Calculus Differentiation Teacher Resources

Sal starts with an example of finding dy/dx of y = x2 and builds to showing the solution to the more complicated implicit differentiation problem of finding the derivative of y in terms of x of y = x ^ x ^ x .

Sal starts with an example of finding dy/dx of y = x2 and builds to showing the solution to the more complicated implicit differentiation problem of finding the derivative of y in terms of x of y = x ^ x ^ x .

By defining the formal definition of a derivative, f�(x), Sal is able to find the general form of the derivate function for the example f(x) = x2. He continues to stress the importance of an intuitive understanding of derivative...

Sal defines the term derivative by taking the listener on a well-organized tour of slope. First, he reviews the concept of slope of a line from algebra, then extends this idea to look at the slope of the curve by first examining a secant...

Sal continues where he left off with the last video, �Derivatives 1,� by looking at the equation y = x2 and examining the slope of the secant line at a specific point, and again defining the limit as _x approaches zero to get the...

Using the binomial theorem and definition of a limit, Sal shows a proof that the derivative of xn equals nxn-1.

Sal shows the complex solution to a challenging derivative problem about �normalines�. This is probably beyond the scope of most first year calculus students but might be an interesting problem to show how complex these problems can...

After defining L'Hopital's rule, Sal shows an example of using the rule to solve for the limit as x approaches 0 of (sin x) / x. He also describes what it means for a fraction to have indeterminate form.

In this video, Sal takes on the challenge of proving both the derivative of ln x = 1/x and of ex = ex, showing that no circular logic is used in the proof.  It contains a clearer version of both proofs shown in the videos titled, _Proof...

Using the definition of a limit, Sal proves the derivative of �x or x1/2 is equal to _ x-1/2.

Using a specific example, Sal shows how to find the equation of a tangent line to a given function at a specific point. Specifically, he solves the problem of finding the tangent line to the function f(x) = xex at x = 1. This problem...

After applying L'Hopital's Rule once and showing that the limit is still indeterminate, Sal applies the rule a second and third time before arriving at a limit that exists. He then shows that given that the final limit exists, so do the...

Sal shows two different ways of finding the limit of a rational expression where the limit of the polynomial is of an indeterminate form involving infinity. First, he shows how to solve this using L�Hopital�s Rule and then by using the...

In this video, Sal starts with an example where the limit is not indeterminate but rather undefined and therefore cannot be solved using L'Hoptial's rule. He shows how you can rewrite the problem algebraically so that the rule can be...

Using the derivative of ln x, the chain rule, and the definition of a limit, Sal shows a proof that derivative of ex = ex. Note: The video titled "Proof of Derivatives of Ln(x) and e^x,Ó has a clearer explanation of this proof.

Using the definition of a limit, various properties of logarithms, and a definition of e, Sal shows the proof of derivative of ln x = 1/x. Note: The video titled "Proof of Derivatives of Ln(x) and e^x,Ó has a clearer explanation of this...

Using the definition of a limit, Sal proves the derivative of �x or x1/2 is equal to _ x-1/2.

Using the binomial theorem and definition of a limit, Sal shows a proof that the derivative of xn equals nxn-1.

In a problem where you are not given the original function, but rather only three known points on the graph and a few additional pieces of information about when the first and second derivatives are positive or negative, Sal shows how...

Using what one learned about finding the minimum and maximum of functions, the optimization problem to find two numbers whose product is -16 and whose sum of squares is a minimum is solved. Sal starts by writing the equations and...

Sal does another optimization example, this time, minimizing the total cost of an open rectangular box. In this problem, the volume can be defined in terms of a single variable and given a cost model, he builds a cost equation. He finds...

Before solving any problems, Sal gives an overview of what happens to the slope, first derivative, and second derivative at local maxima and minima to give the viewer a more intuitive feel for these types of problems.

Sal solves an example for finding the rate of change of the height of water in a cone at a specific point when it is being filled at a given rate. In this video, Sal reviews the volume of a cone and the chain rule and then, uses these to...

In this calculus instructional activity, students solve problems using differentiation and the chain rules. They take the derivatives of equations using specific equations. There are 21 problems with an answer key.