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Worked solution

Choose useful trig identities before differentiating

Differentiate (a) x2sin⁡xx^2\sin x, (b) (1+tan⁡x)/sec⁡x(1+\tan x)/\sec x, (c) cos⁡2x\sqrt{\cos 2x}, and (d) cot⁡(x2)+sec⁡2x\cot(x^2)+\sec^2x with respect to xx.

CJC · Lecture · Example 7

(a) Use the product rule

d(x2sin⁡x)/dx=x2cos⁡x+2xsin⁡x=x(xcos⁡x+2sin⁡x)d(x^2\sin x)/dx=x^2\cos x+2x\sin x=x(x\cos x+2\sin x), for all real xx. All angles are in radians.

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(b) Simplify on the original domain

Where cos⁡x≠0\cos x\ne0, (1+tan⁡x)/sec⁡x=cos⁡x+sin⁡x(1+\tan x)/\sec x=\cos x+\sin x. Its derivative is −sin⁡x+cos⁡x-\sin x+\cos x. Keep cos⁡x≠0\cos x\ne0: the simplified function has values at excluded inputs, but the original expression does not.

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(c) Differentiate the square root and its inner angle

Write (cos⁡2x)1/2(\cos 2x)^{1/2}. Then y′=12(cos⁡2x)−1/2(−sin⁡2x)(2)=−sin⁡2x/cos⁡2xy^{\prime}=\frac12(\cos 2x)^{-1/2}(-\sin2x)(2)=-\sin2x/\sqrt{\cos2x}. The source’s Teacher-filled chain steps are retained. The real function requires cos⁡2x≥0\cos2x\ge0; the finite derivative formula requires cos⁡2x>0\cos2x>0.

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(d) Differentiate the composed cotangent and squared secant

d[cot⁡(x2)]/dx=−csc⁡2(x2)(2x)d[\cot(x^2)]/dx=-\csc^2(x^2)(2x) and d[sec⁡2x]/dx=2sec⁡x(sec⁡xtan⁡x)d[\sec^2x]/dx=2\sec x(\sec x\tan x). Hence y′=−2xcsc⁡2(x2)+2sec⁡2xtan⁡xy^{\prime}=-2x\csc^2(x^2)+2\sec^2x\tan x. Retain sin⁡(x2)≠0\sin(x^2)\ne0 and cos⁡x≠0\cos x\ne0. The source writes cosec where this lesson uses the equivalent notation csc.

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Common mistakes

Do not confuse cot(x²) with cot²x. An identity used to simplify a function does not enlarge its original domain.

Solution notes

Printed asks and complete working compared with both source copies. No printed marks or past-paper attribution. Domain explanations independently authored where the source leaves them implicit.

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