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 Integrals3h 25m
3. Techniques of Differentiation
Basic Rules of Differentiation
Problem 91a
Textbook Question
If possible, evaluate the following derivatives using the graphs of f and f'. <IMAGE>
a. (f^-1)'(7)

1
To find the derivative of the inverse function at a point, we use the formula: \((f^{-1})'(b) = \frac{1}{f'(a)}\), where \(f(a) = b\).
Identify the point \(b = 7\) on the graph of \(f\). Find the corresponding \(a\) such that \(f(a) = 7\).
Once you have found \(a\), locate \(f'(a)\) on the graph of \(f'\). This is the slope of the tangent to \(f\) at \(a\).
Substitute \(f'(a)\) into the formula \((f^{-1})'(7) = \frac{1}{f'(a)}\) to find the derivative of the inverse function at 7.
Ensure that \(f'(a) \neq 0\) to avoid division by zero, which would indicate that the inverse function is not differentiable at that point.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Inverse Function Theorem
The Inverse Function Theorem states that if a function f is continuous and differentiable, and its derivative f' is non-zero at a point, then the inverse function f^-1 exists locally around that point. The derivative of the inverse function can be calculated using the formula (f^-1)'(y) = 1 / f'(f^-1(y)), which relates the derivatives of the function and its inverse.
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Derivative Interpretation
The derivative of a function at a point represents the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function at that point. In the context of the question, understanding how to interpret the derivative graphically is crucial for evaluating (f^-1)'(7), as it involves analyzing the behavior of f and its inverse at specific values.
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Graphical Analysis of Functions
Graphical analysis involves examining the graphs of functions and their derivatives to understand their behavior. For the given question, one must analyze the graph of f to find the corresponding x-value for f(x) = 7, and then use the graph of f' to determine the slope at that point, which is essential for calculating the derivative of the inverse function.
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