Operator Theory Problem on Momentum Operator (QM)

LolWolf
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Homework Statement



Given the operators \hat{x}=x\cdot and \hat{p}=-i\hbar \frac{d}{dx}, prove that:

[\hat{x}, g(\hat{p})]=i\hbar \frac{dg}{d\hat p}

Homework Equations



None.

The Attempt at a Solution



I have very little idea on how to begin this problem, but I don't want a solution, I simply want a hint in the right direction.

Thanks, mates.
 
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LolWolf said:

Homework Statement



Given the operators \hat{x}=x\cdot and \hat{p}=-i\hbar \frac{d}{dx}, prove that:

[\hat{x}, g(\hat{p})]=i\hbar \frac{dg}{d\hat p}

Homework Equations



None.

The Attempt at a Solution



I have very little idea on how to begin this problem, but I don't want a solution, I simply want a hint in the right direction.

Thanks, mates.

Expand ##g(p)## in a power series. What's ##[x,p^n]##?
 
Actually, I realized it was even easier than that, but thank you!

Consider the case in momentum-space rather than position-space, and this reduces nicely using elementary operations.
 
LolWolf said:
Actually, I realized it was even easier than that, but thank you!

Consider the case in momentum-space rather than position-space, and this reduces nicely using elementary operations.

Sure, that works also. x is a differentiation operator in p space.
 
To solve this, I first used the units to work out that a= m* a/m, i.e. t=z/λ. This would allow you to determine the time duration within an interval section by section and then add this to the previous ones to obtain the age of the respective layer. However, this would require a constant thickness per year for each interval. However, since this is most likely not the case, my next consideration was that the age must be the integral of a 1/λ(z) function, which I cannot model.
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