Author Question: How to find the derivative of trig functions? (Read 1410 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?

Walt Disney helped combat malaria by making an animated film in 1943 called The Winged Scourge. This short film starred the seven dwarfs and taught children that mosquitos transmit malaria, which is a very bad disease. It advocated the killing of mosquitos to stop the disease.

Did you know?

The largest baby ever born weighed more than 23 pounds but died just 11 hours after his birth in 1879. The largest surviving baby was born in October 2009 in Sumatra, Indonesia, and weighed an astounding 19.2 pounds at birth.

Did you know?

Long-term mental and physical effects from substance abuse include: paranoia, psychosis, immune deficiencies, and organ damage.

Did you know?

Asthma cases in Americans are about 75% higher today than they were in 1980.

Did you know?

The training of an anesthesiologist typically requires four years of college, 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship, and 3 years of residency.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library