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summary of this topic

### Introduction to Differential Calculus

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Home

Differentiation : First Principles

»  cause-effect relation in two quantities

→  eg: speed-displacement

»  The effect is calculated as a function of an algebraic expression in a variable.

→  eg: displacement s=3t^2+2

»  The cause is derived to be "rate of change of effect with respect to the variable".

→  eg : Speed = rate of change of displacement

»  In such a case, the cause is another algebraic expression in the variable.

→  speed is a function of t

»  The cause is computed as rate of change : the change in effect for a small change delta->0 in the variable.

→  speed =lim_(delta->0) (s(t+delta)-s(t))/delta

»  Derivative or Differentiation of a function

For a small change in variable x, the rate of change in the function f(x) is the derivative of the function.

d/(dx) f(x)

= f′(x)

= lim_(delta->0) (f(x+delta) - f(x))/delta

### Differentiation: First Principles

plain and simple summary

nub

plain and simple summary

nub

dummy

The rate of change of a function with respect to the variable is the derivative of the function.

simple steps to build the foundation

trek

simple steps to build the foundation

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Stating on learning "Differentiation: First Principles". In this page, differentiation is defined in first principles.

A car travels a distance 20m in 2 seconds, what is the speed of the car?

• 20 m/sec
• 10 m/sec

The answer is "10 m/sec"

Speed is computed as distance traveled (change) per unit time (rate).

Speed is rate of change of distance.

A car is moving at speed 20m/sec. What is the distance covered in t sec ?

• without a numerical value for t the distance traveled cannot be computed.
• For any value of t, the distance traveled is s=20t meter

The answer is "For any value of t, the distance traveled is s=20t meter".

Measurement can be expressed as a function of a variable.

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t^2+2. What is the distance at t=2sec ?

• 14 meter
• 6 meter

The answer is "14 meter"

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t^2+2. Couple of students want to calculate the speed.
We know that text(speed) = text(distance) / text(time)

•  Person A does the following: At t=2s, the distance traveled is 14m. So the speed is 14/2 = 7m/sec.

•  Person B does the following: At t=1s, the distance traveled is 5m. So the speed is 5/1 = 5 m/sec.

Which one is correct?

• Person A
• Person B
• Neither of them

The answer is "Neither of them". The answer is explained in the subsequent questions.

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t^2+2. Couple of students want to calculate the speed.
We know that text(speed) = text(distance) / text(time)

•  Person A does the following: At t=2s, the distance traveled is 14m. So the speed is 14/2 = 7m/sec.

•  Person B does the following: At t=1s, the distance traveled is 5m. So the speed is 5/1 = 5 m/sec.

What have person A and B calculated?

• Person A calculated average speed till 2sec
• Person A calculated average speed till 1sec
• both the above

The answer is "both the above".

The results from these two are different and so the average speed changes with time.

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t^2+2. Which of the following is expected?

• speed is a numerical value
• speed is a function of time

The answer is "speed is a function of time"

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t^2+2. Which of the following is correct?

• Speed is rate of change of displacement. So, one has to figure out how to find the rate of change of an algebraic expression.
• Speed is defined only when distance traveled in a time period is given. If the distance is given as a function of a variable, speed cannot be calculated.

The answer is "Speed is rate of change of displacement. So, one has to figure out how to find the rate of change of an algebraic expression."

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t^2+2. Speed is the rate of change. Few students are set to find rate of change
students may work these out to understand

•  Person A found rate of change for 1 second interval. 3(t+1)^2+ 2- 3t^2-2 =6t+3

•  Person B found rate of change for 2 second interval. (3(t+2)^2+ 2- 3t^2-2)/2 =6t+6

•  Person C found rate of change for 0.5 second interval (3(t+.5)^2-3t^2)/(.5) =6t+1.5

What is actually being calculated by each?

• Average of two values representing speed at t and t+delta
• instantaneous speed for any given time

The answer is "Average of two values representing speed at t and t+delta". The calculation does not provide instantaneous speed.

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t^2+2. A speedometer is attached to a wheel. The speedometer measures the speed at which the wheel rotates and proportionally provides the speed of the car. What is the speed shown in the speedometer?

• Average speed over time
• instantaneous speed for any given time

The answer is "instantaneous speed for any given time".

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s(t)=3t^2+2. A speedometer can be used to measure the instantaneous speed of the car.

The average of speeds at t and t + delta is (s(t+delta)-s(t))/delta =6t+3delta.

