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
3. Techniques of Differentiation
Basic Rules of Differentiation
Problem 82b
Textbook Question
The following limits represent f'(a) for some function f and some real number a.
b. Evaluate the limit by computing f'(a).
lim x🠂0 e^x-1 / x
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1
Step 1: Recognize that the given limit represents the derivative of a function at a point. Specifically, it is the definition of the derivative of the function f(x) = e^x at the point a = 0.
Step 2: Recall the definition of the derivative: f'(a) = lim_{x \to a} \frac{f(x) - f(a)}{x - a}. In this case, f(x) = e^x and a = 0, so f(0) = e^0 = 1.
Step 3: Substitute the function and the point into the derivative definition: f'(0) = lim_{x \to 0} \frac{e^x - 1}{x}.
Step 4: Recognize that this is a standard limit that can be evaluated using L'Hôpital's Rule, which applies when the limit is in the indeterminate form 0/0. L'Hôpital's Rule states that lim_{x \to c} \frac{f(x)}{g(x)} = lim_{x \to c} \frac{f'(x)}{g'(x)} if the limit is indeterminate.
Step 5: Differentiate the numerator and the denominator: the derivative of e^x is e^x, and the derivative of x is 1. Apply L'Hôpital's Rule: lim_{x \to 0} \frac{e^x}{1}. Evaluate this limit to find f'(0).
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