Derivatives of Exponential, Logarithmic and Trigonometric Functions

Derivatives of Exponential, Logarithmic and Trigonometric Functions

5 marks

Let \(f(x) = \frac{\cos{x}}{\sin{x}}\) for \(\sin{x} \neq 0\).

  1. Use the quotient rule to show that \(f'(x) = \frac{-1}{\sin^2{x}}\).
  2. Find \(f''(x)\).

In the following table, \(f'\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) = p\) and \(f' \left(\frac{\pi}{2} \right) = q\). The table also gives approximate values of \(f'(x)\) and \(f''(x)\) near \(x = \frac{\pi}{2}\).

\(x\)

\( \frac{\pi}{2} - 0.1\)

\( \frac{\pi}{2}\)

\( \frac{\pi}{2} + 0.1\)

\(f'(x)\)

\(-1.01\)

\(p\)

\(-1.01\)

\(f''(x)\)

\(0.203\)

\(q\)

\(-0.203\)

  1. Find the value of \(p\) and of \(q\).[3]
  2. Use information from the table to explain why there is a point of inflexion on the graph of \(f\) where \(x = \frac{\pi}{2}\).[2]

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