Calculus I — Derivatives - Math
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When
, what is the concavity of the graph of
?
When , what is the concavity of the graph of
?
To find the concavity, we need to look at the first and second derivatives at the given point.
To take the first derivative of this equation, use the power rule. The power rule says that we lower the exponent of each variable by one and multiply that number by the original exponent:

Simplify:

Remember that anything to the zero power is equal to one.


The first derivative tells us if the function is increasing or decreasing. Plug in the given point,
, to see if the result is positive (i.e. increasing) or negative (i.e. decreasing).


Therefore the function is increasing.
To find out if the function is convex, we need to look at the second derivative evaluated at the same point,
, and check if it is positive or negative.
We're going to treat
as
since anything to the zero power is equal to one.

Notice that
since anything times zero is zero.


Plug in our given value:


Since the second derivative is positive, the function is convex.
Therefore, we are looking at a graph that is both increasing and convex at our given point.
To find the concavity, we need to look at the first and second derivatives at the given point.
To take the first derivative of this equation, use the power rule. The power rule says that we lower the exponent of each variable by one and multiply that number by the original exponent:
Simplify:
Remember that anything to the zero power is equal to one.
The first derivative tells us if the function is increasing or decreasing. Plug in the given point, , to see if the result is positive (i.e. increasing) or negative (i.e. decreasing).
Therefore the function is increasing.
To find out if the function is convex, we need to look at the second derivative evaluated at the same point, , and check if it is positive or negative.
We're going to treat as
since anything to the zero power is equal to one.
Notice that since anything times zero is zero.
Plug in our given value:
Since the second derivative is positive, the function is convex.
Therefore, we are looking at a graph that is both increasing and convex at our given point.
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At the point
, is
increasing or decreasing, and is it concave or convex?
At the point , is
increasing or decreasing, and is it concave or convex?
To find out if the function is increasing or decreasing, we need to look at the first derivative.
To find the first derivative, we can use the power rule. We lower the exponent on all the variables by one and multiply by the original variable.



Anything to the zero power is one.


Now we plug in our given value and find out if the result is positive or negative. If it is positive, the function is increasing. If it is negative, the function is decreasing.




Therefore, the function is decreasing.
To find out if it is concave or convex, look at the second derivative. If the result is positive, it is convex. If it is negative, then it is concave.
To find the second derivative, we repeat the process using
as our expression.
We're going to treat
as
.

Notice that
since anything times zero is zero.


As stated before, anything to the zero power is one.

Since we get a positive constant, it doesn't matter where we look on the graph, as our second derivative will always be positive. That means that this graph is going to be convex at our given point.
Therefore, the function is decreasing and convex at our given point.
To find out if the function is increasing or decreasing, we need to look at the first derivative.
To find the first derivative, we can use the power rule. We lower the exponent on all the variables by one and multiply by the original variable.
Anything to the zero power is one.
Now we plug in our given value and find out if the result is positive or negative. If it is positive, the function is increasing. If it is negative, the function is decreasing.
Therefore, the function is decreasing.
To find out if it is concave or convex, look at the second derivative. If the result is positive, it is convex. If it is negative, then it is concave.
To find the second derivative, we repeat the process using as our expression.
We're going to treat as
.
Notice that since anything times zero is zero.
As stated before, anything to the zero power is one.
Since we get a positive constant, it doesn't matter where we look on the graph, as our second derivative will always be positive. That means that this graph is going to be convex at our given point.
Therefore, the function is decreasing and convex at our given point.
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At the point
, is the function
increasing or decreasing, concave or convex?
At the point , is the function
increasing or decreasing, concave or convex?
First, let's find out if the graph is increasing or decreasing. For that, we need the first derivative.
To find the first derivative, we can use the power rule. We lower the exponent on all the variables by one and multiply by the original variable.
We're going to treat
as
since anything to the zero power is one.

Notice that
since anything times zero is zero.


Plug in our given point for
. If the result is positive, the function is increasing. If the result is negative, the function is decreasing.



Our result is negative, therefore the function is decreasing.
To find the concavity, look at the second derivative. If the function is positive at our given point, it is concave. If the function is negative, it is convex.
To find the second derivative we repeat the process, but using
as our expression.



As you can see, our second derivative is a constant. It doesn't matter what point we plug in for
; our output will always be negative. Therefore our graph will always be convex.
Combine our two pieces of information to see that at the given point, the graph is decreasing and convex.
First, let's find out if the graph is increasing or decreasing. For that, we need the first derivative.
To find the first derivative, we can use the power rule. We lower the exponent on all the variables by one and multiply by the original variable.
We're going to treat as
since anything to the zero power is one.
Notice that since anything times zero is zero.
Plug in our given point for . If the result is positive, the function is increasing. If the result is negative, the function is decreasing.
Our result is negative, therefore the function is decreasing.
To find the concavity, look at the second derivative. If the function is positive at our given point, it is concave. If the function is negative, it is convex.
To find the second derivative we repeat the process, but using as our expression.
As you can see, our second derivative is a constant. It doesn't matter what point we plug in for ; our output will always be negative. Therefore our graph will always be convex.
Combine our two pieces of information to see that at the given point, the graph is decreasing and convex.
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At the point where
, is
increasing or decreasing, and is it concave up or down?
At the point where , is
increasing or decreasing, and is it concave up or down?
To find if the equation is increasing or decreasing, we need to look at the first derivative. If our result is positive at
, then the function is increasing. If it is negative, then the function is decreasing.
To find the first derivative for this problem, we can use the power rule. The power rule states that we lower the exponent of each of the variables by one and multiply by that original exponent.


Remember that anything to the zero power is one.


Plug in our given value.




Is it positive? Yes. Then it is increasing.
To find the concavity, we need to look at the second derivative. If it is positive, then the function is concave up. If it is negative, then the function is concave down.
Repeat the process we used for the first derivative, but use
as our expression.
For this problem, we're going to say that
since, as stated before, anything to the zero power is one.

Notice that
as anything times zero is zero.



As you can see, there is no place for a variable here. It doesn't matter what point we look at, the answer will always be positive. Therefore this graph is always concave up.
This means that at our given point, the graph is increasing and concave up.
To find if the equation is increasing or decreasing, we need to look at the first derivative. If our result is positive at , then the function is increasing. If it is negative, then the function is decreasing.
To find the first derivative for this problem, we can use the power rule. The power rule states that we lower the exponent of each of the variables by one and multiply by that original exponent.
Remember that anything to the zero power is one.
Plug in our given value.
Is it positive? Yes. Then it is increasing.
To find the concavity, we need to look at the second derivative. If it is positive, then the function is concave up. If it is negative, then the function is concave down.
Repeat the process we used for the first derivative, but use as our expression.
For this problem, we're going to say that since, as stated before, anything to the zero power is one.
Notice that as anything times zero is zero.
As you can see, there is no place for a variable here. It doesn't matter what point we look at, the answer will always be positive. Therefore this graph is always concave up.
This means that at our given point, the graph is increasing and concave up.
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Let
. What is the largest interval of x for which f(x) is concave upward?
Let . What is the largest interval of x for which f(x) is concave upward?
This question asks us to examine the concavity of the function
. We will need to find the second derivative in order to determine where the function is concave upward and downward. Whenever its second derivative is positive, a function is concave upward.
Let us begin by finding the first derivative of f(x). We will need to use the Product Rule. According to the Product Rule, if
, then
. In this particular problem, let
and
. Applying the Product rule, we get
![f'(x)=\left (\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[x] \right )\cdot e^{x^2}+\left (\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[e^{ x^2}] \right )\cdot x](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/103021/gif.latex)
![f'(x)=1\cdot e^{x^2}+\left (\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[e^{ x^2}] \right )\cdot x](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/110466/gif.latex)
In order to evaluate the derivative of
, we will need to invoke the Chain Rule. According to the Chain Rule, the derivative of a function in the form
is given by
. In finding the derivative of
, we will let
and
.
![\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[e^{x^2}]=e^{x^2}\cdot \frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[x^2]=2x\cdot e^{x^2}](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/103025/gif.latex)
We can now finish finding the derivative of the original function.
![f'(x)=1\cdot e^{x^2}+\left (\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[e^{ x^2}] \right )\cdot x](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/116585/gif.latex)

To summarize, the first derivative of the funciton
is
.
We need the second derivative in order to examine the concavity of f(x), so we will differentiate one more time. Once again, we will have to use the Product Rule in conjunction with the Chain Rule.
![f''(x)=\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[f'(x)]=\left (\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x}[e^{x^2}] \right )\cdot(2x^2+1)+\left (\frac{\mathrm{d} }{\mathrm{d} x} [ 2x^2+1] \right ) \cdot e^{x^2 }](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/116586/gif.latex)


In order to find where f(x) is concave upward, we must find where f''(x) > 0.

In order to solve this inequality, we can divide both sides by
. Notice that
is always positive (because e raised to any power will be positive); this means that when we divide both sides of the inequality by
, we won't have to flip the sign. (If we divide an inequality by a negative quantity, the sign flips.)
Dividing both sides of the inequality by
gives us

When solving inequalities with polynomials, we often need to factor.

