The Product and Quotient Rules
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Let f and g be differentiable functions. Then
[f(x)g(x)]′=f(x)g′(x)+f′(x)g(x)
We have
Find
ddx(2−x2)(x4−5)
Solution:
Here
f(x)=2−x2
and
g(x)=x4−5
The product rule gives
ddx(2−x2)(x4−5)=(2−x2)(4x3)+(−2x)(x4−5)
The Quotient Rule
Remember the poem
"lo d hi minus hi d lo square the bottom and away you go"
This poem is the mnemonic for the taking the derivative of a quotient.
Let f and g be differentiable functions. Then
ddxf(x)g(x)=g(x)f′(x)−f(x)g′(x)g(x)2
Find y′ if
y′=2x−1x+1
Solution
Here
f(x)=2x−1
and
g(x)=x+1
The quotient rule (Equation ???) gives
(x+1)(2)−(2x−1)(1)(x+1)2=2x+2−2x+1(x+1)2=3(x+1)2