# Please tell me how they got this derivatives

1. Oct 4, 2009

### neutron star

Ok, I need help understanding this really bad. I don't get it. There were examples of derivatives in the book but I don't get how they got the answer. Here were the examples.

They all said to find the derivatives algebraically.

f(x)=x$$^3$$ at x=-2

f(x)=x$$^3$$+5 at x=1

How did they get these answers, I don't understand it, can someone help explain?

2. Oct 4, 2009

### rock.freak667

Re: Derivatives?

ok for f(x)=xn we know that f'(x)=nxn-1

So in your first example f(x)=x3, so what is n and what is f'(x)? When you find f'(x) just put x=2 into your equation.

3. Oct 4, 2009

### neutron star

Re: Derivatives?

Ah, that clears it up. A little confusing but I see that 3(-2)$$^3^-^1$$=12

Thanks.

But for the second one, are you not supposed to do anything with the +5?

4. Oct 4, 2009

### neutron star

Re: Derivatives?

Okay, I have a weird one of this. It says find the derivative of g(x)=1/x at x=2 algebraically. So I got

g'(x)=1(2)$$^1^-^1$$ which is 2$$^0$$ which =1. Right? There were no exponents so I put 1, just want to make sure I am doing this right.

5. Oct 4, 2009

### rock.freak667

Re: Derivatives?

for the second one, f(x)=x3+5, then f'(x)=d/dx(x3)+d/dx(5)

g(x)=1/x , so we can see this is not in the form xn.But we know a rule in indices that says 1/am=a-m

So now using this rule what is another way to write 1/x?

g(x) ?

6. Oct 4, 2009

### neutron star

Re: Derivatives?

Ok, so it would be -1(2)$$^-^1^-^1$$, which is -2^-2 =1/4 right?

7. Oct 4, 2009

### rock.freak667

Re: Derivatives?

remember -ab means you take '-a' and raise it to the power of b

-(a)b means you take 'a' and raise to the power of 'b' and then multiply by -1

8. Oct 4, 2009

### neutron star

Re: Derivatives?

Ok so you mean 2^-1 which is 1/2 and then 1/2(-1) which is -1/2?

9. Oct 4, 2009

### rock.freak667

Re: Derivatives?

no no, you have -(2)-1-1=-(2)-2=-(2-2). So what number do you get now?

10. Oct 4, 2009

### neutron star

Re: Derivatives?

-1/4.

11. Oct 4, 2009

### rock.freak667

Re: Derivatives?

and that is correct.

12. Oct 4, 2009

### neutron star

Re: Derivatives?

Cool, thanks. I see how that works.

13. Oct 4, 2009

### Elucidus

Re: Derivatives?

This is false. -ab means -(ab).

If you meant raising -a to the bth power, you have to write (-a)b.

--Elucidus