Q.Differentiate with respect to x using first principle: xcosx.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Difference Quotient
The Difference Quotient: What It Is and Why It Matters
Imagine you're tracking the distance a car has travelled over time. At 2:00 PM, the odometer reads 40 km. At 2:30 PM, it reads 70 km. How fast was the car going on average during that half-hour?
You'd calculate: 0.5 hours70−40=60 km/h.
That fraction — change in distance divided by change in time — is the average rate of change. The difference quotient is just a formal, algebraic way of writing that same idea for any function.
The Intuition: Slope of a Secant Line
Take any function f(x). Pick two points on its graph: (x,f(x)) and (x+h,f(x+h)), where h is some horizontal step (positive or negative). The line that cuts through both points is called a secant line.
The slope of that secant line is:
slope=runrise=(x+h)−xf(x+h)−f(x)=hf(x+h)−f(x)
That expression — hf(x+h)−f(x) — is the difference quotient.
The name comes from "difference" (you subtract two function values) and "quotient" (you divide by h). It's literally a quotient of differences.
The Precise Statement
hf(x+h)−f(x),h=0
This gives the average rate of change of f over the interval from x to x+h. Geometrically, it's the slope of the secant line through (x,f(x)) and (x+h,f(x+h)).
Key restrictions:
- h cannot be zero (you can't divide by zero).
- x and x+h must both be in the domain of f.
A Concrete Example
Let f(x)=x2. Compute the difference quotient at x=3 with h=0.1:
0.1f(3+0.1)−f(3)=0.1(3.1)2−9=0.19.61−9=0.10.61=6.1
This tells us: over the interval [3,3.1], the function x2 increases at an average rate of 6.1 units per unit change in x.
If you shrink h to 0.01, you'd get 6.01. As h gets smaller, the average rate approaches 6 — which is exactly the instantaneous rate of change (the derivative) of x2 at x=3.
The difference quotient is the bridge between average rates (which you can compute with simple algebra) and instantaneous rates (which require limits). When you take the limit as h→0, you get the derivative.
Why You'll See It Everywhere
The difference quotient isn't just a classroom exercise. It's the foundation of calculus: …
Concept: First principle differentiation (limit definition of the derivative).
The derivative from first principles is:
f′(x)=limh→0hf(x+h)−f(x)
For f(x)=xcosx, substitute into the definition:
f′(x)=limh→0h(x+h)cos(x+h)−xcosx
Expand cos(x+h)=cosxcosh−sinxsinh:
=limh→0h(x+h)(cosxcosh−sinxsinh)−xcosx
=limh→0hxcosxcosh−xsinxsinh+hcosxcosh−hsinxsinh−xcosx …
The first principle asks us to compute limh→0h(x+h)cos(x+h)−xcosx by expanding the product and using standard limits. The derivative is cosx−xsinx.
Why first principles?
The first principle of differentiation—also called the definition via limits—builds the derivative from the ground up. For any function f(x), we write
f′(x)=limh→0hf(x+h)−f(x).
This captures the instantaneous rate of change by shrinking the interval h to zero. For f(x)=xcosx, a product of two functions, we could reach for the product rule—but the question demands we derive it from scratch using only the limit definition and standard trigonometric limits.
The key tools we'll need are:
- limh→0hsinh=1
- limh→0hcosh−1=0
These are the bedrock limits of calculus, often proved geometrically or via squeeze theorem.
Step-by-step derivation
1. Set up the difference quotient.
Write f(x)=xcosx. Then
f′(x)=limh→0h(x+h)cos(x+h)−xcosx.
2. Expand the product in the numerator.
The term (x+h)cos(x+h) distributes to xcos(x+h)+hcos(x+h), so
f′(x)=limh→0hxcos(x+h)+hcos(x+h)−xcosx.
Rearrange by grouping the x terms:
=limh→0hx[cos(x+h)−cosx]+hcos(x+h).
3. Split the limit into two parts.
=limh→0[x⋅hcos(x+h)−cosx+cos(x+h)].
The second term is straightforward: as h→0, cos(x+h)→cosx. The first term requires more work.
4. Handle the cosine difference using the sum-to-product identity.
Recall the identity
cosA−cosB=−2sin(2A+B)sin(2A−B).
Set A=x+h and B=x:
cos(x+h)−cosx=−2sin(x+2h)sin(2h).
