# Basic derivative question

1. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

[SOLVED] basic derivative question

since d/dx(e^x) = e^x

does d/dx(e^[-x]) = e^[-x]

and d/dx(e^[x+1])= e^(x+1)

the answer to one of my homework problems is different from my friends and I think that it is because I am mistaken about the stuff I just posted

2. Oct 22, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
No; $\frac{d}{dx}(e^{f(x)})=f'(x)e^{f(x)}$. Since in your first case, f(x)=1. f'(x)=1 so it doesn't matter, but it does for the second.

3. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

hmmm, what is wrong with this:

d/dx(e^(x+1)) = d/dx(e^[x] * e^[1]) = e^[x] * d/dx(e) + e * d/dx(e^x) = e^x * (0) + e * e^[x]= e^(x+1)

4. Oct 22, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
Nothing; that's correct. Alternatively, using the notation in my previous post, we have that f(x)=x+1, and so f'(x)=1 => d/dx(e^{x+1})=e^{x+1}

5. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

I thought you said that the second one isn't true?

6. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

I am confused; is d/dx(e^(x+1)) = e^(x+1)

7. Oct 22, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
I did; the second one being d/dx(e^{-x}).

8. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

how can I find the derivative of e^[-x]

sorry for the confusion

9. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

wait, I did this to it... does this work:

e^-x = 1/e^x = e^x(0) + (1)(e^x)

10. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

I read post #2, I'm not familiar with that notation... I have never seen it before.

11. Oct 22, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
No, you need to use the quotient rule to differentiate quotients, something you may not have done yet.

Instead, read post #2. What is f(x) in this case?

12. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

f(x) = -x

right?

13. Oct 22, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
Correct. So, what's f'(x)? Note that the prime here just means "derivative wrt x" so, f'(x)=d/dx(f(x))=d/dx(-x)

[NB: I deleted my post a few above, the one you quoted, as it seemed a little abrupt. Sorry about that.]

14. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

which is -1?

15. Oct 22, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
Yup, and so, using the formula in #2, what is the derivative of e^{-x}?

16. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

-e^{-x} ?

17. Oct 22, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
Correct!

18. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

ugh, Im screwing up somewhere here...

e^{-x} = 1/(e^x) if I apply the quotient rule... [e^x * (0) - (1) * e^x] / (e^x)^2

-(e^x)/(e^{2x})

EDIT: switched signs

Last edited: Oct 22, 2007
19. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

nm, after I cancel I get the same thing...

thank you very much for your help

20. Oct 22, 2007

### ggcheck

would you mind taking a look at the problem that started all of this madness?