Deriving a root and a fraction

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Twinflower
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Homework Statement



Derive [itex]y= \sqrt(2x^4) - \frac{5}{3x^2}[/itex]



The Attempt at a Solution



I am still at the first part of the function (the root):
First I tried to derive inside the root like this:
[tex]\sqrt(2x^4) = \sqrt(8x^3) = 2 \sqrt(2) \times \sqrt(x^3) = \sqrt(2) \times x^2[/tex]

Unfortunately, the first part of the function is supposed to be 2\sqrt(2)x.

The second part I am nowhere close yet.
 
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Hi Twinflower! :smile:

Before you take the derivative, you should first try to simplify your expression.

Did you know that [itex]\sqrt {(2x)} = \sqrt 2 \sqrt x[/itex]?
And that [itex]\sqrt {(x^4)} = x^2[/itex]?
 
Last edited:
Hi, thanks for your reply.

I tried what you are suggesting, but I somehow ended up with [itex]\sqrt(x^4) = x^3[/itex] since [itex]\sqrt(x^2) = x^1 = x[/itex]

Second attempt:

[tex]\sqrt(2x^4)[/tex]
[tex]\sqrt(2) \times \sqrt(x^4)[/tex]
[tex]\sqrt(2) \times x^2[/tex]
[tex]2\times \sqrt(2) \times x[/tex]
[tex]2 x[/tex]

hm... didn't go quite well now either?
 
Actually, your second attempt is looking quite well. :)But how did you get from:

[itex]2\times \sqrt(2) \times x[/itex]

to

[itex]2 x[/itex]?
 
Oh, my bad.
Brain-fart.

For a second I though that 2 times sqrt2 equals 2.

The final answer should ofcourse be
[tex]2 \times \sqrt(2) \times x[/tex]
 
Thank you by the way.

Now I need a push in the right direction regarding the fraction :)
 
Twinflower said:
Thank you by the way.

Now I need a push in the right direction regarding the fraction :)

You're welcome! :smile:For the fraction you need to know that for instance [itex]{1 \over x^5} = x^{-5}[/itex].

Oh, and also that [itex]{2 \over 3x} = {2\over 3} \times {1 \over x}[/itex].
 
Ah, of course!
Gimme a minute, and I'll figure that one out as well :)
 
Ok, here we go:


[tex]- \frac{5}{3x^2}[/tex]
[tex]- \frac{5}{3} \times \frac{1}{x^2}[/tex]
[tex]- \frac{5}{3} \times x^{-2}[/tex]
[tex]- \frac{5}{3} \times -2 \times x^{-3}[/tex]
[tex]\frac{10}{3} \times x^{-3}[/tex]
[tex]\frac{10\times x^{-3}}{3}[/tex]
 
Hey! Your minute is up! :wink:

Edit: errrr... I guess you were just in time! :rolleyes:
 
yeye, I needed to write it down in my exercise paper and THEN i had to write it all in LaTeX (which is still quite messy to me)

:)