So
hcos(x+h)−cosx=−2sin(x+2h)⋅hsin(h/2).
5. Simplify the ratio hsin(h/2). …
Showing the 12 most recent of 25 on this concept.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-09-AN1 markMCQQ.If the function f(x)=⎩⎨⎧(π+6x)2p(1+sin3x),cos2x,cos3(2π+12x)q(sin12x+2sin6x),if −2π<x<−6πif x=−6πif −6π<x<0 is continuous at x=−6π, then p+2q= (A) 3 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
For continuity at x=−6π, the left-hand limit, right-hand limit, and function value must all be equal. Using standard trigonometric limits and expansions, we find p=21 and q=41, so p+2q=1.
The core idea is that continuity at a point means the function’s value there equals both one-sided limits. Here, the function is defined piecewise around x=−6π, so we compute the left-hand limit (from the first piece), the right-hand limit (from the third piece), and set them equal to the given function value at that point, which is cos(−3π)=21.
The trick is in handling the limits — each involves a trigonometric expression that simplifies nicely when you substitute x=−6π+h and let h→0. This substitution shifts the point to zero, making standard limits like limt→0tsint=1 directly applicable.
-
Function value at x=−6π
From the second piece: f(−6π)=cos(2⋅−6π)=cos(−3π)=21.
-
Left-hand limit (LHL): x→−6π−
For x<−6π, we use the first piece:
f(x)=(π+6x)2p(1+sin3x).
Substitute x=−6π+h, where h→0− (so h<0). Then:
3x=3(−6π+h)=−2π+3h,
sin3x=sin(−2π+3h)=−cos(3h).
So 1+sin3x=1−cos(3h).
Also, π+6x=π+6(−6π+h)=π−π+6h=6h.
Hence the limit becomes:
limh→0−(6h)2p(1−cos3h)=limh→0−36h2p(1−cos3h).
Using 1−cost≈2t2 for small t, we have 1−cos3h≈2(3h)2=29h2.
So:
LHL=limh→0−36h2p⋅29h2=729p=8p.
- Right-hand limit (RHL): x→−6π+ For x>−6π, use the third piece:
f(x)=cos3(2π+12x)q(sin12x+2sin6x).
Again substitute x=−6π+h, now h→0+.
Compute each part:
12x=12(−6π+h)=−2π+12h, so sin12x=sin(−2π+12h)=sin(12h) (since sin(θ−2π)=sinθ).
6x=6(−6π+h)=−π+6h, so sin6x=sin(−π+6h)=−sin(6h) (since sin(θ−π)=−sinθ).
Thus sin12x+2sin6x=sin(12h)−2sin(6h).
For the denominator: 2π+12x=2π+12(−6π+h)=2π−2π+12h=2−π+12h=−2π+6h.
So cos(2π+12x)=cos(−2π+6h)=sin(6h) (since cos(θ−2π)=sinθ).
Hence the denominator is cos3(⋯)=sin3(6h).
The RHL is: …
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- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-09-AN1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=π−cos−1(x2+4x+5x2+4x+3), then f′(1)= (A) 54 (B) 2 (C) 51 (D) −2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate f(x)=π−cos−1(t) with t=x2+4x+5x2+4x+3. This gives f′(1)=51 — option (C).
The constant π contributes nothing to the derivative, so f′(x)=−dxdcos−1(t)=1−t2t′, where the extra minus sign comes from the derivative of cos−1.
1. Differentiate the inner ratio. With t=x2+4x+5x2+4x+3, both numerator and denominator share the derivative 2x+4, so by the quotient rule
t′=(x2+4x+5)2(2x+4)(x2+4x+5)−(x2+4x+3)(2x+4)=(x2+4x+5)2(2x+4)⋅2=(x2+4x+5)24(x+2).
2. Evaluate the pieces at x=1. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.The local minimum value of the function f(x)=2x−3tan−1x is (A) 3tan−1(21)−2 (B) 2−3tan−1(21) (C) 3tan−1(2)−21 (D) 21−3tan−1(2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The function has a local minimum at x=21, and the minimum value is 2−3tan−1(21), which matches option (B).
The key to this problem is recognizing that a local minimum of a differentiable function occurs where the derivative changes sign from negative to positive. So we first find the critical points by setting f′(x)=0, then classify them using the second derivative test or sign analysis, and finally evaluate the function at the minimum point.
