# 1.E: Understanding the Derivative (Exercises)


## 1.1: How do we Measure Velocity?

##### 6

A bungee jumper dives from a tower at time $$t=0\text{.}$$ Her height $$h$$ (measured in feet) at time $$t$$ (in seconds) is given by the graph in Figure 1.1.4. In this problem, you may base your answers on estimates from the graph or use the fact that the jumper's height function is given by $$s(t) = 100\cos(0.75t) \cdot e^{-0.2t}+100\text{.}$$

1. What is the change in vertical position of the bungee jumper between $$t=0$$ and $$t=15\text{?}$$
2. Estimate the jumper's average velocity on each of the following time intervals: $$[0,15]\text{,}$$ $$[0,2]\text{,}$$ $$[1,6]\text{,}$$ and $$[8,10]\text{.}$$ Include units on your answers.
3. On what time interval(s) do you think the bungee jumper achieves her greatest average velocity? Why?
4. Estimate the jumper's instantaneous velocity at $$t=5\text{.}$$ Show your work and explain your reasoning, and include units on your answer.
5. Among the average and instantaneous velocities you computed in earlier questions, which are positive and which are negative? What does negative velocity indicate?
##### 7

A diver leaps from a 3 meter springboard. His feet leave the board at time $$t=0\text{,}$$ he reaches his maximum height of 4.5 m at $$t = 1.1$$ seconds, and enters the water at $$t = 2.45\text{.}$$ Once in the water, the diver coasts to the bottom of the pool (depth 3.5 m), touches bottom at $$t=7\text{,}$$ rests for one second, and then pushes off the bottom. From there he coasts to the surface, and takes his first breath at $$t=13\text{.}$$

1. a. Let $$s(t)$$ denote the function that gives the height of the diver's feet (in meters) above the water at time $$t\text{.}$$ (Note that the “height” of the bottom of the pool is $$-3.5$$ meters.) Sketch a carefully labeled graph of $$s(t)$$ on the provided axes in Figure 1.1.5. Include scale and units on the vertical axis. Be as detailed as possible.
1. Based on your graph in (a), what is the average velocity of the diver between $$t = 2.45$$ and $$t=7\text{?}$$ Is his average velocity the same on every time interval within $$[2.45,7]\text{?}$$
2. Let the function $$v(t)$$ represent the instantaneous vertical velocity of the diver at time $$t$$ (i.e. the speed at which the height function $$s(t)$$ is changing; note that velocity in the upward direction is positive, while the velocity of a falling object is negative). Based on your understanding of the diver's behavior, as well as your graph of the position function, sketch a carefully labeled graph of $$v(t)$$ on the axes provided in Figure 1.1.6. Include scale and units on the vertical axis. Write several sentences that explain how you constructed your graph, discussing when you expect $$v(t)$$ to be zero, positive, negative, relatively large, and relatively small.
3. Is there a connection between the two graphs that you can describe? What can you say about the velocity graph when the height function is increasing? decreasing? Make as many observations as you can.
##### 8

According to the U.S. census, the population of the city of Grand Rapids, MI, was 181,843 in 1980; 189,126 in 1990; and 197,800 in 2000.

1. Between 1980 and 2000, by how many people did the population of Grand Rapids grow?
2. In an average year between 1980 and 2000, by how many people did the population of Grand Rapids grow?
3. Just like we can find the average velocity of a moving body by computing change in position over change in time, we can compute the average rate of change of any function $$f\text{.}$$ In particular, the average rate of change of a function $$f$$ over an interval $$[a,b]$$ is the quotient $\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}\text{.} \nonumber$ What does the quantity $$\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}$$ measure on the graph of $$y = f(x)$$ over the interval $$[a,b]\text{?}$$
4. Let $$P(t)$$ represent the population of Grand Rapids at time $$t\text{,}$$ where $$t$$ is measured in years from January 1, 1980. What is the average rate of change of $$P$$ on the interval $$t = 0$$ to $$t = 20\text{?}$$ What are the units on this quantity?
5. If we assume the population of Grand Rapids is growing at a rate of approximately 4% per decade, we can model the population function with the formula $P(t) = 181843 (1.04)^{t/10}\text{.} \nonumber$ Use this formula to compute the average rate of change of the population on the intervals $$[5,10]\text{,}$$ $$[5,9]\text{,}$$ $$[5,8]\text{,}$$ $$[5,7]\text{,}$$ and $$[5,6]\text{.}$$
6. How fast do you think the population of Grand Rapids was changing on January 1, 1985? Said differently, at what rate do you think people were being added to the population of Grand Rapids as of January 1, 1985? How many additional people should the city have expected in the following year? Why?

