Calculus 1 : Differential Functions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 1

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #441 : Functions

What is the slope of the function  at coordinates  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, it's worth introducing the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point.

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

For the function

 and coordinates 

Take the partial derivatives:

:

:

:

The slope at this point is

 

Example Question #442 : Functions

What is the slope of the function  at point  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To consider finding the slope, let's discuss the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

The function we'll evaluate is

  

Take a derivative with respect to each variable and determine the value for the point 

:

:

:

The slope is thus

 

Example Question #441 : Functions

Find the slope of the function  at point 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To consider finding the slope, let's discuss the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point

Knowledge of the following derivative rules will be necessary:

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

To restate the problem, we're looking for the slope of  at point 

:

:

:

Thus the slope is

Example Question #444 : Functions

Find the slope of the function  at point 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To consider finding the slope, let's discuss the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point

Knowledge of the following derivative rule will be necessary:

Trigonometric derivative: 

Note that  and  may represent large functions, and not just individual variables!

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

Take the partial derivative of  at point 

:

:

:

Thus the slope is

Example Question #445 : Functions

Find the slope of the function  at the point 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To consider finding the slope, let's discuss the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point

Knowledge of the following derivative rules will be necessary:

Derivative of an exponential: 

Trigonometric derivative: 

Product rule: 

Note that  and  may represent large functions, and not just individual variables!

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

Take the partial derivatives of  at the point 

:

:

Thus the slope is

Example Question #446 : Functions

What is the slope of the function  at ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To consider finding the slope, let's discuss the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point

Knowledge of the following derivative rules will be necessary:

Derivative of an exponential: 

Product rule: 

Note that  and  may represent large functions, and not just individual variables!

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

Take the partial derivatives of  at :

:

:

Thus the slope is 

 

Example Question #251 : Other Differential Functions

Find the limit of the following funciton.

Possible Answers:

There is no limit.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

After plugging in  for , we end up with .  

This lets us know that there is still something to be done before coming up with the real solution.

 In this case, we can see that   .  Once we get here, we can see that pluggin in  for  will give us our answer, .

Example Question #1472 : Calculus

Derive the following function.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By deriving the trigonometric function  , we are given .  The  is usually ignored unless  is being used to express a different function, where it's own derivative is not .  In the case of , we take the derivative of not only the  function but also the .  We then multiply the two derivatives and end up with our answer, .

Example Question #1473 : Calculus

What is the slope of the function  at the point  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To consider finding the slope, let's discuss the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point

Knowledge of the following derivative rule will be necessary:

Derivative of an exponential: 

Note that u and v may represent large functions, and not just individual variables!

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

Evaluating the derivatives of  at the point 

x:

y:

Thus the slope is 

Example Question #261 : Other Differential Functions

What is the slope of the function  at the point  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To consider finding the slope, let's discuss the topic of the gradient.

For a function , the gradient is the sum of the derivatives with respect to each variable, multiplied by a directional vector:

It is essentially the slope of a multi-dimensional function at any given point

The approach to take with this problem is to simply take the derivatives one at a time. When deriving for one particular variable, treat the other variables as constant.

Taking the partials of  at the point  

x:

y:

Thus the slope is 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors