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Derivatives · Derivatives

Differentiation Rules and Derivatives of Common Functions

A batter hits a long fly ball, and the ball leaves the bat at a height of $h(t) = 1 + 20t - 5t^2$ meters, where $t$ is in seconds. At what moment does it stop rising and start falling? To answer, you need the derivative of $h$, and computing it with the limit of the difference quotient every time would be endless. On this page you learn the rules that save you that work. At the end you return to the ball.

Powers, roots, and sums

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Calculate the derivative function of the following functions by applying the differentiation rules for elementary functions (powers and roots): a)…

Calculate the derivative function of the following functions by applying the differentiation rules for elementary functions (powers and roots):

  1. a) $f(x) = x^7 - 5x^3 + \pi$
  1. b) $g(x) = \sqrt{x} + \frac{1}{x^2}$
Solve
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Given the function $f(x) = \frac{x^4}{4} - \sqrt[3]{x}$, calculate its derivative function $f'(x)$ and simplify the result, writing the root back in radical form.

Given the function $f(x) = \frac{x^4}{4} - \sqrt[3]{x}$, calculate its derivative function $f'(x)$ and simplify the result, writing the root back in radical form.

1. Root to Power ⁿ√x = x¹/ⁿ ³√x = x¹/³ 2. Power Rule f(x) = xⁿ f'(x) = n·xⁿ⁻¹
Solve
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A fireworks rocket takes off vertically from a launch pad. The height $h$ in meters with respect to time $t$ in seconds is given by the polynomial function…

A fireworks rocket takes off vertically from a launch pad. The height $h$ in meters with respect to time $t$ in seconds is given by the polynomial function $h(t) = t^3 - 4t^2 + 5t + 2$. Calculate the derivative function $h'(t)$, which represents the instantaneous velocity of the rocket at any instant $t$.

t(s) h(m) t h(t) h(t) = t³ - 4t² + 5t + 2 v(t) = h'(t) = ?
Solve

Exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions

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Find the derivative function of the following transcendental functions using standard derivative tables: a) $f(x) = 4 \times \ln(x) + \log_{2}(x)$ b)…

Find the derivative function of the following transcendental functions using standard derivative tables:

  1. a) $f(x) = 4 \times \ln(x) + \log_{2}(x)$
  1. b) $g(x) = 3^x - 5 \times \sin(x)$
Solve
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A social media account has analysed its growth and determined that the number of followers $S$ evolves according to the exponential function…

A social media account has analysed its growth and determined that the number of followers $S$ evolves according to the exponential function $S(t) = 150 \times e^{0.4t}$, where $t$ is the elapsed time in months since its creation. Determine the derivative function $S'(t)$ to find the rate of follower growth.

Solve
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A spring oscillates following simple harmonic motion described by the function $y(x) = 5 \times \cos(x) + 2$, where $y$ is the position in centimeters and $x$ is time.…

A spring oscillates following simple harmonic motion described by the function $y(x) = 5 \times \cos(x) + 2$, where $y$ is the position in centimeters and $x$ is time. Obtain the expression for the derivative function $y'(x)$, which represents the oscillation velocity of the spring.

Solve

The chain rule

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Calculate the derivative of the following simple composite functions by applying the chain rule directly: a) $f(x) = (2x + 3)^5$ b) $g(x) = e^{x^2 - 1}$

Calculate the derivative of the following simple composite functions by applying the chain rule directly:

  1. a) $f(x) = (2x + 3)^5$
  1. b) $g(x) = e^{x^2 - 1}$
Solve
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Calculate the derivative function of the following composite function, applying the chain rule and simplifying the result as much as possible: $f(x) = \cos^3(e^{x^2+1})$

Calculate the derivative function of the following composite function, applying the chain rule and simplifying the result as much as possible:

$f(x) = \cos^3(e^{x^2+1})$

Solve

Product and quotient

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Given the rational function involving natural logarithms: $g(x) = \frac{\ln(x^2 + 4)}{x}$ Find the expression of its derivative $g'(x)$ and determine the values of $x$…

Given the rational function involving natural logarithms:

$g(x) = \frac{\ln(x^2 + 4)}{x}$

Find the expression of its derivative $g'(x)$ and determine the values of $x$ for which the gradient of the tangent line to the graph of $g(x)$ is equal to zero.

Solve
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A surveillance drone follows a trajectory whose height in meters is given by the function $h(t) = 15t \times e^{-0.2t}$, where $t$ is the time in seconds since takeoff.…

A surveillance drone follows a trajectory whose height in meters is given by the function $h(t) = 15t \times e^{-0.2t}$, where $t$ is the time in seconds since takeoff.

