Troubleshooting Product and Chain Rule for h(t) Derivatives

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the derivative h'(t) of the function h(t) = (t^6 - 1)^5(t^5 + 1)^6 using the product and chain rules. The correct derivative is h'(t) = 30t^5(t^6 - 1)^4(t^5 + 1)^6 + 30t^4(t^5 + 1)^5(t^6 - 1)^5. Participants identified errors in the original calculation, specifically the omission of a power of t in the first term and the incorrect use of constants instead of variables.

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  • Familiarity with polynomial functions and their derivatives
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Rasine
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i am having trouble with this one problem. maybe you can tell me where i am going wrong.

find h'(t) if h(t)=(t^6-1)^5(t^5+1)^6

so i am using product rule and to find the derivatives of each expression i am using chain rule...

so i get h'(t)=30t^4(t^6-1)^4(t^5+1)^6+30^4(t^5+1)^5(t^6-1)^5


is that right..or what is wrong with it?
 
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Not quite right. The factors [itex](t^6-1)^4(t^5+1)^6[/itex] and [itex](t^5+1)^5(t^6-1)^5[/itex] in the two terms are correct, but the factors involving a power of [itex]t[/itex] are not.

What is [itex]\frac d{dt}\left((t^6-1)^5\right)[/itex] ?
 
Rasine said:
i am having trouble with this one problem. maybe you can tell me where i am going wrong.

find h'(t) if h(t)=(t^6-1)^5(t^5+1)^6

so i am using product rule and to find the derivatives of each expression i am using chain rule...

so i get h'(t)=30t^4(t^6-1)^4(t^5+1)^6+30^4(t^5+1)^5(t^6-1)^5

is that right..or what is wrong with it?
The derivative of (t6-1)5 is 5(t6-1)4(6t5= 30t5(t6-1)4. I think you've missed a power of t in the first term above.

The derivative of (t5+ 1)6 is 6(t5+ 1)5(5t4)= 30t4(t5+ 1)5
You seem to be missing a "t"! (30^4 instead of 30t^4!)
 

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