Can the instantaneous speed be computed as an algebraic expression from the given function?

• No. Instantaneous speed can only be measured.
• Yes. Instantaneous speed is when the time interval delta is zero.

The answer is "Yes. Instantaneous speed is when the time interval delta is zero". This is a bug step in understanding. The displacement is continuously changing with time time and at an instance the rate of change is calculated.

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s(t)=3t^2+2. The instantaneous speed is (s(t+delta)-s(t))/delta |_(delta=0). What is the value of this calculation when delta=0 is substituted?

• it is indeterminate value 0//0
• it is 0 as the numerator is zero

The answer is "it will be indeterminate value 0//0".

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s(t)=3t^2+2. The instantaneous speed is

(s(t+delta)-s(t))/delta |_(delta=0) = (s(t)-s(t))/delta =0/0

That is indeterminate value.
How does one solve a function evaluating to indeterminate value?

• Use Limit of the function as delta approaching 0.
• There is no method to solve a function evaluating to 0//0

The answer is "Use Limit of the function as delta approaching 0."

A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s(t)=3t^2+2. The instantaneous speed is
(color(deepskyblue)(s(t+delta))-color(coral)(s(t)))/delta |_(delta=0)
= (s(t)-s(t))/delta
 =0/0

Since the speed evaluates to indeterminate value, the limit is used:

lim_(delta->0) (color(deepskyblue)(s(t+delta))-color(coral)(s(t)))/delta

quad quad = lim_(delta->0)(color(deepskyblue)(3(t+delta)^2 + 2) - color(coral)(3t^2 -2) )/delta

canceling color(deepskyblue)(2) and color(coral)(-2) and expanding the square
quad quad = lim_(delta->0) (color(deepskyblue)(3t^2+6t delta + 3delta^2) -color(coral)(3t^2))/delta

canceling color(deepskyblue)(3t^2) and color(coral)(-3t^2)
quad quad = lim_(delta->0) color(deepskyblue)(6t delta + 3delta^2)/delta

canceling delta from numerator and denominator
quad quad =lim_(delta->0) color(deepskyblue)(6t + 3delta)

applying limit.
quad quad = color(deepskyblue)(6t)

The instantaneous speed is computed as an algebraic expression.

Summarizing the learning so far:

•  Two quantities are in a cause-effect relation.

•  The effect is calculated as a function of an algebraic expression in a variable.

•  The cause is derived to be "rate of change of effect with respect to the variable".
(note: there are other forms of relation between cause-effect, such as multiple, addition, exponent. In this topic, we are concerned with only the rate of change relation.)

•  In such a case, the cause is another algebraic expression in the variable.

•  The cause is computed as rate of change : the change in effect for a small change delta->0 in the variable.

This calculation is named as differentiation or derivative of the function.

Differentiation in the context of cause-effect pair: If effect is given by f(x) then the cause is computed as differentiation or derivative of f(x) denoted as d/(dx) f(x) or f′(x).

d/(dx) f(x) = lim_(delta->0) (f(x+delta)-f(x))/delta

Cause-effect is explained to understand the physical significance. Abstracting this and understanding the quantities involved in differentiation: A quantity u=f(x) is related to another quantity v such that v is the rate of change of u with respect to x, then
v = (du)/(dx) = lim_(delta->0) (f(x+delta)-f(x))/delta

Note that (du)/(dx) is another quantity related to the given quantity u.

The derivative of the function y=f(x) can be given in different forms:

For a small change in variable x, the rate of change in the function f(x) is the derivative of the function.

(dy)/(dx)

=y′

= lim_(Delta x ->0) (Delta y)/(Delta x)

=d/(dx) f(x)

= f′(x)

= lim_(delta->0) (f(x+delta) - f(x))/delta

= lim_(Delta x ->0) (f(x+Delta x) - f(x))/(Delta x)

What is rate of change of a function called?

The answer is "differentiation or derivative of the function".

