Derivatives of Parametric, Polar, and Vector Functions - AP Calculus BC
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In general:
If
,
then 
Derivative rules that will be needed here:
- Taking a derivative on a term, or using the power rule, can be done by doing the following:

- When taking derivatives of sums, evaluate with the sum rule which states that the derivative of the sum is the same as the sum of the derivative of each term:

- Special rule when differentiating an exponential function:
, where k is a constant.
In this problem, 



Put it all together to get 

In general:
If ,
then
Derivative rules that will be needed here:
- Taking a derivative on a term, or using the power rule, can be done by doing the following:
- When taking derivatives of sums, evaluate with the sum rule which states that the derivative of the sum is the same as the sum of the derivative of each term:
- Special rule when differentiating an exponential function:
, where k is a constant.
In this problem,
Put it all together to get
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Find the derivative of the following set of parametric equations:


Find the derivative of the following set of parametric equations:
We start by taking the derivative of x and y with respect to t, as both of the equations are only in terms of this variable:


The problem asks us to find the derivative of the parametric equations, dy/dx, and we can see from the work below that the dt term is cancelled when we divide dy/dt by dx/dt, leaving us with dy/dx:

So now that we know dx/dt and dy/dt, all we must do to find the derivative of our parametric equations is divide dy/dt by dx/dt:

We start by taking the derivative of x and y with respect to t, as both of the equations are only in terms of this variable:
The problem asks us to find the derivative of the parametric equations, dy/dx, and we can see from the work below that the dt term is cancelled when we divide dy/dt by dx/dt, leaving us with dy/dx:
So now that we know dx/dt and dy/dt, all we must do to find the derivative of our parametric equations is divide dy/dt by dx/dt:
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Find the derivative of the following polar equation:

Find the derivative of the following polar equation:
Our first step in finding the derivative dy/dx of the polar equation is to find the derivative of r with respect to
. This gives us:

Now that we know dr/d
, we can plug this value into the equation for the derivative of an expression in polar form:

Simplifying the equation, we get our final answer for the derivative of r:

Our first step in finding the derivative dy/dx of the polar equation is to find the derivative of r with respect to . This gives us:
Now that we know dr/d, we can plug this value into the equation for the derivative of an expression in polar form:
Simplifying the equation, we get our final answer for the derivative of r:
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Given that
. We define its gradient as :
![abla f =\left[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{1}} \cdots \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{n}}\right]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336545/gif.latex)
Let
be given by:

What is the gradient of
?
Given that . We define its gradient as :
Let be given by:
What is the gradient of ?
By definition, to find the gradient vector , we will have to find the gradient components. We know that the gradient components are that partial derivatives.
We know that in our case we have :

To see this, fix all other variables and assume that you have only
as the only variable.
Now we apply the given defintion , i.e,
![abla f =\left[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{1}} \cdots \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{n}}\right]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336547/gif.latex)
with :





this gives us the solution .
By definition, to find the gradient vector , we will have to find the gradient components. We know that the gradient components are that partial derivatives.
We know that in our case we have :
To see this, fix all other variables and assume that you have only as the only variable.
Now we apply the given defintion , i.e,
with :
this gives us the solution .
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Let
.
We define the gradient of as:
![abla f =\left[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{1}} \cdots \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{n}}\right]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336548/gif.latex)
Let
.
Find the vector gradient.
Let .
We define the gradient of as:
Let .
Find the vector gradient.
We note first that :

Using the Chain Rule where
is the only variable here.

Using the Chain Rule where
is the only variable here.
Continuing in this fashion we have:

Again using the Chain Rule and assuming that
is the variable and all the others are constant.
Now applying the given definition of the gradient we have the required result.
![[cos(x_{1}+2x_{2}+\cdots nx_{n}) \quad 2cos(x_{1}+2x_{2}+\cdots nx_{n})\quad \cdots\quad ncos(x_{1}+2x_{2}+\cdots nx_{n})\]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336312/gif.latex)
We note first that :
Using the Chain Rule where is the only variable here.
Using the Chain Rule where is the only variable here.
Continuing in this fashion we have:
Again using the Chain Rule and assuming that is the variable and all the others are constant.
Now applying the given definition of the gradient we have the required result.
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What is the derivative of
?
What is the derivative of ?
In order to find the derivative
of a polar equation
, we must first find the derivative of
with respect to
as follows:

