• Before introducing a?derivative, an understanding of a?limit?is helpful

What is a limit?

• What might I be asked about limits?

• You may be asked to use your GDC to plot the graph and use values from it to estimate a limit

What is a derivative?

• Calculus?is about?rates?of?change
  • the way a car’s position on a road changes is its speed (velocity)
  • the way the car’s speed changes is its acceleration
• The derivative is also called the?gradient?function

How are limits and derivatives linked?

What is the notation for derivatives?

What might I be asked about derivatives?

• From a?series?of?gradient?values, you may be asked to suggest an?expression?for the?derivative?(gradient function) of a function

What is differentiation?

• Differentiation?is the process of finding an expression of the?derivative?(gradient?function) from the expression of a function

How do I differentiate powers of x?

• How do I differentiate sums and differences of powers of x?

• What might I be asked to do once I’ve found the derivative (gradient function)?

• The?derivative?can be used to find the?gradient?of a?function?at any point
  • The gradient of a function at a point is equal to the?gradient?of the?tangent?to the curve at that point
  • A question may refer to the gradient of the tangent
  • A GDC can be used to help find gradients or verify answers