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Taking derivatives | Calculus | Khan Academy

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Taking derivatives
Calculating derivatives. Power rule. Product and quotient rules. Chain Rule. Implicit
differentiation. Derivatives of common functions.

Taking derivatives
Derivative applications
Indefinite and definite integrals

Introduction to differential calculus

Solid of revolution

The topic that is now known as "calculus" was

really called "the calculus of differentials" when
first devised by Newton (and Leibniz) roughly four
hundred years ago. To Newton, differentials were
infinitely small "changes" in numbers that previous
mathematics didn't know what to do with. Think
this has no relevence to you? Well how would you
figure out how fast something is going *right* at
this moment (you'd have to figure out the very,
very small change in distance over an infinitely
small change in time)? This tutorial gives a gentle
introduction to the world of Newton and Leibniz.

Sequences, series and function

approximation
AP Calculus practice questions
Double and triple integrals
Partial derivatives, gradient,
divergence, curl
Line integrals and Green's theorem
Surface integrals and Stokes'
theorem
Divergence theorem

Using secant line slopes to

approximate tangent slope
The idea of slope is fairly straightforward-(change in vertical) over (change in horizontal). But
how do we measure this if the (change in
horizontal) is zero (which would be the case when
finding the slope of the tangent line. In this
tutorial, we'll approximate this by finding the
slopes of secant lines.

Newton, Leibniz, and Usain Bolt

Slope of a line secant to a curve

Slope of a secant line example 1

Slope of a secant line example 2

Slope of a secant line example 3

Approximating instantaneous rate of change word problem

Approximating equation of tangent line word problem

Slope of secant lines

Introduction to derivatives
Discover what magic we can derive when we take
a derivative, which is the slope of the tangent line
at any point on a curve.

Derivative as slope of a tangent line

Tangent slope as limiting value of secant slope example 1

Tangent slope as limiting value of secant slope example 2

Tangent slope as limiting value of secant slope example 3

Tangent slope is limiting value of secant slope

Calculating slope of tangent line using derivative definition

Derivatives 1

The derivative of f(x)=x^2 for any x

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Formal and alternate form of the derivative

Formal and alternate form of the derivative for ln x

Formal and alternate form of the derivative example 1

The formal and alternate form of the derivative

Interpreting slope of a curve exercise

Recognizing slope of curves

Calculus: Derivatives 1

Calculus: Derivatives 2

Visualizing graphs of functions and

their derivatives
You understand that a derivative can be viewed as
the slope of the tangent line at a point or the
instantaneous rate of change of a function with
respect to x. This tutorial will deepen your ability to
visualize and conceptualize derivatives through
videos and exercises. We think you'll find this
tutorial incredibly fun and satisfying (seriously).

Derivative intuition module

Derivative intuition

Graphs of functions and their derivatives example 1

Where a function is not differentiable

Identifying a function's derivative example

Figuring out which function is the derivative

Graphs of functions and their derivatives

Intuitively drawing the derivative of a function

Intuitively drawing the antiderivative of a function

Visualizing derivatives exercise

Visualizing derivatives

Power rule
Calculus is about to seem strangely straight
forward. You've spent some time using the
definition of a derivative to find the slope at a
point. In this tutorial, we'll derive and apply the
derivative for any term in a polynomial. By the end
of this tutorial, you'll have the power to take the
derivative of any polynomial like it's second
nature!

Power rule

Is the power rule reasonable

Derivative properties and polynomial derivatives

Power rule

Proof: d/dx(x^n)

Proof: d/dx(sqrt(x))

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Power rule introduction

Chain rule
You can take the derivatives of f(x) and g(x), but
what about f(g(x)) or g(f(x))? The chain rule gives us
this ability. Because most complex and hairy
functions can be thought of the composition of
several simpler ones (ones that you can find
derivatives of), you'll be able to take the derivative
of almost any function after this tutorial. Just
imagine.

Derivatives of sin x, cos x, tan x, e^x and ln x

Special derivatives

Chain rule introduction

Chain rule definition and example

Chain rule for derivative of 2^x

Derivative of log with arbitrary base

Chain rule example using visual function definitions

Chain rule example using visual information

Chain rule on two functions

Chain rule with triple composition

Derivative of triple composition

Chain rule on three functions

Extreme derivative word problem (advanced)

Product and quotient rules

You can figure out the derivative of f(x). You're
also good for g(x). But what about f(x) times g(x)?
This is what the product rule is all about. This
tutorial is all about the product rule. It also covers
the quotient rule (which really is just a special case
of the product rule).

Derivatives of sin x, cos x, tan x, e^x and ln x

Special derivatives

Applying the product rule for derivatives

Product rule for more than two functions

Product rule

Quotient rule from product rule

Quotient rule for derivative of tan x

Quotient rule

Using the product rule and the chain rule

Product rule

Quotient rule and common derivatives

Equation of a tangent line

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Equation of a tangent line

Implicit differentiation

Implicit differentiation
Like people, mathematical relations are not
always explicit about their intentions. In this
tutorial, we'll be able to take the derivative of one
variable with respect to another even when they
are implicitly defined (like "x^2 + y^2 = 1").

Showing explicit and implicit differentiation give same result

Implicit derivative of (x-y)^2 = x + y - 1

Implicit derivative of y = cos(5x - 3y)

Implicit derivative of (x^2+y^2)^3 = 5x^2y^2

Finding slope of tangent line with implicit differentiation

Implicit derivative of e^(xy^2) = x - y

Derivative of x^(x^x)

Implicit differentiation

Proofs of derivatives of common

functions

Proof: d/dx(ln x) = 1/x

Proof: d/dx(e^x) = e^x

We told you about the derivatives of many

functions, but you might want proof that what we
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Proofs of derivatives of ln(x) and e^x

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