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AP Calculus BC : Derivatives

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus BC

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : The Mean Value Theorem

Let $f(x)=xe^{4x}$ on the interval (0,1) . Find a value for the number(s) that satisfies the mean value theorem for this function and interval.

Possible Answers:

0.45

0.67

0.23

0.92

0.18

Correct answer:

0.67

Explanation:

The mean value theorem states that for a planar arc passing through a starting and endpoint (a,b);a<b , there exists at a minimum one point, , within the interval (a,b) for which a line tangent to the curve at this point is parallel to the secant passing through the starting and end points.

Meanvaluetheorem

In other words, if one were to draw a straight line through these start and end points, one could find a point on the curve where the tangent would have the same slope as this line.

$f'(c)=\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}=\frac{Rise}{Run};a<c<b$

Note that the value of the derivative of a function at a point is the function's slope at that point; i.e. the slope of the tangent at said point.

First, find the two function values of $f(x)=xe^{4x}$ on the interval (0,1)

$f(0)=(0)e^{4(0)}=0$

$f(1)=(1)e^{4(1)}=54.6$

Then take the difference of the two and divide by the interval.

$\frac{54.6-0}{1-0}=54.6$

Now find the derivative of the function; this will be solved for the value(s) found above.

Derivative of an exponential:

d[e^u]=e^udu

Derivative of a natural log:

$d[ln(u)]=\frac{du}{u}$

Product rule: d[uv]=udv+vdu

$f'(x)=e^{4x}+4xe^{4x}$

$e^{4x}+4xe^{4x}=54.6$

Using a calculator, we find the solution x=0.67 , which fits within the interval (0,1) , satisfying the mean value theorem.

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Example Question #1 : Graphs Of F And F'

Assuming f(x) is continuous and differentiable for all values of x, what can be said about its graph at the point x=5 if we know that ?

Possible Answers:

f(x) is concave up when x=5

There is not sufficient information to describe f(x).

f(x) is decreasing when x=5

f(x) is increasing when x=5

Correct answer:

f(x) is increasing when x=5

Explanation:

Assuming f(x) is continuous and differentiable for all values of x, what can be said about its graph at the point x=5 if we know that ?

We are told about a first derivative and asked to consider the original function. Recall that anywhere the first derivative is negative, the original function is decreasing. Anywhere the first derivative is positive, the original function is increasing.

We are told that . In other words, the first derivative is positive.

This means our original function must be increasing.

f(x) is increasing when x=5

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Example Question #21 : Calculus Review

$f (x) = 7x^{2} + 6x - 9$

Give f'(x) .

Possible Answers:

f'(x) = 14x

f'(x) = 14x+12

f'(x) = 14x+6

f'(x) = 7x+6

$f'(x) = 14x^{2}+6x$

Correct answer:

f'(x) = 14x+6

Explanation:

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left (ax^{n} \right )= n\cdot ax^{n-1}$ , and the derivative of a constant is 0, so

$f (x) = 7x^{2} + 6x - 9$

$f ' (x) = 7\cdot 2\cdot x^{2-1} + 6\cdot 1 + 0$

$f ' (x) = 14\cdot x^{1} + 6$

f ' (x) = 14x + 6

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Example Question #371 : Ap Calculus Bc

$f(x)= 8x^{3}-7x^{2}+11$

Give f''(x) .

Possible Answers:

f ''(x) = 48x -14

f ''(x) = 24x - 11

f ''(x) = 24x -14

f ''(x) = 24x

f ''(x) = 48x

Correct answer:

f ''(x) = 48x -14

Explanation:

First, find the derivative f'(x) of $f(x)= 8x^{3}-7x^{2}+11$ .

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left (ax^{n} \right )= n\cdot ax^{n-1}$ , and the derivative of a constant is 0, so

$f(x)= 8x^{3}-7x^{2}+11$

$f'(x)= 3 \cdot 8x^{3-1}-2\cdot 7x^{2-1}+0$

$f'(x)= 24x^{2}-14x^{1}$

$f'(x)= 24x^{2}-14x$

Now, differentiate f'(x) to get f''(x) .

$f''(x)= 2 \cdot 24x^{2-1}-1\cdot 14x^{1-1}$

$f''(x)= 48x^{1}-14x^{0}$

f''(x)= 48x-14

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Example Question #23 : Calculus Review

Differentiate $x^{999}$ .

Possible Answers:

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( x^{999}\right ) = 999x^{998}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( x^{999}\right ) = 1,000x^{1,000}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( x^{999}\right ) = 998x^{1,000}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( x^{999}\right ) = 998x^{998}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( x^{999}\right ) = 998x^{999}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( x^{999}\right ) = 999x^{998}$

Explanation:

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left (x^{n} \right )= n\cdot x^{n-1}$ , so

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( x^{999}\right ) = 999x^{999-1} = 999x^{998}$

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Example Question #1 : Computation Of Derivatives

Give the second derivative of $x^{777}$ .

Possible Answers:

$\frac{\mathrm{d^{2}} }{\mathrm{d} x^{2}} \left ( x^{777}\right ) = 602,952 x^{779}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d^{2}} }{\mathrm{d} x^{2}} \left ( x^{777}\right ) = 603,729 x^{775}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d^{2}} }{\mathrm{d} x^{2}} \left ( x^{777}\right ) = 602,952 x^{775}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d^{2}} }{\mathrm{d} x^{2}} \left ( x^{777}\right ) = 604,506 x^{779}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d^{2}} }{\mathrm{d} x^{2}} \left ( x^{777}\right ) = 603,729 x^{777}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{\mathrm{d^{2}} }{\mathrm{d} x^{2}} \left ( x^{777}\right ) = 602,952 x^{775}$

Explanation:

Find the derivative of $x^{777}$ , then find the derivative of that expression.

