MATHEMATICS D I F F E R E N T I A L C A L C U L U S

MATHEMATICS GRADE 12 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS PART 1


DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS
LIMITS, FIRST PRINCIPALS, RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION
AND THE EQUATION OF A TANGENT TO A FUNCTION




1. LIMITS
 When finding a limit, we look at what happens to a function value of a curve
(y – value) as we get closer and closer to a specific x – value on the curve.
 When writing a limit, we use the notation lim f ( x)
xc

 The abbreviation ‘lim’ tells us we are finding a limit
 The notation ‘ ’ tells us which specific value the x – value is
approaching
 represents the function with which we are working




 Examples:




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, MATHEMATICS GRADE 12 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS PART 1




The DERIVATIVE of a function gives the GRADIENT (or rate of change) of that
function at any point on the curve.




2. FIRST PRINCIPLES & THE RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION




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