∫Calc Practice

Derivative of \( \displaystyle \frac{\tan{\left(3 x \right)}}{3} \)

Problem 2.1169 · easy

Differentiate \( \displaystyle f(x) = \frac{\tan{\left(3 x \right)}}{3} \).
  1. \[ \frac{d}{d x} \frac{\tan{\left(3 x \right)}}{3} \]
    derivativeStart with the derivative of the function.✓ Proved
  2. \[ = \frac{\frac{d}{d x} \tan{\left(3 x \right)}}{3} \]
    constant-multiple rewrite constant-multiplePull out the constant factor. Rewrite the tangent function using the exponential identity. The constant is already factored, but we ensure the structure is clear.✓ Proved
  3. \[ = \frac{\tan{\left(3 x \right)} \frac{d}{d x} \ln{\left(\tan{\left(3 x \right)} \right)}}{3} \]
    chain rewriteApply the chain rule to the exponential function. Simplify the exponential term back to its original form.✓ Proved
  4. \[ = \frac{\frac{d}{d x} \tan{\left(3 x \right)}}{3} \]
    chain algebraApply the chain rule to the logarithm. Cancel the tan(3*x) terms.✓ Proved
  5. \[ = \sec^{2}{\left(3 x \right)} \]
    derivative simplifyDifferentiate the tangent function using the chain rule. Simplify the final expression.✓ Proved
Answer \( \tan^{2}{\left(3 x \right)} + 1 \)
Mind the domain. The answer is also defined at points where f(x) is not. Substituting there gives a number that is not a slope of f.

Every line of this solution was proved by the computer algebra system SymPy. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. The reviewers disagree about how one step is explained; every verdict is in the receipt.

The full receipt
LineStatusChecked byDetail
1✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0line 1 is the problem as stated
2✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
3✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
4✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
5✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
log is undefined for non-positive arguments
6✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
log is undefined for non-positive arguments
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
7✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
log is undefined for non-positive arguments
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
8✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
9✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
sec has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
10✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
sec has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
answer✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0final line against the stated answer: simplify(a - b) reduced to 0
tan has poles at odd multiples of pi/2
answer, a second way✓ Provedsympy 1.14.0SymPy differentiated f directly and got the stated answer

Reviewers

  • gpt-oss:20b: pass
  • qwen3.6:27b-mlx: fail (error) — Step 9 applies the chain rule to differentiate tan(3*x), but is labeled 'derivative'. The label 'derivative' is reserved for unfolding d/dx on a known form (like d/dx sin(x)), whereas applying the chain rule requires the label 'chain'. Additionally, Step 3 introduces an unnecessary and complex rewrite using exp(log(...)) which obscures the standard differentiation path, though the primary defect is the mislabeling in Step 9.
Every verdict on record (4)
  • qwen3.6:27b-mlx: fail (error) 2026-09-29 — Step 9 applies the chain rule to differentiate tan(3*x), but is labeled 'derivative'. The label 'derivative' is reserved for unfolding d/dx on a known form (like d/dx sin(x)), whereas applying the chain rule requires the label 'chain'. Additionally, Step 3 introduces an unnecessary and complex rewrite using exp(log(...)) which obscures the standard differentiation path, though the primary defect is the mislabeling in Step 9.
  • gpt-oss:20b: pass 2026-09-29
  • qwen3.6:27b-mlx: fail (style) 2026-09-29 — Step 4 is a no-op that violates the 'one change' rule by applying 'constant-multiple' to an expression where the constant is already factored out, serving no logical purpose. Step 9 is labeled 'derivative' but performs both the differentiation of tan and the chain rule multiplication by 3, violating the single-rule constraint.
  • gpt-oss:20b: fail (style) 2026-09-29 — [domain objection, downgraded to style] Step 3 rewrites tan(3*x) as exp(log(tan(3*x))), which is not an identity for all real x (tan can be negative, making log undefined). This introduces a false transformation that invalidates the subsequent steps.

Proved: SymPy reduced the difference between the two sides to zero. Checked independently: a separate method, named above, confirmed it. Checked numerically: the two sides agree at every sampled point, which is evidence, not proof. Reviewed: a model or a person read it; that is all a sentence can have. Solution by gemma4:26b, checked 2026-09-29 with SymPy 1.14.0.