## 1.2: The Notion of Limit

##### Exercise 5

Consider the function whose formula is $$f(x) = \frac{16-x^4}{x^2-4}\text{.}$$

1. What is the domain of $$f\text{?}$$
2. Use a sequence of values of $$x$$ near $$a = 2$$ to estimate the value of $$\lim_{x \to 2} f(x)\text{,}$$ if you think the limit exists. If you think the limit doesn't exist, explain why.
3. Use algebra to simplify the expression $$\frac{16-x^4}{x^2-4}$$ and hence work to evaluate $$\lim_{x \to 2} f(x)$$ exactly, if it exists, or to explain how your work shows the limit fails to exist. Discuss how your findings compare to your results in (b).
4. True or false: $$f(2) = -8\text{.}$$ Why?
5. True or false: $$\frac{16-x^4}{x^2-4} = -4-x^2\text{.}$$ Why? How is this equality connected to your work above with the function $$f\text{?}$$
6. Based on all of your work above, construct an accurate, labeled graph of $$y = f(x)$$ on the interval $$[1,3]\text{,}$$ and write a sentence that explains what you now know about $$\lim_{x \to 2} \frac{16-x^4}{x^2-4}\text{.}$$
##### Exercise 6

Let $$g(x) = -\frac{|x+3|}{x+3}\text{.}$$

1. What is the domain of $$g\text{?}$$
2. Use a sequence of values near $$a = -3$$ to estimate the value of $$\lim_{x \to -3} g(x)\text{,}$$ if you think the limit exists. If you think the limit doesn't exist, explain why.
3. Use algebra to simplify the expression $$\frac{|x+3|}{x+3}$$ and hence work to evaluate $$\lim_{x \to -3} g(x)$$ exactly, if it exists, or to explain how your work shows the limit fails to exist. Discuss how your findings compare to your results in (b). (Hint: $$|a| = a$$ whenever $$a \ge 0\text{,}$$ but $$|a| = -a$$ whenever $$a \lt 0\text{.}$$)
4. True or false: $$g(-3) = -1\text{.}$$ Why?
5. True or false: $$-\frac{|x+3|}{x+3} = -1\text{.}$$ Why? How is this equality connected to your work above with the function $$g\text{?}$$
6. Based on all of your work above, construct an accurate, labeled graph of $$y = g(x)$$ on the interval $$[-4,-2]\text{,}$$ and write a sentence that explains what you now know about $$\lim_{x \to -3} g(x)\text{.}$$
##### Exercise 7

For each of the following prompts, sketch a graph on the provided axes of a function that has the stated properties.

1. $$y = f(x)$$ such that
• $$f(-2) = 2$$ and $$\lim_{x \to -2} f(x) = 1$$
• $$f(-1) = 3$$ and $$\lim_{x \to -1} f(x) = 3$$
• $$f(1)$$ is not defined and $$\lim_{x \to 1} f(x) = 0$$
• $$f(2) = 1$$ and $$\lim_{x \to 2} f(x)$$ does not exist.
2. $$y = g(x)$$ such that
• $$g(-2) = 3\text{,}$$ $$g(-1) = -1\text{,}$$ $$g(1) = -2\text{,}$$ and $$g(2) = 3$$
• At $$x = -2, -1, 1$$ and $$2\text{,}$$ $$g$$ has a limit, and its limit equals the value of the function at that point.
• $$g(0)$$ is not defined and $$\lim_{x \to 0} g(x)$$ does not exist.
##### Exercise 8

A bungee jumper dives from a tower at time $$t=0\text{.}$$ Her height $$s$$ in feet at time $$t$$ in seconds is given by $$s(t) = 100\cos(0.75t) \cdot e^{-0.2t}+100\text{.}$$

1. Write an expression for the average velocity of the bungee jumper on the interval $$[1,1+h]\text{.}$$
2. Use computing technology to estimate the value of the limit as $$h \to 0$$ of the quantity you found in (a).
3. What is the meaning of the value of the limit in (b)? What are its units?

