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Differentiating e to the cos x from the limit definition

Question

Using only the definition of the derivative as a limit, find the derivative of g(x)=ecos⁡xg(x)=e^{\cos x}.

Short answer

g′(x)=−sin⁡x ecos⁡xg'(x)=-\sin x\,e^{\cos x}. Write g(x+h)−g(x)h=ecos⁡x⋅eΔ−1Δ⋅Δh\frac{g(x+h)-g(x)}{h}=e^{\cos x}\cdot\frac{e^{\Delta}-1}{\Delta}\cdot\frac{\Delta}{h} with Δ=cos⁡(x+h)−cos⁡x\Delta=\cos(x+h)-\cos x. As h→0h\to0, Δ→0\Delta\to0 so the middle factor tends to 11, and Δ/h=−sin⁡xsin⁡hh−cos⁡x1−cos⁡hh→−sin⁡x\Delta/h=-\sin x\frac{\sin h}{h}-\cos x\frac{1-\cos h}{h}\to-\sin x.

Adapted from Joshi, Denson & Downes, Quant Job Interview Questions and Answers, Q6.20, p.191; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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