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AustraliaVIC
VCE 11 Methods 2023

9.02 Differentiation from first principles

Interactive practice questions

Consider the function $f\left(x\right)=x^2$f(x)=x2

a

By filling in the table of values, complete the limiting chord process for $f\left(x\right)=x^2$f(x)=x2 at the point $x=3$x=3.

$a$a $b$b $h=b-a$h=ba

$\frac{f\left(b\right)-f\left(a\right)}{b-a}$f(b)f(a)ba

$3$3 $4$4 $1$1 $\editable{}$
$3$3 $3.5$3.5 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
$3$3 $3.1$3.1 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
$3$3 $3.05$3.05 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
$3$3 $3.01$3.01 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
$3$3 $3.001$3.001 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
$3$3 $3.0001$3.0001 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
b

The limiting chord process has been used to calculate the instantaneous rate of change for each value of $x$x given in the table. Complete the missing values.

$x$x 1 2 3 4 5

Instantaneous rate of change of $f\left(x\right)$f(x) at $x$x.

2 4 $\editable{}$ 8 $\editable{}$
c

We can therefore deduce that the instantaneous rate of change of $f\left(x\right)$f(x) at any point $x$x is:

Easy
6min

Consider the function $f\left(x\right)=2x^2$f(x)=2x2

Easy
9min

Consider the function $f\left(x\right)=3x+2$f(x)=3x+2.

Easy
2min

Consider the function $f\left(x\right)=8-x$f(x)=8x.

Easy
1min
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Outcomes

U2.AoS3.1

informal treatment of the gradient of the tangent to a curve at a point as a limit, and the limit definition of the derivative of a function

U2.AoS3.7

the limit definition of the derivative of a function, the central difference approximation, and the derivative as the rate of change or gradient function of a given function

U2.AoS3.2

the central difference approximation and its graphical interpretation

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