Step 1: Find the derivative.
The first step of most derivative application problems will just be “Find the derivative”. That might be a simple derivative or a complicated derivative, but whatever it takes, that is now just Step 1 of your process. Make sure you know how to find your derivatives.
Step 2: Plug the given value into the derivative equation.
Take the value you have been given, usually an x-value, and plug it into your derivative from Step 1.