Calculus 2 : Definition of Derivative

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Derivatives

Use the definition of the derivative to solve for .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find , we need to remember how to find  by using the definition of derivative.

Definition of Derivative:

Now lets apply this to our problem.

 

Now lets expand the numerator and simplify.

 

 

Now factor out an h to get

We can simplify and then evaluate the limit.

 

Example Question #12 : Derivative Review

Using the limit definition of a derivative, find the derivative of the function:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The limit definition of a derivative is as follows:

where h represents a very small change in x.

Now, when we use the above formula for the given function, we get

which simplified becomes

 

 

 

Example Question #13 : Derivative Review

Using the limit definition of a derivative, find the derivative of the following function at :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The limit definition of a derivative is

where h is a very small change in x.

Using the above formula but with the function given, we get

which simplified becomes

Regardless of the x-value of the function, the derivative will always be 1 (the above contains no x). 

Example Question #11 : Derivatives

Using the limit definition of a derivative, find the derivative of the following function:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The limit definition of a derivative is

where h represents a very small change in x.

Now, use the above formula for the function given:

which simplified becomes

Example Question #15 : Derivative Review

Using the limit definition of a derivative, find the derivative for the following function at :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The limit definition of a derivative is

where h represents a very small change in x.

Now, use the above formula for the function given:

which simplified becomes

Now plug in  into the derivative to get .

Example Question #12 : Derivatives

Use the limit definition of a derivative to find the derivative of the following function at :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The limit definition of the derivative of a function is

where h represents a small change in x.

Now, using the given function, evaluate the limit:

which simplified becomes

.

Now, plug in the given x value into the derivative and we get .

Example Question #12 : Derivatives

Find dy/dx by implicit differentiation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find dy/dx we must take the derivative of the given function implicitly. Notice the term  will require the use of the Product Rule, because it is a composition of two separate functions multiplied by each other. Every other term in the given function can be derived in a straight-forward manner, but this term tends to mess with many students. Remember to use the Product Rule:

Product Rule: 

 

Now if we take the derivative of each component of the given problem statement:

Notice that anytime we take the derivative of a term with involved we place a "dx/dx" next to it, but this is equal to "1".

So this now becomes:

Now if we place all the terms with a "dy/dx" onto one side and factor out we can solved for it:

This is one of the answer choices.

 

Example Question #13 : Derivatives

Find dx/dy by implicit differentiation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find dx/dy we must take the derivative of the given function implicitly. Notice the term  will require the use of the Product Rule, because it is a composition of two separate functions multiplied by each other. Every other term in the given function can be derived in a straight-forward manner, but this term tends to mess with many students. Remember to use the Product Rule:

Product Rule: 

 

Now if we take the derivative of each component of the given problem statement:

Notice that anytime we take the derivative of a term with y involved we place a "dy/dy" next to it, but this is equal to "1".

So this now becomes:

Now if we place all the terms with a "dx/dy" onto one side and factor out we can solved for it:

This is one of the answer choices.

Example Question #17 : Derivative Review

Find the first derivative of the given function 

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the first derivative

we must derive both sides of the equation since

From the definition of the derivative of the sine function we have

As such, we have

Example Question #18 : Derivative Review

Find the derivative of the following function using the limit definition:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The limit definition of a derivative is

where h represents a small change in x.

Now, use the above formula for the given function:

which simplified becomes

.

 

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