What is Derivative: Definition and 1000 Discussions
In mathematics, the derivative of a function of a real variable measures the sensitivity to change of the function value (output value) with respect to a change in its argument (input value). Derivatives are a fundamental tool of calculus. For example, the derivative of the position of a moving object with respect to time is the object's velocity: this measures how quickly the position of the object changes when time advances.
The derivative of a function of a single variable at a chosen input value, when it exists, is the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function at that point. The tangent line is the best linear approximation of the function near that input value. For this reason, the derivative is often described as the "instantaneous rate of change", the ratio of the instantaneous change in the dependent variable to that of the independent variable.
Derivatives can be generalized to functions of several real variables. In this generalization, the derivative is reinterpreted as a linear transformation whose graph is (after an appropriate translation) the best linear approximation to the graph of the original function. The Jacobian matrix is the matrix that represents this linear transformation with respect to the basis given by the choice of independent and dependent variables. It can be calculated in terms of the partial derivatives with respect to the independent variables. For a real-valued function of several variables, the Jacobian matrix reduces to the gradient vector.
The process of finding a derivative is called differentiation. The reverse process is called antidifferentiation. The fundamental theorem of calculus relates antidifferentiation with integration. Differentiation and integration constitute the two fundamental operations in single-variable calculus.
What's the matter:
So, I think I have some skills when it comes to differentiation after taking calculus 2 last semester, but when it starts to intertwine with physics, and interpreting physical phenomenon through equations, It appears I could use some help. Anyway, the problem that I got hung...
Hi all, first post here. I'm a junior Physics/Math double major at UMass Amherst, playing with some problems over the summer. I'll get right into it.
A rope with constant tension T is deflected through the angle 2\theta_{0} by a smooth, fixed pulley. What is the force on the pulley?
It is...
As part of a personal musicology project I found myself with the mathematical model of a geometry which utilizes the equation
a*(a/b)sin(pi*x)
The only problem with this is that I need to take the integral from -1/2 <= x <= 1/2, and according to Wolfram Alpha no such integral exists. I can...
Today, I had a class on Complex analysis and my professor wrote this on the board :
The Laplacian satisfies this equation :
where,
So, how did he arrive at that equation?
I'm looking for a book to self-study this summer before my last course of Bachillerato (A Levels or High School in other countries).
My performance in Mathematics has only improved and I've just been given the maximum mark this last term (10/10 or A+). This has motivated me a lot to keep...
Homework Statement
If f(x+y) = f(x)f(y) for all x and y and f(5) = 2, f'(0)=3, then f'(5) is
a) 5
b) 6
C) 0
d) None of these
Homework Equations
Don't know which equation to apply. I was thinking of Rolle's Theorem and mean value theorem here but it is not helping.
The Attempt at a Solution...
Let G be a non-empty open connected set in Rn, f be a differentiable function from G into R, and A be a linear transformation from Rn to R. If f '(a)=A for all a in G, find f and prove your answer.
I thought of f as being the same as the linear transformation, i.e. f(x)=A(x). Is this true?
The question suggests that r(t) = (x(t),y(t),z(t)) is a position vector along some curve where t goes from negative to positive infinity. Now suppose t has been chosen so that 1 = the dot product of dr/dt and dr/dt. Show that 0 = the dot product of dr/dt and d^2r/dt^2.
I have attempted to...
Hey guys and gals, I'm taking an online physics course just to kind of learn the basics before I take the real thing this summer. The course is from OpenYale for those interested (oyc.yale.edu). Anyways, the professor was talking about some formulas for finding ##\vec{r}(t) = r(i(cos\omega t) +...
In my textbook (see attached picture) there appears a functional derivative, but I honestly don't know how to evaluate a quantity like this. What should I do? I have tried to google but all I could find was how to take functional derivatives, where polynomials appeared under the integral, while...
Homework Statement
For the equation ∇ x E = -∂B/∂t I took the curl of both sides to get
∇ x (∇ x E) = ∇ x -∂B/∂t
I feel like it'd be very wrong to pull out the time derivative. Am I correct?
I have attached an image of a function that I fit to a scatter plot, and I would like to know if there is a term for the point on the function at which the slope transitions from being less than -1 to greater than -1. I have highlighted this point approximately in yellow...
Homework Statement
The website says this:
"It is Linear when the variable (and its derivatives) has no exponent or other function put on it.
So no y2, y3, √y, sin(y), ln(y) etc, just plain y (or whatever the variable is).
More formally a Linear Differential Equation is in the form:
dy/dx +...
Homework Statement
Given two curves y=f(x) passing through (0,1) and ##g(x)=\int\limits_{-\infty}^xf(t)dt## passing through (0,1/n). The tangents drawn to both curves at the points with equal abscissae intersect on the x-axis. Find y=f(x).
Homework Equations
None
The Attempt at a Solution...
I'm hoping someone can clarify for me, I have seen the following used:
\frac{\partial}{\partial g^{ab}}\left( g^{cd} \right) = \frac{1}{2} \left( \delta_a^c \delta_b^d + \delta_b^c \delta_a^d\right)
I understand the two half terms are used to account for the symmetry of the metric tensor...
