How Do You Apply the Quotient Rule with Square Roots?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on applying the Quotient Rule to the function h(x) = e^(x/5) / sqrt(2x^2 - 10x + 17). Participants clarify the correct interpretation of the function and provide step-by-step guidance on differentiating it using the Quotient Rule and the Chain Rule. Key steps include rewriting the square root as an exponent and applying the rules correctly to derive h'(x). The final derivative is expressed as y' = (2e^(x/5)(x^2 - 10x + 21)) / (5(2x^2 - 10x + 17)^(3/2)).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Quotient Rule in calculus
  • Familiarity with the Chain Rule for differentiation
  • Knowledge of exponential functions and their derivatives
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions involving square roots
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of the Quotient Rule in calculus
  • Learn about the Chain Rule and its significance in differentiation
  • Explore logarithmic differentiation techniques for complex functions
  • Practice differentiating functions involving square roots and exponents
USEFUL FOR

Students studying calculus, mathematics educators, and anyone looking to enhance their skills in differentiation, particularly with functions involving square roots and exponential terms.

sleepless
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I have the answer to this problem but I am stumped as how to get there. Here it is

h(x)=e^x/5/sqrt2x^2-10x+17, I'm getting stuck moving the square root up. Help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
sleepless said:
I have the answer to this problem but I am stumped as how to get there. Here it is

h(x)=e^x/5/sqrt2x^2-10x+17, I'm getting stuck moving the square root up. Help

Hi sleepless,

Welcome to MHB! I'm not exactly sure what problem you are trying to solve. Try to be very precise with parentheses. Is this what you want to take the derivative of?

[math]\frac{\frac{e^{x}}{5}}{\sqrt{2x^2-10x+17}}[/math]?
 
sleepless said:
I have the answer to this problem but I am stumped as how to get there. Here it is

h(x)=e^x/5/sqrt2x^2-10x+17, I'm getting stuck moving the square root up. Help

Or is it

$ h(x) = \dfrac{e^{x/5}}{\sqrt{2x^2-10x+17}}$

With square roots note that $\sqrt{x} = x^{1/2}$ and don't forget the chain rule where appropriate (which you will need in this example)
 
Hello, sleepless!

I have the answer to this problem but I am stumped as how to get there.

. . h(x) = e^x/5/sqrt2x^2-10x+17.

i'm getting stuck moving the square root up. .Why do you want to do that?
I'll take a guess as to what the problem is . . .

. . h(x) \;=\;\frac{e^{\frac{x}{5}}}{\sqrt{2x^2 - 10x + 17}} \;=\;\frac{e^{\frac{1}{5}x}}{(2x^2 - 10x + 17)^{\frac{1}{2}}}\text{Quotient Rule:}

. . h'(x) \;=\; \frac{(2x^2-10x+17)^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot e^{\frac{1}{5}x} \!\cdot\!\frac{1}{5} \;-\; e^{\frac{1}{5}x}\!\cdot\!\frac{1}{2}(2x^2-10x+17)^{-\frac{1}{2}}(4x-10)} {2x^2 - 10x + 7}

. . . . . . =\;\frac{\frac{1}{5}e^{\frac{x}{5}}(2x^2 - 10x + 17)^{\frac{1}{2}} \;-\; e^{\frac{x}{5}}(2x-5)(2x^2-10x+17)^{-\frac{1}{2}}}{2x^2-10x+17}

Multiply numerator and denominator by (2x^2-10x + 17)^{\frac{1}{2}}

. . h'(x) \;=\;\frac{\frac{1}{5}e^{\frac{x}{5}}(2x^2-10x + 17) \;-\; e^{\frac{x}{5}}(2x-5)}{(2x^2-10x+17)^{\frac{3}{2}}}

. . . . . . =\;\tfrac{1}{5}e^{\frac{x}{5}}\!\cdot\!\frac{(2x^2 - 10x + 17) \;-\; 5(2x-5)}{(2x^2-10x+17)^{\frac{3}{2}}}

. . . . . . =\;\tfrac{1}{5}e^{\frac{x}{5}}\!\cdot\!\frac{2x^2 - 10x + 17 - 10x + 25}{(2x^2-10x+17)^{\frac{3}{2}}}

. . . . . . =\;\tfrac{1}{5}e^{\frac{x}{5}}\!\cdot \!\frac{2x^2-20x + 42}{(2x^2-20x+17)^{\frac{3}{2}}}

. . . . . . =\;\tfrac{2}{5}e^{\frac{x}{5}}\!\cdot\!\frac{x^2-10x + 21}{(2x^2-10x+17)^{\frac{3}{2}}}
 
y = \frac{e^{x/5}}{\sqrt{2x^2-10x+17}}

\ln{y} = \frac{x}{5} - \frac{1}{2}\ln(2x^2-10x+17)

\frac{y'}{y} = \frac{1}{5} - \frac{2x-5}{2x^2-10x+17}

\frac{y'}{y} = \frac{2x^2-20x+42}{5(2x^2-10x+17)}

y' = \frac{e^{x/5}}{\sqrt{2x^2-10x+17}} \cdot \frac{2x^2-20x+42}{5(2x^2-10x+17)}

y' = \frac{2e^{x/5}(x^2-10x+21)}{5(2x^2-10x+17)^{\frac{3}{2}}}

don't you love logarithmic differentiation?
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K