Derivatives of Trigonometric Equations

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on finding the derivatives of trigonometric equations and determining the equations of tangent lines at specified points. The first problem involves the function y = 1/(sin x + cos x) at the point (0,1), where the derivative is calculated as y' = -1(cos x - sin x)/(sin x + cos x)^2, leading to the tangent line equation y = x + 1. The second problem, y = √(x² + 5) at (2,3), yields a derivative of y' = x/√(x² + 5), resulting in the tangent line y = (2/3)x + (5/3) after correcting an initial miscalculation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of trigonometric functions and their derivatives
  • Knowledge of implicit differentiation techniques
  • Familiarity with the concept of tangent lines in calculus
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions and functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the product and quotient rules in differentiation
  • Practice finding derivatives of composite functions
  • Learn about higher-order derivatives and their applications
  • Explore the graphical interpretation of derivatives and tangent lines
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in calculus, particularly those focusing on derivatives of trigonometric and algebraic functions, as well as anyone seeking to improve their understanding of tangent lines and their equations.

loadsy
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Alright, moving on to the topic of taking the derivative of a trigonometric equations, I have been given the problem to find the equation of the tangent line to the curve at the given point for:

y = 1/sinx+cosx at (0,1)

Now we know that the equation is y-1=m(x-0), so I've tried solving for the derivative and got as far as this:
y' = (sinx +cosx)d/dx(1) - 1 d/dx (sinx+cosx)
-------------------------------------
(sinx+cosx)^2

= (sinx + cosx)X1 - (1 X (cosx + -sinx) )
-------------------------------
(sinx + cosx)^2


= 2sinx / (sinx + cosx)^2 = 2 cosx / (sinx+cosx)^2

And then subbing in x=0 and getting 1/1 = 1 and then the equation would be y=x+1, however, I'm not sure if I did this right, or if there is some other way to simplify it that I may have misinterpreted.

Also, while we are at it, I've just done another question that asks to "find the tangent line to the curve of:"

y = squareroot(X^2+5) at (2,3)

I went ahead and solved the derivative and found it to be x/(squareroot(X^2+5)) and subbing in the x=2 got 2/7 as my answer and then just put it into the equation to get y = 2/7X + 17/7, is this correct?

Thank you anyone, I apologize for asking two questions in one topic haha.
 
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y = \frac{1}{\sin x + \cos x}.

y' = -\frac{1(\cos x - \sin x)}{(\sin x + \cos x)^{2}}. It should be y = -x +1y' = \frac{x}{\sqrt{x^{2}+5}}. You should get m = \frac{2}{3} not \frac{2}{7}.
 
Last edited:
loadsy said:
Alright, moving on to the topic of taking the derivative of a trigonometric equations, I have been given the problem to find the equation of the tangent line to the curve at the given point for:

y = 1/sinx+cosx at (0,1)

Now we know that the equation is y-1=m(x-0), so I've tried solving for the derivative and got as far as this:
y' = (sinx +cosx)d/dx(1) - 1 d/dx (sinx+cosx)
-------------------------------------
(sinx+cosx)^2

= (sinx + cosx)X1 - (1 X (cosx + -sinx) )
-------------------------------
(sinx + cosx)^2


= 2sinx / (sinx + cosx)^2 = 2 cosx / (sinx+cosx)^2

And then subbing in x=0 and getting 1/1 = 1 and then the equation would be y=x+1, however, I'm not sure if I did this right, or if there is some other way to simplify it that I may have misinterpreted.

Also, while we are at it, I've just done another question that asks to "find the tangent line to the curve of:"

y = squareroot(X^2+5) at (2,3)

I went ahead and solved the derivative and found it to be x/(squareroot(X^2+5)) and subbing in the x=2 got 2/7 as my answer and then just put it into the equation to get y = 2/7X + 17/7, is this correct?

Thank you anyone, I apologize for asking two questions in one topic haha.

First, yout function was probably y(x) = 1 / (sinx + cosx). You should watch out for the brackets. Second, what is the derivatice of a constant (in your case 1)?

Regarding the second function, your answer seems to be ok.
 
For the second function, the square root of 9 is 3, not 7
 
Right, the equation of the tangent line should be y = 2/3 x + 5/3.
 
Yeah I realized that mistake after courtrigrad posted it. I ended up not squarerooting the 5 in X^2+5. So the answer would be 2/3 and it ends up being y= 2/3X + 5/3. I get that question, however, can you explain to me in the 1st problem, why it is -1(cosx-sinx)/(sinx+cosx)^2 because I'm currently going back and reworking that problem out and I'm not sure how you get the -1 part of it, unless I did a step in there that isn't jiving with everything else.
 
loadsy said:
Yeah I realized that mistake after courtrigrad posted it. I ended up not squarerooting the 5 in X^2+5. So the answer would be 2/3 and it ends up being y= 2/3X + 5/3. I get that question, however, can you explain to me in the 1st problem, why it is -1(cosx-sinx)/(sinx+cosx)^2 because I'm currently going back and reworking that problem out and I'm not sure how you get the -1 part of it, unless I did a step in there that isn't jiving with everything else.

Your function is f(x) = \frac{1}{\sin x + \cos x} = \frac{g(x)}{h(x)}. So, f'(x) = \frac{g'(x) h(x) - g(x)h'(x)}{h(x)^2}. Plug in and solve.
 
y = \frac{1}{\sin x + \cos x}

f(x) = 1
g(x) = \sin x + \cos x.

f'(x) = 0
g'(x) = \cos x - \sin x.

\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{g(x)f'(x)-f(x)g'(x)}{g(x)^{2}}
\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{(\sin x + \cos x)(0)-1(\cos x-\sin x)}{(\sin x + \cos x)^{2}}
 
Oh my goodness, alright I'm following you now, the problem lied within the fact that f'(x) was equal to 0, so I still had the (sinx + cosx) still in the equation. Alright, thanks for your time all of you. I think I'm ready to go back and do some more practice problems to help me grasp this concept fully. :D
 

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