Solve Derivative of y = x2sinx

goonking
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Homework Statement


y = x 2sinx

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Ok, so If I see an x in an exponent, I would want to use ln to 'bring it out', right?

ln y = ln (x 2sinx) = ln x + ln 2sinx = ln x + sinx ln2

now I take the derivative :

y'/y = 1/x + cosx ln2

multiply both sides by y

y' = [1/x + cosx ln2] (x 2sinx)

is everything correct?
 
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Yes it looks correct. You could have also done a product rule + chain rule expansion. That way you could avoid the implicit form,
 
Brian T said:
Yes it looks correct. You could have also done a product rule + chain rule expansion. That way you could avoid the implicit form,
ok, cool. Thanks!
 
goonking said:

Homework Statement


y = x 2sinx

Is x multiplied by 2sin x, or is it something else?
 
SteamKing said:
Is x multiplied by 2sin x, or is it something else?
yes , multiplied.
 
Brian T said:
Yes it looks correct. You could have also done a product rule + chain rule expansion. That way you could avoid the implicit form,
could you show your work for that?
 
goonking said:

Homework Statement


y = x 2sinx

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Ok, so If I see an x in an exponent, I would want to use ln to 'bring it out', right?

ln y = ln (x 2sinx) = ln x + ln 2sinx = ln x + sinx ln2

now I take the derivative :

y'/y = 1/x + cosx ln2

multiply both sides by y

y' = [1/x + cosx ln2] (x 2sinx)

is everything correct?

It is correct, but should be re-written as ##y' = 2^{\sin(x)} + \ln(2)\, \cos(x)\, x \, 2^{\sin(x)}##. The way YOU wrote it would not allow you to easily get ##y'(0)## because it would involve the "illegal" fraction ##\frac{0}{0}##. The way I wrote it presents no problems at ##x = 0##.
 
goonking said:
could you show your work for that?

y = x 2sinx

Product rule says y'(x) = f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x). Choose f(x) = x, and g(x) = 2sinx. (although order doesn't really matter)

Now, all you have to do is compute the derivative of f, the derivative of g, and then plug. The derivative of g also involves the chain rule. Try figuring it out for yourself, it should be more rewarding. You already know the answer so you'll know if you've got it. Good luck :D
 
Ray Vickson said:
It is correct, but should be re-written as ##y' = 2^{\sin(x)} + \ln(2)\, \cos(x)\, x \, 2^{\sin(x)}##. The way YOU wrote it would not allow you to easily get ##y'(0)## because it would involve the "illegal" fraction ##\frac{0}{0}##. The way I wrote it presents no problems at ##x = 0##.
Wait, how did you get 2sin(x)+ln(2)cos(x) when I got 1/x + ln2 cosx?
 
  • #10
Brian T said:
y = x 2sinx

Product rule says y'(x) = f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x). Choose f(x) = x, and g(x) = 2sinx. (although order doesn't really matter)

Now, all you have to do is compute the derivative of f, the derivative of g, and then plug. The derivative of g also involves the chain rule. Try figuring it out for yourself, it should be more rewarding. You already know the answer so you'll know if you've got it. Good luck :D
but to get the derivative of 2sinx, I need to use ln right? is there any other way?
 
  • #11
goonking said:
Wait, how did you get 2sin(x)+ln(2)cos(x) when I got 1/x + ln2 cosx?

He just distributed the term you had outside your parenthesis.

goonking said:
but to get the derivative of 2sinx, I need to use ln right? is there any other way?

The derivative of some scalar a, raised to the x, is:
\frac{d}{dx}[a^x] = (a^x)ln(a) ... as a side note unrelated to this problem, think about when the scalar a = e.
So, applying the chain rule the derivative of scalar a, raised to some f(x), is:
\frac{d}{dx}[a^{f(x)}] = (a^{f(x)})ln(a)f'(x)
 
  • #12
Brian T said:
He just distributed the term you had outside your parenthesis.
The derivative of some scalar a, raised to the x, is:
\frac{d}{dx}[a^x] = (a^x)ln(a) ... as a side note unrelated to this problem, think about when the scalar a = e.
So, applying the chain rule the derivative of scalar a, raised to some f(x), is:
\frac{d}{dx}[a^{f(x)}] = (a^{f(x)})ln(a)f'(x)
scalar a = constant right?

also, this whole time, i thought \frac{d}{dx}[a^x] = (x)ln(a) , i thought you only move the exponent out, but you moved both the base AND exponent.

edit: Oh, I think i understand now. if you have a constant to the x power, like 52x then it becomes 52x ln5 ⋅2

but what if it is a variable to a power of another variable, for example y5x

is it going to be y5x ln y ⋅5 ?
 
Last edited:
  • #13
goonking said:
scalar a = constant right?

also, this whole time, i thought \frac{d}{dx}[a^x] = (x)ln(a) , i thought you only move the exponent out, but you moved both the base AND exponent.

edit: Oh, I think i understand now. if you have a constant to the x power, like 52x then it becomes 52x ln5 ⋅2

but what if it is a variable to a power of another variable, for example y5x
Here's how it works. As long as x > 0, you can write x as ##e^{ln(x)}##.
So ##5^{2x} = (e^{ln(5)})^{2x}##
Using one of the rules of exponents, the above is equal to ##e^{2x*ln(5)}##. This form is much easier to differentiate.
goonking said:
is it going to be y5x ln y ⋅5 ?
 
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