Calculus 1 : How to find differential functions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #361 : How To Find Differential Functions

Find the derivative. 

\(\displaystyle 3x^3+2x^2+x+1\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x^2+x+1\)

\(\displaystyle 3x^2+4x+1\)

\(\displaystyle 9x^2+4x+1\)

\(\displaystyle 0\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 9x^2+4x+1\)

Explanation:

Use the power rule to find the derivative.

Remember the power rule is:

\(\displaystyle (x^n)'=nx^{n-1}\)

Now lets apply this to our problem.

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}3x^3=9x^2\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}2x^2=4x\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}x=1\)

Recall that the derivative of a constant is zero.

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}1=0\)

Thus, the derivative is \(\displaystyle 9x^2+4x+1\)

Example Question #541 : Functions

Find the derivative at \(\displaystyle x=5\).

\(\displaystyle x^4\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 500\)

\(\displaystyle 550\)

\(\displaystyle 505\)

\(\displaystyle 555\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 500\)

Explanation:

Find the derivative using the power rule. 

Remember the power rule is:

\(\displaystyle (x^n)'=nx^{n-1}\)

Now lets apply this to our problem.

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}x^4=4x^3\)

Now, substitute \(\displaystyle 5\) for \(\displaystyle x\).

\(\displaystyle 4(5)^3=500\)

Example Question #542 : Functions

Find the derivative at \(\displaystyle x=2\).

\(\displaystyle 3x^2+7x-7\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 21\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

Explanation:

First, find the derivative using the power rule. 

Remember the power rule is:

\(\displaystyle (x^n)'=nx^{n-1}\)

Now lets apply this to our problem.

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}3x^2=6x\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}7x=7\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}-7=0\)

Thus, the derivative is \(\displaystyle 6x+7\). Now, substitute \(\displaystyle 2\) for \(\displaystyle x\).

\(\displaystyle 6(2)+7=19\)

Example Question #551 : Functions

Find the derivative.

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{x^2}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{8}{x^3}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{4}{x^3}\)

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

\(\displaystyle -\frac{8}{x^4}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{8}{x^3}\)

Explanation:

Use the quotient rule to find the derivative.

Remember the quotient rule is:

\(\displaystyle (\frac{f(x)}{g(x)})'=\frac{g(x)f'(x)-g'(x)f(x)}{(g(x))^2}\)

Now lets apply this to our problem.

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^2(0)-4(2x)}{x^4}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{8x}{x^4}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{8}{x^3}\) is the derivative.

Example Question #552 : Functions

Find the derivative at \(\displaystyle x=6\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^5}{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1214\)

\(\displaystyle 2160\)

\(\displaystyle 1056\)

\(\displaystyle 2048\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2160\)

Explanation:

First, find the derivative using the quotient rule. 

Remember the quotient rule is:

\(\displaystyle (\frac{f(x)}{g(x)})'=\frac{g(x)f'(x)-g'(x)f(x)}{(g(x))^2}\)

Now lets apply this to our problem.

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\frac{x^5}{3}=\frac{3(5x^4)-x^5(0)}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle =\frac{15x^4}{9}=\frac{5x^4}{3}\)

Now, substitute \(\displaystyle 6\) for \(\displaystyle x\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{5(6^4)}{3}=2160\)

Example Question #361 : How To Find Differential Functions

Find the derivative at \(\displaystyle x=4\).

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

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -24\)

\(\displaystyle -12\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -24\)

Explanation:

First, find the derivative using the quotient rule. 

Remember the quotient rule is:

\(\displaystyle (\frac{f(x)}{g(x)})'=\frac{g(x)f'(x)-g'(x)f(x)}{(g(x))^2}\)

Now lets apply this to our problem.

\(\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\frac{-x^3}{2}=\frac{2(-3x^2)-(-x^3)0}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle =\frac{-6x^2}{4}=\frac{-3x^2}{2}\)

Now, substitute \(\displaystyle 4\) for \(\displaystyle x\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{-3(4^2)}{2}=\frac{-48}{2}=-24\)

Example Question #361 : How To Find Differential Functions

Find the derivative.

\(\displaystyle x\cos (x)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -x\sin (x)+\cos (x)\)

\(\displaystyle -x\cos (x)+\sin (x)\)

\(\displaystyle x\sin (x)+\cos (x)\)

\(\displaystyle -x\sin (x)-\cos (x)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -x\sin (x)+\cos (x)\)

Explanation:

Find the derivative using the product rule. 

