All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Just Math
No calculus (Posted on 2002-07-31) Difficulty: 4 of 5
Define:
d/dx(f(x)) = f'(x)

where f'(x) = gradient (or slope) of f(x) at x = x.

Prove that:
d/dx(x^2) = 2x

without using calculus.

See The Solution Submitted by Cheradenine    
Rating: 3.2000 (10 votes)

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
Question re(2): Err.... | Comment 4 of 26 |
(In reply to re: Err.... by Cheradenine)

A derivative is calculus. I'm not sure how you expect to arrive at an answer couched in calculus terms without using any calculus - by the time you reach the final step of the proof, you've necessarily used calculus.

Other than that, I can think of two solutions that "sort of" don't use calculus. One involves taking a limit, and the other involves the fact that an integral is the inverse of a derivative. Are either or both of those considered "using calculus"?
  Posted by friedlinguini on 2002-07-31 18:22:11

Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (18)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information