  1. a) Calculate the function representing the vertical velocity of the drone, $v(t) = h'(t)$.
  2. b) What is the vertical velocity of the drone at the instant $t = 5$ seconds?
5 10 15 20 t (s) 10 20 30 h(t) (m) h(t) = 15t·e⁻⁰·²ᵗ t = 5 v(5) = h'(5) Slope = 0
Solve

Arctangent, tangent, and normal

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Given the quadratic function $f(x) = x^2 - 6x + 5$, find: a) The derivative function $f'(x)$. b) The value of the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function…

Given the quadratic function $f(x) = x^2 - 6x + 5$, find:

  1. a) The derivative function $f'(x)$.
  1. b) The value of the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function at the point $P$ with abscissa $x = 4$ (marked in the figure).
Parabola y = f(x) with its point P of abscissa x = 4 marked on the graphPy = f(x)xy04155
Solve
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Calculate the equation of the tangent line to the curve $f(x) = \arctan\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$ at the point with abscissa $x = 2$. The figure shows the graph of $f$,…

Calculate the equation of the tangent line to the curve $f(x) = \arctan\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$ at the point with abscissa $x = 2$.

The figure shows the graph of $f$, its horizontal asymptotes and the point $P$ of the curve whose abscissa is $x = 2$.

Graph of f(x) = arctan(x/2) with its horizontal asymptotes and the point P of the curve with abscissa x = 2 y = π/2 y = −π/2 O x y f(x) = arctan(x/2) P 2
Solve
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Calculate the derivative of the function $f(x) = \arctan\left(\frac{x-1}{x+1}\right)$ and simplify the resulting expression. Which simpler function does this derivative…

Calculate the derivative of the function $f(x) = \arctan\left(\frac{x-1}{x+1}\right)$ and simplify the resulting expression. Which simpler function does this derivative correspond to?

Solve

Simplifying before and after differentiating

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Calculate the derivative of the following function, simplifying the final result as much as possible using trigonometric identities:…

Calculate the derivative of the following function, simplifying the final result as much as possible using trigonometric identities:

$f(x) = \ln\left( \sqrt{\frac{1 + \sin x}{1 - \sin x}} \right)$

Solve
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Calculate the derivative of the following composite function and simplify the result as much as possible using trigonometric identities: $$g(x) = \ln \left(…

Calculate the derivative of the following composite function and simplify the result as much as possible using trigonometric identities:

$$g(x) = \ln \left( \sqrt{\frac{1 + \sin x}{1 - \sin x}} \right)$$

What curiosity do you observe in the final simplified result?

Solve

Logarithmic differentiation: variable base and exponent

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Use logarithmic differentiation to find the derivative of the following power-exponential function: $f(x) = (x^2 + 1)^{\sin(x)}$

Use logarithmic differentiation to find the derivative of the following power-exponential function:

$f(x) = (x^2 + 1)^{\sin(x)}$

Solve
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Using logarithmic differentiation, find the derivative of the function $f(x) = x^{\sqrt{x}}$ for $x > 0$.

Using logarithmic differentiation, find the derivative of the function $f(x) = x^{\sqrt{x}}$ for $x > 0$.

Solve
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Given the transcendental function defined by $f(x) = (\arctan x)^x$ for $x > 0$, use the technique of logarithmic differentiation to calculate its derivative function…

Given the transcendental function defined by $f(x) = (\arctan x)^x$ for $x > 0$, use the technique of logarithmic differentiation to calculate its derivative function $f'(x)$. Once obtained, calculate the exact value of the gradient of the tangent line to the graph of $f$ at the point with x-coordinate $x = 1$.

Solve

Long products and quotients with logarithms

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To properly size a steel beam subjected to asymmetric torsion, an engineer needs to optimise a stress function given by…

To properly size a steel beam subjected to asymmetric torsion, an engineer needs to optimise a stress function given by $E(x) = \frac{\sqrt{x^2 - 1} \times e^{3x}}{(2x + 1)^4}$ for $x > 1$. Apply logarithmic differentiation to obtain the simplified expression of the derivative $E'(x)$.

Solve

Implicit differentiation

Circle of radius 5 with the point (3, 4) and its tangent line with slope negative three-fourths. (3, 4) x² + y² = 25
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Consider the curve implicitly defined by the equation: $$x^2 \times y + y^3 = 10$$ a) Find the expression for the derivative $y'$ in terms of $x$ and $y$ using implicit…

Consider the curve implicitly defined by the equation:

$$x^2 \times y + y^3 = 10$$
  1. a) Find the expression for the derivative $y'$ in terms of $x$ and $y$ using implicit differentiation.
  2. b) Find the equation of the normal line to the curve at the point $P(3, 1)$.
Solve

Derivative of the inverse function

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Sea la función $f(x) = x^3 + 2x + \cos(x - 1)$. a) Demuestra que $f(x)$ es biyectiva en todo $\mathbb{R}$ (puedes apoyarte en el estudio de su crecimiento). b) Sabiendo…

Sea la función $f(x) = x^3 + 2x + \cos(x - 1)$.

