/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 31 If \(f(x)=1 / x^{5}\), compute \... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

If \(f(x)=1 / x^{5}\), compute \(f(-2)\) and \(f^{\prime}(-2)\).

Short Answer

Expert verified
The value of \(f(-2) = -\frac{1}{32}\) and the value of \(f'(-2) = -\frac{5}{64}\).

Step by step solution

01

- Evaluate the Function at Given Point

To find the value of the function at a specific point, substitute the given value into the function. Compute \(f(-2)\) by substituting \(x = -2\) into \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x^5}\):\[f(-2) = \frac{1}{(-2)^5} = \frac{1}{-32} = -\frac{1}{32}\]
02

- Compute the Derivative of the Function

First, find the derivative of the function \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x^5}\). Use the power rule for derivatives which states that \(\frac{d}{dx}[x^n] = nx^{n-1}\):\[f'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}[x^{-5}] = -5x^{-6} = -\frac{5}{x^6}\]
03

- Evaluate the Derivative at Given Point

Substitute the given value \(x = -2\) into the derivative function \(f'(x) = -\frac{5}{x^6}\) to find \(f'(-2)\):\[f'(-2) = -\frac{5}{(-2)^6} = -\frac{5}{64}\]

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Function Evaluation
Function evaluation is the process of determining the output of a function for a given input. For a function like \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x^5} \), evaluating the function means substituting the given value into the function and simplifying the result.
Here's how you can evaluate the function at the point \( x = -2 \):
  • First, take the given function \( f(x) = \frac{1}{x^5} \).
  • Next, substitute \(-2\) for \(x\) in the function: \( f(-2) = \frac{1}{(-2)^5} \).
  • Calculate the power: \( (-2)^5 = -32 \).
  • Simplify: \( f(-2) = \frac{1}{-32} = -\frac{1}{32} \).
So, \( f(-2) = -\frac{1}{32} \).
Power Rule for Derivatives
The power rule is a basic and essential rule in calculus for finding the derivative of a function of the form \( x^n \). The rule states: \( \frac{d}{dx}[x^n] = nx^{n-1} \).
To apply this to the function \( f(x) = \frac{1}{x^5} \), first rewrite the function as a power of \(x\): \( f(x) = x^{-5} \).
Next, apply the power rule:
  • Identify the exponent: \(n = -5\).
  • Apply the power rule: \( \frac{d}{dx}[x^{-5}] = -5x^{-6} \).
  • Rewrite in fraction form: \( f'(x) = -\frac{5}{x^6} \).
So, the derivative of \( f(x) = \frac{1}{x^5} \) is \( f'(x) = -\frac{5}{x^6} \).
Evaluating Derivatives
Once you have the derivative of a function, you may need to evaluate it at a specific point. This gives the slope of the tangent line to the function at that point. To evaluate the derivative \( f'(x) = -\frac{5}{x^6} \) at \( x = -2 \), follow these steps:
  • Take the computed derivative: \( f'(x) = -\frac{5}{x^6} \).
  • Substitute \(-2\) for \(x\) in the derivative: \( f'(-2) = -\frac{5}{(-2)^6} \).
  • Calculate the power: \( (-2)^6 = 64 \).
  • Simplify: \( f'(-2) = -\frac{5}{64} \).
So, the value of the derivative at \( x = -2 \) is \( f'(-2) = -\frac{5}{64} \).
This tells us the rate at which the function \( f(x) \) is changing at \( x = -2 \).

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