calculus · worked example

Solve cos(x)

Method: standard derivative. Verified step-by-step solution with our free AI math solver.
Problem

ddxcos(x)\frac{d}{dx}\cos(x)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Cosine is one of the fundamental derivatives to memorise.

  2. Geometric proof from the unit circle: as the angle increases by dxdx, the cosine coordinate decreases by sin(x)dx\sin(x)\,dx.

  3. Therefore: ddxcos(x)=sin(x)\frac{d}{dx}\cos(x) = -\sin(x).

  4. Note the negative sign — this is the most common error in introductory calculus.

Answer

sin(x)-\sin(x)

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