How to find all possible functions with the given derivative ? If y′=sin(7t), then y = If y′=cos(t/7), then y = If y′=sin(7t)+cos(t/7), then y =

1 Answer
Sep 3, 2015

y=-1/7cos(7t)+C, y=1/7sin(7t)+C y=-1/7cos(7t)+1/7sin(7t)+C

Explanation:

We know that the derivative (w.r.t. t) of cost is -sint

Using the chain rule, the derivative (w.r.t.t) of cosu is -sinu (du)/dt

So d/dt(cos(7t)) = -sin(7t) * 7

If we multiply by the constant -1/7 before differentiating, we will multiply the derivative by the same constant:

d/dt(-1/7 cos(7t)) = -1/7(-sin(7t) * 7) = sin(7t)

So one possible function with derivative y' = sin(7t) is

y = -1/7 cos(7t)

But there are others.

y = -1/7 cos(7t) + 7,
y = -1/7 cos(7t)-5,
y = -1/7 cos(7t)+pi/sqrt17

Indeed, For any (every) constant C, the derivative of y = -1/7 cos(7t) +C is the desired derivative.

Not only that, but due to an important consequence of the Mean Value Theorem, every function that has this derivativs differs from y = -1/7 cos(7t) by a constant C.

Similar reasoning leads us to the functions ahose derivative is y' = cos(7t) being expressible as y=1/7sin(7t)+C for constant C.

Because the derivative of a sum is the sum of the derivatives, every function whose derivative is y' = sin(7t)+cos(7t) can be written in the form:

y = -1/7cos(7t)+1/7sin(7t)+C for some constant C.