Let’s go step by step.
- Find the derivative. f(x)=2x−3tan−1x Differentiate term by term: dxd(2x)=2 dxd(tan−1x)=1+x21, so
f′(x)=2−1+x23.
- Set the derivative to zero to find critical points.
2−1+x23=0⇒1+x23=2⇒1+x2=23⇒x2=21.
So x=±21 are the two critical points.
- Classify each critical point. Compute the second derivative:
f′′(x)=dxd(2−1+x23)=0−3⋅dxd(1+x2)−1=−3⋅(−1)(1+x2)−2⋅2x=(1+x2)26x.
- At x=21: f′′(21)=(1+21)26⋅21=(3/2)26/2=9/46/2=9224>0. So this is a local minimum. …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-FN1 markMCQQ.If (x2−3x+2)ex−1y=x+2 then (dxdy)x=0= (A) 2 (B) −2 (C) 1 (D) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find y(0)=0 from the equation, then differentiate implicitly: (dxdy)x=0=−2 — option (B).
Given (x2−3x+2)ex−1y=x+2.
Value of y at x=0. Substituting x=0:
2e−y=2 ⇒ e−y=1 ⇒ y=0.
So we work at the point (0,0).
Implicit differentiation. Differentiating both sides w.r.t. x:
(2x−3)ex−1y+(x2−3x+2)ex−1y⋅(x−1)2y′(x−1)−y=1. …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=(sin−1x)2, then (1−x2)dx2d2y−xdxdy= (A) 21 (B) 2 (C) −21 (D) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to differentiate y=(sin−1x)2 twice and substitute into the given expression; the result simplifies to the constant 2, so the correct option is (B).
We start with y=(sin−1x)2. The expression (1−x2)dx2d2y−xdxdy looks like it might simplify nicely because derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions often produce algebraic terms that cancel. The plan: compute dxdy and dx2d2y, then substitute.
- First derivative Let u=sin−1x, so y=u2. Then
dxdy=2u⋅dxdu=2(sin−1x)⋅1−x21.
Hence
dxdy=1−x22sin−1x.
- Second derivative Differentiate dxdy using the quotient rule (or product rule). Write
dxdy=2sin−1x⋅(1−x2)−1/2.
Differentiate:
dx2d2y=2[1−x21⋅(1−x2)−1/2+sin−1x⋅(−21)(1−x2)−3/2⋅(−2x)].
Simplify the second term: (−1/2)(−2x)=x, so
dx2d2y=2[1−x21+(1−x2)3/2xsin−1x].
Thus
dx2d2y=1−x22+(1−x2)3/22xsin−1x.
- Plug into the expression We need (1−x2)dx2d2y−xdxdy. First term: (1−x2)dx2d2y=(1−x2)(1−x22+(1−x2)3/22xsin−1x)=2+1−x22xsin−1x. …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-03-AN1 markMCQQ.If the range of the real valued function f(x)=x2−x+kx2+x+k is [31,3], then k= (A) −2 (B) −1 (C) 1 (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to treat the range condition as a quadratic in x having real solutions, leading to inequalities in k; solving them gives k=1, which is option (C).
We are given
f(x)=x2−x+kx2+x+k
and told its range is exactly [31,3]. That means for every y in that interval, there is some real x such that f(x)=y, and no y outside the interval is attained.
Concept and Intuition
Instead of analyzing the function directly, we set y=f(x) and cross-multiply to get a quadratic in x:
y=x2−x+kx2+x+k⟹y(x2−x+k)=x2+x+k.
Rearranging gives
(y−1)x2−(y+1)x+k(y−1)=0.
For a given y, this quadratic in x has real solutions exactly when its discriminant is non‑negative. The range of f is precisely the set of y for which this discriminant condition holds (and the denominator is not zero, but that will be automatically satisfied for the correct k). So the problem reduces to: find k such that the inequality Δ(y)≥0 yields exactly the interval [31,3].
Step‑by‑step solution
- Set up the discriminant condition The quadratic in x is
(y−1)x2−(y+1)x+k(y−1)=0.
Its discriminant is
Δ(y)=(y+1)2−4(y−1)⋅k(y−1)=(y+1)2−4k(y−1)2.
For real x, we need Δ(y)≥0.
-
Interpret the range condition
The problem says the range is exactly [31,3]. That means:
- For y in [31,3], we have Δ(y)≥0.
