Homework 3: The Derivative

code for graph paper

Exercise 3.1:

Draw the graph of the function y = [Maple Math] between x = 0 and x = 13. Find the slope [Maple Math] of the chord between the points of the circle lying over (a) x = 12 and x = 13, (b) x = 12 and x = 12.1, (c) x = 12 and x = 12.01, (d) x = 12 and x = 12.001. Now use the geometry of tangent lines on a circle to find (e) the exact value of the derivative f'(12). Your answers to (a)--(d) should be getting closer and closer to your answer to (e).
[Maple Plot]

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Exercise 3.2:

Use geometry to find the derivative f'(x) of the function [Maple Math] in the text for each of the following x: (a) 20, (b) 24, (c) -7, (d) -15. Draw a graph of the upper semicircle, and draw the tangent line at each of these four points.
[Maple Plot]

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Exercise 3.3:

Let y = [Maple Math] , where t is the time in seconds and y is the distance in meters that an object falls on a certain airless planet. Draw a graph of this function between t = 0 and t = 3. Make a table of the average velocity of the falling object between (a) 2 sec and 3 sec, (b) 2 sec and 2.1 sec, (c) 2 sec and 2.01 sec, (d) 2 sec and 2.001 sec. Then use algebra to find a simple formula for the average velocity between time 2 and time [Maple Math] . (If you substitute [Maple Math] , [Maple Math] , [Maple Math] , [Maple Math] in this formula you should again get the answers to parts (a)--(d).) Next, in your formula for average velocity (which should be in simplified form) determine what happens as [Maple Math] approaches zero. This is the instantaneous velocity. Finally, in your graph of [Maple Math] draw the straight line through the point (2,4) whose slope is the instantaneous velocity you just computed.

[Maple Plot]

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Exercise 3.4:

If an object is dropped from an 80-meter high window, its height y above the ground at time t sec is given by the formula y = [Maple Math] . (Here we are neglecting air resistance; the graph of this function was shown at the beginning of the first section.) Find the average velocity of the falling object between (a) 1 sec and 1.1 sec, (b) 1 sec and 1.01 sec, (c) 1 sec and 1.001 sec. Now use algebra to find a simple formula for the average velocity of the falling object between 1 sec and [Maple Math] . Determine what happens to this average velocity as [Maple Math] approaches 0. That is the instantaneous velocity at time t = 1 sec (it'll be negative, because the object is falling).
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Exercise 3.5:

Draw the graph of the function y = [Maple Math] between [Maple Math] and x = 4. Find the slope of the chord between (a) x = 3 and x = 3.1, (b) x = 3 and x = 3.01, (c) x = 3 and x = 3.001. Now use algebra to find a simple formula for the slope of the chord between ( [Maple Math] ) and ( [Maple Math] ). Determine what happens when [Maple Math] approaches 0. In your graph of [Maple Math] , draw the straight line through the point ( [Maple Math] ) whose slope is this limiting value of the difference quotient as [Maple Math] approaches 0.

[Maple Plot]

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Exercise 3.6:

Find an algebraic expression for the difference quotient [Maple Math] when [Maple Math] . Simplify the expression as much as possible. Then determine what happens as [Maple Math] approaches 0. That value is f'(1).

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Exercise 3.7:

Draw the graph of y = [Maple Math] between x = 0 and x = 1.5. Find the slope of the chord between (a) x = 1 and x = 1.1, (b) x = 1 and x = 1.001, (c) x = 1 and x = 1.00001. Then use algebra to find a simple formula for the slope of the chord between 1 and [Maple Math] . (Use the expansion: [Maple Math] ) Determine the limit as [Maple Math] approaches 0, and in your graph of [Maple Math] draw the straight line through the point (1,1) whose slope is equal to the limit you just found.
[Maple Plot]

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