How do you find the derivative of sin^2x+sinxcosx?

1 Answer
Feb 27, 2016

d/dx(sin^2(x)+sin(x)cos(x))=sin(2x)+cos(2x)

Explanation:

For this problem, we will be using the product rule, the chain rule, and the following properties and derivatives:

  • d/dx(f(x)+g(x)) = f'(x)+g'(x)

  • d/dx x^2 = 2x

  • d/dx sin(x) = cos(x)

  • d/dx cos(x) = -sin(x)

Proceeding,

d/dx(sin^2(x)+sin(x)cos(x)) = d/dxsin^2(x) + d/dxsin(x)cos(x)

=2sin(x)(d/dxsin(x))+d/dxsin(x)cos(x)

=2sin(x)cos(x)+d/dxsin(x)cos(x)

=2sin(x)cos(x)+sin(x)(d/dxcos(x))+cos(x)(d/dxsin(x))

=2sin(x)cos(x)+sin(x)(-sin(x))+cos(x)(cos(x))

=2sin(x)cos(x)+cos^2(x)-sin^2(x)

=sin(2x)+cos(2x)