Connecting a Function and Its Derivatives - AP Calculus AB

  1. What is the second derivative of f(x)=ln(x)f(x) = \text{ln}(x)?
    f′′(x)=−1x2f''(x) = -\frac{1}{x^2}. First derivative is 1x\frac{1}{x}, then −1x2-\frac{1}{x^2}.
  2. If f′′(x)=0f''(x) = 0, what can be inferred about f(x)f(x)?
    f(x)f(x) may have a point of inflection. Second derivative test for inflection points.
  3. What is the second derivative of f(x)=sin(x)f(x) = \text{sin}(x)?
    f′′(x)=−sin(x)f''(x) = -\text{sin}(x). First derivative is cos⁡(x)\cos(x), then −sin⁡(x)-\sin(x).
  4. What indicates a local maximum in terms of derivatives?
    f′(x)=0f'(x) = 0 and f′′(x)<0f''(x) < 0. Critical point test: zero slope, negative concavity.
  5. Find the derivative: f(x)=7x5f(x) = 7x^5.
    f′(x)=35x4f'(x) = 35x^4. Factor out constant 7 and apply power rule.
  6. State the relationship between concavity and the second derivative.
    Concave up if f′′(x)>0f''(x) > 0, concave down if f′′(x)<0f''(x) < 0. Second derivative test for concavity direction.
  7. What is the derivative of f(x)=e2xf(x) = \text{e}^{2x}?
    f′(x)=2e2xf'(x) = 2\text{e}^{2x}. Use chain rule: derivative of e2xe^{2x} is 2e2x2e^{2x}.
  8. Evaluate f′(x)f'(x) for f(x)=5x3−4x2+2x−7f(x) = 5x^3 - 4x^2 + 2x - 7.
    f′(x)=15x2−8x+2f'(x) = 15x^2 - 8x + 2. Apply power rule to each term separately.
  9. What is the first derivative of f(x)=1x2f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2}?
    f′(x)=−2x3f'(x) = -\frac{2}{x^3}. Rewrite as x−2x^{-2}, then apply power rule.
  10. What is the derivative of f(x)=sin(2x)f(x) = \text{sin}(2x)?
    f′(x)=2cos(2x)f'(x) = 2\text{cos}(2x). Use chain rule: derivative of sin⁡(u)\sin(u) is u′cos⁡(u)u'\cos(u).
  11. If f′′(x)>0f''(x) > 0, what is the concavity of f(x)f(x)?
    f(x)f(x) is concave up. Positive second derivative indicates upward curvature.
  12. What does it mean if f′(x)=0f'(x) = 0 for all xx in the interval?
    f(x)f(x) is constant on the interval. Zero derivative means no rate of change.
  13. Find f′(x)f'(x) for f(x)=12x3f(x) = \frac{1}{2}x^3.
    f′(x)=32x2f'(x) = \frac{3}{2}x^2. Factor out 12\frac{1}{2} and apply power rule.
  14. What is f′′(x)f''(x) for f(x)=ex+x2f(x) = \text{e}^x + x^2?
    f′′(x)=ex+2f''(x) = \text{e}^x + 2. Sum rule: derivatives of exe^x and x2x^2 separately.
  15. Identify the function whose first derivative is f′(x)=3x2f'(x) = 3x^2.
    f(x)=x3+Cf(x) = x^3 + C, where CC is a constant. Antiderivative of 3x23x^2 using power rule in reverse.
  16. State the derivative of f(x)=ln(x)f(x) = \text{ln}(x).
    f′(x)=1xf'(x) = \frac{1}{x}. Standard derivative formula for natural logarithm.
  17. If f′(x)<0f'(x) < 0 for all xx, what is true about f(x)f(x)?
    f(x)f(x) is decreasing. Negative derivative indicates downward slope.
  18. Find f′′(x)f''(x) for f(x)=x3−5xf(x) = x^3 - 5x.
    f′′(x)=6xf''(x) = 6x. First find f′(x)=3x2−5f'(x) = 3x^2 - 5, then differentiate.
