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uberclay
Advanced Member
Canada
159 Posts |
 Posted - 10/13/2007 : 01:50:34
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I just finished a lesson on tangents which was capped off with the Power Rule and the Chain Rule for derivatives.
I cannot figure out how to differentiate the following, given the rules of this lesson. Can someone please point in the right direction.
I'm really unsure about this one. In all of the practice questions I was able to eliminate the denominator.
Q: differentiate y = (8x^4 - 5x^2 - 2) / (4x^3)
A:
y = (8x^4 / 4x^3) - (5x^2 / 4x^3) - (2 / 4x^3)
y = 2x - (5/4)x^-1 - (2/4)x^-3
y' = 2 + (5/4)x^-2 + (3/2)x^-4
Q: differentiate y = (5x)^(1/2) - (x/5)^(1/2)
A:
Similar problem with this one. None of the practice questions had coefficients in the radicand.
I've split this one into two parts, (5x)^(1/2) and (x/5)^(1/2).
for s = (5x)^(1/2)
let t = 5x, so that s = t^(1/2)
dt/dx = 5
ds/dt = (1/2)t^(-1/2)
chain rule: ds/dx = dt/dx * ds/dt, t = 5x
therefore
ds/dx = 5 * (1/2)(5x)^(-1/2)
ds/dx = 5 / 2(5x)^(1/2)
for u = (x/5)^(1/2)
let v = x/5, so that u = v^(1/2)
dv/dx = 1/5
du/dv = (1/2)v^(-1/2)
chain rule: du/dx = dv/dx * du/dv, u = (x/5)^(1/2)
therefore
du/dx = (1/5) * (1/2)[(x/5)^(1/2)](-1/2)
du/dx = 5^(1/2) / 10x^(1/2)
TF: dy/dx = [5 / 2(5x)^(1/2)] - [5^(1/2) / 10x^(1/2)]
I am very sure that both these answers are way off base.
Thanks for your time. |
Edited by - uberclay on 10/14/2007 01:28:11 |
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skeeter
Advanced Member
USA
5634 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2007 : 07:32:50
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first one is fine ... no need for the chain rule (why use it when you don't have to?)
second one is fine, although you took a long road to arrive your derivative.
y = (5x)1/2 - (x/5)1/2
dy/dx = (1/2)(5x)-1/2*5 - (1/2)(x/5)-1/2*(1/5)
dy/dx = 5/[2(5x)1/2] - 51/2/(10x1/2)
which can be simplified further ...
dy/dx = (2/5) (5/x) |
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uberclay
Advanced Member
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2007 : 23:13:43
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Thank you for checking those for me Skeeter.
My instructor expects me to take the long way, at times, to show a complete understanding of the concepts in the lesson. I milled over that second question tonight and did it w/o the Chain Rule, using that common factor David exposed. This time I got a different looking derivative but soon found that they were equal.
David, I see what you are saying about joining at the finish in question 1. I'll take care of that tomorrow.
g'night. |
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uberclay
Advanced Member
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2007 : 15:32:11
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Is
dy/dx = (8x^4 + 5x^2 + 6) / 4x^4
a suitable answer for question 1?
Thanks |
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skeeter
Advanced Member
USA
5634 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2007 : 18:42:44
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| yes |
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