Table of contents
- 0. Functions7h 52m
- Introduction to Functions16m
- Piecewise Functions10m
- Properties of Functions9m
- Common Functions1h 8m
- Transformations5m
- Combining Functions27m
- Exponent rules32m
- Exponential Functions28m
- Logarithmic Functions24m
- Properties of Logarithms34m
- Exponential & Logarithmic Equations35m
- Introduction to Trigonometric Functions38m
- Graphs of Trigonometric Functions44m
- Trigonometric Identities47m
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions48m
- 1. Limits and Continuity2h 2m
- 2. Intro to Derivatives1h 33m
- 3. Techniques of Differentiation3h 18m
- 4. Applications of Derivatives2h 38m
- 5. Graphical Applications of Derivatives6h 2m
- 6. Derivatives of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 37m
- 7. Antiderivatives & Indefinite Integrals1h 26m
- 8. Definite Integrals4h 44m
- 9. Graphical Applications of Integrals2h 27m
- 10. Physics Applications of Integrals 3h 16m
- 11. Integrals of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 34m
- 12. Techniques of Integration7h 39m
- 13. Intro to Differential Equations2h 55m
3. Techniques of Differentiation
The Chain Rule
Problem 3.6.39
Textbook Question
Find the derivatives of the functions in Exercises 19–40.
q = sin(t / (√t + 1))

1
Identify the function: q = sin(t / (√t + 1)). This is a composition of functions, so we will need to use the chain rule and the quotient rule.
Apply the chain rule: The outer function is sin(u), where u = t / (√t + 1). The derivative of sin(u) with respect to u is cos(u).
Apply the quotient rule to find the derivative of u = t / (√t + 1): The quotient rule states that if you have a function v/w, its derivative is (v'w - vw') / w². Here, v = t and w = √t + 1.
Find the derivatives of v and w: v' = 1 and w' = (1/2)t^(-1/2) (using the power rule for √t).
Substitute the derivatives into the quotient rule: The derivative of u = (1(√t + 1) - t(1/2)t^(-1/2)) / (√t + 1)². Simplify this expression and then multiply by cos(u) to find the derivative of q with respect to t.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Chain Rule
The chain rule is a fundamental technique in calculus used to differentiate composite functions. It states that if a function y = f(g(x)) is composed of two functions, the derivative is found by multiplying the derivative of the outer function f with respect to the inner function g by the derivative of the inner function g with respect to x. This rule is essential when dealing with nested functions like sin(t / (√t + 1)).
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Quotient Rule
The quotient rule is used to differentiate functions that are ratios of two differentiable functions. If you have a function h(x) = u(x)/v(x), the derivative h'(x) is given by (v(x)u'(x) - u(x)v'(x)) / (v(x))^2. This rule is crucial for differentiating the function t / (√t + 1) in the given problem.
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Derivative of Trigonometric Functions
Understanding the derivatives of trigonometric functions is vital for solving calculus problems involving these functions. The derivative of sin(x) is cos(x), which is a key fact needed when differentiating the function q = sin(t / (√t + 1)). This knowledge allows us to apply the chain rule effectively to find the derivative of the composite trigonometric function.
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