Applications

Derivatives of Trig Functions: Applications

1. Find the slope of the tangent to the curve y = x2 – sin2 x at x = 2.

    The slope is, of course, the derivitive, so:

        dy/dx = 2x – 2sin x cos x

        dy/dx = 2(2) -2sin(2) cos(2) = 4.757

        (Note that we use 2 radians.)

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