## 1.3: The Derivative of a Function at a Point

##### 6.

Consider the graph of $$y = f(x)$$ provided in Figure 1.3.12.

1. On the graph of $$y = f(x)\text{,}$$ sketch and label the following quantities:
• the secant line to $$y = f(x)$$ on the interval $$[-3,-1]$$ and the secant line to $$y = f(x)$$ on the interval $$[0,2]\text{.}$$
• the tangent line to $$y = f(x)$$ at $$x = -3$$ and the tangent line to $$y = f(x)$$ at $$x = 0\text{.}$$
2. What is the approximate value of the average rate of change of $$f$$ on $$[-3,-1]\text{?}$$ On $$[0,2]\text{?}$$ How are these values related to your work in (a)?
3. What is the approximate value of the instantaneous rate of change of $$f$$ at $$x = -3\text{?}$$ At $$x = 0\text{?}$$ How are these values related to your work in (a)?

##### 7.

For each of the following prompts, sketch a graph on the provided axes in Figure 1.3.13 of a function that has the stated properties.

1. $$y = f(x)$$ such that
• the average rate of change of $$f$$ on $$[-3,0]$$ is $$-2$$ and the average rate of change of $$f$$ on $$[1,3]$$ is 0.5, and
• the instantaneous rate of change of $$f$$ at $$x = -1$$ is $$-1$$ and the instantaneous rate of change of $$f$$ at $$x = 2$$ is 1.
2. $$y = g(x)$$ such that
• $$\frac{g(3)-g(-2)}{5} = 0$$ and $$\frac{g(1)-g(-1)}{2} = -1\text{,}$$ and
• $$g'(2) = 1$$ and $$g'(-1) = 0$$
##### 8.

Suppose that the population, $$P\text{,}$$ of China (in billions) can be approximated by the function $$P(t) = 1.15(1.014)^t$$ where $$t$$ is the number of years since the start of 1993.

1. According to the model, what was the total change in the population of China between January 1, 1993 and January 1, 2000? What will be the average rate of change of the population over this time period? Is this average rate of change greater or less than the instantaneous rate of change of the population on January 1, 2000? Explain and justify, being sure to include proper units on all your answers.
2. According to the model, what is the average rate of change of the population of China in the ten-year period starting on January 1, 2012?
3. Write an expression involving limits that, if evaluated, would give the exact instantaneous rate of change of the population on today's date. Then estimate the value of this limit (discuss how you chose to do so) and explain the meaning (including units) of the value you have found.
4. Find an equation for the tangent line to the function $$y = P(t)$$ at the point where the $$t$$-value is given by today's date.
##### 9.

The goal of this problem is to compute the value of the derivative at a point for several different functions, where for each one we do so in three different ways, and then to compare the results to see that each produces the same value.

For each of the following functions, use the limit definition of the derivative to compute the value of $$f'(a)$$ using three different approaches: strive to use the algebraic approach first (to compute the limit exactly), then test your result using numerical evidence (with small values of $$h$$), and finally plot the graph of $$y = f(x)$$ near $$(a,f(a))$$ along with the appropriate tangent line to estimate the value of $$f'(a)$$ visually. Compare your findings among all three approaches; if you are unable to complete the algebraic approach, still work numerically and graphically.

1. $$f(x) = x^2 - 3x\text{,}$$ $$a = 2$$
2. $$f(x) = \frac{1}{x}\text{,}$$ $$a = 1$$
3. $$f(x) = \sqrt{x}\text{,}$$ $$a = 1$$
4. $$f(x) = 2 - |x-1|\text{,}$$ $$a = 1$$
5. $$f(x) = \sin(x)\text{,}$$ $$a = \frac{\pi}{2}$$

