How Do You Differentiate the Function 4e^t(e^(2t) - e^t)?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
Quarkn
Messages
7
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



find the derivative of: 4e^t((e^2t)-(e^t))

Homework Equations



d/dx[b^x] = lnb(b^x)d/dx(x)

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried subtracting the two exponents in the brackets as well as multiplying it out. both wrong. Help?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Should that read:
[tex]4e^{t}(e^{2t}-e^{t})[/tex] ?

You should make it easier on yourself and distribute that [itex]4e^{t}[/itex] through the parenthesis and then take the derivative. Remember to use the chainrule, for example, recall that:
[tex]\frac{d}{dx}e^{f(x)}=e^{f(x)}\frac{df(x)}{dx}[/tex]
 
Quarkn said:

Homework Statement



find the derivative of: 4e^t((e^2t)-(e^t))

Homework Equations



d/dx[b^x] = lnb(b^x)d/dx(x)

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried subtracting the two exponents in the brackets as well as multiplying it out. both wrong. Help?

So just to be clear, you are trying to find

[tex]\frac{d}{dt}\left(4e^t\left(e^{2t}-e^t\right)\right)[/tex]

Correct?

Quarkn said:
I tried subtracting the two exponents in the brackets

[tex]e^{2t}-e^t\neq e^t[/tex]

if that's what you were implying. Remember the rules for subtracting indices are

[tex]\frac{a^b}{a^c}=a^{b-c}[/tex]

When you multiplied the factor out (expanded) what did you get?