Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Exercise – Limits and Derivatives | Boundless Maths
Miscellaneous Exercise · Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions · Chapter 12

Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Exercise – Limits and Derivatives

Free, step-by-step Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions for the Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Exercise — all 30 questions solved, covering derivatives found from the first principle and a wide mix of algebraic and trigonometric derivatives using the sum, product and quotient rules.

Question 1 goes back to the limit definition f'(x)=\lim_{h\to0}\dfrac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h} one more time before the exercise moves on. From Question 2 onward, every question is solved with the algebra of derivatives built on that definition — mostly the quotient rule \left(\dfrac{u}{v}\right)'=\dfrac{u'v-uv'}{v^2} and the product rule (uv)'=u'v+uv' — applied to rational functions with literal constants (a, b, c, d, p, q, r, s) and to combinations of sin x, cos x, tan x and sec x.

30Questions
Easy–HardDifficulty Mix
2026-27CBSE Syllabus

Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Exercise — All 30 Questions

1

Find the derivative of the following functions from first principle: (i) -x (ii) (-x)^{-1} (iii) \sin(x+1) (iv) \cos\left(x-\dfrac{\pi}{8}\right)

Hard +
Solution

By definition, f'(x)=\lim_{h\to0}\dfrac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}.

(i) f(x) = −x

f(x+h)-f(x)=-(x+h)-(-x)=-h

f'(x)=\lim_{h\to0}\dfrac{-h}{h}=\lim_{h\to0}(-1)=-1

Derivative of −x is −1.
(ii) f(x) = (−x)⁻¹

Write f(x)=(-x)^{-1}=-\dfrac{1}{x}.

f(x+h)-f(x)=-\dfrac{1}{x+h}+\dfrac{1}{x}=\dfrac{-x+(x+h)}{x(x+h)}=\dfrac{h}{x(x+h)}

f'(x)=\lim_{h\to0}\dfrac{1}{x(x+h)}=\dfrac{1}{x^2}

Derivative of (−x)⁻¹ is 1/x².
(iii) f(x) = sin(x + 1)

f(x+h)-f(x)=\sin(x+h+1)-\sin(x+1)

Using \sin C-\sin D=2\cos\left(\dfrac{C+D}{2}\right)\sin\left(\dfrac{C-D}{2}\right) with C=x+h+1, D=x+1:

=2\cos\left(x+1+\dfrac{h}{2}\right)\sin\left(\dfrac{h}{2}\right)

f'(x)=\lim_{h\to0}\left[\cos\left(x+1+\dfrac{h}{2}\right)\times\dfrac{\sin\left(\frac{h}{2}\right)}{\frac{h}{2}}\right]=\cos(x+1)\times1=\cos(x+1)

Derivative of sin(x + 1) is cos(x + 1).
(iv) f(x) = cos(x − π/8)

f(x+h)-f(x)=\cos\left(x+h-\dfrac{\pi}{8}\right)-\cos\left(x-\dfrac{\pi}{8}\right)

Using \cos C-\cos D=-2\sin\left(\dfrac{C+D}{2}\right)\sin\left(\dfrac{C-D}{2}\right) with C=x+h-\frac{\pi}{8}, D=x-\frac{\pi}{8}:

=-2\sin\left(x-\dfrac{\pi}{8}+\dfrac{h}{2}\right)\sin\left(\dfrac{h}{2}\right)

f'(x)=\lim_{h\to0}\left[-\sin\left(x-\dfrac{\pi}{8}+\dfrac{h}{2}\right)\times\dfrac{\sin\left(\frac{h}{2}\right)}{\frac{h}{2}}\right]=-\sin\left(x-\dfrac{\pi}{8}\right)

Derivative of cos(x − π/8) is −sin(x − π/8).
2

Find the derivative of (x+a).

Easy +
Solution

Since a is a constant, its derivative is 0, and the derivative of x is 1:

\dfrac{d}{dx}(x+a)=1+0=1

Derivative of (x + a) is 1.
3

Find the derivative of (px+q)\left(\dfrac{r}{x}+s\right).

Easy +
Solution

Expanding first is simplest here:

(px+q)\left(\dfrac{r}{x}+s\right)=pr+psx+\dfrac{qr}{x}+qs

Differentiating term by term:

\dfrac{d}{dx}\left[pr+psx+\dfrac{qr}{x}+qs\right]=ps-\dfrac{qr}{x^2}

Derivative of (px + q)(r/x + s) is ps − qr/x².
4

Find the derivative of (ax+b)(cx+d)^2.