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left (ax^{n} \right )= n\cdot ax^{n-1}$ , so

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left (x^{777} \right )= 777\cdot x^{777-1} = 777x^{776}$

$\frac{\mathrm{d^{2}} }{\mathrm{d} x^{2}} \left ( x^{777}\right ) = \frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left ( 777x^{776} \right )= 777\cdot776\cdot x^{776-1} = 602,952x^{775}$

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Example Question #2 : Computation Of Derivatives

$f(x)= 0.8x^{3}-0.5x^{2}+ 0.9$

Give f'(x) .

Possible Answers:

$f'(x) = 2.4x^{2}-x + 0.9$

$f'(x) = 2.4x^{3}-x^{2}$

$f'(x) = 2.4x^{2}-1$

$f'(x) = 2.4x^{2}-x$

$f'(x) = 2.4x^{3}-x^{2}+ 0.9$

Correct answer:

$f'(x) = 2.4x^{2}-x$

Explanation:

$\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left (ax^{n} \right )= n\cdot ax^{n-1}$ , and the derivative of a constant is 0, so

$f(x)= 0.8x^{3}-0.5x^{2}+ 0.9$

$f'(x)= 3\cdot 0.8 x^{3-1}-2\cdot 0.5x^{2-1}+ 0$

$f'(x)= 2.4x^{2}-1x^{1}$

$f'(x) = 2.4x^{2}-x$

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Example Question #24 : Calculus Review

$f(x) =0.9x^{4} + 0.7x^{3}- 0.5 x$

Give f''(x) .

Possible Answers:

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 8.4x - 0.5$

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 8.4x$

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 4.2x$

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 2.1x$

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 4.2x - 0.5$

Correct answer:

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 4.2x$

Explanation:

First, find the derivative f'(x) of $f(x) =0.9x^{4} + 0.7x^{3}- 0.5 x$ .

Recall that $\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} \left (ax^{n} \right )= n\cdot ax^{n-1}$ , and the derivative of a constant is 0.

$f(x) =0.9x^{4} + 0.7x^{3}- 0.5 x$

$f'(x) =4\cdot 0.9x^{4-1} + 3\cdot 0.7x^{3-1}- 1 \cdot 0.5 x ^{1-1}$

$f'(x) =3.6x^{3} + 2.1x^{2}- 0.5 x ^{0}$

$f'(x) =3.6x^{3} + 2.1x^{2}- 0.5$

Now, differentiate f'(x) to get f''(x) .

$f'(x) =3.6x^{3} + 2.1x^{2}- 0.5$

$f''(x) =3 \cdot 3.6x^{3-1} + 2 \cdot 2.1x^{2-1}- 0$

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 4.2x^{1}- 0$

$f''(x) =10.8x^{2} + 4.2x$

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Example Question #3 : Computation Of Derivatives

Find the derivative of the function $y = \int_{0}^{x^2} e^{-t^2}dt$

Possible Answers:

x^2

$2xe^{-x^4}$

$e^{-x^2}$

None of the other answers.

Correct answer:

$2xe^{-x^4}$

Explanation:

We can use the (first part of) the Fundemental Theorem of Calculus to "cancel out" the integral.

$y = \int_{0}^{x^2} e^{-t^2}dt$ . Start

$y' = \frac{d}{dx}\int_{0}^{x^2} e^{-t^2}dt$ . Take the derivative of both sides with respect to .

To "cancel out" the integral and the derivative sign, verify that the lower bound on the integral is a constant (It's in this case), and that the upper limit of the integral is a function of , (it's x^2 in this case).

Afterward, plug x^2 in for , and ultilize the Chain Rule to complete using the Fundemental Theorem of Calculus.

$y' = e^{-(x^2)^2}(x^2)' = 2xe^{-x^4}$ .

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Example Question #4 : Computation Of Derivatives

Find the derivative of: y=cos^-^1(x)+cos(x)

Possible Answers:

$-\frac{1+sin(x)\sqrt{1-x^2}}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}$

$\frac{1-sin(x)}{\sqrt{1+x^2}}$

$\frac{cos(x)\sqrt{1-x^2}-sin(x)}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}$

$-\frac{1+sin(x)\sqrt{1+x^2}}{\sqrt{1+x^2}}$

$\frac{1+cos(x)}{\sqrt{1+x^2}}$

Correct answer:

$-\frac{1+sin(x)\sqrt{1-x^2}}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}$

Explanation:

The derivative of inverse cosine is:

$\frac{d}{dx} cos^-^1(x) = -\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}$

The derivative of cosine is:

$\frac{d}{dx} cos(x)=-sin(x)$

Combine the two terms into one term.

$-\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}-sin(x)$

$-\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}-\frac{sin(x)\sqrt{1-x^2}}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}= -\frac{1+sin(x)\sqrt{1-x^2}}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}$

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AP Calculus BC : Derivatives

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus BC

All AP Calculus BC Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #3 : The Mean Value Theorem

Example Question #1 : Graphs Of F And F'

Example Question #21 : Calculus Review

Example Question #371 : Ap Calculus Bc

Example Question #23 : Calculus Review

Example Question #1 : Computation Of Derivatives

Example Question #2 : Computation Of Derivatives

Example Question #24 : Calculus Review

Example Question #3 : Computation Of Derivatives

Example Question #4 : Computation Of Derivatives

All AP Calculus BC Resources

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