How do you find the derivative of (cos x)^2 - cos x?
1 Answer
Jan 24, 2016
Explanation:
To differentiate the squared cosine function, use the chain rule, in that
2cosxd/dxcosx-d/dxcosx
Which simplifies to be
2cosx(-sinx)-(-sinx)
or
mathbf(-2cosxsinx+sinx
Note that this can be factored as
sinx(1-2cosx)
or recognize that
sinx-sin2x