Calculus 2 : Derivatives

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #121 : Derivative Review

What is the slope of the tangent line to the function

 

when 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The slope of the tangent line to a function at a point is the value of the derivative at that point. To calculate the derivative in this problem, the product rule is necessary. Recall that the product rule states that:

.

In this example, 

Therefore, 

, and

At x = 1, this dervative has the value

.

Example Question #121 : Derivative Review

Find the derivative of the following function at :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derivative of the function is

and was found using the following rules:

where  in the chain rule.

 

Plug in 0 in the derivative function to get 

 

Example Question #122 : Derivative Review

What is the slope of  at ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We define slope as the first derivative of a given function.

Since we have

, we can use the Power Rule

 for all  to determine that 

We also have a point  with a -coordinate , so the slope 

.

Example Question #123 : Derivative Review

What is the slope of  at ?

Possible Answers:

None of the above

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We define slope as the first derivative of a given function.

Since we have

, we can use the Power Rule

 for all  to determine that 

We also have a point  with a -coordinate , so the slope 

.

Example Question #124 : Derivative Review

What is the slope of  at ?

Possible Answers:

None of the above

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We define slope as the first derivative of a given function.

Since we have

, we can use the Power Rule

 for all  to determine that 

We also have a point  with a -coordinate , so the slope 

.

Example Question #21 : Computation Of Derivatives

Find the slope of the tangent line to the function  at .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The slope of the tangent line to a function at a point is the value of the derivative of the function at that point. In this problem,  is a quotient of two functions, , so the quotient rule is needed.

In general, the quotient rule is 

.

To apply the quotient rule in this example, you must also know that  and that .

Therefore, the derivative is 

The last step is to substitute  for  in the derivative, which will tell us the slope of the tangent line to  at .

Example Question #125 : Derivative Review

What is the slope of  at the point ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We define slope as the first derivative of a given function.

Since we have , we can use the Power Rule

for all  to determine that

.

We also have a point  with a -coordinate  , so the slope

.

Example Question #126 : Derivative Review

What is the slope of  at the point ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We define slope as the first derivative of a given function.

Since we have , we can use the Power Rule

 for all  to determine that 

.

We also have a point  with a -coordinate  , so the slope 

.

Example Question #127 : Derivative Review

What is the slope of  at the point ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We define slope as the first derivative of a given function.

Since we have , we can use the Power Rule

 for all  to determine that 

.

We also have a point  with a -coordinate  , so the slope 

.

Example Question #121 : Derivatives

Find the derivative of the following function at :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derivative of the function is

and was found using the following rules:

where , and 

Simply plug in  into the first derivative function and solve:

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