Chapter 4: Problem 4
Find the derivative at the indicated point from the graph of each function. $$ f(x)=-5 x+1 ; x=0 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The derivative of the function at \( x = 0 \) is \( -5 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Function
The function given is a linear function: \( f(x) = -5x + 1 \). Linear functions have a constant derivative, which is the slope of the line.
02
Identify the Slope
For the function \( f(x) = -5x + 1 \), the coefficient of \( x \), which is \( -5 \), represents the slope of the line. Hence, the derivative of the function is \( f'(x) = -5 \).
03
Evaluate the Derivative at the Point
Since the derivative of the function is constant, \( f'(x) = -5 \) at all points. Thus, at \( x = 0 \), the derivative is \( f'(0) = -5 \).
04
Conclusion
The derivative at the indicated point, \( x = 0 \), is simply the slope of the function, which is \( -5 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Derivative
When dealing with calculus, a core concept is the derivative, which represents how a function changes as its input changes. For any real-valued function \( f(x) \), the derivative \( f'(x) \) symbolizes the function's rate of change or the gradient of the tangent line at any specific point.
- The derivative helps us understand the function's behavior, such as where it is increasing or decreasing.
- If the function is a straight line, as in a linear function, the derivative is constant.
- Derivatives allow us to perform more advanced calculus operations like finding maxima and minima of functions.
Linear Function
A linear function is one of the simplest types of functions in mathematics. It is often written in the form \( f(x) = mx + b \) where:
- \( m \) is the slope of the line.
- \( b \) is the y-intercept, which indicates where the line crosses the y-axis.
- Their graphs are symmetric around a single line.
- Their derivatives are constant, as the rate of change is the same throughout the function.
- They model a direct relationship between the two variables involved.
Slope
The slope of a line is a measure of its steepness and direction. In the context of linear functions, the slope is a crucial component that defines the line's incline:
- It corresponds to the coefficient of \( x \) in the line's equation.
- A positive slope means the line rises, while a negative slope signifies the line descends.
- The greater the absolute value of the slope, the steeper the line.
Function Evaluation
Function evaluation involves substituting a specific input into the function to find the output. This process helps us understand how the function behaves at particular points.
- We plug in a value for \( x \) to find the corresponding \( f(x) \).
- This process is straightforward for linear functions, but it becomes more complex with non-linear counterparts.
- The same concept applies when evaluating the derivative of a function at a certain point.