Medium +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=ax+b (u'=a) and v=(cx+d)^2 (using the chain rule, v'=2c(cx+d)):

f'(x)=a(cx+d)^2+(ax+b)\cdot2c(cx+d)

Taking out the common factor (cx+d):

f'(x)=(cx+d)\left[a(cx+d)+2c(ax+b)\right]=(cx+d)(3acx+ad+2bc)

Derivative of (ax + b)(cx + d)² is (cx + d)(3acx + ad + 2bc).
5

Find the derivative of \dfrac{ax+b}{cx+d}.

Medium +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=ax+b (u'=a) and v=cx+d (v'=c):

f'(x)=\dfrac{a(cx+d)-c(ax+b)}{(cx+d)^2}=\dfrac{acx+ad-acx-bc}{(cx+d)^2}

Derivative of (ax + b)/(cx + d) is (ad − bc)/(cx + d)².
6

Find the derivative of \dfrac{1+\frac{1}{x}}{1-\frac{1}{x}}.

Medium +
Solution

Multiplying numerator and denominator by x first simplifies the function:

\dfrac{1+\frac{1}{x}}{1-\frac{1}{x}}=\dfrac{x+1}{x-1}

Using the quotient rule with u=x+1 (u'=1) and v=x-1 (v'=1):

f'(x)=\dfrac{1(x-1)-(x+1)(1)}{(x-1)^2}=\dfrac{-2}{(x-1)^2}

Derivative of (1 + 1/x)/(1 − 1/x) is −2/(x − 1)².
7

Find the derivative of \dfrac{1}{ax^2+bx+c}.

Medium +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=1 (u'=0) and v=ax^2+bx+c (v'=2ax+b):

f'(x)=\dfrac{0(ax^2+bx+c)-1(2ax+b)}{(ax^2+bx+c)^2}

Derivative of 1/(ax² + bx + c) is −(2ax + b)/(ax² + bx + c)².
8

Find the derivative of \dfrac{ax+b}{px^2+qx+r}.

Hard +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=ax+b (u'=a) and v=px^2+qx+r (v'=2px+q):

f'(x)=\dfrac{a(px^2+qx+r)-(ax+b)(2px+q)}{(px^2+qx+r)^2}

Expanding the numerator:

apx^2+aqx+ar-\left[2apx^2+aqx+2bpx+bq\right]=-apx^2-2bpx+(ar-bq)

Derivative of (ax + b)/(px² + qx + r) is [ar − bq − 2bpx − apx²]/(px² + qx + r)².
9

Find the derivative of \dfrac{px^2+qx+r}{ax+b}.

Hard +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=px^2+qx+r (u'=2px+q) and v=ax+b (v'=a):

f'(x)=\dfrac{(2px+q)(ax+b)-(px^2+qx+r)(a)}{(ax+b)^2}

Expanding the numerator:

\left[2apx^2+2bpx+aqx+bq\right]-\left[apx^2+aqx+ar\right]=apx^2+2bpx+(bq-ar)

Derivative of (px² + qx + r)/(ax + b) is [apx² + 2bpx + bq − ar]/(ax + b)².
10

Find the derivative of \dfrac{a}{x^4}-\dfrac{b}{x^2}+\cos x.

Easy +
Solution

Rewrite as ax^{-4}-bx^{-2}+\cos x and differentiate term by term:

\dfrac{d}{dx}\left[ax^{-4}-bx^{-2}+\cos x\right]=-4ax^{-5}+2bx^{-3}-\sin x

Derivative of a/x⁴ − b/x² + cos x is −4a/x⁵ + 2b/x³ − sin x.
11

Find the derivative of 4\sqrt{x}-2.

Easy +
Solution

Write 4\sqrt{x}-2=4x^{1/2}-2 and use \dfrac{d}{dx}(x^n)=nx^{n-1} with n=\dfrac{1}{2}:

\dfrac{d}{dx}\left[4x^{1/2}-2\right]=4\times\dfrac{1}{2}x^{-1/2}-0=2x^{-1/2}=\dfrac{2}{\sqrt{x}}

Derivative of 4√x − 2 is 2/√x.
12

Find the derivative of (ax+b)^n.

Medium +
Solution

Using the power rule together with the chain rule (the derivative of the "inner" function ax+b is a):

f'(x)=n(ax+b)^{n-1}\times a

Derivative of (ax + b)ⁿ is na(ax + b)ⁿ⁻¹.
13

Find the derivative of (ax+b)^n(cx+d)^m.

