What is the derivative of the function f(x) = tan(x) with respect to x?
Show answer
sec^2(x)
Using the quotient rule on sin(x)/cos(x) yields [cos^2(x) + sin^2(x)] / cos^2(x), which simplifies to 1 / cos^2(x), or sec^2(x).
Also asked as:
- What is d/dx [tan(x)]?