Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Derivatives
A derivative represents the rate of change of a function with respect to its variable. It is a fundamental concept in calculus that provides information about the slope of the tangent line to the curve of the function at any given point. The derivative is denoted as f'(x) and can be calculated using various rules, such as the power rule, product rule, and quotient rule.
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Power Rule
The power rule is a basic differentiation rule used to find the derivative of functions in the form f(x) = x^n, where n is a real number. According to this rule, the derivative f'(x) is calculated as n*x^(n-1). This rule simplifies the process of differentiation, especially for polynomial functions, making it easier to evaluate derivatives at specific points.
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Evaluating Derivatives at Specific Points
Evaluating the derivative at a specific point involves substituting the value of that point into the derivative function. For example, if f'(x) is found, to evaluate f'(a) for a given value of a, simply replace x with a in the derivative expression. This process yields the instantaneous rate of change of the function at that particular point, providing insights into the function's behavior.
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