Hard +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=(ax+b)^n (u'=na(ax+b)^{n-1}, from Question 12) and v=(cx+d)^m (v'=mc(cx+d)^{m-1}, by the same reasoning):

f'(x)=na(ax+b)^{n-1}(cx+d)^m+mc(ax+b)^n(cx+d)^{m-1}

Taking out the common factor (ax+b)^{n-1}(cx+d)^{m-1}:

f'(x)=(ax+b)^{n-1}(cx+d)^{m-1}\left[na(cx+d)+mc(ax+b)\right]

Derivative of (ax + b)ⁿ(cx + d)ᵐ is (ax + b)ⁿ⁻¹(cx + d)ᵐ⁻¹[na(cx + d) + mc(ax + b)].
14

Find the derivative of \sin(x+a).

Easy +
Solution

Treating a as a constant, the inner function x+a has derivative 1, so by the chain rule:

\dfrac{d}{dx}\sin(x+a)=\cos(x+a)\times1=\cos(x+a)

Derivative of sin(x + a) is cos(x + a).
15

Find the derivative of \operatorname{cosec}x\cot x.

Medium +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=\operatorname{cosec}x (u'=-\operatorname{cosec}x\cot x) and v=\cot x (v'=-\operatorname{cosec}^2x):

f'(x)=-\operatorname{cosec}x\cot x\cdot\cot x+\operatorname{cosec}x\cdot\left(-\operatorname{cosec}^2x\right)

=-\operatorname{cosec}x\cot^2x-\operatorname{cosec}^3x=-\operatorname{cosec}x\left(\cot^2x+\operatorname{cosec}^2x\right)

Derivative of cosecx cotx is −cosecx(cot²x + cosec²x), i.e., −cosecx cot²x − cosec³x.
16

Find the derivative of \dfrac{\cos x}{1+\sin x}.

Medium +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=\cos x (u'=-\sin x) and v=1+\sin x (v'=\cos x):

f'(x)=\dfrac{-\sin x(1+\sin x)-\cos x\cdot\cos x}{(1+\sin x)^2}=\dfrac{-\sin x-\sin^2x-\cos^2x}{(1+\sin x)^2}

Using \sin^2x+\cos^2x=1:

=\dfrac{-\sin x-1}{(1+\sin x)^2}=\dfrac{-(1+\sin x)}{(1+\sin x)^2}=-\dfrac{1}{1+\sin x}

Derivative of cosx/(1 + sinx) is −1/(1 + sinx).
17

Find the derivative of \dfrac{\sin x+\cos x}{\sin x-\cos x}.

Hard +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=\sin x+\cos x (u'=\cos x-\sin x) and v=\sin x-\cos x (v'=\cos x+\sin x):

f'(x)=\dfrac{(\cos x-\sin x)(\sin x-\cos x)-(\sin x+\cos x)(\cos x+\sin x)}{(\sin x-\cos x)^2}

The first term is -(\cos x-\sin x)^2, and the second is (\sin x+\cos x)^2. Expanding both using 2\sin x\cos x=\sin2x:

-(\cos x-\sin x)^2=-(1-\sin2x) and (\sin x+\cos x)^2=1+\sin2x

So the numerator is -(1-\sin2x)-(1+\sin2x)=-2, and the denominator is (\sin x-\cos x)^2=1-\sin2x:

f'(x)=\dfrac{-2}{1-\sin2x}=\dfrac{2}{\sin2x-1}

Derivative of (sinx + cosx)/(sinx − cosx) is 2/(sin2x − 1).
18

Find the derivative of \dfrac{\sec x-1}{\sec x+1}.

Medium +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=\sec x-1 (u'=\sec x\tan x) and v=\sec x+1 (v'=\sec x\tan x):

f'(x)=\dfrac{\sec x\tan x(\sec x+1)-(\sec x-1)\sec x\tan x}{(\sec x+1)^2}

Taking out the common factor \sec x\tan x:

=\dfrac{\sec x\tan x\left[(\sec x+1)-(\sec x-1)\right]}{(\sec x+1)^2}=\dfrac{2\sec x\tan x}{(\sec x+1)^2}

Derivative of (secx − 1)/(secx + 1) is 2secx tanx/(secx + 1)², equivalently 2sinx/(1 + cosx)².
19

Find the derivative of \sin^nx.

Easy +
Solution

Using the power rule together with the chain rule (the inner function is \sin x, with derivative \cos x):

f'(x)=n\sin^{n-1}x\times\cos x

Derivative of sinⁿx is n sinⁿ⁻¹x cosx.
20

Find the derivative of \dfrac{a+b\sin x}{c+d\cos x}.

