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2.05 Differentiation and exponential functions

Interactive practice questions

Approximate $\frac{a^h-1}{h}$ah1h for different values of $a$a by filling in the gaps in the table below. Round your answers to six decimal places where necessary.

a
$h$h $2$2 $e$e $5$5
$1$1 $1$1 $1.718282$1.718282 $\editable{}$
$0.1$0.1 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
$0.01$0.01 $0.695555$0.695555 $1.005017$1.005017 $1.622459$1.622459
$0.001$0.001 $0.693387$0.693387 $1.000500$1.000500 $1.610734$1.610734
$0.0001$0.0001 $0.693171$0.693171 $1.000050$1.000050 $1.609567$1.609567
$0.00001$0.00001 $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$
b

For which of these values of $a$a is $\lim_{h\to0}\left(\frac{a^h-1}{h}\right)=1$limh0(ah1h)=1?

$2$2

A

$e$e

B

$5$5

C

None of these three values.

D
Easy
1min

We wish to determine the gradient function of $f\left(x\right)=e^x$f(x)=ex by first principles.

Hard
9min

The value of $e^x$ex, where $e$e is the natural base, can be given by the expansion below:

$e^x=1+\frac{x}{1!}+\frac{x^2}{2!}+\frac{x^3}{3!}+\frac{x^4}{4!}+\frac{x^5}{5!}+\text{. . .}$ex=1+x1!+x22!+x33!+x44!+x55!+. . .

Easy
2min

Consider the function $f\left(x\right)=e^x$f(x)=ex.

Easy
1min
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Outcomes

3.1.3

establish and use the formula d/dx(e^x)=e^x

3.1.4

use exponential functions and their derivatives to solve practical problem

3.1.9

apply the product, quotient and chain rule to differentiate functions such as xe^x, tan⁡x,1/x^n, x sin⁡x, e^(−x)sin⁡x and f(ax-b)

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