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UrbanXrisis
Oct4-04, 08:16 PM
if
L(x)=sqrt(x)*f(x)
f(9)=3
F'(9)=(-4)

find L'(9)

I think I need to use the product rule:

L'(9)=0.5x^(-0.5)*f(x)+f'(x)*sqrt(x)
L'(9)=(1/6)*3+(-4)*3
L'(9)=-11.5

Also, what if the question asked for f^3(x), how would I set that up?

maverick280857
Oct4-04, 10:25 PM
More generally if I let f(x) and g(x) denote two functions then the first derivative of their product, viz. g(x)f(x) is written as

\frac{d[gf]}{dx} = g(x)\frac{df}{dx} + f(x)\frac{dg}{dx}

you seem to have applied the product rule correctly. I believe you mean f'(3) or f(x)^3. Is it so?

You know that f(x = 9) = 3 and f'(x = 9) = -4. Do you think this information is sufficient to fix f'(x = 3) or f(x = 3)?