# Thread: Derivative of a trig function

1. ## Derivative of a trig function

Is f'(x) = -2sinx + 2cos2x the derivative of f(x) = 2cosx + sin2x ? I have no way to check if I am correct.

2. Originally Posted by jmhogart
Is f'(x) = -2sinx + 2cos2x the derivative of f(x) = 2cosx + sin2x ? I have no way to check if I am correct.
Looks right to me

3. Ok thank you... now how might I go about setting the derivative equal to 0 and solving in order to find critical numbers?

4. Originally Posted by jmhogart
Is f'(x) = -2sinx + 2cos2x the derivative of f(x) = 2cosx + sin2x ? I have no way to check if I am correct.
Originally Posted by jmhogart
Ok thank you... now how might I go about setting the derivative equal to 0 and solving in order to find critical numbers?
f'(x)= 2cos(2x) - 2sin(x) = 0

$2cos(2x) = 2sin(x)$

We know that 2 will cancel and $cos(2x) = 1-2sin^2(x)$. Substitute and move sin(x) back to the other side.

$1-2sin^2(x)-sin(x)=0 \rightarrow 2sin^2(x)+sin(x) - 1 = 0$

Let u = sin(x) and solve the quadratic for u then do arcsin(u).