Remember the product rule is:

\(\displaystyle (f(x)g(x))'=f'(x)g(x)+f(x)g'(x)\)

Now lets apply this to our problem.

\(\displaystyle -x\sin (x)+\cos (x)\)

Example Question #555 : Differential Functions

Find the point of inflection for the function 

\(\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{x^3}{6\pi}-9cos\left(\frac{1}{3}x\right)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (-1.14,-8.44)\)

\(\displaystyle (3.42,-1.64)\)

\(\displaystyle (1.14,-8.28)\)

\(\displaystyle (2.28,5.89)\)

\(\displaystyle (-2.28,-7.15)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle (-2.28,-7.15)\)

Explanation:

The points of inflection of a function occur where the second derivative of the funtion is equal to zero.

Find this second derivative by taking the derivative of the function twice.

Note that

\(\displaystyle d[sin(u)]=cos(u)du\)

\(\displaystyle d[cos(u)]=-sin(u)du\)

 \(\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{x^3}{6\pi}-9cos(\frac{1}{3}x)\)

\(\displaystyle f'(x)=\frac{x^2}{2\pi}+3sin(\frac{1}{3}x)\)

\(\displaystyle f''(x)=\frac{x}{\pi}+cos(\frac{1}{3}x)\)

Set the second derivative to zero and find the values that satisfy the equation.

\(\displaystyle \frac{x}{\pi}+cos(\frac{1}{3}x)=0\)

\(\displaystyle x=-2.28\)

To verify this is a point of inflection, notice how \(\displaystyle f''(x)=\frac{x}{\pi}+cos(\frac{1}{3}x)\) crosses the x-axis at this point, indicating a change in signs:

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Now, plug this value back in to the original function to find the value of the function that matches:

\(\displaystyle f(-2.28)=\frac{(-2.28)^3}{6\pi}-9cos(\frac{1}{3}(-2.28))=-7.15\)

The point of inflection is \(\displaystyle (-2.28,-7.15)\)

Example Question #364 : How To Find Differential Functions

Determine the slope of the line normal to the function \(\displaystyle f(x)=3x^2(x+2)^2\) at \(\displaystyle x=3\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -720\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{720}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{720}\)

\(\displaystyle 720\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{45}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{720}\)

Explanation:

A line that is normal, that is to say perpendicular to a function at any given point will be normal to this slope of the line tangent to the function at that point.

The slope of the tangent can be found by taking the derivative of the function and evaluating the value of the derivative at a point of interest.

To take this derivative, we'll make use of the Product rule: \(\displaystyle d[uv]=udv+vdu\)

Taking the derivative the function \(\displaystyle f(x)=3x^2(x+2)^2\) at \(\displaystyle x=3\)

The slope of the tangent is

 \(\displaystyle f'(x)=6x(x+2)^2+6x^2(x+2)\)

\(\displaystyle f'(3)=6(3)(3+2)^2+6(3)^2(3+2)=720\)

Since the slope of the normal line is perpendicular, it is the negative reciprocal of this value

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{720}\)

Example Question #554 : Functions

Determine the slope of the line normal to the function \(\displaystyle f(x)=2^{x^3}3^{x^2}\) at the point \(\displaystyle x=1\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -0.04\)

\(\displaystyle -25.7\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle -0.17\)

\(\displaystyle 25.7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.04\)

Explanation:

A line that is normal, that is to say perpendicular to a function at any given point will be normal to this slope of the line tangent to the function at that point.

The slope of the tangent can be found by taking the derivative of the function and evaluating the value of the derivative at a point of interest.

We'll need to make use of the following derivative rule(s):

Derivative of an exponential: 

\(\displaystyle d[a^u]=a^uduln(a)\)

Product rule: \(\displaystyle d[uv]=udv+vdu\)

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

Taking the derivative of the function  \(\displaystyle f(x)=2^{x^3}3^{x^2}\) at the point \(\displaystyle x=1\)

The slope of the tangent is

 \(\displaystyle f'(x)=3x^2(2^{x^3})(3^{x^2})ln(2)+2x(2^{x^3})(3^{x^2})ln(3)\)

\(\displaystyle f'(1)=3(1)^2(2^{1^3})(3^{1^2})ln(2)+2(1)(2^{1^3})(3^{1^2})ln(3)\)

\(\displaystyle f'(1)=25.7\)

Since the slope of the normal line is perpendicular, it is the negative reciprocal of this value, thus the answer is

\(\displaystyle -0.04\).

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