Students can connect the notation d/(dx) f(x) as

•  the small difference in x is given by denominator dx

•  the effective difference (because of small difference in x) in the function is given by numerator d

•  d/(dx) denotes the difference in function with respect to a small difference in x.

comprehensive information for quick review

Jogger

comprehensive information for quick review

Jogger

dummy

Derivative or Differentiation of a function : For a small change in variable x, the rate of change in the function f(x) is the derivative of the function.

d/(dx) f(x)

= f′(x)

= lim_(delta->0) (f(x+delta) - f(x))/delta

practice questions to master the knowledge

Exercise

practice questions to master the knowledge

Exercise

Finding the derivative of y=x^2+x in first principles:

(dy)/(dx)

=lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)(f(x+delta))- color(deepskyblue)(f(x))]//delta

=lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)((x+delta)^2+ x+ delta) - color(deepskyblue)((x^2+x))]//delta

=lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)(x^2+2delta x + delta^2 + x + delta) - color(deepskyblue)(x^2 -x)]//delta

=lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)(2delta x + delta^2 + delta)]//delta

=lim_(delta->0) 2x+delta+1

What does the above prove?

• d/(dx) (x^2+x) = 2x+1
• d/(dx) (x^2+x) = 2x+1+ delta

The answer is "d/(dx) (x^2+x) = 2x+1"

Finding the derivative of y=sin x in first principles:

(dy)/(dx)

=lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)(f(x+delta))- color(deepskyblue)(f(x))]//delta

=lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)(sin(x+delta)- color(deepskyblue)(sinx)]//delta

=lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)(sinx cos delta + cos x sin delta)-color(deepskyblue)(sinx)]//delta

= lim_(delta->0) [color(coral)(cos x sin delta)]/delta - lim_(delta->0) (color(deepskyblue)(sin x) - color(coral)(sin x cos delta))/delta

= cos x lim_(delta->0) (sin delta)/delta - sin x lim_(delta->0)(1 - cos delta)/delta

applying the standard limits
= cos x xx 1 - sin x xx 0

What does the above prove?

• d/(dx) sin x = cos x
• d/(dx) sin x = cos x - sin x

The answer is "d/(dx) sin x = cos x"

