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Constant, sum, and difference rules

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55177912
Suppose \(f'(3)=2\). Define \(h(x)=4f(x)-7\). Find \(h'(3)\).

Hints

- Differentiate the constant multiple without needing a formula for \(f\). - A constant term contributes zero to the derivative. - Use the supplied derivative value only after applying the rule.

Solution

1. By the constant-multiple and constant rules, \(h'(x)=4f'(x)\). 2. Therefore, \(h'(3)=4\cdot2=8\).

Answer

\(h'(3)=8\)
55178012
Suppose \(u'(2)=3\) and \(v'(2)=-5\). If \(h(x)=u(x)+v(x)\), find \(h'(2)\).

Hints

- The derivative of a sum is the sum of the derivatives. - The original function values are not needed for this calculation. - Keep the sign of the second derivative value when combining them.

Solution

1. By the sum rule, \(h'(x)=u'(x)+v'(x)\). 2. Thus, \(h'(2)=3+(-5)=-2\).

Answer

\(h'(2)=-2\)
52226712
A student makes this conjecture: “If \(f(x)=g(x)+h(x)\), then \(f'(x)=g'(x)h'(x)\).” Refute the conjecture by stating the correct derivative rule and using \(g(x)=x^3\) and \(h(x)=x^2\) as a counterexample.

Hints

- What is the derivative rule for a sum? - Differentiate the two functions separately. - Compare the sum of the derivatives with their product. - Evaluate both expressions at a simple input to show they are different.

Solution

1. The correct sum rule is \(f'(x)=g'(x)+h'(x)\). 2. For the example, \(g'(x)=3x^2\) and \(h'(x)=2x\). 3. Therefore, the correct derivative is \(f'(x)=3x^2+2x\). 4. The student's rule would give \(g'(x)h'(x)=(3x^2)(2x)=6x^3\). 5. These expressions are not equal in general. For example, at \(x=1\), they give \(5\) and \(6\), respectively.

Answer

The conjecture is false. The sum rule gives \(f'(x)=g'(x)+h'(x)\). For the example, the correct derivative is \(3x^2+2x\), while the product of the derivatives is \(6x^3\).
52226812
A student says: “To differentiate \(f(x)=5x^4\), I differentiate the constant \(5\) to get \(0\), so \(f'(x)=0(4x^3)=0\).” Explain the error and find the correct derivative.

Hints

- Distinguish multiplication from addition. - What does the constant-multiple rule say? - What happens to a constant coefficient multiplying a power of \(x\)? - Could the graph of \(5x^4\) have slope \(0\) everywhere?

Solution

1. The student is confusing a constant term with a constant factor. The number \(5\) multiplies the variable expression; it is not a separate constant term. 2. By the constant-multiple rule, a constant factor remains: \(\frac{d}{dx}[c\,g(x)]=c\,g'(x)\). 3. Since \(\frac{d}{dx}(x^4)=4x^3\), the derivative is \(f'(x)=5(4x^3)=20x^3\).

Answer

The student incorrectly differentiated a constant factor as though it were a separate constant term. The correct derivative is \(f'(x)=20x^3\).
52896312
The derivative of a constant function \(f(x)=c\) is \(f'(x)=0\). 1) For \(x\neq0\), rewrite \(f(x)=1\) as a power of \(x\). 2) Apply the power rule \(\frac{d}{dx}(x^n)=nx^{n-1}\) to that power. 3) Explain why the result agrees with the constant rule, and state the restriction on \(x\) in this power-rule argument.

Hints

- Recall the meaning of a zero exponent. - What happens when an expression is multiplied by \(0\)? - Is \(x^{-1}\) defined at every real value of \(x\)?

Solution

1. For \(x\neq0\), \(1=x^0\). 2. Applying the power rule with \(n=0\) gives \(\frac{d}{dx}(x^0)=0x^{-1}=0\) for \(x\neq0\). 3. This agrees with the constant rule. The power-rule expression \(x^{-1}\) is undefined at \(x=0\), so this particular argument does not apply there. However, the original constant function is differentiable at \(0\), and its derivative there is also \(0\).

Answer

1) \(f(x)=x^0\) for \(x\neq0\) 2) \(f'(x)=0x^{-1}=0\) for \(x\neq0\) 3) The power-rule argument excludes \(x=0\), but the constant function itself still satisfies \(f'(0)=0\).
52898912
Find \(f'(x)\) for each function. State the domain of each derivative. a) \(f(x)=\frac{6}{x}+4x^5-3\sin x\) b) \(f(x)=10\sqrt{x}-\frac{1}{2}\cos x+12\) c) \(f(x)=k\sin x+\frac{2}{x}\), where \(k\in\mathbb{R}\) is constant.

Hints

- Rewrite reciprocals and square roots as powers. - Differentiate each term separately. - Treat \(k\) as a constant. - Check where the original expressions and their derivatives are defined.

