How do you find the derivative of #y=cos(x)/csc(x)#?

1 Answer
Aug 19, 2014

There are two ways. The simpler way would be to recall that #csc(x) = 1/sin(x),# so #cos(x)/csc(x) = cos(x)sin(x)# [for all #x!=(n)pi# (for radians) or #x!=(n)180# (for degrees) where #n# is any integer]. We then use the product rule for differentiation, which says that for #f(x) = g(x)h(x), f'(x) = g'(x)h(x) + g(x)h'(x)#

In the particular example provided, the restriction on the domain is required because, if #x=n*pi# (for radians) or #x=n*180# (for degrees), then #sin(x)=0 -> csc(x) = 1/sin(x) = 1/0#. However, the argument can be made that since #1/0=oo, cos(x)/(oo) = 0 = cos(x)sin(x) = cos(x)0# at these points, thus making the domain restriction unnecessary.

Given that we have changed our function into #y(x) = cos(x)sin(x)#, the next step is to find #y'(x)#. Assuming we know the derivatives of the sine and cosine functions, this is relatively straightforward.

#y'(x) = cos'(x)sin(x) + cos(x)sin'(x)#
#y'(x) = -sin(x)sin(x) + cos(x)cos(x)#
#y'(x) = -sin^2(x) + cos^2(x)#

At this point, we could stop, but by using the trigonometric double-angle identities, we find further that...

#y'(x) = -sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = cos^2(x) - sin^2(x) = cos(2x)#

Thus, for full simplification, we arrive at...

#y'(x) = cos(2x)#.