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003 Find-F-Given-F-And-Initial-Conditions

The document provides the second derivative f''(x) and initial conditions f'(a) and f(a) and asks to find the function f(x). It is given that f''(x) = 18x + 8, f'(2) = 46, and f(0) = 8. The solution finds the anti-derivative of f''(x) to get the first derivative f'(x), then takes the anti-derivative of f'(x) to arrive at the function f(x) = 3x^3 + 4x^2 - 6x + 8.

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Raaghav Singhania
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17 views

003 Find-F-Given-F-And-Initial-Conditions

The document provides the second derivative f''(x) and initial conditions f'(a) and f(a) and asks to find the function f(x). It is given that f''(x) = 18x + 8, f'(2) = 46, and f(0) = 8. The solution finds the anti-derivative of f''(x) to get the first derivative f'(x), then takes the anti-derivative of f'(x) to arrive at the function f(x) = 3x^3 + 4x^2 - 6x + 8.

Uploaded by

Raaghav Singhania
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic: Find f given f’’ and initial conditions

Question: Find f (x).

f′′(x) = 18x + 8

f′(2) = 46 and f (0) = 8

Answer choices:

A f (x) = x 3 + x 2 − x + 8

B f (x) = 3x 3 + 4x 2 − 6x + 8

C f (x) = 3x 3 + 4x 2 − 6x − 8

x3 x2 x
D f (x) = + − +8
3 4 6

28
Solution: B

The question asks us to find the function f (x) if the second derivative of the
function is f′′(x) = 18x + 8, f′(2) = 46, and f (0) = 8.

Note that the question provides initial values of f (x) and f′(x) so our answer
will be a specific f (x) function with the given second derivative.

We are given the second derivative of the function. To find the first
derivative of the function, find the anti-derivative of the second derivative.
Then, to find the function, we repeat the process by finding the anti-
derivative of the first derivative. Once we find the general first derivative
and the general function, we will use the initial conditions to find the
specific function.

The second derivative is a polynomial function. To find the anti-derivative,


in each term, add 1 to the exponent and divide the term by the new
exponent.

Additionally, all functions “could” contain a constant term, which becomes


zero when we take the derivative of the function. Thus, when we find the
anti-derivative, we add a constant labeled “C” to add the possibility of a
constant term in the function, although we do not know what that
constant is. When we use the initial condition, we will find the specific
value of “C”.

We will, first, write the second derivative showing all exponents.

f′′(x) = 18x + 8 = 18x 1 + 8x 0

29
∫
f′(x) = 18x 1 + 8x 0 d x

18x 1+1 8x 0+1


f′(x) = + +C
2 1

Simplify each term to finish finding the general first derivative.

f′(x) = 9x 2 + 8x + C

The question states that f′(2) = 46, so to find “C” let’s make the derivative
equal to 46 when x = 2.

46 = 9(2)2 + 8 (2) + C

46 = 36 + 16 + C

46 = 52 + C

−6 = C

Therefore,

f′(x) = 9x 2 + 8x − 6

Now, find the function by repeating the process.

f′(x) = 9x 2 + 8x − 6 = 9x 2 + 8x 1 − 6x 0

Once again, we will add a constant to cover the likely event that the
original function had a constant term that became zero when the first
derivative was taken. We do not know that the new constant is the same
as the old constant so we will call it “D”, but we will find its value using the
initial condition.

30
∫
f (x) = 9x 2 + 8x 1 − 6x 0 d x

9x 2+1 8x 1+1 6x 0+1


f (x) = + − +D
3 2 1

After we simplify each term, the general function is

f (x) = 3x 3 + 4x 2 − 6x + D

The question further states that f (0) = 8, so to find “D” let’s make the
function equal to 8 when x = 0.

8 = 3(0)3 + 4(0)2 − 6 (0) + D

D=8

The specific function in this problem is

f (x) = 3x 3 + 4x 2 − 6x + 8

31
Topic: Find f given f’’ and initial conditions

Question: Find f (x).

f′′(x) = 60x 2 − 36x + 6

f′(1) = 0 and f (1) = 8

Answer choices:

A f (x) = 5x 4 − 6x 3 + 3x 2 + Cx + D

x4 x3 x2 x
B f (x) = − + − + 14
5 6 3 8

C f (x) = x 4 − x 3 + x 2 − x + 8

D f (x) = 5x 4 − 6x 3 + 3x 2 − 8x + 14

32
Solution: D

The question asks us to find the function f (x) if the second derivative of the
function is f′′(x) = 60x 2 − 36x + 6, and if f′(1) = 0 and f (1) = 8.

Note that the question provides initial values of f (x) and f′(x) so our answer
will be a specific f (x) function with the given second derivative.

We are given the second derivative of the function. To find the first
derivative of the function, find the anti-derivative of the second derivative.
Then, to find the function, we repeat the process by finding the anti-
derivative of the first derivative. Once we find the general first derivative
and the general function, we will use the initial conditions to find the
specific function.

The second derivative is a polynomial function. To find the anti-derivative,


in each term, add 1 to the exponent and divide the term by the new
exponent.

Additionally, all functions “could” contain a constant term, which becomes


zero when we take the derivative of the function. Thus, when we find the
anti-derivative, we add a constant labeled “C” to add the possibility of a
constant term in the function, although we do not know what that
constant is. When we use the initial condition, we will find the specific
value of “C”.

We will, first, write the second derivative showing all exponents.

f′′(x) = 60x 2 − 36x + 6 = 60x 2 − 36x 1 + 6x 0

33
∫
f′(x) = 60x 2 − 36x 1 + 6x 0 d x

60x 2+1 36x 1+1 6x 0+1


f′(x) = − + +C
3 2 1

Simplify each term to finish finding the general first derivative.

f′(x) = 20x 3 − 18x 2 + 6x + C

The question states that f′(1) = 0, so to find “C” let’s make the derivative
equal to 0 when x = 1.

0 = 20(1)3 − 18(1)2 + 6 (1) + C

0 = 20 − 18 + 6 + C

0=8+C

C =−8

So

f′(x) = 20x 3 − 18x 2 + 6x − 8

Now find the function by repeating the process.

f′(x) = 20x 3 − 18x 2 + 6x − 8

f′(x) = 20x 3 − 18x 2 + 6x 1 − 8x 0

Once again, we will add a constant to cover the likely event that the
original function had a constant term that became zero when the first
derivative was taken. We do not know that the new constant is the same

34
as the old constant so we will call it “D”, but we will find its value using the
initial condition.

∫
f (x) = 20x 3 − 18x 2 + 6x 1 − 8x 0 d x

20x 3+1 18x 2+1 6x 1+1 8x 0+1


f (x) = − + − +D
4 3 2 1

After we simplify each term, the general function is

f (x) = 5x 4 − 6x 3 + 3x 2 − 8x + D

The question further states that f (1) = 8, so to find “D” let’s make the
function equal to 8 when x = 1.

8 = 5(1)4 − 6(1)3 + 3(1)2 − 8 (1) + D

8=5−6+3−8+D

8=−6+D

D = 14

The specific function in this problem is

f (x) = 5x 4 − 6x 3 + 3x 2 − 8x + 14

35

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