Calculus · real student question

Find the derivative of 1/0.3.

Question

Find

ddx(10.3)\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{1}{0.3}\right)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Simplify the expression first. Multiplying numerator and denominator by 1010 clears the decimal:

    10.3=103=3.3\frac{1}{0.3} = \frac{10}{3} = 3.\overline{3}

  2. Notice there is no variable. Neither xx nor any other variable appears, so f(x)=103f(x) = \tfrac{10}{3} is a constant function — its value is the same for every input.

  3. Apply the constant rule. For any constant cc,

    ddx(c)=0\frac{d}{dx}(c) = 0

    This follows straight from the limit definition: limh0cch=limh00h=0\lim_{h\to0}\tfrac{c - c}{h} = \lim_{h\to0}\tfrac{0}{h} = 0.

  4. Interpret geometrically. The graph of y=103y = \tfrac{10}{3} is a horizontal line. A horizontal line has slope 00 at every point, and the derivative is exactly that slope.

  5. Distinguish from a similar-looking expression. If instead the expression were 10.3x\tfrac{1}{0.3x}, the variable would be present and the derivative would be 10.3x2=103x2-\tfrac{1}{0.3x^2} = -\tfrac{10}{3x^2}. The presence or absence of the variable is the whole question.

Answer

ddx(10.3)=0\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{1}{0.3}\right) = 0

Need to solve a different problem like this? Open the solver →