91Ó°ÊÓ

In calculus, the derivative of a function represents the rate at which a function is changing at any given point. It's like looking at how steep a curve is at a particular moment. For the function \( f(x) = \sin x - \cos x - ax + b \), we determine its derivative by applying basic differentiation rules. Differentiating sine \( \sin x \) gives us \( \cos x \), and differentiating cosine \( \cos x \) gives us \(-\sin x\). The derivative of a constant \( b \) is zero, and the derivative of \(-ax\) is \(-a\). Thus, the overall derivative of the function, denoted as \( f'(x) \), is \( \cos x + \sin x - a \).
If you think of \( f'(x) \) as describing the slope of the tangent line to the curve at any point \( x \), it helps explain how the function is behaving: whether it's going up, down, or staying flat.

A decreasing function has a derivative that is always negative, signifying that the function's value diminishes as \( x \) increases. For the function \( f(x) = \sin x - \cos x - ax + b \) to be decreasing for all real \( x \), its derivative \( f'(x) = \cos x + \sin x - a \) must be less than zero at every point. Conceptually, this means that the combination of the cosine and sine values needs to be countered by \( a \), maintaining the derivative's negativity.
To achieve this, the largest value that \( \cos x + \sin x \) can take, which is \( \sqrt{2} \), determines \( a \). When combined, these trigonometric functions reach their peak at 45 degrees or \( \pi/4 \) radians, where both \( \cos x \) and \( \sin x \) are \( \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \), summing to \( \sqrt{2} \). Thus, to ensure that \( f'(x) = \cos x + \sin x - a \) is negative for all \( x \), \( a \) must be at least \( \sqrt{2} \).

• The condition is \( a \geq \sqrt{2} \) to guarantee that the function remains consistently decreasing.

Trigonometric functions, such as \( \sin x \) and \( \cos x \), are fundamental in calculus due to their oscillating nature and periodic behavior. They describe the relationships in triangles and model phenomena in waves and circles. These functions are periodic with a period of \( 2\pi \), meaning they repeat their values every \( 2\pi \) units.
In the exercise at hand, the properties of \( \sin x \) and \( \cos x \) are crucial because they combine to influence the derivative of our given function. Together, they fluctuate between values, making the sum \( \cos x + \sin x \) sometimes significant or minor. The maximum value they can achieve together is \( \sqrt{2} \). This maximum arises from both functions peaking simultaneously, a rare but calculable occurrence.

• Understanding the fluctuations of these functions helps us decide the condition for \( a \) in ensuring a decreasing function.