  19. Evaluate f′(x)f'(x) for f(x)=tan(x)f(x) = \text{tan}(x).
    f′(x)=sec2(x)f'(x) = \text{sec}^2(x). Standard trigonometric derivative formula.
  20. Find the second derivative: f(x)=cos(x)f(x) = \text{cos}(x).
    f′′(x)=−cos(x)f''(x) = -\text{cos}(x). First derivative is −sin⁡(x)-\sin(x), then −cos⁡(x)-\cos(x).
  21. What is the derivative of a constant function f(x)=cf(x) = c?
    The derivative is 00. Constants have zero rate of change.
  22. Determine f′(x)f'(x) for f(x)=cos(x)f(x) = \text{cos}(x).
    f′(x)=−sin(x)f'(x) = -\text{sin}(x). Standard trigonometric derivative formula.
  23. If f′(x)>0f'(x) > 0 for all xx, what can you say about f(x)f(x)?
    f(x)f(x) is increasing. Positive derivative indicates upward slope.
  24. Find the derivative of f(x)=1xf(x) = \frac{1}{x}.
    The derivative is f′(x)=−1x2f'(x) = -\frac{1}{x^2}. Rewrite as x−1x^{-1} and apply power rule.
  25. Determine the second derivative: f(x)=4x2+3xf(x) = 4x^2 + 3x.
    f′′(x)=8f''(x) = 8. First derivative is 8x+38x + 3, then derivative is 88.
  26. Find the second derivative: f(x)=2x4−3x3+xf(x) = 2x^4 - 3x^3 + x.
    f′′(x)=24x2−18xf''(x) = 24x^2 - 18x. First find f′(x)=8x3−9x2+1f'(x) = 8x^3 - 9x^2 + 1, then differentiate.
  27. Determine the derivative of f(x)=1x3f(x) = \frac{1}{x^3}.
    f′(x)=−3x4f'(x) = -\frac{3}{x^4}. Rewrite as x−3x^{-3} and apply power rule.
  28. What is the derivative of f(x)=exf(x) = e^x?
    The derivative is f′(x)=exf'(x) = e^x. The exponential function is its own derivative.
  29. What is the derivative of f(x)=e2xf(x) = e^{2x}?
    f′(x)=2e2xf'(x) = 2e^{2x}. Use chain rule: derivative of e2xe^{2x} is 2e2x2e^{2x}.
  30. Determine the first derivative: f(x)=x33f(x) = \frac{x^3}{3}.
    f′(x)=x2f'(x) = x^2. Derivative of x33\frac{x^3}{3} using power rule.
  31. State the Power Rule for differentiation.
    If f(x)=xnf(x) = x^n, then f′(x)=nxn−1f'(x) = nx^{n-1}. Bring down the exponent and reduce power by 1.
  32. Evaluate the second derivative: f(x)=6x−4x2f(x) = 6x - 4x^2.
    f′′(x)=−8f''(x) = -8. First find f′(x)=6−8xf'(x) = 6 - 8x, then differentiate.
  33. What is f′(x)f'(x) if f(x)=e−xf(x) = \text{e}^{-x}?
    f′(x)=−e−xf'(x) = -\text{e}^{-x}. Use chain rule with negative exponent.
  34. What indicates a point of inflection in terms of the second derivative?
    A sign change in f′′(x)f''(x). Concavity changes when second derivative changes sign.
  35. Determine f′′(x)f''(x) for f(x)=3x4+x2f(x) = 3x^4 + x^2.
    f′′(x)=36x2+2f''(x) = 36x^2 + 2. First find f′(x)=12x3+2xf'(x) = 12x^3 + 2x, then differentiate.
  36. What is the second derivative of f(x)=x3f(x) = x^3?
    f′′(x)=6xf''(x) = 6x. Apply power rule twice: 3x23x^2 then 6x6x.
  37. What is f′′(x)f''(x) if f(x)=x5−3x2+1f(x) = x^5 - 3x^2 + 1?
    f′′(x)=20x3−6f''(x) = 20x^3 - 6. First find f′(x)=5x4−6xf'(x) = 5x^4 - 6x, then differentiate.

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