Homework Statement
[/B]
use richardson extrapolation to estimate the first derivative y=ln(x), x=5 using steps of 2, 1, 0.5. Four decimal points. obtain true relative error for the last estimate and comment on its value.
Homework Equations
[/B]
deriv ln(x)=1/xThe Attempt at a Solution
I know...
Homework Statement
I am trying to prove without using the mean value theorem that two different functions with the same derivative differ only by a constant. Is it possible to do this without the mean value theorem? If so, would someone help guide me towards the right solution.
Homework...
For a direction determined by $dx=2dy=-2dz$, find the directional derivative of $F=x^2+y^2+z^2$ at P(1,2,1)
I had no problem getting the gradient of F and evaluating it at P but when I take the directional derivative I'm stuck! I don't know how come up with a unit vector that should be dotted...
I can't convince myself whether the following functional derivative is trivial or not:
##\frac \delta {\delta \psi(x)} \big[ \partial_x \psi(x)\big],##
where ##\partial_x## is a standard derivative with respect to ##x##.
One could argue that
## \partial_x \psi(x) = \int dx' [\partial_{x'}...
Homework Statement
Solve ∂v/∂θ and ∂v/∂r. (refer to attached image for equations)
Homework Equations
Refer to attached image. note that the velocity is expressed in cylindrical coordinates and attention must be paid to the directional unit vectors eθ and eρ.[/B]
The Attempt at a Solution...
I was reading through hobson and my notes where the covariant acts on contravariant and covariant tensors as
\nabla_\alpha V^\mu = \partial_\alpha V^\mu + \Gamma^\mu_{\alpha \gamma} V^\gamma
\nabla_\alpha V_\mu = \partial_\alpha V_\mu - \Gamma^\gamma_{\alpha \mu} V_\gamma
Why is there a minus...
Homework Statement
is this statement is true : ##\nabla_\mu \nabla_\nu \sqrt{g} \phi = \partial_\mu \sqrt{g} \partial_\nu \phi##
Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
well we know ##\nabla_\mu \sqrt{g} =0## so it moves back : ## \nabla_\mu \sqrt{g} \nabla_\nu \phi =\sqrt{g} \nabla_\mu...
Hi all,
I have a question concerning the derivative of the formula of the number of nuclei. I hope I've posted this in the right section, I'm new here :P. Anyway, in the question, the given values are:
At a certain time t, there is an amount of radioactive Br-82. The activity A is 7.4*1014 Bq...
Acting upon a vector say,
so it is defined as:
##\frac{d}{d\lambda}V^{u}+\Gamma^{u}_{op}\frac{dx^{o}}{d\lambda}V^{p}=\frac{DV^{u}}{D\lambda}##
And this can also be written in terms of the covariant derivative, ##\bigtriangledown_{k}## by ##\frac{DV^{u}}{D\lambda}=\frac{d x^{k}}{d \lambda}...
What does it mean to say that ##\displaystyle\frac{d }{d x}\int f(x)dx = f(x)##? Does this somehow relate to the fundamental theorem of calculus? If so, how?
SOLVED
1. Homework Statement
Find polynomial of least degree satisfying:
p(1)=-1, p'(1)=2, p''(1)=0, p(2)=1, p'(2)=-2
Homework Equations
In general, a Hermite Polynomial is defined by the following:
∑[f(xi)*hi(x)+f'(xi)*h2i(x)]
where:
hi(xj)=1 if i=j and 0 otherwise. Similarly with h'2...
Homework Statement
I was working on a physics problem that involves integrals and I stumbled upon this:
m*g*sin θ − k*x = m*dv/dt =m*v*dv/dx
→ (m*g*sin θ − k*x)/m =v*dv/dx
→∫[(m*g*sin θ − k*x)/m]dx =∫v*dv
Notice that we multiplied by dx on both sides and dx has been canceled from the right...
Homework Statement
[/B]
find directional derivative at point (0,0) in direction u = (1, -1) for
f(x,y) = x(1+y)^-1The Attempt at a Solution
grad f(x,y) = ( (1+y)^-1, -x(1+y)^-2 )
grad f(0,0) = (1, 0)
grad f(x,y) . u = (1,0).(1,-1) = 1.
seems easy but markscheme says I am wromg. It says...
Homework Statement
Derivative of P(x) = 0.2 -0.125e^(0.005x) for X=1
P(x) is the population in Millions and X is the year where 0 = 2000
I have to explain the answer I am getting at the end.
Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
d/dx (0.2 -0.125e^(0.005x))
I find -0.000625*(1,00501)^x...
Suppose someone gives you a rectangular sheet of length a and width b (so b ≤ a). You make a topless box by cutting out a square with length x out of each corner and folding up the sides. How should you cut the sheet so as to maximize the volume of your box?