## 1.4: The Derivative Function

##### 6

Let $$f$$ be a function with the following properties: $$f$$ is differentiable at every value of $$x$$ (that is, $$f$$ has a derivative at every point), $$f(-2) = 1\text{,}$$ and $$f'(-2) = -2\text{,}$$ $$f'(-1) = -1\text{,}$$ $$f'(0) = 0\text{,}$$ $$f'(1) = 1\text{,}$$ and $$f'(2) = 2\text{.}$$

a. On the axes provided at left in Figure 1.4.3, sketch a possible graph of $$y = f(x)\text{.}$$ Explain why your graph meets the stated criteria.

b. Conjecture a formula for the function $$y = f(x)\text{.}$$ Use the limit definition of the derivative to determine the corresponding formula for $$y = f'(x)\text{.}$$ Discuss both graphical and algebraic evidence for whether or not your conjecture is correct.

##### 7.

Consider the function $$g(x) = x^2 - x + 3\text{.}$$

1. Use the limit definition of the derivative to determine a formula for $$g'(x)\text{.}$$
2. Use a graphing utility to plot both $$y = g(x)$$ and your result for $$y = g'(x)\text{;}$$ does your formula for $$g'(x)$$ generate the graph you expected?
3. Use the limit definition of the derivative to find a formula for $$p'(x)$$ where $$p(x) = 5x^2 - 4x + 12\text{.}$$
4. Compare and contrast the formulas for $$g'(x)$$ and $$p'(x)$$ you have found. How do the constants 5, 4, 12, and 3 affect the results?
##### 8.

Let $$g$$ be a continuous function (that is, one with no jumps or holes in the graph) and suppose that a graph of $$y= g'(x)$$ is given by the graph on the right in Figure 1.4.4.

1. Observe that for every value of $$x$$ that satisfies $$0 \lt x \lt 2\text{,}$$ the value of $$g'(x)$$ is constant. What does this tell you about the behavior of the graph of $$y = g(x)$$ on this interval?
2. On what intervals other than $$0 \lt x \lt 2$$ do you expect $$y = g(x)$$ to be a linear function? Why?
3. At which values of $$x$$ is $$g'(x)$$ not defined? What behavior does this lead you to expect to see in the graph of $$y=g(x)\text{?}$$
4. Suppose that $$g(0) = 1\text{.}$$ On the axes provided at left in Figure 1.4.4, sketch an accurate graph of $$y = g(x)\text{.}$$
##### 9

For each graph that provides an original function $$y = f(x)$$ in Figure 1.4.5, your task is to sketch an approximate graph of its derivative function, $$y = f'(x)\text{,}$$ on the axes immediately below. View the scale of the grid for the graph of $$f$$ as being $$1 \times 1\text{,}$$ and assume the horizontal scale of the grid for the graph of $$f'$$ is identical to that for $$f\text{.}$$ If you need to adjust the vertical scale on the axes for the graph of $$f'\text{,}$$ you should label that accordingly.

## 1.5: Interpretating, Estimating, and Using the Derivative

##### 5

A cup of coffee has its temperature $$F$$ (in degrees Fahrenheit) at time $$t$$ given by the function $$F(t) = 75 + 110 e^{-0.05t}\text{,}$$ where time is measured in minutes.

1. Use a central difference with $$h = 0.01$$ to estimate the value of $$F'(10)\text{.}$$
2. What are the units on the value of $$F'(10)$$ that you computed in (a)? What is the practical meaning of the value of $$F'(10)\text{?}$$
3. Which do you expect to be greater: $$F'(10)$$ or $$F'(20)\text{?}$$ Why?
4. Write a sentence that describes the behavior of the function $$y = F'(t)$$ on the time interval $$0 \le t \le 30\text{.}$$ How do you think its graph will look? Why?
##### 6.

The temperature change $$T$$ (in Fahrenheit degrees), in a patient, that is generated by a dose $$q$$ (in milliliters), of a drug, is given by the function $$T = f(q)\text{.}$$

1. What does it mean to say $$f(50) = 0.75\text{?}$$ Write a complete sentence to explain, using correct units.
2. A person's sensitivity, $$s\text{,}$$ to the drug is defined by the function $$s(q) = f'(q)\text{.}$$ What are the units of sensitivity?
3. Suppose that $$f'(50) = -0.02\text{.}$$ Write a complete sentence to explain the meaning of this value. Include in your response the information given in (a).
##### 7.

