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Differentiation

21 practice questions with full worked solutions. Free, no account needed.

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0005 International

Problem 1 — Derivatives

If f(x)=x3−3x2+2, at how many points is f′(x)=0?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 0
  2. B. 1
  3. C. 2✓ correct
  4. D. 3

f′(x)=3x2−6x=3x(x−2). Roots: x=0 and x=2 — two critical points.

Problem #0111 International

Problem 2 — Differentiation

What is f′(x) if f(x)=x3?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. x2
  2. B. 3x2✓ correct
  3. C. 3x
  4. D. x3ln⁡x

By the power rule, ddx x3=3x2.

Problem #0112 International

Problem 3 — Differentiation

What is f′(x) if f(x)=sin⁡x+cos⁡x?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. sin⁡x−cos⁡x
  2. B. cos⁡x+sin⁡x
  3. C. cos⁡x−sin⁡x✓ correct
  4. D. −cos⁡x−sin⁡x

Differentiating term by term: (sin⁡x)′+(cos⁡x)′=cos⁡x−sin⁡x.

Problem #0010 International

Problem 4 — Chain Rule

If f(x)=(x2+1)3, find f′(1).

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 12
  2. B. 18
  3. C. 24✓ correct
  4. D. 48

f′(x)=3(x2+1)2⋅2x=6x(x2+1)2. At x=1: 6⋅1⋅4=24.

Problem #0876 US AP

Problem 5 — Definition of the Derivative

Using the definition f′(a)=lim⁡h→0f(a+h)−f(a)h, the derivative of f(x)=x2 at x=3 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 3
  2. B. 9
  3. C. 6✓ correct
  4. D. 0

f(3+h)−f(3)h=(3+h)2−9h=9+6h+h2−9h=6h+h2h=6+h.

lim⁡h→0(6+h)=6.

Problem #0879 US AP

Problem 6 — Fermat's Theorem

By Fermat's theorem on interior extrema, if f(x)=x2−6x+5 attains its minimum on R at x=c, then c equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. −3
  2. B. 0
  3. C. 3✓ correct
  4. D. 5

f′(x)=2x−6.

Setting f′(c)=0: 2c−6=0  ⟹  c=3.

Since f′′(x)=2>0, this is indeed a minimum.

Problem #0877 US AP

Problem 7 — Mean Value Theorem

Apply the Mean Value Theorem to f(x)=x2 on [0,4]. The value c∈(0,4) satisfying f′(c)=f(4)−f(0)4−0 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. c=4
  2. B. c=2✓ correct
  3. C. c=1
  4. D. c=0

Average rate: f(4)−f(0)4−0=16−04=4.

f′(x)=2x, so f′(c)=4  ⟹  2c=4  ⟹  c=2.

2∈(0,4) ✓.

Problem #0878 US AP

Problem 8 — Rolle's Theorem

By Rolle's Theorem applied to f(x)=x2−4 on [−2,2], the guaranteed value c∈(−2,2) with f′(c)=0 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. c=1
  2. B. c=0✓ correct
  3. C. c=−1
  4. D. c=2

f is a polynomial (continuous on [−2,2], differentiable on (−2,2)), and f(−2)=0=f(2), so Rolle's hypotheses hold.

f′(x)=2x, so f′(c)=0  ⟹  c=0.

Problem #0115 International

Problem 9 — Differentiation

Compute f′(x) for f(x)=ln⁡(x2+1).

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 1x2+1
  2. B. 2xx2+1✓ correct
  3. C. xx2+1
  4. D. 2x2+1

ddx ln⁡u=u′u. Here u′=2x, so f′(x)=2xx2+1.

Problem #0116 International

Problem 10 — Differentiation

Compute f′(x) for f(x)=(x2+1)5.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 5(x2+1)4
  2. B. 5x(x2+1)4
  3. C. 10x(x2+1)4✓ correct
  4. D. (2x)5

f′(x)=5(x2+1)4⋅2x=10x(x2+1)4.

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