Derivatives Part 1

Sick of ads?​ Sign up for MathVids Premium
Taught by MrRutter
  • Currently 3.0/5 Stars.
5638 views | 2 ratings
Part of video series
Meets NCTM Standards:
Lesson Summary:

This lesson on derivatives provides an introduction to the concept and definition of a derivative. The lesson begins with an explanation of the tangent line to a curve and how to approximate its slope using two points. As the points get closer and closer together, the approximation gets better and better, allowing for a more accurate representation of the tangent line. The lesson then moves on to using the idea of a limit to calculate the slope of the tangent line, ultimately leading to the definition of a derivative as the slope of the tangent line.

Lesson Description:

An introduction to the concept and definition of a derivative.

Questions answered by this video:
  • What is a derivative?
  • What is the formal definition of a derivative?
  • How do you estimate the slope of the tangent line to a curve at a point?
  • What does delta mean in Calculus?
  • What is delta x?
  • What does it mean to find a derivative?
  • Staff Review

    • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
    This lesson is a very basic and simple explanation of what a derivative is, explained using the slope of the tangent line to a curve at a point.