The velocity of a ball that has been tossed vertically in the air is given by $$v(t) = 16 - 32t\text{,}$$ where $$v$$ is measured in feet per second, and $$t$$ is measured in seconds. The ball is in the air from $$t = 0$$ until $$t = 2\text{.}$$

1. When is the ball's velocity greatest?
2. Determine the value of $$v'(1)\text{.}$$ Justify your thinking.
3. What are the units on the value of $$v'(1)\text{?}$$ What does this value and the corresponding units tell you about the behavior of the ball at time $$t = 1\text{?}$$
4. What is the physical meaning of the function $$v'(t)\text{?}$$
##### 8.

The value, $$V\text{,}$$ of a particular automobile (in dollars) depends on the number of miles, $$m\text{,}$$ the car has been driven, according to the function $$V = h(m)\text{.}$$

1. Suppose that $$h(40000) = 15500$$ and $$h(55000) = 13200\text{.}$$ What is the average rate of change of $$h$$ on the interval $$[40000,55000]\text{,}$$ and what are the units on this value?
2. In addition to the information given in (a), say that $$h(70000) = 11100\text{.}$$ Determine the best possible estimate of $$h'(55000)$$ and write one sentence to explain the meaning of your result, including units on your answer.
3. Which value do you expect to be greater: $$h'(30000)$$ or $$h'(80000)\text{?}$$ Why?
4. Write a sentence to describe the long-term behavior of the function $$V = h(m)\text{,}$$ plus another sentence to describe the long-term behavior of $$h'(m)\text{.}$$ Provide your discussion in practical terms regarding the value of the car and the rate at which that value is changing.

## 1.6: The Second Derivative

##### 6

Suppose that $$y = f(x)$$ is a twice-differentiable function such that $$f''$$ is continuous for which the following information is known: $$f(2) = -3\text{,}$$ $$f'(2) = 1.5\text{,}$$ $$f''(2) = -0.25\text{.}$$

1. Is $$f$$ increasing or decreasing near $$x = 2\text{?}$$ Is $$f$$ concave up or concave down near $$x = 2\text{?}$$
2. Do you expect $$f(2.1)$$ to be greater than $$-3\text{,}$$ equal to $$-3\text{,}$$ or less than $$-3\text{?}$$ Why?
3. Do you expect $$f'(2.1)$$ to be greater than $$1.5\text{,}$$ equal to $$1.5\text{,}$$ or less than $$1.5\text{?}$$ Why?
4. Sketch a graph of $$y = f(x)$$ near $$(2,f(2))$$ and include a graph of the tangent line.
##### 7.

For a certain function $$y = g(x)\text{,}$$ its derivative is given by the function pictured in Figure 1.6.15.

1. What is the approximate slope of the tangent line to $$y = g(x)$$ at the point $$(2,g(2))\text{?}$$
2. How many real number solutions can there be to the equation $$g(x) = 0\text{?}$$ Justify your conclusion fully and carefully by explaining what you know about how the graph of $$g$$ must behave based on the given graph of $$g'\text{.}$$
3. On the interval $$-3 \lt x \lt 3\text{,}$$ how many times does the concavity of $$g$$ change? Why?
4. Use the provided graph to estimate the value of $$g''(2)\text{.}$$
##### 8

A bungee jumper's height $$h$$ (in feet ) at time $$t$$ (in seconds) is given in part by the table:

 $$t$$ $$0.0$$ $$0.5$$ $$1.0$$ $$1.5$$ $$2.0$$ $$2.5$$ $$3.0$$ $$3.5$$ $$4.0$$ $$4.5$$ $$5.0$$ $$h(t)$$ $$200$$ $$184.2$$ $$159.9$$ $$131.9$$ $$104.7$$ $$81.8$$ $$65.5$$ $$56.8$$ $$55.5$$ $$60.4$$ $$69.8$$
 $$t$$ $$5.5$$ $$6.0$$ $$6.5$$ $$7.0$$ $$7.5$$ $$8.0$$ $$8.5$$ $$9.0$$ $$9.5$$ $$10.0$$ $$h(t)$$ $$81.6$$ $$93.7$$ $$104.4$$ $$112.6$$ $$117.7$$ $$119.4$$ $$118.2$$ $$114.8$$ $$110.0$$ $$104.7$$
1. Use the given data to estimate $$h'(4.5)\text{,}$$ $$h'(5)\text{,}$$ and $$h'(5.5)\text{.}$$ At which of these times is the bungee jumper rising most rapidly?
2. Use the given data and your work in (a) to estimate $$h''(5)\text{.}$$
3. What physical property of the bungee jumper does the value of $$h''(5)$$ measure? What are its units?
4. Based on the data, on what approximate time intervals is the function $$y = h(t)$$ concave down? What is happening to the velocity of the bungee jumper on these time intervals?
##### 9

