Author Question: How to find the derivative of trig functions? (Read 1414 times)

camila

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 705
How would you find the derivative of sin(x), i know the answer but I don't know how you would derive the answer. I don't want it worked out the whole way but if you could just tell me the steps I need to take that would be great.
And are the other trig functions derived the same way?
Thanks!



TI

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 434
(1) You want to find the limit of the following expression (E) as h -->0:

E = [sin(x + h) - sin(x)]/h

(2) For this, expand sin(x + h) to obtain:

sin(x + h) = sin(x)cos(h) + cos(x)sin(h)

(3) Now, as h -->0, cos(h) -->1 and sin(h) -->h

so... as h --> 0

(4) E --> [sin(x) + h cos(x) - sin(x)]/h = h cos(x)/h = cos(x)

Hence, the derivative of sin(x) = cos(x)

-----------------------------------------
The derivatives of other basic trig functions can be derived

the same way.






Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question

camila

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 705
GOLD :D Thanks so much!!



 

Did you know?

The oldest recorded age was 122. Madame Jeanne Calment was born in France in 1875 and died in 1997. She was a vegetarian and loved olive oil, port wine, and chocolate.

Did you know?

Your skin wrinkles if you stay in the bathtub a long time because the outermost layer of skin (which consists of dead keratin) swells when it absorbs water. It is tightly attached to the skin below it, so it compensates for the increased area by wrinkling. This happens to the hands and feet because they have the thickest layer of dead keratin cells.

Did you know?

Only one in 10 cancer deaths is caused by the primary tumor. The vast majority of cancer mortality is caused by cells breaking away from the main tumor and metastasizing to other parts of the body, such as the brain, bones, or liver.

Did you know?

Bisphosphonates were first developed in the nineteenth century. They were first investigated for use in disorders of bone metabolism in the 1960s. They are now used clinically for the treatment of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, bone metastasis, multiple myeloma, and other conditions that feature bone fragility.

Did you know?

Bacteria have flourished on the earth for over three billion years. They were the first life forms on the planet.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library