True or False. The derivative of a function at a given point gives the slope of the tangent line at that point.
True. From the definition of the derivative.
g '(x) = 1 / f ' (g(x)).
True or False. If f ' is the derivative of f, then the derivative of the inverse of f is the inverse of f '.
False. If g(x) is the inverse of f(x) then its derivative g '(x) is given by.
True or False. The derivative of ln a x, where a is a constant, is equal to 1 / x.
True or False. Rolle's theorem is a special case of the mean value theorem.
If f(x) = x 3 -3x 2 + x and g is the inverse of f, then g '(3) is equal to
(B) 1 / 10
(D) None of the above
(B). Use g '(x) = 1 / f ' (g(x)) given as the answer to question 3 above to write g '(3) = 1 / f ' (g(3)).
First find g(3) which is the solution to the equation f(x) = 3 by definition of the inverse function.
x 3 -3x 2 + x = 3
The above equation has one real solution x = 3. So g(3) = 3, the solution of the above equation.
Then compute f '(x) = 3 x 2 -6 x + 1.
f ' (g(3)) = 3 (3) 2 -6 (3) + 1 = 10; and then substitute in the formula that gives g '(3) = 1 / 10.
True or False. The derivative of f(x) = a x, where a is a constant, is x a x-1.
False. Let y = a x so that ln y = x ln a
Differentiate both sides of ln y = x ln a with respect to x to obtain
(1 / y) dy / dx = ln a
Solve for dy / dx
dy / dx = y ln a = a x ln a
More references on calculus
questions with answers and tutorials and problems .