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Use a derivative calculator with the limit definition.

a) Find the derivative of f(x) = x^2 using the limit definition
b) Determine the derivative of g(x) = sin(x) with the limit approach
c) Find the slope of the tangent line to h(x) = √x at x = 4
d) Calculate the instantaneous rate of change of k(x) = 2x^2 at x = 3

User Konus
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Final answer:

a) The derivative of f(x) = x^2 is f'(x) = 2x. b) The derivative of g(x) = sin(x) is g'(x) = cos(x). c) The slope of the tangent line to h(x) = √x at x = 4 is 1/4. d) The instantaneous rate of change of k(x) = 2x^2 at x = 3 is 12.

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Derivative of f(x) = x^2 using the limit definition:

Using the limit definition of a derivative, we have:

f'(x) = lim(h->0) [(f(x+h) - f(x)) / h]

Substituting f(x) = x^2, we get:

f'(x) = lim(h->0) [((x+h)^2 - x^2) / h]

Simplifying, we have:

f'(x) = lim(h->0) [(2xh + h^2) / h]

= lim(h->0) [2x + h]

= 2x

Therefore, the derivative of f(x) = x^2 is f'(x) = 2x.

b) Derivative of g(x) = sin(x) using the limit definition:

Using the limit definition, we have:

g'(x) = lim(h->0) [(g(x+h) - g(x)) / h]

Substituting g(x) = sin(x), we get:

g'(x) = lim(h->0) [(sin(x+h) - sin(x)) / h]

Using the trigonometric identities, we can simplify further to get:

g'(x) = cos(x)

Therefore, the derivative of g(x) = sin(x) is g'(x) = cos(x).

c) Slope of the tangent line to h(x) = √x at x = 4:

To find the slope of the tangent line, we need to find the derivative of h(x) = √x and evaluate it at x = 4. Using the power rule for derivatives, the derivative of h(x) = √x is:

h'(x) = (1/2) * x^(-1/2)

Evaluating h'(x) at x = 4:

h'(4) = (1/2) * 4^(-1/2)

= (1/2) * (1/√4)

= 1/4

Therefore, the slope of the tangent line to h(x) = √x at x = 4 is 1/4.

d) Instantaneous rate of change of k(x) = 2x^2 at x = 3:

The instantaneous rate of change is the same as the derivative of the function. Taking the derivative of k(x) = 2x^2, we get:

k'(x) = 4x

Evaluating k'(x) at x = 3:

k'(3) = 4 * 3

= 12

Therefore, the instantaneous rate of change of k(x) = 2x^2 at x = 3 is 12.

User Hon
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