All Calculus AB Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Use Derivatives Of Trig Functions
True or False: When the derivative of is negative but increasing, then the function is increasing.
False
True
False
Even though we are working with trigonometric functions, the rules of derivatives remain the same. Since the graph of a derivative function is the graph of the rate of change of the original function, then when the graph of the derivative function is negative, the original function is decreasing. Even when the derivative is increasing, if it is negative the original function is still decreasing, just by less of a factor. When the derivative function is at zero, then the original function is constant. When the derivative function is positive, then the original function is increasing.
Example Question #2 : Use Derivatives Of Trig Functions
Find the derivative of .
We need to use the Chain Rule to take both the derivative of the trigonometric function and the quantity within the trig function.
Example Question #61 : Basic Differentiation Rules
What is the derivative of ?
Recall that the derivative of the tangent function is . So we need to take the derivative of the exponent of and we also need the derivative of the actual tangent function.
Example Question #191 : Calculus Ab
Which of the following is the derivative of ?
Recall that the function . Knowing this, we can use the quotient rule to find the derivative.
(Pythagorean Identity)
Example Question #192 : Calculus Ab
Which of the following is the derivative of ?
Recall that
Example Question #62 : Basic Differentiation Rules
Which of the following is the derivative of ?
Recall that
Example Question #191 : Calculus Ab
What is the derivative for ?
Recall that . We are able to use the quotient rule to find the derivative now.
(Pythagorean Identity)
Example Question #193 : Calculus Ab
True or False: We use the Chain Rule to find the derivatives of trigonometric functions.
True
False
True
This is true. The chain rule is what allows us to differentiate composite functions. Composite functions are functions that are within one another. Take for example. in itself is a function, but so is . We can let and . So the composite function would be, .
Now for the Chain Rule we multiply the derivative of the inside function by the coefficient of the outside function while differentiating the outside function as well. will be the composite function . The formula for the Chain Rule is:
.
Going back to our example of , we know that the derivative of is and the derivative of is . So the derivative of our composite function is . Thus, every time we are differentiating trigonometric functions we are utilizing the Chain Rule whether we realize it or not.
Example Question #2 : Use Derivatives Of Trig Functions
What is the derivative of ?
We must take the derivative of both the quantity of the tangent function and tangent itself to solve for this derivative. Recall that the derivative of
Example Question #192 : Calculus Ab
What is the derivative of at ?
This derivative is undefined at this point
This derivative is undefined at this point
We must start this problem by finding the derivative. Recall that the derivative of the cosecant function is
Now we must find the derivative of . So we will plug in for .
And so at the point of the graph of the derivative, the function is undefined.
Certified Tutor