Derivative of tan^4(3x) - Solving a Simple Derivative Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chocolaty
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Derivative
Chocolaty
Messages
48
Reaction score
0
What is the derivative of:
tan^4(3x)

The teacher wrote 4TAN^3(x) + sec^2(3x)(3) but i think he made a mistake.

I know that tan^4(3x) = tan(3x)^4 and that this equals 4tan(3x) in algebra
When I derive this i get the following: sec^2(3x)(3) I'm not sure what to do with the coefficient 4. Can someone give me the exact derivative formula to work this term out so I can copy it down please.

thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
nevermind i got it. You need to use the generalized power rule:
[u(x)]^n => n*u^(n-1)*u'
so
tan(3x)^4 => 4*tan(3x)^3*sec^2(3x)(3)
 
Back
Top