For each prompt that follows, sketch a possible graph of a function on the interval $$-3 \lt x \lt 3$$ that satisfies the stated properties.

1. $$y = f(x)$$ such that $$f$$ is increasing on $$-3 \lt x \lt 3\text{,}$$ concave up on $$-3 \lt x \lt 0\text{,}$$ and concave down on $$0 \lt x \lt 3\text{.}$$
2. $$y = g(x)$$ such that $$g$$ is increasing on $$-3 \lt x \lt 3\text{,}$$ concave down on $$-3 \lt x \lt 0\text{,}$$ and concave up on $$0 \lt x \lt 3\text{.}$$
3. $$y = h(x)$$ such that $$h$$ is decreasing on $$-3 \lt x \lt 3\text{,}$$ concave up on $$-3 \lt x \lt -1\text{,}$$ neither concave up nor concave down on $$-1 \lt x \lt 1\text{,}$$ and concave down on $$1 \lt x \lt 3\text{.}$$
4. $$y = p(x)$$ such that $$p$$ is decreasing and concave down on $$-3 \lt x \lt 0$$ and is increasing and concave down on $$0 \lt x \lt 3\text{.}$$

## 1.7: Limits, Continuity, and Differentiability

##### 5.

Consider the graph of the function $$y = p(x)$$ that is provided in Figure 1.7.10. Assume that each portion of the graph of $$p$$ is a straight line, as pictured.

1. State all values of $$a$$ for which $$\lim_{x \to a} p(x)$$ does not exist.
2. State all values of $$a$$ for which $$p$$ is not continuous at $$a\text{.}$$
3. State all values of $$a$$ for which $$p$$ is not differentiable at $$x = a\text{.}$$
4. On the axes provided in Figure 1.7.10, sketch an accurate graph of $$y = p'(x)\text{.}$$
##### 6.

For each of the following prompts, give an example of a function that satisfies the stated criteria. A formula or a graph, with reasoning, is sufficient for each. If no such example is possible, explain why.

1. A function $$f$$ that is continuous at $$a = 2$$ but not differentiable at $$a = 2\text{.}$$
2. A function $$g$$ that is differentiable at $$a = 3$$ but does not have a limit at $$a=3\text{.}$$
3. A function $$h$$ that has a limit at $$a = -2\text{,}$$ is defined at $$a = -2\text{,}$$ but is not continuous at $$a = -2\text{.}$$
4. A function $$p$$ that satisfies all of the following:
• $$p(-1) = 3$$ and $$\lim_{x \to -1} p(x) = 2$$
• $$p(0) = 1$$ and $$p'(0) = 0$$
• $$\lim_{x \to 1} p(x) = p(1)$$ and $$p'(1)$$ does not exist
##### 7.

Let $$h(x)$$ be a function whose derivative $$y= h'(x)$$ is given by the graph on the right in Figure 1.7.11.

1. Based on the graph of $$y = h'(x)\text{,}$$ what can you say about the behavior of the function $$y = h(x)\text{?}$$
2. At which values of $$x$$ is $$y = h'(x)$$ not defined? What behavior does this lead you to expect to see in the graph of $$y=h(x)\text{?}$$
3. Is it possible for $$y = h(x)$$ to have points where $$h$$ is not continuous? Explain your answer.
4. On the axes provided at left, sketch at least two distinct graphs that are possible functions $$y = h(x)$$ that each have a derivative $$y = h'(x)$$ that matches the provided graph at right. Explain why there are multiple possibilities for $$y = h(x)\text{.}$$