- For y outside that interval, Δ(y)<0.
- The endpoints y=31 and y=3 should give Δ(y)=0 (since the range is closed).
-
Use the endpoints to find k
At y=3:
Δ(3)=(3+1)2−4k(3−1)2=16−4k⋅4=16−16k.
Setting Δ(3)=0 gives 16−16k=0⇒k=1.
At y=31:
Δ(31)=(31+1)2−4k(31−1)2=(34)2−4k(−32)2=916−4k⋅94=916−916k.
Setting this to zero also gives 916(1−k)=0⇒k=1.
So k=1 makes both endpoints satisfy Δ=0. …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-09-AN1 markMCQQ.Define f:R→R by f(x)=⎩⎨⎧x21−cos4x,a,16+x−4x,x<0x=0x>0 Then the value of ‘a’ so that f is continuous at x=0 is (A) 8 (B) 4 (C) 2 (D) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
To make f continuous at x=0, the left-hand limit, right-hand limit, and f(0) must all be equal. Computing both limits gives 8, so a=8, which corresponds to option (A).
We need f to be continuous at x=0. That means
limx→0−f(x)=f(0)=limx→0+f(x).
We already know f(0)=a, so we just need to find the two one-sided limits and set them equal to a.
1. Left-hand limit (x→0−)
For x<0,
f(x)=x21−cos4x.
As x→0, cos4x≈1−2(4x)2+⋯, so 1−cos4x≈216x2=8x2.
More rigorously, use the standard limit
limu→0u21−cosu=21.
Let u=4x. Then
x21−cos4x=(4x)21−cos4x⋅16=16⋅(4x)21−cos4x.
As x→0, 4x→0, so
limx→0−f(x)=16⋅21=8.
TipThe identity 1−cosθ=2sin2(θ/2) also works:
x21−cos4x=x22sin22x=8⋅(2x)2sin22x→8.
2. Right-hand limit (x→0+)
For x>0,
f(x)=16+x−4x.
Direct substitution gives 0/0, so we rationalize the denominator:
Multiply numerator and denominator by 16+x+4:
f(x)=(16+x)−16x(16+x+4)… - TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫(1+x−x2)ex+x2dx=f(x)+c, then f(1)−f(−1)= (A) e2−e21 (B) e2+e21 (C) e+e1 (D) e−e1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integrand is the exact derivative of xex+x1, so f(x)=xex+1/x and f(1)−f(−1)=e2+e−2 — option (B).
The concept first
Whenever an exponential eg(x) is multiplied by a bracket, try the product rule backwards:
dxd[h(x)eg(x)]=[h′(x)+h(x)g′(x)]eg(x).
If the bracket can be split as h′+hg′, the antiderivative is simply heg — no integration by parts, no substitution.
Step 1 — Identify g, guess h
The exponent is g(x)=x+x1, so g′(x)=1−x21. Try the simplest candidate h(x)=x (so h′=1):
h′+hg′=1+x(1−x21)=1+x−x1,
which is precisely the bracket multiplying the exponential.
Step 2 — Write the antiderivative
∫(1+x−x1)ex+x1dx=xex+x1+c⇒f(x)=xex+x1.
Step 3 — Evaluate at the two points …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.If 1⋅3⋅5+3⋅5⋅7+5⋅7⋅9+… to n terms =n(n+1)f(n), then f(2)= (A) 12 (B) 42 (C) 18 (D) 20
›Reveal solutionSolution
Sum of the first 2 terms is 120; setting 2⋅3⋅f(2)=120 gives f(2)=20 (option D).
The series is ∑(2r−1)(2r+1)(2r+3), and its sum to n terms is written as n(n+1)f(n).
Evaluate directly for n=2 by adding the first two terms:
1⋅3⋅5=15,3⋅5⋅7=105 …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.If ∫ex(x3+x2−x+4)dx=exf(x)+c, then f(1)= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that integrals of the form ∫exP(x)dx equal exQ(x)+c where Q(x) is a polynomial found by comparing derivatives. Here f(x)=x3−2x2+3x+1, so f(1)=3, making the answer (D).
We are given:
∫ex(x3+x2−x+4)dx=exf(x)+c
and need f(1). The structure suggests that f(x) is a polynomial, because differentiating exf(x) gives ex(f(x)+f′(x)), which must match the integrand ex(x3+x2−x+4). This is a classic method: when the integrand is ex times a polynomial, the antiderivative is ex times another polynomial of the same degree.
