Derivative using quotient and product rules

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the derivative of the function y = tsin(t)/(1+t), which involves the application of the quotient and product rules for derivatives. Participants are exploring the correct interpretation of the function and the steps involved in differentiating it.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the quotient and product rules, with one original poster expressing confusion about their calculations leading to an incorrect derivative. Others question the clarity of the function's notation and the steps taken in the differentiation process.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes attempts to clarify the original poster's notation and reasoning. Some participants provide insights into the correct differentiation process, while others emphasize the importance of clear notation. There is acknowledgment that the original poster's answer was indeed correct, despite initial confusion.

Contextual Notes

One participant mentions that they have not yet learned the chain rule, which may affect their understanding of the differentiation process. There is also a note about the original poster's intention to improve their notation in future posts.

kevinnn
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Homework Statement


y=\frac{}{}tsint/1+t


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


What I do (and arrive at the wrong solution) is the fallowing. Can you please tell me where i go wrong. *I am going to leave out the denominator as i go through the problem because it stays the same the whole time and will make the problem look messier.

First step: I used the quotient rule and product rule for derivatives for the first step. Quotent rule because the problem is a fraction and quotent rule because the top is a product. after taking the necessary derivatives I get,
y'=1+t[tcos(t)+sin(t)]-tsin(t)
y'=tcos(t)+sin(t)+t^2cos(t)+tsin(t)-tsin(t)
y'=tcos(t)+sin(t)+t^2cos(t)/(1+t)^2
That answer is incorrect. the correct answer is y'=(t^2+t)cos(t)+sin(t)/(1+t)^2

Help appreciated!
 
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Is that y= tsin(t)/(1+t) or y=(tsin(t)/1) + t?

I imagine the former but your comment about the denominator staying the same makes me believe you think it is the latter?
 
kevinnn said:

Homework Statement


y=\frac{}{}tsint/1+t


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


What I do (and arrive at the wrong solution) is the fallowing. Can you please tell me where i go wrong. *I am going to leave out the denominator as i go through the problem because it stays the same the whole time and will make the problem look messier.

First step: I used the quotient rule and product rule for derivatives for the first step. Quotent rule because the problem is a fraction and quotent rule because the top is a product. after taking the necessary derivatives I get,
y'=1+t[tcos(t)+sin(t)]-tsin(t)
y'=tcos(t)+sin(t)+t^2cos(t)+tsin(t)-tsin(t)
y'=tcos(t)+sin(t)+t^2cos(t)/(1+t)^2
That answer is incorrect. the correct answer is y'=(t^2+t)cos(t)+sin(t)/(1+t)^2

Help appreciated!

I cannot parse your function, due to your lack of parentheses. Do you mean
y = t \sin(t) + t \text{ (which is what you wrote), }\\<br /> \text{or}\\<br /> y = t \sin\left( \frac{t}{t+1}\right),\\<br /> \text{or}\\<br /> y = \frac{t \sin t}{t+1}?
 
If you take the derivative of t*sin(t), how in the world to you get t^2 in the result?

Since this is a product, write down what is u, what is v, and what u' and v' are.
Then combine according to the chain rule. Trying to do this on the fly has left you confused.
 
yes, sorry the equation is tsin(t)/(1+t)

SteamKing: We have not learned the chain rule yet, it is the topic of Mondays lecture. But i didn't get t^2 as the derivative of tsin(t). When I take the derivative of tsin(t) I get
tcos(t)-tsin(t). I incorrectly factored out a t for some reason. But I don't think that will fix my problem. It was just a typo, sorry.
 
After deciphering what you wrote, I'll note you did it correctly, but you really need to quit being so sloppy with your notation. I hope you don't turn work like this in on your homework and exams. If you do, you probably drive your instructor up the wall.

In your first line, you wrote ##y' = 1+t[t\cos(t)+\sin(t)]-t\sin(t)##. First off, you weren't writing down y'. You were only writing down the numerator, so you shouldn't have said "y'=…". Second, 1+t should have been in parentheses. The numerator of the derivative, correctly written, is ##(1+t)(t \cos t + \sin t) - t\sin t##, which is apparently what you meant based on what you wrote in the second line.

To get y', all you have to now do is divide by the denominator squared, so
$$y' = \frac{(1+t)(t \cos t + \sin t) - t\sin t}{(1+t)^2}.$$ If you multiply out the numerator and simplify, you end up with what you got. If you then collect the cosine terms and factor out the cos t, you end up with the other solution. Your answer was right.
 
OK thanks.
This was just my first post placing a math problem on the computer. I'm very neat with my work in class and use brackets and parenthesis when necessary. I also wrote this after many hours of studying so my head was a mess. I will from now on use my dad's computer to write math problems because it has Microsoft word and I can write math problems the way they would look as if they were on paper. I will just copy and paste them on here.
Good to hear the answer was correct. I guess the program did not take it because it could be simplified more.
 

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