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Derivative of a quotient involving sec and csc

Let g(x)=sec⁡(x)+csc⁡(x)x.g(x) = \frac{\sec(x) + \csc(x)}{x}. Find g′(π3)g'\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right).

Hint

Write g(x)g(x) as a quotient with numerator sec⁡(x)+csc⁡(x)\sec(x)+\csc(x) and denominator xx, then apply the quotient rule. Remember ddx[sec⁡x]=sec⁡xtan⁡x\frac{d}{dx}[\sec x] = \sec x \tan x and ddx[csc⁡x]=−csc⁡xcot⁡x\frac{d}{dx}[\csc x] = -\csc x \cot x. Evaluate all trig values at x=π/3x=\pi/3 before simplifying.

Step-by-step solution

Using the quotient rule with numerator u(x)=sec⁡x+csc⁡xu(x) = \sec x + \csc x and denominator v(x)=xv(x) = x, we have g′(x)=u′(x)v(x)−u(x)v′(x)v(x)2g'(x) = \frac{u'(x)v(x) - u(x)v'(x)}{v(x)^2}. Since u′(x)=sec⁡xtan⁡x−csc⁡xcot⁡xu'(x) = \sec x \tan x - \csc x \cot x and v′(x)=1v'(x) = 1, this gives g′(x)=x(sec⁡xtan⁡x−csc⁡xcot⁡x)−(sec⁡x+csc⁡x)x2.g'(x) = \frac{x(\sec x \tan x - \csc x \cot x) - (\sec x + \csc x)}{x^2}.

At x=π/3x = \pi/3: sec⁡(π/3)=2\sec(\pi/3) = 2, tan⁡(π/3)=3\tan(\pi/3) = \sqrt{3}, csc⁡(π/3)=233\csc(\pi/3) = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}, and cot⁡(π/3)=33\cot(\pi/3) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}. So sec⁡xtan⁡x=23\sec x \tan x = 2\sqrt{3} and csc⁡xcot⁡x=233⋅33=2⋅39=23\csc x \cot x = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3} = \frac{2 \cdot 3}{9} = \frac{2}{3}.

Substitute into the formula: numerator =π3(23−23)−(2+233)= \frac{\pi}{3}\left(2\sqrt{3} - \frac{2}{3}\right) - \left(2 + \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\right), and denominator =(π3)2=π29= \left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right)^2 = \frac{\pi^2}{9}. Therefore, g′(π3)=π3(23−23)−(2+233)π29.g'\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) = \frac{\frac{\pi}{3}\left(2\sqrt{3} - \frac{2}{3}\right) - \left(2 + \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\right)}{\frac{\pi^2}{9}}.

Numerically: π3≈1.047198\frac{\pi}{3} \approx 1.047198, so π3(23−2/3)≈1.047198×(3.464102−0.666667)≈2.930827\frac{\pi}{3}(2\sqrt{3} - 2/3) \approx 1.047198 \times (3.464102 - 0.666667) \approx 2.930827. Also 2+233≈2+1.154701=3.1547012 + \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3} \approx 2 + 1.154701 = 3.154701. The numerator is approximately 2.930827−3.154701=−0.2238742.930827 - 3.154701 = -0.223874. The denominator is π29≈1.096761\frac{\pi^2}{9} \approx 1.096761. Thus, g′(π/3)≈−0.2238741.096761≈−0.204g'(\pi/3) \approx \frac{-0.223874}{1.096761} \approx -0.204.

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