Progress

Progress

A car travels a distance 20 meter in 2 seconds. What is the speed of the car.
20
20 meter per second
10
10 meter per second
The answer is "10 meter per second"
Speed is computed as distance traveled, considered as change, per unit time, considered as rate. Speed is rate of change of distance.
A car is moving at speed 20 meter per second. What is the distance covered in t seconds.
without;numerical;t;tea;cannot;computed
without a numerical value for t the distance traveled cannot be computed.
any; 20;twenty
For any value of t , the distance traveled is s=20t meter
The answer is "For any value of t, the distance traveled is s=20 t meter". Measurement can be expressed as a function of a variable.
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time ; s ; equals ; 3 t squared ; plus ; 2. What is the distance at 2 seconds.
fourteen;14
14 meter
six;6
6 meter
The answer is " 14 meter"
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. Couple of students want to calculate the speed. We know that speed = distance divided by time. ;; Person A does the following: At t equal 2 second, the distance traveled is 14 meter. So the speed is 14 by 2 = 7 meter per second. ;; Person B does the following: At t equal 1 second, the distance traveled is 5 meter. So the speed is 5 by 1 = 5 meter per second. Which one is correct?
a;A
Person A
b;bee
Person B
neither;them
Neither of them
The answer is "Neither of them". The answer is explained in the subsequent questions.
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. Couple of students want to calculate the speed. ;; Person A does the following: At t equal 2 second, the distance traveled is 14 meter. So the speed is 14 by 2 = 7 meter per second. ;; Person B does the following: At t equal 1 second, the distance traveled is 5 meter. So the speed is 5 by 1 = 5 meter per second. Which one is correct?
a;A;2
Person A calculated average speed till 2 sec
b;bee;1
Person A calculated average speed till 1 sec
both;above
both the above
The answer is "both the above". The results from these two are different and so The average speed changes with time.
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. Which of the following is expected.
numerical;value
speed is a numerical value
function;time
speed is a function of time
The answer is "speed is a function of time"
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. Which of the following is correct.
rate;change;figure;out;how;to ;expression;algebraic
Speed is rate of change of displacement. So, one has to figure out how to find the rate of change of an algebraic expression.
distance;only;period;cannot
Speed is defined only when distance traveled in a time period is given. If the distance is given as a function of a variable, speed cannot be calculated.
The answer is "Speed is rate of change of displacement. So, one has to figure out how to find the rate of change of an algebraic expression."
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time s=3t squared +2. Speed is the rate of change. Few students are set to find rate of change ;; Person A found rate of change for 1 second interval, as 6t+3;; Person B found rate of change for 2 second interval, as 6t+6;; Person C found rate of change for point 5 second interval, as 6t+1.5 ;; What is actually being calculated by each.
average;two;values;t;tea
Average of two values representing speed at t and t+delta
instantaneous;given;time;any
instantaneous speed for any given time
The answer is "Average of two values representing speed at t and t+delta ". The calculation does not provide instantaneous speed.
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. A speedometer is attached to a wheel. The speedometer measures the speed at which the wheel rotates and proportionally provides the speed of the car. What is the speed shown in the speedometer.
average;over
Average speed over time
instantaneous;given;any
instantaneous speed for any given time
The answer is "instantaneous speed for any given time".
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. A speedometer can used to measure the instantaneous speed of the car. ;; The average of speeds at t and t + delta is calculated as 6t plus 3 delta. . ;; Can the instantaneous speed be computed as an algebraic expression from the given function.
no;only;measured
No. Instantaneous speed can only be measured.
yes;s;when;time;interval;zero;0
Yes. Instantaneous speed is when the time interval delta is zero.
The answer is "Yes. Instantaneous speed is when the time interval delta is zero". This is a bug step in understanding. The displacement is continuously changing with time time and at an instance the rate of change is calculated.
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. The instantaneous speed is ;; s of t+delta ; minus; s of t ; by ; delta ; at ; delta = 0. What is the value of this calculation when delta=0 is substituted.
it is indeterminate value 0 by 0
numerator; as;
it is 0 as the numerator is zero
The answer is it will be indeterminate value 0 by 0.
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. The instantaneous speed is ; 0 by 0; indeterminate value. How does one solve a function evaluating to indeterminate value.
use;limit;delta;approaching
Use Limit of the function as delta approaching 0 .
no;method;solve;evaluating;0 by 0
There is no method to solve a function evaluating to 0//0
The answer is "Use Limit of the function as delta approaching 0 ."
A car is moving with displacement given as a function of time. The instantaneous speed is calculated as 0 by 0. Since the speed evaluates to indeterminate value, the limit is used: ;; limit delta tending to 0 ; s of t+delta minus s of t by delta;; equals; limit delta tending to 0; 3 t+delta squared + 2 minus 3t squared minus 2 ; by delta ;; canceling 2 and minus 2; equals; limit delta tending to 0; 3t squared plus 6t delta plus 3 delta squared minus 3t squared ; by delta;; canceling 3t squared and minus 3t squared;; equals; limit delta tending to 0; 6t delta plus 3 delta squared by delta ;; canceling delta from numerator and denominator;; equals ; limit delta tending to 0; 6t + 3 delta;; applying limit. ;; equals 6t;; The speed is computed as an algebraic expression.
Summarizing the learning so far: ;;Two quantities are in a cause-effect relation. ;; The effect is calculated as a function of an algebraic expression in the variable. ;; Cause is derived to be "rate of change of effect with respect to a variable". note: there are other forms of relation between cause-effect; such as multiple, addition, exponent. In this topic, we are concerned with only the rate of change relation. ;; In such a case, the cause is another algebraic expression in the variable. ;; The cause is computed as rate of change : the change in effect for a small change delta tending to 0 in the variable. ; This calculation is named as differentiation or derivative of the function.
Differentiation in the context of cause-effect pair: If effect is given by f of x then the cause is computed as differentiation or derivative of f of x ; denoted as d by d x of f of x or f prime of x. ;; d by d x f of x ; equals ; limit delta tending to 0 ; f of x plus delta minus f of x ; by delta
Cause-effect is explained to understand the physical significance. Abstracting this and understanding the quantities involved in differentiation: A quantity u = f of x is related to another quantity v such that v is the rate of change of u with respect to x, then v = d u by d x = ; limit delta tending to 0 ; f of x plus delta minus f of x ; by delta. Note that d u by d x is another quantity related to the given quantity u.
The derivative of the function y = f of x can be given in different forms: For a small change in variable x, the rate of change in the function f of x is the derivative of the function.
What is rate of change of a function called?
differentiation; derivative
The answer is "differentiation or derivative of the function".
Students can connect the notation d by d x of f of x as ;; the small difference in x is given by denominator d x ;; the effective difference, because of small difference in x, in the function is given by numerator d ;; d by d x denotes the difference in function with respect to a small difference in x
The rate of change of a function with respect to the variable is the derivative of the function.
Derivative or Differentiation of a function is defined.
Finding derivative of y = x squared plus x in first principles is given. What does the above prove.
1
2
The answer is "d by d x of x squared + x = 2 x + 1"
Finding the derivative of y = sine x in first principles is given. What does the above prove.
1
2
The answer is "d by dx of sine x = cos x "

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