##### 8.

Consider the function $$g(x) = \sqrt{|x|}\text{.}$$

1. Use a graph to explain visually why $$g$$ is not differentiable at $$x = 0\text{.}$$
2. Use the limit definition of the derivative to show that
$g'(0) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{\sqrt{|h|}}{h}\text{.} \nonumber$
3. Investigate the value of $$g'(0)$$ by estimating the limit in (b) using small positive and negative values of $$h\text{.}$$ For instance, you might compute $$\frac{\sqrt{|-0.01|}}{0.01}\text{.}$$ Be sure to use several different values of $$h$$ (both positive and negative), including ones closer to 0 than 0.01. What do your results tell you about $$g'(0)\text{?}$$
4. Use your graph in (a) to sketch an approximate graph of $$y = g'(x)\text{.}$$

## 1.8: The Tangent Line Approximation

##### 5

A certain function $$y=p(x)$$ has its local linearization at $$a = 3$$ given by $$L(x) = -2x + 5\text{.}$$

1. What are the values of $$p(3)$$ and $$p'(3)\text{?}$$ Why?
2. Estimate the value of $$p(2.79)\text{.}$$
3. Suppose that $$p''(3) = 0$$ and you know that $$p''(x) \lt 0$$ for $$x \lt 3\text{.}$$ Is your estimate in (b) too large or too small?
4. Suppose that $$p''(x) \gt 0$$ for $$x \gt 3\text{.}$$ Use this fact and the additional information above to sketch an accurate graph of $$y = p(x)$$ near $$x = 3\text{.}$$ Include a sketch of $$y = L(x)$$ in your work.
##### 6

A potato is placed in an oven, and the potato's temperature $$F$$ (in degrees Fahrenheit) at various points in time is taken and recorded in the following table. Time $$t$$ is measured in minutes.

Table 1.8.7. Temperature data for the potato.
$$t$$ $$F(t)$$
$$0$$ $$70$$
$$15$$ $$180.5$$
$$30$$ $$251$$
$$45$$ $$296$$
$$60$$ $$324.5$$
$$75$$ $$342.8$$
$$90$$ $$354.5$$
1. Use a central difference to estimate $$F'(60)\text{.}$$ Use this estimate as needed in subsequent questions.
2. Find the local linearization $$y = L(t)$$ to the function $$y = F(t)$$ at the point where $$a = 60\text{.}$$
3. Determine an estimate for $$F(63)$$ by employing the local linearization.
4. Do you think your estimate in (c) is too large or too small? Why?
##### 7

An object moving along a straight line path has a differentiable position function $$y = s(t)\text{;}$$ $$s(t)$$ measures the object's position relative to the origin at time $$t\text{.}$$ It is known that at time $$t = 9$$ seconds, the object's position is $$s(9) = 4$$ feet (i.e., 4 feet to the right of the origin). Furthermore, the object's instantaneous velocity at $$t = 9$$ is $$-1.2$$ feet per second, and its acceleration at the same instant is $$0.08$$ feet per second per second.

1. Use local linearity to estimate the position of the object at $$t = 9.34\text{.}$$
2. Is your estimate likely too large or too small? Why?
3. In everyday language, describe the behavior of the moving object at $$t = 9\text{.}$$ Is it moving toward the origin or away from it? Is its velocity increasing or decreasing?
##### 8

For a certain function $$f\text{,}$$ its derivative is known to be $$f'(x) = (x-1)e^{-x^2}\text{.}$$ Note that you do not know a formula for $$y = f(x)\text{.}$$

1. At what $$x$$-value(s) is $$f'(x) = 0\text{?}$$ Justify your answer algebraically, but include a graph of $$f'$$ to support your conclusion.
2. Reasoning graphically, for what intervals of $$x$$-values is $$f''(x) \gt 0\text{?}$$ What does this tell you about the behavior of the original function $$f\text{?}$$ Explain.
3. Assuming that $$f(2) = -3\text{,}$$ estimate the value of $$f(1.88)$$ by finding and using the tangent line approximation to $$f$$ at $$x=2\text{.}$$ Is your estimate larger or smaller than the true value of $$f(1.88)\text{?}$$ Justify your answer.

1.E: Understanding the Derivative (Exercises) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.