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 2h 22m
3. Techniques of Differentiation
The Chain Rule
Problem 3.9.95
Textbook Question
{Use of Tech} Tangent line Find the equation of the line tangent to y=2^sin x at x=π/2. Graph the function and the tangent line.

1
First, find the derivative of the function y = 2^sin(x) with respect to x. Use the chain rule and the fact that the derivative of a^u, where a is a constant, is a^u * ln(a) * du/dx.
Evaluate the derivative at x = π/2. Substitute x = π/2 into the derivative to find the slope of the tangent line at this point.
Calculate the value of the function y = 2^sin(x) at x = π/2 to find the y-coordinate of the point of tangency.
Use the point-slope form of a line, y - y1 = m(x - x1), where m is the slope found in step 2, and (x1, y1) is the point of tangency found in step 3, to write the equation of the tangent line.
Graph the function y = 2^sin(x) and the tangent line using a graphing tool or software. Ensure that the tangent line touches the curve at the point (π/2, 2^sin(π/2)).

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Tangent Line
A tangent line to a curve at a given point is a straight line that touches the curve at that point without crossing it. The slope of the tangent line represents the instantaneous rate of change of the function at that point, which can be found using the derivative. In this case, we need to find the derivative of the function y=2^sin(x) at x=π/2 to determine the slope of the tangent line.
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Derivative
The derivative of a function measures how the function's output value changes as its input value changes. It is defined as the limit of the average rate of change of the function over an interval as the interval approaches zero. For the function y=2^sin(x), we will apply the chain rule to differentiate it, which is essential for finding the slope of the tangent line at the specified point.
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Derivatives
Exponential Functions
Exponential functions are mathematical functions of the form y=a^x, where 'a' is a positive constant. In this case, y=2^sin(x) is an exponential function where the exponent is a trigonometric function. Understanding the behavior of exponential functions, especially how they change with respect to their exponents, is crucial for analyzing the function and its tangent line.
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