Solution

1. Differentiate each term in part a: \(\frac{d}{dx}(6x^{-1})=-6x^{-2}\), \(\frac{d}{dx}(4x^5)=20x^4\), and \(\frac{d}{dx}(-3\sin x)=-3\cos x\). Thus, \(f'(x)=-\frac{6}{x^2}+20x^4-3\cos x\), for \(x\ne0\). 2. For part b, \(\frac{d}{dx}(10x^{1/2})=5x^{-1/2}=\frac{5}{\sqrt{x}}\), \(\frac{d}{dx}\left(-\frac{1}{2}\cos x\right)=\frac{1}{2}\sin x\), and the derivative of \(12\) is \(0\). Therefore, \(f'(x)=\frac{5}{\sqrt{x}}+\frac{1}{2}\sin x\), for \(x>0\). 3. In part c, treat \(k\) as a constant: \(f'(x)=k\cos x-\frac{2}{x^2}\), for \(x\ne0\).

Answer

a) \(f'(x)=-\frac{6}{x^2}+20x^4-3\cos x\), for \(x\ne0\) b) \(f'(x)=\frac{5}{\sqrt{x}}+\frac{1}{2}\sin x\), for \(x>0\) c) \(f'(x)=k\cos x-\frac{2}{x^2}\), for \(x\ne0\)
52946712
Let \(f(x)=8\sin(x)\). Find \(f'(x)\) in two ways: 1. Use the constant multiple rule. 2. Use the product rule with \(u(x)=8\) and \(v(x)=\sin(x)\). Compare the methods. Why do they give the same result, and why is the constant multiple rule more efficient here?

Hints

- What is the derivative of a constant? - Substitute the two factors into the product rule. - What happens to the first product-rule term when one factor is constant? - Which method requires fewer steps?

Solution

1. By the constant multiple rule, \(f'(x)=8\cos(x)\). 2. Using the product rule, \(u'(x)=0\) and \(v'(x)=\cos(x)\), so \(f'(x)=u'(x)v(x)+u(x)v'(x)\) \(=0\sin(x)+8\cos(x)=8\cos(x)\). 3. The methods agree because the derivative of the constant factor is zero. The constant multiple rule is more efficient because it omits the product-rule term that equals zero.

Answer

1. \(f'(x)=8\cos(x)\) 2. \(f'(x)=8\cos(x)\). The product rule gives the same result because the derivative of \(8\) is \(0\); the constant multiple rule is more efficient because it avoids writing the zero product-rule term.
55178112
Let \(p(x)=ax^3+2x\). Find \(a\) if \(p'(1)=11\).

Hints

- Differentiate each term while treating \(a\) as a constant coefficient. - Use the derivative value at the specified input to create an equation for \(a\). - Solve the resulting linear equation only after differentiation.

Solution

1. Differentiate using the constant-multiple and sum rules: \(p'(x)=3ax^2+2\). 2. Substitute \(x=1\): \(3a+2=11\). 3. Solving gives \(a=3\).

Answer

\(a=3\)
53392012
The graphs of \(f\) and \(g\) satisfy \(g(x)=kf(x)\). 1. Use the function values at \(x=4\) to find the scale factor \(k\). 2. Use the drawn tangent segments to find \(f'(4)\) and \(g'(4)\). 3. Compare the ratio of the slopes with the scale factor \(k\). What derivative rule does this illustrate?
Figure for problem 533920

Hints

- Read both y-values at \(x=4\). - Use rise over run on each dashed tangent segment. - Compare \(\frac{g'(4)}{f'(4)}\) with \(\frac{g(4)}{f(4)}\).

Solution

1. From the graph, \(f(4)=2\) and \(g(4)=4\). Since \(g(4)=kf(4)\), \(4=2k\), so \(k=2\). 2. The tangent to \(f\) rises \(2\) units over a run of \(2\), so \(f'(4)=1\). The tangent to \(g\) rises \(4\) units over a run of \(2\), so \(g'(4)=2\). 3. Therefore, \(g'(4)=2f'(4)=kf'(4)\). This illustrates the constant multiple rule: if \(g(x)=kf(x)\), then \(g'(x)=kf'(x)\).

Answer

1. \(k=2\) 2. \(f'(4)=1\) and \(g'(4)=2\) 3. \(g'(4)=kf'(4)\), illustrating the constant multiple rule.
55178212
The figure shows \(u\), \(v\), and the tangent line \(t\) to \(u\) at \(x=1\). Define \(w(x)=u(x)-v(x)\). Use the graph to find \(w'(1)\).
Figure for problem 551782

Hints

- Read the derivative of \(u\) from its tangent line at the marked input. - Because \(v\) is a line, its derivative is its constant slope. - Apply the difference rule after obtaining the two component slopes.

Solution

1. The tangent line \(t\) to \(u\) passes through grid points \((0.5,0)\) and \((1,1)\), so \(u'(1)=\frac{1-0}{1-0.5}=2\). 2. The graph of \(v\) is a line with slope \(-1\), so \(v'(1)=-1\). 3. By the difference rule, \(w'(1)=u'(1)-v'(1)=2-(-1)=3\).

Answer

\(w'(1)=3\)

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