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
Derivatives of Trig Functions
Problem 3.R.5
Textbook Question
5-8. Use differentiation to verify each equation.
d/dx (tan³ x-3 tan x+3x) = 3 tan⁴x

1
Step 1: Identify the function to differentiate. The function given is \( f(x) = \tan^3 x - 3 \tan x + 3x \).
Step 2: Differentiate each term of the function separately. Start with \( \tan^3 x \). Use the chain rule: \( \frac{d}{dx}(\tan^3 x) = 3 \tan^2 x \cdot \sec^2 x \).
Step 3: Differentiate the second term \( -3 \tan x \). The derivative of \( \tan x \) is \( \sec^2 x \), so \( \frac{d}{dx}(-3 \tan x) = -3 \sec^2 x \).
Step 4: Differentiate the third term \( 3x \). The derivative of \( 3x \) is simply \( 3 \).
Step 5: Combine the derivatives from each term to find the derivative of the entire function: \( \frac{d}{dx}(\tan^3 x - 3 \tan x + 3x) = 3 \tan^2 x \sec^2 x - 3 \sec^2 x + 3 \). Simplify and verify if it equals \( 3 \tan^4 x \).

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Differentiation
Differentiation is a fundamental concept in calculus that involves finding the derivative of a function. The derivative represents the rate of change of a function with respect to its variable. It is essential for analyzing the behavior of functions, including their slopes and rates of increase or decrease. In this context, differentiation is used to verify the correctness of the given equation by calculating the derivative of the left-hand side.
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Chain Rule
The Chain Rule is a key technique in differentiation that allows us to differentiate composite functions. It states that if a function is composed of two or more functions, the derivative can be found by multiplying the derivative of the outer function by the derivative of the inner function. This rule is particularly useful when dealing with functions like tan³(x), where the outer function is the cube and the inner function is the tangent function.
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Power Rule
The Power Rule is a basic rule in differentiation that simplifies the process of finding the derivative of polynomial functions. It states that the derivative of x^n is n*x^(n-1), where n is a constant. This rule is applicable in the given equation for differentiating terms like tan³(x) and 3x, making it easier to compute the overall derivative and verify the equation.
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