Differentiation - Quotient rule

zebra1707
Messages
106
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Given y = x^2 + 6 / x find x if dy/dx equals 0 zero

Homework Equations



dy/dx = v du/dx - u dv/dx / v^2

The Attempt at a Solution



I have got as far as dy/dx = x^2 - 6 / x^2

However then zero must equal Sqrt 6, which 2.44... - can someone please confirm.

Many thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I didn't check to see if your derivative is correct, but I will assume it is. But solving x2-6=0 yields two answers √6 and -√6 . You have two answers for x.
 
Hi Rock freak

dy/dx = x^2 - 6 all over x^2

So not sure how you arrived at x^2 - 6 = Sqrt +/- 6

Can you check my derivative calc.

Cheers
 
zebra1707 said:
Hi Rock freak

dy/dx = x^2 - 6 all over x^2

So not sure how you arrived at x^2 - 6 = Sqrt +/- 6

Can you check my derivative calc.

Cheers

Well your derivative looks correct.


\frac{x^2-6}{x^2}=0 \Rightarrow x^2-6=0

x2-a2=(x-a)(x+a). See how x= ±√6 ?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top