Q.Find the derivative of the following function with respect to the corresponding independent variable: f(x)=xsinx
Concept understanding — Derivatives of Standard Functions
Applying the first-principle limit once to each basic elementary function builds a permanent table; every later problem then differentiates by combining this table with the rules of differentiation (sum/product/quotient/chain/constant-multiple), with no further limit ever required.
Algebraic functions.
dxd(k)=0 (k constant),dxd(xn)=nxn−1 for any real n (Corollaries 10.1–10.2 extend the integer case to rational, then any real, exponent).
Logarithmic and exponential functions.
dxd(logx)=x1,dxd(logax)=xloga1,dxd(ax)=axloga,dxd(ex)=ex.
(ex is the unique elementary function that is its own derivative — the special case a=e, loge=1.)
The six trigonometric functions.
dxd(sinx)=cosx,dxd(cosx)=−sinx,dxd(tanx)=sec2x,
dxd(secx)=secxtanx,dxd(cosecx)=−cosecxcotx,dxd(cotx)=−cosec2x.
Only sinx→cosx is derived directly from the limit definition (via the sum-to-product identity and limθ→0sinθ/θ=1); every other trig derivative follows from it using the chain rule (cosx=sin(2π+x)) or the quotient rule (tanx=sinx/cosx, etc.) — so the whole trig table rests on a single limit.
The six inverse trigonometric functions (each domain-restricted to its principal branch):
dxd(sin−1x)=1−x21,dxd(cos−1x)=−1−x21,dxd(tan−1x)=1+x21,
dxd(cot−1x)=−1+x21,dxd(sec−1x)=∣x∣x2−11,dxd(cosec−1x)=−∣x∣x2−11.
sin−1x and tan−1x are derived by writing x=siny (resp. x=tany) and differentiating implicitly (§10.4.3's technique, used here before that section is formally reached); the three complementary pairs (cos−1↔sin−1, cot−1↔tan−1, and cosec−1↔sec−1) each follow from a co-function identity such as sin−1x+cos−1x=2π (a constant, so the two derivatives are exact negatives of each other).
Nearly every problem asking to "find the derivative" of an explicit function combines two or more of these table entries via the chain, product, or quotient rule — recognising which table entries are in play (is the outer layer a power? a trig function? a log?) is the whole skill being practised in Exercises 10.2 and 10.3.
Product rule with u=x, v=sinx.
y′=sinx+xcosx
Step 1. Identify u=x, v=sinx, so u′=1, v′=cosx.
Step 2. Apply the product rule y′=u′v+uv′: y′=(1)(sinx)+(x)(cosx).
Step 3. Simplify: y′=sinx+xcosx.
y′=sinx+xcosx
- Differentiating x and sin x separately and just adding them instead of using u'v + uv'
- Dropping the x coefficient in the second term
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If y=mx+c and f(0)=f′(0)=1, then f(2) is:(a) 3(b) 1(c) -3(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
With f(x)=mx+c, f(0)=c=1 and f′(0)=m=1, so f(x)=x+1 and f(2)=3.
For the linear function f(x)=mx+c:
f(0)=m(0)+c=c. Given f(0)=1, so c=1.
f′(x)=m (the derivative of a linear function is its constant slope). Given f′(0)=1, so m=1.
Hence f(x)=x+1.
f(2)=2+1=3.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (a) 3.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Find f′(7) if f(x)=∣x−5∣(a) -1(b) 1(c) 5(d) 7
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since 7>5, f(x)=x−5 near x=7, so f′(x)=1 there, giving f′(7)=1.
f(x)=∣x−5∣={x−55−xx≥5x<5
At x=7 (which is >5), f(x)=x−5 in a neighborhood of x=7, so f is differentiable there with f′(x)=1.
f′(7)=1.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (b) 1.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The derivative of f(x)=x∣x∣ at x=−3 is:(a) does not exist(b) 6(c) 0(d) −6
›Reveal solutionSolution
Near x=−3 (which is negative), f(x)=x∣x∣ simplifies to −x2, whose derivative is −2x.
Since x=−3<0, in a neighbourhood of −3 we have ∣x∣=−x, so f(x)=x∣x∣=x(−x)=−x2.
Differentiating, f′(x)=−2x.
At x=−3: f′(−3)=−2(−3)=6.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (b) 6.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.dxd(π2sinx∘) is:(a) 90πcosx∘(b) 180πcosx∘(c) π2cosx∘(d) 901cosx∘
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since calculus derivatives of sine require the angle in radians, first rewrite x∘ as 180πx radians.
We have sinx∘=sin(180πx). So
dxd(π2sinx∘)=π2⋅cos(180πx)⋅180π=1802cosx∘=901cosx∘.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (d) 901cosx∘.
- CBSE 2025Set MARCH1 markMCQQ.What is dxdy if y=axn, a is constant?(a) nxn−1(b) anxn−1(c) 0(d) anxn+1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Applying the power rule, dxd(axn)=anxn−1 — option (b).
GSEB Class-12 Statistics, Differentiation chapter:
The power rule states dxd(xn)=nxn−1, and a constant multiplier is carried through:
dxdy=dxd(axn)=a⋅nxn−1=anxn−1
✓Final answer(b) anxn−1.
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=mx+c and f(0)=f′(0)=1 then f(3) is:(a) 3(b) 1(c) 4(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
With f(x)=mx+c, the condition f(0)=1 gives c=1 and f′(0)=1 gives m=1, so f(3)=4.
f(x)=mx+c⇒f(0)=c. Given f(0)=1, so c=1.
f′(x)=m for all x (the derivative of a linear function is its slope, constant everywhere). Given f′(0)=1, so m=1.
Thus f(x)=x+1, and f(3)=3+1=4.
✓Final answerf(3)=4.
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=x2−3x, then the points at which f(x)=f′(x) are:(a) both irrational(b) one rational and another irrational(c) both positive integers(d) both negative integers
›Reveal solutionSolution
Solving x2−3x=2x−3 leads to x2−5x+3=0, whose discriminant 13 is not a perfect square, so both roots 25±13 are irrational.
f(x)=x2−3x, so f′(x)=2x−3.
Set f(x)=f′(x): x2−3x=2x−3.
Rearrange: x2−3x−2x+3=0⇒x2−5x+3=0.
Discriminant =(−5)2−4(1)(3)=25−12=13, which is not a perfect square.
Roots: x=25±13 — since 13 is irrational, both roots are irrational.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (a) both irrational.
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