Formative #3: Derivatives

1. Consider a function, f (x), with f 0 (18) = −4.

(a) What does this tell you about the function, f (x), numerically?

(b) What does this tell you about the function, f (x), graphically?

(c) If f (18) = 24, what is your best estimate for f (19)?

2. The temperature, T , in degrees Fahrenheit, of a cold yam placed in a hot oven is given by T = h(t),
where t is the time in minutes since the yam was put into the oven.

(a) What does h(20) = 125 mean in the context of this application? (What are the units here?)

(b) What does h0 (20) = 12.3 mean in the context of this application? (What are the units here?)

(c) Use this information to estimate the temperature of the yam 21 minutes after the yam was put
into the oven.
3. Below is the graph of a derivative function, f 0 (x). Choose which of the following graphs could be the
graph of the function f (x).

Give some justification for your choice.

4. If f (x) = x2 , find the equation of the tangent line at (3,9).