  1. a) Demuestra que $f(x)$ es biyectiva en todo $\mathbb{R}$ (puedes apoyarte en el estudio de su crecimiento).
  1. b) Sabiendo que $f(1) = 4$, calcula el valor de la derivada de la función inversa en ese punto, es decir, $(f^{-1})'(4)$.
Gráficas de f y de su función inversa, simétricas respecto de la recta y = x, con los puntos (1, 4) y (4, 1)xy1441y = xf(x)f⁻¹(x)(1, 4)(4, 1)
Solve

Successive derivatives

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Given the function $f(x) = \ln(\cos(x))$, find: a) The first derivative $f'(x)$. b) The second derivative $f''(x)$, simplifying the result using standard trigonometric…

Given the function $f(x) = \ln(\cos(x))$, find:

  1. a) The first derivative $f'(x)$.
  2. b) The second derivative $f''(x)$, simplifying the result using standard trigonometric functions.
Solve
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A harmonic oscillator in a mechanical system has a position given by $x(t) = e^{-2t} \cos(3t)$. Calculate the velocity $v(t) = x'(t)$ and acceleration $a(t) = x''(t)$,…

A harmonic oscillator in a mechanical system has a position given by $x(t) = e^{-2t} \cos(3t)$. Calculate the velocity $v(t) = x'(t)$ and acceleration $a(t) = x''(t)$, and check whether it satisfies the differential equation $x''(t) + 4x'(t) + 13x(t) = 0$.

t x(t) x(t) = e⁻²ᵗ·cos(3t)
Solve
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Find the general expression of the nth derivative ($f^{(n)}(x)$) for the rational function: $$f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2 - 3x + 2}$$ Hint: Decompose the function into partial…

Find the general expression of the nth derivative ($f^{(n)}(x)$) for the rational function:

$$f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2 - 3x + 2}$$

Hint: Decompose the function into partial fractions before beginning successive differentiation.

Solve

Parameters and piecewise functions

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Find the values of the parameters $a, b \in \mathbb{R}$ so that the function $f(x) = a \times \sin(x) + b \times e^{-x}$ satisfies the following conditions…

Find the values of the parameters $a, b \in \mathbb{R}$ so that the function $f(x) = a \times \sin(x) + b \times e^{-x}$ satisfies the following conditions simultaneously:

  • It passes through the point $(0, 3)$.

  • Its derivative at the origin is $f'(0) = 2$.

Solve
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Determine the values of the real parameters $a$ and $b$ so that the following piecewise function is differentiable on its entire domain: $$f(x) = \begin{cases} a \times…

Determine the values of the real parameters $a$ and $b$ so that the following piecewise function is differentiable on its entire domain:

$$f(x) = \begin{cases} a \times e^{x^2-1} + b & \text{if } x \leq 1 \\ \ln(x) + x^2 & \text{if } x > 1 \end{cases}$$

Explain, with reasoning, the relationship between continuity and differentiability at the breakpoint $x = 1$.

Solve

Applications: minimum distance and rates of change

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A surveillance drone moves following the trajectory given by the function $f(x) = \sqrt{x^2 + 1}$. An operator located at point $A(2, 0)$ watches the drone. Calculate…

A surveillance drone moves following the trajectory given by the function $f(x) = \sqrt{x^2 + 1}$. An operator located at point $A(2, 0)$ watches the drone.

Calculate the point on the trajectory where the drone is at the minimum distance from the operator.

Note: To minimize the distance $d$, it is sufficient to minimize the square of the distance $d^2$. You will need to differentiate the resulting distance function.

Solve
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In a biotechnology laboratory, the volume of a bacterial population (in $mm^3$) grows according to the function $V(t) = 20 \times e^{0.5t}$, where $t$ is time in hours.…

In a biotechnology laboratory, the volume of a bacterial population (in $mm^3$) grows according to the function $V(t) = 20 \times e^{0.5t}$, where $t$ is time in hours. At the same time, the radius of the circular culture dish where the bacteria grow expands such that the area occupied by the population is $A(t) = \pi \times [r(t)]^2$.

Assuming that the thickness of the bacterial layer is constant and equal to $0.1 mm$ (so that $V = A \times h$), calculate the instantaneous rate of change of the radius of the population at time $t = 2$ hours.

V(t) = 20·e⁰·⁵ᵗ A(t) = π·r(t)² r'(2) = ? h = 0.1 r(t)
Solve

Summary

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