AP Calculus AB : Integrals

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus AB

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Example Questions

Example Question #13 : Numerical Approximations To Definite Integrals

What is the first derivative of the function \large h(x)=x^{\frac{1}{x}}?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, let .

y=x^{\frac{1}{x}}

We will take the natural logarithm of both sides in order to simplify the exponential expression on the right.

\ln y=\ln x^{\frac{1}{x}}

Next, apply the property of logarithms which states that, in general, \log x^a=a\log x, where  is a constant.

\ln y = \frac{1}{x}\ln x

We can differentiate both sides with respect to .

\frac{d}{dx}\[ln y]=\frac{d}{dx}[\frac{1}{x}\ln x]

We will need to apply the Chain Rule on the left side and the Product Rule on the right side.

\frac{d}{dy}[\ln y]\cdot \frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{1}{x}\cdot \frac{d}{dx}[\ln x]+\ln x\cdot \frac{d}{dx}[\frac{1}{x}]

\frac{1}{y}\cdot \frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{1}{x}\cdot \frac{1}{x} + \ln x\cdot \frac{-1}{x^{2}}

Because we are looking for the derivative, we must solve for .

\frac{dy}{dx}=y\cdot \frac{1}{x^{2}}(1-\ln x)

However, we want our answer to be in terms of  only. We now substitute x^{\frac{1}{x}} in place of .

\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{x^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{2}}(1-\ln x)

Since we let , we can replace  with .

The answer is h'(x)=\frac{x^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{2}}(1-\ln x).

Example Question #11 : Numerical Approximations To Definite Integrals

Consider the curve given by the parametric equations below:

What is the equation of the line normal to the curve when ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the equation of the normal line, we will need the slope of the line and a point through which it passes. If we substitute  into our parametric equations, we can easily obtain the point on the curve.

The normal line is perpendicular to the tangent line. Thus, we should first find the slope of the tangent line.

To find the value of the tangent slope when , we will use the following formula:

Because the normal line is perpendicular to the tangent line, the slope of the normal line is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the tangent line. Thus,

slope of normal = .

We now have the point and slope of the normal line, so we can use point-slope form.

The answer is .

 

Example Question #1 : Applications Of Antidifferentiation

Find (dy/dx). 

sin(xy) = x + cos(y)

Possible Answers:

dy/dx = (1 – cos(xy))/(cos(xy) + sin(y))

dy/dx = (cos(xy) + sin(y))/(1 – cos(xy))

None of the above

dy/dx = (1 – ycos(xy))/(xcos(xy) + sin(y))

dy/dx = (xcos(xy) + sin(y))/(1 – ycos(xy)) 

Correct answer:

dy/dx = (1 – ycos(xy))/(xcos(xy) + sin(y))

Explanation:

The first step of the problem is to differentiate with respect to (dy/dx):

cos(xy)[(x)(dy/dx) + y(1)] = 1 – sin(y)(dy/dx)

*Note: When differentiating cos(xy) remember to use the product rule. (xy' + x'y)

Step 2: Clean the differentiated problem up 

cos(xy)(x)(dy/dx) + cos(xy)y = 1 – sin(y)(dy/dx)

cos(xy)(x)(dy/dx) + sin(y)(dy/dx) = 1 – cos(xy)y

Step 3: Solve for (dy/dx)

dy/dx = (1 – ycos(xy))/(xcos(xy) + sin(y))

 

Example Question #1 : Applications Of Antidifferentiation

Find the equation of the normal line at  on the graph y=x^{3}-6x+4.

Possible Answers:

y=\frac{-1}{6}x+\frac{1}{3}

y=\frac{-1}{6}x+2

y'=3x^{2}-6

Correct answer:

y=\frac{-1}{6}x+\frac{1}{3}

Explanation:

The answer is y=\frac{-1}{6}x+\frac{1}{3}.

 

y=x^{3}-6x+4

y'=3x^{2}-6   

Now plug in .

y'=3(2)^{2}-6 = 6  now we know 6 is the slope for the tangent line. However, we aren't looking for the slope of the tangent line. The slope of the normal line is the negative reciprocal of the tangent's slope; meaning the slope of the normal is \frac{-1}{6}. Now find the equation of the normal line.

y-0=\frac{-1}{6}(x-2)

y=\frac{-1}{6}x+\frac{1}{3}

Example Question #1 : Applications Of Antidifferentiation

f(x) = \frac{x^3}{1-x^2}

What is the derivative of

Possible Answers:

-x

\frac{x^2(3-x^2)}{(1-x^2)^2}

\frac{x^2(3-5x^2)}{1-x^2}

\frac{-2x^4-3 x^2(1-x^2)}{(1-x^2)^2}

Correct answer:

\frac{x^2(3-x^2)}{(1-x^2)^2}

Explanation:

Use the quotient rule. 

Example Question #1 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Find  if

 y=\frac{ln(x)}{x^{3}}

Possible Answers:

\frac{3}{x^{3}}

\frac{1}{x^{4}}

y'=\frac{1-3ln(x)}{x^{4}}

\frac{1+3ln(x)}{x^{4}}

\frac{ln(x)-1}{x^{4}}

Correct answer:

y'=\frac{1-3ln(x)}{x^{4}}

Explanation:

The answer is

 y'=\frac{1-3ln(x)}{x^{4}}

 

y=\frac{ln(x)}{x^{3}}

y'=\frac{(\frac{1}{x})x^{3}-ln(x)(3x^{3})}{x^{6}}

y'=\frac{x^{2}(1-3ln(x))}{x^{6}}

y'=\frac{1-3ln(x)}{x^{4}}

Example Question #5 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Find the derivative: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the derivative, multiply the exponent by the coefficent in front of the x term and then decrease the exponent by 1:

 

Example Question #6 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Find the solution to the equation y'=y at x=2 with initial condition y(0)=2.

Possible Answers:

e^2

e

2e

2e^2

1

Correct answer:

2e^2

Explanation:

First, we need to solve the differential equation of y'=y.

, where is a constant

, where is a constant

To find , use the initial condition, , and solve:

Therefore, y=2e^x.

Finally, at , y(2)=2e^2.

Example Question #7 : Solving Separable Differential Equations And Using Them In Modeling

Solve the differential equation: 

Note that  is on the curve. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve differential equations, you must separate the variables first. 

Since point  is on the curve, .

To get rid of the log, raise every term to the power of e:

Example Question #1 : Applications Of Antidifferentiation

Suppose $1000 is invested in an account that pays 4.3% interest compounded continuously. Find an expression for the amount in the account after time .

Possible Answers:

y(t)=1000e^{t}

y(t)=1000e^{0.043t}

y(t)=43e^{1000t}

y(t)=4.3e^{1000t}

y(t)=4.3e^{t}

Correct answer:

y(t)=1000e^{0.043t}

Explanation:

The differential equation is \frac{dy}{dt}=0.043y, with boundary condition y(0)=1000.

 

This is a separable first order differential equation.

\frac{1}{y}dy=0.043dt

Integrate both sides.

ln(y)=0.043t+c

y=Ce^{0.043t}

Plug in the initial condition above to see that .

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