Definition of the Derivative Part 1

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Taught by TheMathDude
  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
4027 views | 2 ratings
Meets NCTM Standards:
Lesson Description:

Be able to explain the definition of the derivative (THE fundamental notion of Calculus) in terms of a limit of the difference quotient and more importantly the Cartesian plot of secant lines vs tangent line to a function.

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Additional Resources:
Questions answered by this video:
  • What is the formal definition of a derivative?
  • What is the limit notation for a derivative?
  • How do you approximate a derivative?
  • How do you find the average rate of change or slope of the secant line between two points that are very close together on a curve?
  • How do you find the slope of a function at a point?
  • What happens as h gets smaller and smaller as you try to get two points on a secant line as close together as possible to find the slope at a point of a function?
  • Staff Review

    • Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
    This lesson shows the formal definition of a derivative using limit notation and explains the concept of the derivative. You will also see how to approximate the derivative of a function at a point. This lesson is a great introduction to derivatives. There is a glitch at the end of this video, so it continues into the next video.