- Set up the derivative condition Differentiate the right-hand side:
dxd(exf(x))=exf(x)+exf′(x)=ex(f(x)+f′(x))
This must equal the integrand ex(x3+x2−x+4). Cancel ex (nonzero) to get:
f(x)+f′(x)=x3+x2−x+4
- Assume a polynomial form for f(x) Since the right side is degree 3, f(x) must also be degree 3 (because f′(x) is one degree lower, so the sum’s leading term comes from f(x)). Write:
f(x)=ax3+bx2+cx+d
Then
f′(x)=3ax2+2bx+c
- Match coefficients Substitute into f(x)+f′(x):
(ax3+bx2+cx+d)+(3ax2+2bx+c)=ax3+(b+3a)x2+(c+2b)x+(d+c)
Equate to x3+x2−x+4:
- x3: a=1 …
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=xtanx+(tanx)x, then f′(4π)= (A) 1+2πlog(4eπ) (B) 2π(log4π+1) (C) 1 (D) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The derivative of a sum of two variable-exponent functions is found by logarithmic differentiation on each term separately; evaluating at x=π/4 gives f′(π/4)=1+2πlog4eπ, which matches option (A).
We have f(x)=xtanx+(tanx)x.
To differentiate terms where both base and exponent are functions of x, we use logarithmic differentiation: take the natural log, differentiate implicitly, then solve for the derivative. This works because the exponent is not constant, so the power rule alone fails.
- Differentiate u(x)=xtanx Let u=xtanx. Take logu=tanx⋅logx. Differentiate:
uu′=sec2x⋅logx+tanx⋅x1
So
u′=xtanx(sec2xlogx+xtanx)
- Differentiate v(x)=(tanx)x Let v=(tanx)x. Take logv=x⋅log(tanx). Differentiate:
vv′=log(tanx)+x⋅tanxsec2x
Since tanxsec2x=sinxcosx1=sin2x2, we have
v′=(tanx)x(log(tanx)+sin2x2x)
- Combine
f′(x)=xtanx(sec2xlogx+xtanx)+(tanx)x(log(tanx)+sin2x2x)
-
Evaluate at x=π/4
At x=π/4:
- tan(π/4)=1, so xtanx=(π/4)1=π/4 and (tanx)x=1π/4=1.
- sec2(π/4)=2, log(π/4) stays as is, tan(π/4)=1, sin(2⋅π/4)=sin(π/2)=1.
Plug in:
f′(π/4)=4π(2log4π+π/41)+1(log1+12⋅π/4)
Simplify:
- 4π⋅2log4π=2πlog4π
- 4π⋅π/41=4π⋅π4=1 …
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.If the slope of the tangent drawn at any point (x,y) to the curve y=f(x) is 3x2−5 and f(1)=2, then the tangent at (1,2) to the curve y=f(x) intersects the curve at the point (A) (2,0) (B) (−2,8) (C) (3,−2) (D) (−1,6)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The slope of the tangent is given by the derivative, so we integrate to find f(x), then find the tangent line at (1,2), and solve for its second intersection with the curve. The required point is (−2,8), which corresponds to option (B).
We are told that the slope of the tangent at any point (x,y) on the curve y=f(x) is 3x2−5. That means
dxdy=3x2−5.
Since the derivative is given, we can recover f(x) by integration. Then we will have the full equation of the curve. The tangent line at (1,2) can be written using the slope at that point, and we find where else this line meets the curve — that is the second intersection point.
- Find f(x) by integrating the derivative
f(x)=∫(3x2−5)dx=x3−5x+C.
We use the condition f(1)=2:
13−5(1)+C=2⇒1−5+C=2⇒C=6.
So the curve is
y=x3−5x+6.
- Find the slope of the tangent at (1,2) At x=1,
m=3(1)2−5=−2.
So the tangent line has slope −2 and passes through (1,2). Its equation:
y−2=−2(x−1)⇒y=−2x+4.
- Find intersection points of the tangent and the curve Set the curve equal to the line:
x3−5x+6=−2x+4.
Simplify:
x3−5x+6+2x−4=0⇒x3−3x+2=0.
We already know x=1 is a root (since the tangent touches at (1,2)). Factor out (x−1):
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