Can I Use the Power Rule to Get the Derivative Here?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of the power rule in calculus for finding derivatives. Participants are examining the process of differentiation and the notation associated with first and second derivatives.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions whether the power rule can be applied to find the derivative of a given function. Some participants discuss the necessity of differentiating only once and clarify the meaning of derivative notation.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the concept of differentiation, with some providing clarifications on notation and the process of differentiation. There is a mix of agreement and further questioning regarding the steps involved in applying the power rule.

Contextual Notes

There is some confusion regarding the differentiation process and notation, particularly concerning when to stop differentiating and the implications of the notation used for first and second derivatives.

Danatron
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can i use the power rule to get the derivative here?

f ' (x) = 3x^2 - 2(2x^1) + 1
 
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Of course, why not? Do you use any other rule for that?
Your answer is correct
 
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ok good, so i wouldn't go again until there were no powers?

eg. f ' (x) = 2(3x) - 2(2x) + 1
 
Danatron said:
ok good, so i wouldn't go again until there were no powers?

eg. f ' (x) = 2(3x) - 2(2x) + 1
No. Why do you have to differentiate it again? The notation ##f'(x)## means-Differentiate once. Similarly, the notation ##f''(x)## means differentiate twice.

In leibniz notations ##\frac{\text{d}}{\text{d}x}## means- Differentiate once and ##\frac{\text{d}^2}{\text{d}x^2}## means- differentiate twice and so on.

In your example,(differentiating twice) you should write ##f''(x)## and this should be equal to the derivative of ##3x^2 - 4x + 1## which is ##6x+4##
Note that the derivative of a constant (1) is zero.

So in general, we differentiate the function ##f##, and again differentiate the derivative of the function ##f##, to differentiate ##f## twice. This can also be extended to differentiating 10000 times :wink:
 
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