Hard +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=a+b\sin x (u'=b\cos x) and v=c+d\cos x (v'=-d\sin x):

f'(x)=\dfrac{b\cos x(c+d\cos x)-(a+b\sin x)(-d\sin x)}{(c+d\cos x)^2}

Expanding the numerator:

bc\cos x+bd\cos^2x+ad\sin x+bd\sin^2x=bc\cos x+bd\left(\cos^2x+\sin^2x\right)+ad\sin x

=ad\sin x+bc\cos x+bd

Derivative of (a + b sinx)/(c + d cosx) is (ad sinx + bc cosx + bd)/(c + d cosx)².
21

Find the derivative of \dfrac{\sin(x+a)}{\cos x}.

Medium +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=\sin(x+a) (u'=\cos(x+a)) and v=\cos x (v'=-\sin x):

f'(x)=\dfrac{\cos(x+a)\cos x-\sin(x+a)(-\sin x)}{\cos^2x}=\dfrac{\cos(x+a)\cos x+\sin(x+a)\sin x}{\cos^2x}

Using \cos A\cos B+\sin A\sin B=\cos(A-B) with A=x+a, B=x:

=\dfrac{\cos\left[(x+a)-x\right]}{\cos^2x}=\dfrac{\cos a}{\cos^2x}

Derivative of sin(x + a)/cosx is cos(a)/cos²x.
22

Find the derivative of x^4(5\sin x-3\cos x).

Medium +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=x^4 (u'=4x^3) and v=5\sin x-3\cos x (v'=5\cos x+3\sin x):

f'(x)=4x^3(5\sin x-3\cos x)+x^4(5\cos x+3\sin x)

=20x^3\sin x-12x^3\cos x+5x^4\cos x+3x^4\sin x

Derivative of x⁴(5sinx − 3cosx) is 20x³sinx − 12x³cosx + 5x⁴cosx + 3x⁴sinx.
23

Find the derivative of (x^2+1)\cos x.

Easy +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=x^2+1 (u'=2x) and v=\cos x (v'=-\sin x):

f'(x)=2x\cos x+(x^2+1)(-\sin x)=2x\cos x-(x^2+1)\sin x

Derivative of (x² + 1)cosx is 2x cosx − (x² + 1)sinx.
24

Find the derivative of (ax^2+\sin x)(p+q\cos x).

Hard +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=ax^2+\sin x (u'=2ax+\cos x) and v=p+q\cos x (v'=-q\sin x):

f'(x)=(2ax+\cos x)(p+q\cos x)+(ax^2+\sin x)(-q\sin x)

Expanding:

=2apx+2aqx\cos x+p\cos x+q\cos^2x-aqx^2\sin x-q\sin^2x

Using \cos^2x-\sin^2x=\cos2x:

=2apx+2aqx\cos x-aqx^2\sin x+p\cos x+q\cos2x

Derivative of (ax² + sinx)(p + qcosx) is 2apx + 2aqx cosx − aqx²sinx + p cosx + q cos2x.
25

Find the derivative of (x+\cos x)(x-\tan x).

Hard +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=x+\cos x (u'=1-\sin x) and v=x-\tan x (v'=1-\sec^2x=-\tan^2x):

f'(x)=(1-\sin x)(x-\tan x)+(x+\cos x)(-\tan^2x)

Expanding the first product:

(1-\sin x)(x-\tan x)=x-\tan x-x\sin x+\sin x\tan x

Note that \sin x\tan x=\dfrac{\sin^2x}{\cos x} and, from the second product, \cos x\tan^2x=\dfrac{\sin^2x}{\cos x} — these two terms are equal and cancel when combined:

f'(x)=x-\tan x-x\sin x+\dfrac{\sin^2x}{\cos x}-x\tan^2x-\dfrac{\sin^2x}{\cos x}=x-x\sin x-x\tan^2x-\tan x

Derivative of (x + cosx)(x − tanx) is x(1 − sinx − tan²x) − tanx.
26

Find the derivative of \dfrac{4x+5\sin x}{3x+7\cos x}.

Hard +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=4x+5\sin x (u'=4+5\cos x) and v=3x+7\cos x (v'=3-7\sin x):

f'(x)=\dfrac{(4+5\cos x)(3x+7\cos x)-(4x+5\sin x)(3-7\sin x)}{(3x+7\cos x)^2}

Expanding both products in the numerator:

(4+5\cos x)(3x+7\cos x)=12x+28\cos x+15x\cos x+35\cos^2x

(4x+5\sin x)(3-7\sin x)=12x-28x\sin x+15\sin x-35\sin^2x

Subtracting, the 12x terms cancel and 35\cos^2x+35\sin^2x=35:

=28\cos x+15x\cos x+35+28x\sin x-15\sin x

Derivative of (4x + 5sinx)/(3x + 7cosx) is [35 + 28xsinx + 15xcosx + 28cosx − 15sinx]/(3x + 7cosx)².
27

Find the derivative of \dfrac{x^2\cos\frac{\pi}{4}}{\sin x}.

