High School Math : Finding Derivatives

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Calculus I — Derivatives

Find the derivative for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derivative must be computed using the product rule.  Because the derivative of  brings a  down as a coefficient, it can be combined with  to give 

Example Question #72 : Calculus I — Derivatives

Give the instantaneous rate of change of the function  at .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The instantaneous rate of change of  at  is , so we will find  and evaluate it at .

 for any positive , so 

Example Question #73 : Calculus I — Derivatives

What is  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Therefore, 

 for any real , so , and

Example Question #74 : Calculus I — Derivatives

What is  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Therefore, 

 for any positive , so , and

 

 

Example Question #74 : Calculus I — Derivatives

Find the derivative of the following function:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derivative of  is. It is probably best to memorize this fact (the proof follows from the difference quotient definition of a derivative).

Our function 

the factor of 3 does not change when we differentiate, therefore the answer is

Example Question #2 : Specific Derivatives

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derivative of a sine function does not follow the power rule. It is one that should be memorized.

.

Example Question #3 : Specific Derivatives

What is the second derivative of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derivatives of trig functions must be memorized. The first derivative is:

.

To find the second derivative, we take the derivative of our result.

.

Therefore, the second derivative will be .

Example Question #73 : Calculus I — Derivatives

Compute the derivative of the function .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the Chain Rule.

Set  and substitute.

 

 

Example Question #5 : Specific Derivatives

Find the derivative of the following function:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since this function is a polynomial, we take the derivative of each term separately.

From the power rule, the derivative of 

is simply

We can rewrite  as

and using the power rule again, we get a derivative of

 or 

 

So the answer is

Example Question #11 : Specific Derivatives

What is 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The chain rule is "first times the derivative of the second plus second times derivative of the first".

In this case, that means .

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors