More Lessons: http://www.MathAndScience.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonGibsonMath In this lesson, you will learn how to take a basic derivative in calculus. We learn how to take the derivative of a constant, a polynomial, and the sum and difference of constants and polynomials. We have established that the derivative is the rate of change of the function. It represents the slope of the line tangent to the original function for any given value of x. The formulas and techniques for taking basic derivatives are straightforward and easy to learn and practice.