How Do You Apply the Quotient Rule with Square Roots?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around applying the quotient rule in calculus to differentiate a function involving a square root. Participants are exploring the correct interpretation and manipulation of the function for differentiation, particularly focusing on the expression and its components.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the function h(x) = e^x/5/sqrt(2x^2-10x+17) and expresses difficulty in manipulating the square root for differentiation.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on the intended expression, suggesting the need for precise parentheses to avoid ambiguity in the function's format.
  • There is a proposal to rewrite the function using exponent notation for the square root, indicating the necessity of applying the chain rule during differentiation.
  • A later reply provides a detailed differentiation process using the quotient rule, including multiple steps and transformations of the function.
  • Another participant introduces logarithmic differentiation as an alternative approach, presenting a different method to arrive at the derivative of the function.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to differentiate the function, with multiple methods and interpretations presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the most effective technique.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the clarity of the original function due to potential ambiguities in notation and parentheses. The discussion also reflects varying levels of comfort with calculus concepts among participants.

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 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
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