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Derivative of a product involving an exponential and secant

Let g(x)=e3xsec⁡(x)g(x) = e^{3x} \sec(x). Using the product rule together with the chain rule (to differentiate e3xe^{3x} and sec⁡(x)\sec(x)), find g′(x)g'(x), and then evaluate g′(0)g'(0).

Hint

Apply the product rule with f(x)=e3xf(x) = e^{3x} and h(x)=sec⁡(x)h(x) = \sec(x). For f′(x)f'(x), use the chain rule: the derivative of eue^{u} is eu⋅u′e^{u}\cdot u' with u=3xu = 3x. Recall that ddx[sec⁡x]=sec⁡xtan⁡x\frac{d}{dx}[\sec x] = \sec x \tan x. Then plug in x=0x=0, using sec⁡(0)=1\sec(0)=1 and tan⁡(0)=0\tan(0)=0.

Step-by-step solution

By the product rule, g′(x)=ddx[e3x]⋅sec⁡(x)+e3x⋅ddx[sec⁡(x)]g'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}[e^{3x}]\cdot \sec(x) + e^{3x}\cdot \frac{d}{dx}[\sec(x)]. The chain rule gives ddx[e3x]=3e3x\frac{d}{dx}[e^{3x}] = 3e^{3x} (outer function eue^u, inner function u=3xu=3x), and ddx[sec⁡x]=sec⁡xtan⁡x\frac{d}{dx}[\sec x] = \sec x \tan x. So g′(x)=3e3xsec⁡(x)+e3xsec⁡(x)tan⁡(x)g'(x) = 3e^{3x}\sec(x) + e^{3x}\sec(x)\tan(x).

Now evaluate at x=0x=0: sec⁡(0)=1\sec(0) = 1 and tan⁡(0)=0\tan(0) = 0, and e3⋅0=e0=1e^{3\cdot 0} = e^0 = 1. Substituting gives g′(0)=3(1)(1)+(1)(1)(0)=3g'(0) = 3(1)(1) + (1)(1)(0) = 3.

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