerating is decreasing as its velocity approaches $229.9$ mph $(337.19$ ft/s).

Example 3.9Rate of Change of Temperature

Solution

Since midnight is $3$ hours past $9$ p.m., we want to compute $T^{'} (3) .$ Refer to Defining the Derivative.

T^{'} (3) = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{T ( t ) - T ( 3 )}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 t ^{2} - 4 t + 70 - 61.6}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 t ^{2} - 4 t + 8.4}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 ( t - 3 ) ( t - 7 )}{t - 3} = lim_{t \to 3} 0.4 (t - 7) = - 1.6 Apply the definition. Substitute T (t) = 0.4 t^{2} - 4 t + 70 and T (3) = 61.6. Simplify. = lim_{t \to 3} \frac{0.4 ( t - 3 ) ( t - 7 )}{t - 3} Cancel. Evaluate the limit.

The instantaneous rate of change of the temperature at midnight is $- 1.6 ° F$ per hour.

Example 3.10Rate of Change of Profit

Solution

R (x) = x p = x (- 0.01 x + 400) = - 0.01 x^{2} + 400 x .

Consequently,

P (x) = - 0.01 x^{2} + 300 x - 10, 000.

Therefore, evaluating the rate of change of profit gives

P^{'} (10000) = lim_{x \to 10000} \frac{P ( x ) - P ( 10000 )}{x - 10000} = lim_{x \to 10000} \frac{- 0.01 x ^{2} + 300 x - 10000 - 1990000}{x - 10000} = lim_{x \to 10000} \frac{- 0.01 x ^{2} + 300 x - 2000000}{x - 10000} = 100.

Since the rate of change of profit $P^{'} (10, 000) > 0$ and $P (10, 000) > 0,$ the company should increase production.

Key Concepts

The slope of the tangent line to a curve measures the instantaneous rate of change of a curve. We can calculate it by finding the limit of the difference quotient or the difference quotient with increment $h .$
The derivative of a function $f (x)$ at a value $a$ is found using either of the definitions for the slope of the tangent line.
Velocity is the rate of change of position. As such, the velocity $v (t)$ at time $t$ is the derivative of the position $s (t)$ at time $t .$ Average velocity is given by
$v_{ave} = \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .$
Instantaneous velocity is given by
$v (a) = s^{'} (a) = t \to a lim \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a} .$
We may estimate a derivative by using a table of values.

Key Equations

Difference quotient	$Q = \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a}$
Difference quotient with increment $h$	$Q = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{a + h - a} = \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h}$
Slope of tangent line	$m_{t a n} = lim_{x \to a} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a}$ $m_{t a n} = lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h}$
Derivative of $f (x)$ at $a$	$f^{'} (a) = lim_{x \to a} \frac{f ( x ) - f ( a )}{x - a}$ $f^{'} (a) = lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f ( a + h ) - f ( a )}{h}$
Average velocity	$v_{a ve} = \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a}$
Instantaneous velocity	$v (a) = s^{'} (a) = lim_{t \to a} \frac{s ( t ) - s ( a )}{t - a}$

$x$	$\frac{x ^{2} - 9}{x - 3}$
$2.9$	$5.9$
$2.99$	$5.99$
$2.999$	$5.999$
$3.001$	$6.001$
$3.01$	$6.01$
$3.1$	$6.1$

$x$	$\frac{x ^{2} - 9}{x - 3}$
$2.9$	$5.9$
$2.99$	$5.99$
$2.999$	$5.999$
$3.001$	$6.001$
$3.01$	$6.01$
$3.1$	$6.1$