Derivative involving inverse trigonometric functions

[biochem850]

Homework Statement

Find the derivative of:
sqrt(x^2-4)-2tan^-1{.5*sqrt(x^2-4)}

Homework Equations

U'/1+U^2
U'=x/2sqrt(x^2-4)
1+U^2=x^2

The Attempt at a Solution

I combined the above components but my answer is incorrect. I feel that I might have the wrong answer for "1+U^2". I just cannot seem to catch my error at the moment.

 

[ehild]

Did you mean the following function? \sqrt{(x^2-4)}-2\arctan\left(0.5 \sqrt{(x^2-4)}\right)

What do you mean on U'/1+U^2? Are no parentheses missing?

Did you mean the derivative of arctan(U)?

\frac{U'}{1+U^2}

with U=0.5\sqrt{(x^2-4)}
and
U'=0.5 \frac{x}{\sqrt{(x^2-4)}}?Recalculate U^2+1. It is not x^2.

ehild

 

[biochem850]

My U'=\frac{x}{2\sqrt{x^2-4}}

When I square \frac{\sqrt{x^2-4}}{2} and add one the only other answer I get is \frac{x^2}{4}
I've been working for a while and perhaps I'm missing something very simple.

 

[biochem850]

I've gotten the answer:

\frac{\sqrt{x^2-4}}{x}

I made a simple mistake in calculating 1+U^{2}

Thanks for the help!