Can You Differentiate x^x^x^x^x^x...?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the differentiation of infinite exponentials, specifically the expressions \(x^{x^{x^{...}}\) and \(x^{(x^2)^{(x^3)^{(x^4)}}}\). Participants explore various methods of differentiation, including logarithmic differentiation and iterative definitions, while addressing ambiguities in notation and evaluation order.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using logarithmic differentiation for the expression \(x^{x^{x^{...}}\).
  • One participant proposes defining \(h(x) = x^{x^{x^{...}}\) and deriving the relationship \(h(x) = x^{h(x)}\) for differentiation.
  • Another participant notes the need for clarity in notation, emphasizing that \(x^{(x^2)}\) is not equivalent to \((x^x)^2\).
  • There is a suggestion to differentiate using an iterative definition for the nested exponentials, which may complicate the differentiation process.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how to differentiate the second function \(x^{(x^2)^{(x^3)^{(x^4)}}}\), highlighting the ambiguity in evaluating the expression from left to right or right to left.
  • A claim is made regarding the derivative of the first function, presented as \(y' = \frac{y^2}{x(1 - \ln(x) y)}\), derived from implicit differentiation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the differentiation of the second function, and there are competing views on how to interpret the notation and evaluate the expressions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to differentiate the second function.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the clarity of notation and the assumptions regarding the evaluation order of the expressions, which may affect the differentiation process.

abia ubong
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how can this be differentiated,i need to know how.x^x^x^x^x^x...
also ,my teacher posed this question to the whole class x^(x^2)^(x^3)^(x^4)...
 
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The greatest mathematician of all time would be able to solve this easily.
 
The first is really easy,if u consider logarithmic differentiation...

Daniel.
 
Try to write : h(x)=x^x^x^x...

Then clearly h(x)=x^h(x)...just differentiate and isolate h'(x)...

Also x^(x^2)=x^(x.x)=(x^x)^x=x^x^x...or if you want : log(x^(x^2))=x^2*log(x)=x*log(x^x)=log((x^x)^x)=log(x^x^x)
 
you are really funny juvenal.
but then how about the other function, how can i get that differentiated?
 
Kleinwolf,i'm sure you're not familiar to the notation [tex]x^{x^{x^{...}}}[/tex]

So basically i could write

[tex]x^{x^{2}}=x^{x\cdot x}=\left(x^{x}\right)^{x}\neq x^{x^{x}}}[/tex]

Daniel.
 
hey if its x^x^x^...infinity
then
y = x^x^x^x^...can be written as

y = x^y ,
then take log of both sides and then diffrentiate .
 
dextercioby said:
Kleinwolf,i'm sure you're not familiar to the notation [tex]x^{x^{x^{...}}}[/tex]

So basically i could write

[tex]x^{x^{2}}=x^{x\cdot x}=\left(x^{x}\right)^{x}\neq x^{x^{x}}}[/tex]

Daniel.

Right Daniel, I messed up...

I got disturbed by having no parenthesis, because [tex]x^{(x^2)}\neq (x^x)^2=x^{(2x)}[/tex]...

Then I think u could use an iterative definition : [tex]f(x,y)=x^y[/tex]

[tex]h_1(x)=x, h_2(x)=x^{(x^2)}, h_3(x)=x^{((x^2)^{(x^3)})}...[/tex]

So that in fact : [tex]h_1(x)=f(x,1), h_2(x)=f(x,x^2), h_3(x)=f(x,f(x^2,x^3))...aso...[/tex]

Now you "just" have to differentiate the imbrication of f(...f(...(x^{n-1},x^n)...)...this should be quite complicated.
 
Last edited:
how about the other question ,no one is talking about that ,just the easy one.
the most important is x^(x^2)^(x^3)...
 
  • #10
For the first one I got the following answer, which I'm pretty sure is correct.
y' = y^2 / ( x ( 1 - ln(x) y ) )


I set it up as an implicit function, y(x) : (x^y - y)=0, and used
y' = -(dQ/dx) / (dQ/dy), where Q(x,y) = x^y - y.
 
Last edited:
  • #11
abia ubong said:
how about the other question ,no one is talking about that ,just the easy one.
the most important is x^(x^2)^(x^3)...

Recalling the ambiguity (that was clarified by Daniel) in the first expression is that second one meant to be evaluated from left to right or from right to left ?

If it's evaluated left to right then it diverges for all x>1 and is one for 0<x<=1, so the derivative is not really very interesting as it's just zero in the region for which the function is meaningfully defined. If however it's evaluated right to left then hmmm, I'm not sure.
 
  • #12
That is the solution for the first function ,how about the other x^(x^2)^(x^3)^(x^4).....
 

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