/*! 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 3 \(3-32\) Differentiate the funct... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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\(3-32\) Differentiate the function. \(f(x)=186.5\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
The derivative of the function is 0.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Function

The given function is a constant function, where \[f(x) = 186.5\]which means the function's value is 186.5 for all values of \(x\).
02

Apply Derivative of a Constant Rule

The derivative of a constant function \(f(x) = c\) is zero. Mathematically, this is expressed as:\[\frac{d}{dx} [c] = 0\]Thus, the derivative of \(f(x) = 186.5\) is zero.
03

Write the Derivative

The derivative of the given function can be written as:\[f'(x) = 0\]This expresses that the rate of change of a constant function with respect to \(x\) is zero.

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Key Concepts

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

Derivative of a Constant
When it comes to understanding the derivative of a constant, it is important to know that constant functions have no variables. A constant function, like the one we're looking at \(f(x) = 186.5\), maintains the same value no matter what input you provide.
The key idea here is that because a constant doesn't change, its rate of change is zero. In calculus, this is a core concept. Mathematically, the derivative of a constant \(c\) is always zero:
  • Write the constant as \(f(x) = c\).
  • Take the derivative: \(\frac{d}{dx}[c] = 0\).
This simplicity is what makes constant function differentiation more approachable for beginners.
Rate of Change
In calculus, the derivative of a function represents its rate of change. It shows how much the function's value changes as the input changes. For example, if you have a slope of a line, the derivative tells how steep the line is.
For constant functions like \(f(x) = 186.5\), there is no slope. The line is perfectly horizontal. This is why the derivative, or rate of change, is zero.
  • No matter the x-value, the output, \(f(x)\), remains the same.
  • Because there's no increase or decrease in value, the rate of change remains zero.
Understanding this simplifies the concept of derivatives for constant functions.
Differentiation Rules
Differentiation rules are a fundamental part of calculus. They provide a shorthand for finding derivatives quickly without going back to the limit definitions every time.
For constant functions, there's a straightforward rule: the derivative of a constant is zero. This fits into a much larger toolbox of differentiation rules. Other common rules include:
  • The power rule: for functions like \(x^n\), the derivative is \(nx^{n-1}\).
  • The product rule: used when multiplying two functions, \[ \(f(x)g(x)\) has the derivative: \(f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x)\). \]
  • The quotient rule: for dividing one function by another, \[ \(\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}\) becomes \(\frac{f'(x)g(x) - f(x)g'(x)}{(g(x))^2}\). \]
These rules help in breaking down complex functions into manageable parts to find their derivatives more easily.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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