We can then swap the given values of
and
into the equation of the derivative of an expression into polar form:




Using the trigonometric identity
, we can deduce that
. Swapping this into the denominator, we get:



In order to find the derivative of a polar equation
, we must first find the derivative of
with respect to
as follows:
We can then swap the given values of and
into the equation of the derivative of an expression into polar form:
Using the trigonometric identity , we can deduce that
. Swapping this into the denominator, we get:
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Let

What is the derivative of
?
Let
What is the derivative of ?
To find the derivative of this vector, all we need to do is to differentiate each component with respect to t.
Use the Power Rule and the Chain Rule when differentiating.
is the derivative of the first component.
of the second component.

is the derivative of the last component . we obtain then:

To find the derivative of this vector, all we need to do is to differentiate each component with respect to t.
Use the Power Rule and the Chain Rule when differentiating.
is the derivative of the first component.
of the second component.
is the derivative of the last component . we obtain then:
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Solve for
if
and
.
Solve for if
and
.
We can determine that
since the
terms will cancel out in the division process.
Since
and
, we can use the Power Rule
for all
to derive
and
.
Thus:
.
We can determine that since the
terms will cancel out in the division process.
Since and
, we can use the Power Rule
for all
to derive
and
.
Thus:
.
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Find the derivative
of the polar function
.
Find the derivative of the polar function
.
The derivative of a polar function is found using the formula

The only unknown piece is
. Recall that the derivative of a constant is zero, and that
, so

Substiting
this into the derivative formula, we find


The derivative of a polar function is found using the formula
The only unknown piece is . Recall that the derivative of a constant is zero, and that
, so
Substiting this into the derivative formula, we find
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Find the first derivative of the polar function
.
Find the first derivative of the polar function
.
In general, the dervative of a function in polar coordinates can be written as
.
Therefore, we need to find
, and then substitute
into the derivative formula.
To find
, the chain rule,
, is necessary.
We also need to know that
.
Therefore,
.
Substituting
into the derivative formula yields

In general, the dervative of a function in polar coordinates can be written as
.
Therefore, we need to find , and then substitute
into the derivative formula.
To find , the chain rule,
, is necessary.
We also need to know that
.
Therefore,
.
Substituting into the derivative formula yields
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Given the parametric curve
, 
Evaluate
when
.
Given the parametric curve
,
Evaluate when
.
To find
, we can use the formula
.
.
And
.
Hence
.
Plugging in
, we get

To find , we can use the formula
.
.
And .
Hence .
Plugging in , we get
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Find
of the following function:
, 
Find of the following function:
,
To find the derivative of the parametric function, we must use the following:

So, we must take the derivative of each component with respect to t:

The derivative was found using the following rules:
,
, 

This derivative was found using the following rule:

Dividing the two and factoring, we get

To find the derivative of the parametric function, we must use the following:
So, we must take the derivative of each component with respect to t:
The derivative was found using the following rules:
,
,
This derivative was found using the following rule:
Dividing the two and factoring, we get
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Find
, where

Find , where
To find the derivative of x with respect to t, we must differentiate both sides of the parametric equation with respect to t:

The derivatives were found using the following rules:
, 
Note that the chain rule was used when taking the derivative of
.
Solving, we get

To find the derivative of x with respect to t, we must differentiate both sides of the parametric equation with respect to t:
The derivatives were found using the following rules:
,
Note that the chain rule was used when taking the derivative of .
Solving, we get
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A particle moves around the xy plane such that its position as a function of time is given by the parametric function:
.
What is the slope,
, of the particle's trajectory when
?
A particle moves around the xy plane such that its position as a function of time is given by the parametric function:
.
What is the slope, , of the particle's trajectory when
?
Evaluate the slope as
.
We have

and

so

Evaluating this when
gives
.
Remark: This curve is one example from family of curves called Lissajous figures, which can be observed on oscilloscopes.
Evaluate the slope as
.
We have
and
so
Evaluating this when gives
.
Remark: This curve is one example from family of curves called Lissajous figures, which can be observed on oscilloscopes.
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Find the derivative of the following set of parametric equations:


Find the derivative of the following set of parametric equations:
We start by taking the derivative of x and y with respect to t, as both of the equations are only in terms of this variable:


The problem asks us to find the derivative of the parametric equations, dy/dx, and we can see from the work below that the dt term is cancelled when we divide dy/dt by dx/dt, leaving us with dy/dx:

So now that we know dx/dt and dy/dt, all we must do to find the derivative of our parametric equations is divide dy/dt by dx/dt:

We start by taking the derivative of x and y with respect to t, as both of the equations are only in terms of this variable:
The problem asks us to find the derivative of the parametric equations, dy/dx, and we can see from the work below that the dt term is cancelled when we divide dy/dt by dx/dt, leaving us with dy/dx:
So now that we know dx/dt and dy/dt, all we must do to find the derivative of our parametric equations is divide dy/dt by dx/dt:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Find the derivative of the following polar equation:

Find the derivative of the following polar equation:
Our first step in finding the derivative dy/dx of the polar equation is to find the derivative of r with respect to
. This gives us:

Now that we know dr/d
, we can plug this value into the equation for the derivative of an expression in polar form:

Simplifying the equation, we get our final answer for the derivative of r:

Our first step in finding the derivative dy/dx of the polar equation is to find the derivative of r with respect to . This gives us:
Now that we know dr/d, we can plug this value into the equation for the derivative of an expression in polar form:
Simplifying the equation, we get our final answer for the derivative of r:
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Given that
. We define its gradient as :
![abla f =\left[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{1}} \cdots \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{n}}\right]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336545/gif.latex)
Let
be given by:

What is the gradient of
?
Given that . We define its gradient as :
Let be given by:
What is the gradient of ?
By definition, to find the gradient vector , we will have to find the gradient components. We know that the gradient components are that partial derivatives.
We know that in our case we have :

To see this, fix all other variables and assume that you have only
as the only variable.
Now we apply the given defintion , i.e,
![abla f =\left[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{1}} \cdots \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{n}}\right]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336547/gif.latex)
with :





this gives us the solution .
By definition, to find the gradient vector , we will have to find the gradient components. We know that the gradient components are that partial derivatives.
We know that in our case we have :
To see this, fix all other variables and assume that you have only as the only variable.
Now we apply the given defintion , i.e,
with :
this gives us the solution .
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Let
.
We define the gradient of as:
![abla f =\left[\frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{1}} \cdots \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_{n}}\right]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336548/gif.latex)
Let
.
Find the vector gradient.
Let .
We define the gradient of as:
Let .
Find the vector gradient.
We note first that :

Using the Chain Rule where
is the only variable here.

Using the Chain Rule where
is the only variable here.
Continuing in this fashion we have:

Again using the Chain Rule and assuming that
is the variable and all the others are constant.
Now applying the given definition of the gradient we have the required result.
![[cos(x_{1}+2x_{2}+\cdots nx_{n}) \quad 2cos(x_{1}+2x_{2}+\cdots nx_{n})\quad \cdots\quad ncos(x_{1}+2x_{2}+\cdots nx_{n})\]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/336312/gif.latex)
We note first that :
Using the Chain Rule where is the only variable here.
Using the Chain Rule where is the only variable here.
Continuing in this fashion we have:
Again using the Chain Rule and assuming that is the variable and all the others are constant.
Now applying the given definition of the gradient we have the required result.
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Let

What is the derivative of
?
Let
What is the derivative of ?
To find the derivative of this vector, all we need to do is to differentiate each component with respect to t.
Use the Power Rule and the Chain Rule when differentiating.
is the derivative of the first component.
of the second component.

is the derivative of the last component . we obtain then:

To find the derivative of this vector, all we need to do is to differentiate each component with respect to t.
Use the Power Rule and the Chain Rule when differentiating.
is the derivative of the first component.
of the second component.
is the derivative of the last component . we obtain then:
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Solve for
if
and
.
Solve for if
and
.
We can determine that
since the
terms will cancel out in the division process.
Since
and
, we can use the Power Rule
for all
to derive
and
.
Thus:
.
We can determine that since the
terms will cancel out in the division process.
Since and
, we can use the Power Rule
for all
to derive
and
.
Thus:
.
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