Homework Statement
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I have to derivate f(x)
f(x) = 1/x +1/(x+1)
Answer is = -1/x2 - 1/(x+1)2
I can't seem to get to that answer :(
thank you
Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
f(x) = (1/x +1/(x+1))'
= (2x+1)/x(x+1)' = ((2x+1)' * (x(x+1)-(2x+1)*(x(x+1)')/x2(x+1)2...
Homework Statement
f(x) = 1/ln (10-x) -- I would assume it to be a fairly simple equation, but I am screwing it upHomework Equations
What is f'(x)?The Attempt at a Solution
f'(x) = (ln (10-x))^-1
= -(ln (10-x))^-2 * -1 * 1/(10-x) -- 2 negatives cancel out
= 1/(10-x) (ln(10-x))2 --...
Homework Statement
So I'd rather not type out the whole equation I am differentiating with respect to t... Sorry admins. My written work is on the image. I just want to make sure my work is correct.
Homework Equations
The equation is a differential characteristic equation with cos and sin...
I'm trying to prove that ##\sqrt{-g}\bigtriangledown_{\mu}v^{\mu}=\partial_{\mu}(\sqrt{-g}v^{\mu}) ##
So i have ##\sqrt{-g}\bigtriangledown_{\mu}v^{\mu}=\sqrt{-g}(\partial_{\mu}v^{mu}+\Gamma^{\mu}_{\mu \alpha}v^{\alpha}) ## by just expanding out the definition of the covariant derivative...
Homework Statement
substitute the given power series below into ODE y'' -4y=0 to verify it is a solution
Homework Equations
y=∑ 2n xn / n!
n=0
y''-4y=0
The Attempt at a Solution
I have absolutely no idea how start.
What's the difference between derivative of displacement with respect to time and derivative of position with respect to time ?I have read derivative of displacement with respect to time is velocity and derivative of position with respect to time is also velocity,so what's the difference?
I...
<<Moderator note: Remember that filling in the complete homework template is mandatory in the homework forums. This thread has not been deleted due to containing relevant replies.>>
1. Homework Statement
((x)^(1/x))'
Homework Equations
This probably isn't overly dificult, but it has got me...
Homework Statement Hello, I had a few derivative of the natural logarithm functions questions. It seems like it should be fairly straightforward, but I am turning it into a pig’s ear.On my honor, none of these are problems on an assessment per se, however, they are not materially different than...
I'm looking at the deriviation of Einstein's equation via applying the principle of least action to the Hilbert-Einstein action.
I'm trying to understand the vanishing of a term because it is a total derivative: http://www.tapir.caltech.edu/~chirata/ph236/2011-12/lec33.pdf, equation 19.
My...
Hi,
I'm reading Ogata's Modern Control Engineering, and when he talks about the representation of a differential equation in state space he divides the method in two. The first one is when the input of the differential equation involves no derivative term, for example:
x'(t)+x(t)=u(t)
The...
Hi,
I have some points say, 100 points which come from a periodic tube profile, i.e., (z,r), where z and r are the axial and radial coordinates, respectively.
Now, I need to calculate the first derivative at each point.
Could you please help me in this regard?
Cheers
I am getting a little confused on which error propagation to use:
I am looking to calculate the error in B*Cos(θ) , for the vertical axis of a williamson hall plot. where B is fwhm of a peak with it's own error and cos of the bragg angle
I am unsure of whether i need to use partial derivative...
Homework Statement
I am trying to prove an identity for the Lie derivative of a smooth one-form. The identity is: for X, Y smooth vector fields, alpha a smooth one-form, we have:
$$L_{[X, Y]}\alpha = [L_X, L_Y]\alpha$$ For anyone familiar with the book, this is exercise 5.26 in the first...
Homework Statement
I will post a picture of the problem and then the second picture will be my work. The problems are the first two.
Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
I didn't know how to do this at first so I don't know if I am doing it correctly now. Also I don't know the correct...
Homework Statement
I posted a picture of it and my attempt it is number 3
Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
I tried using log properties and I am not sure what went wrong and how to arrive at the correct answer.
Mod note: Messy, disorganized image deleted.
Homework Statement
Hello all, thank you for the help in advance. It's a two-sided derivative problem, for lack of a better term, and I appreciate all hints or help. If we have a function y so that
y=bx for all x<0, and
y= x^2-13x for all x> or = 0,
for what value of b is y differentiable at...
Homework Statement
So the test is to take the determinant (D) of the Hessian matrix of your multivar function.
Then if D>0 & fxx>0 it's a min point, if D>0 & fxx<0 it's a max point.
For D<0 it's a saddle point, and D=0 gives no information.
My question is, what happens if fxx=0? Is that...
Dear All,
Please see the image below in attachment where Energy is function of K. I want to understand how is it possible to understand the last expression ( dE = ? ). Additionally, what is the difference between curly and derivative (d) sign ?
Many thanks to the mentors on this forum
Best wishes
Okay guys, this is driving me absolutely nuts.
I'm working on finding derivatives using the product and quotient rules and the book will sometimes simplify the problem before finding the derivative but sometimes wont and I don't understand why.
For example: The function y = (v3-2v√v)/v
The book...