Notice now that the expression
will always be positive, because the smallest value it can take on is 3, when x is equal to zero. Thus, we can safely divide both sides of the inequality by
without having to change the direction of the sign. This leaves us with the inequality
, which clearly only holds when
.
Thus, the second derivative of f''(x) will be positive (and f(x) will be concave up) only when
. To represent this using interval notation (as the answer choices specify) we would write this as
.
The answer is
.
This question asks us to examine the concavity of the function . We will need to find the second derivative in order to determine where the function is concave upward and downward. Whenever its second derivative is positive, a function is concave upward.
Let us begin by finding the first derivative of f(x). We will need to use the Product Rule. According to the Product Rule, if , then
. In this particular problem, let
and
. Applying the Product rule, we get
In order to evaluate the derivative of , we will need to invoke the Chain Rule. According to the Chain Rule, the derivative of a function in the form
is given by
. In finding the derivative of
, we will let
and
.
We can now finish finding the derivative of the original function.
To summarize, the first derivative of the funciton is
.
We need the second derivative in order to examine the concavity of f(x), so we will differentiate one more time. Once again, we will have to use the Product Rule in conjunction with the Chain Rule.
In order to find where f(x) is concave upward, we must find where f''(x) > 0.
In order to solve this inequality, we can divide both sides by . Notice that
is always positive (because e raised to any power will be positive); this means that when we divide both sides of the inequality by
, we won't have to flip the sign. (If we divide an inequality by a negative quantity, the sign flips.)
Dividing both sides of the inequality by gives us
When solving inequalities with polynomials, we often need to factor.
Notice now that the expression will always be positive, because the smallest value it can take on is 3, when x is equal to zero. Thus, we can safely divide both sides of the inequality by
without having to change the direction of the sign. This leaves us with the inequality
, which clearly only holds when
.
Thus, the second derivative of f''(x) will be positive (and f(x) will be concave up) only when . To represent this using interval notation (as the answer choices specify) we would write this as
.
The answer is .
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Find the derivative of the following function:

Find the derivative of the following function:
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

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
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Which of the following best represents
?
Which of the following best represents ?
The question is just asking for the Quotient Rule formula.
Recall the Quotient Rule is the bottom function times the derivative of the top minus the top function times the derivative of the bottom all divided by the bottom function squared.
Given,

the bottom function is
and the top function is
. This makes the bottom derivative
and the top derivative
.
Substituting these into the Quotient Rule formula resulting in the following.

The question is just asking for the Quotient Rule formula.
Recall the Quotient Rule is the bottom function times the derivative of the top minus the top function times the derivative of the bottom all divided by the bottom function squared.
Given,
the bottom function is and the top function is
. This makes the bottom derivative
and the top derivative
.
Substituting these into the Quotient Rule formula resulting in the following.
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What is 
What is
The chain rule is "first times the derivative of the second plus second times derivative of the first".
In this case, that means
.
The chain rule is "first times the derivative of the second plus second times derivative of the first".
In this case, that means .
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What is the first derivative of
?
What is the first derivative of ?
Since we're adding terms, we take the derivative of each part separately. For
, we can use the power rule, which states that we multiply the variable by the current exponent and then lower the exponent by one. For sine, we use our trigonometric derivative rules.
Remember,
.


Since we're adding terms, we take the derivative of each part separately. For , we can use the power rule, which states that we multiply the variable by the current exponent and then lower the exponent by one. For sine, we use our trigonometric derivative rules.
Remember, .
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What is the second derivative of
?
What is the second derivative of ?
To find the second derivative, we need to start by finding the first one.
Since we're adding terms, we take the derivative of each part separately. For
, we can use the power rule, which states that we multiply the variable by the current exponent and then lower the exponent by one. For sine, we use our trigonometric derivative rules.
Remember,
.


Now we repeat the process, but using
as our equation.



To find the second derivative, we need to start by finding the first one.
Since we're adding terms, we take the derivative of each part separately. For , we can use the power rule, which states that we multiply the variable by the current exponent and then lower the exponent by one. For sine, we use our trigonometric derivative rules.
Remember, .
Now we repeat the process, but using as our equation.
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An ellipse is represented by the following equation:

What is the slope of the curve at the point (3,2)?
An ellipse is represented by the following equation:
What is the slope of the curve at the point (3,2)?
It would be difficult to differentiate this equation by isolating
. Luckily, we don't have to. Use
to represent the derivative of
with respect to
and follow the chain rule.
(Remember,
is the derivative of
with respect to
, although it usually doesn't get written out because it is equal to 1. We'll write it out this time so you can see how implicit differentiation works.)




