Chapter 3: Problem 2
What is the tangent line approximation to \(e^{x}\) near \(x=0 ?\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The tangent line approximation to \( e^{x} \) near \( x=0 \) is \( y = 1 + x \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We are asked to find the tangent line approximation to the function \( e^{x} \) at \( x=0 \). This means we need to find the line that just "touches" the curve of \( e^{x} \) at the point where \( x = 0 \).
02
Recall the Tangent Line Formula
The formula for the tangent line to a function \( f(x) \) at a point \( x=a \) is given by \( y = f(a) + f'(a)(x-a) \).
03
Find the Value of the Function at the Point
First, find the value of the function \( e^{x} \) at \( x = 0 \). Evaluate \( e^{0} = 1 \).
04
Find the Derivative of the Function
The derivative of \( e^{x} \), \( f'(x) \), is \( e^{x} \) itself because the derivative of \( e^{x} \) is \( e^{x} \).
05
Evaluate the Derivative at the Point
Evaluate the derivative at \( x = 0 \). Therefore, \( f'(0) = e^{0} = 1 \).
06
Calculate the Tangent Line Equation
Plug the values into the tangent line formula: \( y = e^{0} + e^{0}(x-0) = 1 + 1 \cdot x = 1 + x \). Thus, the equation of the tangent line is \( y = 1 + x \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Derivative
A derivative is an essential part of calculus, representing the rate at which a function is changing at any given point. You can think of it as the function's slope at that specific point. In mathematical terms, the derivative is defined as:
- If you have a function \( f(x) \), its derivative \( f'(x) \) tells how \( y \) (the output) changes as \( x \) (the input) changes.
- The derivative provides the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function at any point \( x \).
Function Evaluation
Function evaluation involves determining the output of a mathematical function given a certain input. It's like seeing what comes out when you put something into a machine. For instance:
- If you have a machine \( e^x \) and you put in 0, you observe the output.
- At \( x = 0 \), especially for the exponential function, this evaluation gives you \( e^0 \).
Exponential Function
Exponential functions are powerful mathematical tools used to describe situations of rapid increase or decrease. This type of function is written as \( e^x \) where \( e \) is approximately 2.71828, a mathematical constant. This exponent represents continuous growth or decay:
- Commonly seen in real-world scenarios like population growth, radioactive decay, and financial investments.
- In calculus, the characteristic property is its unchanged derivative, i.e., \( \frac{d}{dx}(e^x) = e^x \).
- This unchanged nature simplifies solving differential equations, which describe changes over time.
Tangent Line Formula
The tangent line formula is a significant concept when assessing how a curve behaves at a particular point. It's akin to finding a flat approximation of a curve, right where the curve narrowly passes:
- The equation of the tangent line is derived from \( y = f(a) + f'(a)(x-a) \).
- Here, \( f(a) \) provides the height of the curve, while \( f'(a) \) uses the slope.
- The term \((x-a)\) conveys the x-distance from the point where we're forming the tangent.