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disregardthat
Mar19-07, 03:27 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

derivate: x^2 \sqrt{x}

2. Relevant equations

(u \cdot v)^\prime = u^\prime \cdot v + v^\prime \cdot u

3. The attempt at a solution

I found:
(x^2)^\prime = 2x
(\sqrt{x})^\prime = \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}}

I entered them into the equation:

2x \cdot \sqrt{x} + x^2 \cdot \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}} = 2x \sqrt{x} + \frac{x^2}{2 \sqrt{x}}

But this is not correct!

Hurkyl
Mar19-07, 03:31 PM
Why do you think it is not correct?

radou
Mar19-07, 03:31 PM
Try to get rid of the square root in the denominator.

robphy
Mar19-07, 03:34 PM
Can you simplify your last expression?

disregardthat
Mar19-07, 04:07 PM
Ok, sorry. I checked it on my calculator many times and never got the correct result. But this time I did, by adding some extra brackets.. My calc just won't accept things with having it stuffed in with brackets!

Simplify? I guess you could simplify it:
2x \sqrt{x} + \frac{x^2}{2 \sqrt{x}} = \frac{4x^{1.5}}{2} + \frac{x^{1.5}}{2} = \frac{5x^{1.5}}{2} = \frac{5x \sqrt{x}}{2}

Jesus christ, now my textbook's answer is correct too!
Well, I guess that's a good thing. I must have seen on it uncorrectly. I got it right now... Much making a topic about ...

Hurkyl
Mar19-07, 04:26 PM
FYI, you can do this problem without the product rule -- do you see how?

disregardthat
Mar19-07, 05:10 PM
When you say it I think so, yes.

x^2 \sqrt{x} = x^{2+0.5} = x^{2.5} = x^{\frac{5}{2}}

(x^{\frac{5}{2}})^\prime = \frac{5}{2} \cdot x = \frac{5x}{2}

robphy
Mar19-07, 06:00 PM
When you say it I think so, yes.

x^2 \sqrt{x} = x^{2+0.5} = x^{2.5} = x^{\frac{5}{2}}

(x^{\frac{5}{2}})^\prime = \frac{5}{2} \cdot x = \frac{5x}{2}

missing exponent?

disregardthat
Mar20-07, 11:49 AM
Of course
\frac{5x^{\frac{3}{2}}}{2}