Medium +
Solution

Since \cos\dfrac{\pi}{4}=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt2} is a constant, write f(x)=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt2}\cdot\dfrac{x^2}{\sin x}.

Using the quotient rule on \dfrac{x^2}{\sin x} with u=x^2 (u'=2x) and v=\sin x (v'=\cos x):

\dfrac{d}{dx}\left(\dfrac{x^2}{\sin x}\right)=\dfrac{2x\sin x-x^2\cos x}{\sin^2x}

So:

f'(x)=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt2}\times\dfrac{2x\sin x-x^2\cos x}{\sin^2x}=\dfrac{x(2\sin x-x\cos x)}{\sqrt2\sin^2x}

Derivative of x²cos(π/4)/sinx is x(2sinx − xcosx)/(√2 sin²x).
28

Find the derivative of \dfrac{x}{1+\tan x}.

Medium +
Solution

Using the quotient rule with u=x (u'=1) and v=1+\tan x (v'=\sec^2x):

f'(x)=\dfrac{1(1+\tan x)-x\sec^2x}{(1+\tan x)^2}

Derivative of x/(1 + tanx) is (1 + tanx − x sec²x)/(1 + tanx)².
29

Find the derivative of (x+\sec x)(x-\tan x).

Hard +
Solution

Using the product rule with u=x+\sec x (u'=1+\sec x\tan x) and v=x-\tan x (v'=1-\sec^2x=-\tan^2x):

f'(x)=(1+\sec x\tan x)(x-\tan x)+(x+\sec x)(-\tan^2x)

Expanding the first product:

(1+\sec x\tan x)(x-\tan x)=x-\tan x+x\sec x\tan x-\sec x\tan^2x

and the second product:

(x+\sec x)(-\tan^2x)=-x\tan^2x-\sec x\tan^2x

Adding these together:

f'(x)=x-\tan x+x\sec x\tan x-\sec x\tan^2x-x\tan^2x-\sec x\tan^2x

=x\left(1+\sec x\tan x-\tan^2x\right)-\tan x-2\sec x\tan^2x

Derivative of (x + secx)(x − tanx) is x(1 + secx tanx − tan²x) − tanx − 2secx tan²x.
30

Find the derivative of \dfrac{x}{\sin^nx}.

Medium +
Solution

Write f(x)=x(\sin x)^{-n} and use the product rule with u=x (u'=1) and v=(\sin x)^{-n} (using the chain rule, v'=-n(\sin x)^{-n-1}\cos x):

f'(x)=(\sin x)^{-n}+x\times\left[-n(\sin x)^{-n-1}\cos x\right]=(\sin x)^{-n}-nx\cos x(\sin x)^{-n-1}

Taking out the common factor (\sin x)^{-n-1} (using (\sin x)^{-n}=\sin x\cdot(\sin x)^{-n-1}):

f'(x)=(\sin x)^{-n-1}\left[\sin x-nx\cos x\right]=\dfrac{\sin x-nx\cos x}{\sin^{n+1}x}

Derivative of x/sinⁿx is (sinx − nx cosx)/sinⁿ⁺¹x.

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Common Questions

Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Exercise — FAQs

How many questions are there in the Miscellaneous Exercise?
The Miscellaneous Exercise of Chapter 12 has 30 questions. Question 1 asks for four derivatives strictly from the first principle, and Questions 2–30 apply the algebra of derivatives — the sum, product and quotient rules, along with the standard derivative formulas for powers, sin x, cos x, tan x and sec x — to a wide mix of algebraic and trigonometric functions.
What is the quotient rule for derivatives?
If u and v are two differentiable functions of x, the quotient rule states that the derivative of u/v is (u′v − uv′)/v², provided v is non-zero. It is used throughout this exercise whenever a function is written as one expression divided by another, such as (ax+b)/(cx+d) or cos x/(1+sin x).
Where can I find the official NCERT textbook for this chapter?
Limits and Derivatives is Chapter 12 of the NCERT Class 11 Mathematics textbook, published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and prescribed by CBSE. You can download the official textbook PDF directly from ncert.nic.in, NCERT's official website — the solutions on this page follow the exercise exactly as it appears there.

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