Derivative of Cosine at x=0: cos'(0)=0

Derivative of Cosine at x=0: cos'(0)=0
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2018-01-26 05:36
① This interactive GeoGebra example visually demonstrates that the derivative of the cosine function at x=0 is zero, i.e., cos'(0)=0. ② It covers core calculus concepts: the definition of the derivative as a limit, the slope of the tangent line, and local linear approximation. ③ The construction uses GeoGebra commands such as Point, Function, Derivative, Intersect, Segment, Line, Polygon, and Sequence to plot f(x)=cos(x), compute the derivative at x₀=0, and draw the tangent line. Sliders, input boxes, and buttons allow users to vary parameters and observe how the secant slope approaches the tangent slope as Δx→0. ④ Suitable for high school and early college students learning introductory calculus, this example serves as a visual aid for classroom instruction or self-study of derivative concepts.

GeoGebra Commands & Parameters

  1. Point(yAxis) → A
  2. Vector(A, B) → f
  3. Textfield(f_1) → inputBox1
  4. Vector(x_1, y_1) → v
  5. Segment(f_a, F) → c
  6. Segment(E, F) → d
  7. Segment(A, x_1) → e
  8. Segment(B, y_1) → h
  9. Line(x_1, y_1) → i
  10. Textfield(f_1) → inputBox2
  11. Derivative(f_1) → q
  12. Segment(C, D) → b
  13. Segment((0, y(A) - δ), (0, y(A) + δ)) → m
  14. Point(m) → G
  15. Point(m) → H
  16. Point(yAxis) → I
  17. Vector(I, J) → u
  18. Intersect(n, p) → K
  19. Intersect(a, p) → L
  20. Intersect(a, r) → M
  21. Intersect(n, r) → N
  22. Polygon(K, L, M, N) → poly1, k_1, l_1, m_1, n_1
  23. Sequence((0, xk), xk, y(A) - δ, y(A) + δ, δ / 8) → testx
  24. Sequence((2, f_1(xk)), xk, y(A) - δ, y(A) + δ, δ / 8) → testy
  25. Sequence(Vector[(0, xk), (2, f_1(xk))], xk, y(A) - δ, y(A) + δ, δ / 8) → list1
  26. Textfield(ε) → inputBox3
  27. Textfield(δ) → inputBox4
  28. Vector(I, Pcos) → w