Now we need to isolate
by first putting all of these terms on the same side:



This is the equation for the derivative at any point on the curve. By substituting in (3, 2) from the original question, we can find the slope at that particular point:

It would be difficult to differentiate this equation by isolating . Luckily, we don't have to. Use
to represent the derivative of
with respect to
and follow the chain rule.
(Remember, is the derivative of
with respect to
, although it usually doesn't get written out because it is equal to 1. We'll write it out this time so you can see how implicit differentiation works.)
Now we need to isolate by first putting all of these terms on the same side:
This is the equation for the derivative at any point on the curve. By substituting in (3, 2) from the original question, we can find the slope at that particular point:
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If
, what is
?
If , what is
?
For this problem, we can use the power rule. The power rule states that we multiply each variable by its current exponent and then lower that exponent by one.

Simplify.

Anything to the zero power is one, so
.
Therefore,
.
For this problem, we can use the power rule. The power rule states that we multiply each variable by its current exponent and then lower that exponent by one.
Simplify.
Anything to the zero power is one, so .
Therefore, .
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Find the derivative of the following function:

Find the derivative of the following function:
We use the power rule on each term of the function.
The first term

becomes
.
The second term

becomes
.
The final term, 7, is a constant, so its derivative is simply zero.
We use the power rule on each term of the function.
The first term
becomes
.
The second term
becomes
.
The final term, 7, is a constant, so its derivative is simply zero.
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Give the average rate of change of the function
on the interval
.
Give the average rate of change of the function on the interval
.
The average rate of change of
on interval
is

Substitute:

The average rate of change of on interval
is
Substitute:
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What is the derivative of
?
What is the derivative of ?
To get
, we can use the power rule.
Since the exponent of the
is
, as
, we lower the exponent by one and then multiply the coefficient by that original exponent:


Anything to the
power is
.


To get , we can use the power rule.
Since the exponent of the is
, as
, we lower the exponent by one and then multiply the coefficient by that original exponent:
Anything to the power is
.
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What is the derivative of
?
What is the derivative of ?
To solve this problem, we can use the power rule. That means we lower the exponent of the variable by one and multiply the variable by that original exponent.


Remember that anything to the zero power is one.


To solve this problem, we can use the power rule. That means we lower the exponent of the variable by one and multiply the variable by that original exponent.
Remember that anything to the zero power is one.
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What is the derivative of
?
What is the derivative of ?
To solve this problem, we can use the power rule. That means we lower the exponent of the variable by one and multiply the variable by that original exponent.
We're going to treat
as
, as anything to the zero power is one.
That means this problem will look like this:

Notice that
, as anything times zero is zero.


Remember, anything to the zero power is one.


To solve this problem, we can use the power rule. That means we lower the exponent of the variable by one and multiply the variable by that original exponent.
We're going to treat as
, as anything to the zero power is one.
That means this problem will look like this:
Notice that , as anything times zero is zero.
Remember, anything to the zero power is one.
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What is the derivative of
?
What is the derivative of ?
To solve this problem, we can use the power rule. That means we lower the exponent of the variable by one and multiply the variable by that original exponent.
We're going to treat
as
, as anything to the zero power is one.

Notice that
, as anything times zero is zero.



To solve this problem, we can use the power rule. That means we lower the exponent of the variable by one and multiply the variable by that original exponent.
We're going to treat as
, as anything to the zero power is one.
Notice that , as anything times zero is zero.
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To solve this equation, we can use the power rule. To use the power rule, we lower the exponent on the variable and multiply by that exponent.
We're going to treat
as
since anything to the zero power is one.
)
Notice that
since anything times zero is zero.



To solve this equation, we can use the power rule. To use the power rule, we lower the exponent on the variable and multiply by that exponent.
We're going to treat as
since anything to the zero power is one.
Notice that since anything times zero is zero.
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What is the derivative of
?
What is the derivative of ?
To solve this equation, we can use the power rule. To use the power rule, we lower the exponent on the variable and multiply by that exponent.
We're going to treat
as
since anything to the zero power is one.

Notice that
since anything times zero is zero.
That leaves us with
.
Simplify.


As stated earlier, anything to the zero power is one, leaving us with:

To solve this equation, we can use the power rule. To use the power rule, we lower the exponent on the variable and multiply by that exponent.
We're going to treat as
since anything to the zero power is one.
Notice that since anything times zero is zero.
That leaves us with .
Simplify.
As stated earlier, anything to the zero power is one, leaving us with:
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