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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)=x33x2+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)=3x26x=3x(x2). 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. x3lnx

By the power rule, ddxx3=3x2.

Problem #0112 International

Problem 3 Differentiation

What is f(x) if f(x)=sinx+cosx?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. sinxcosx
  2. B. cosx+sinx
  3. C. cosxsinx✓ correct
  4. D. cosxsinx

Differentiating term by term: (sinx)+(cosx)=cosxsinx.

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)22x=6x(x2+1)2. At x=1: 614=24.

Problem #0876 US AP

Problem 5 Definition of the Derivative

Using the definition f(a)=limh0f(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)29h=9+6h+h29h=6h+h2h=6+h.

limh0(6+h)=6.

Problem #0879 US AP

Problem 6 Fermat's Theorem

By Fermat's theorem on interior extrema, if f(x)=x26x+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)=2x6.

Setting f(c)=0: 2c6=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)40 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)40=1604=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)=x24 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

ddxlnu=uu. 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)42x=10x(x2+1)4.

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