lioric Messages 335 Reaction score 26 Thread starter Feb 22, 2016 #1 I cannot understand the first part (second line) where it says dw/dk Can someone explain in a more step by step method
I cannot understand the first part (second line) where it says dw/dk Can someone explain in a more step by step method
fresh_42 Staff Emeritus Science Advisor Homework Helper Insights Author 2025 Award Messages 20,819 Reaction score 28,466 Feb 22, 2016 #2 If ##f(x) = \sqrt {ax^2+b}## then ##\frac{df}{dx} = \frac{d}{dx} (ax^2+b)^{\frac{1}{2}}## and by chain rule $$ \frac{df}{dx} = \frac{1}{2} (ax^2+b)^{- \frac{1}{2}} \cdot \frac{d}{dx} (ax^2+b) = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{(ax^2+b)^{\frac{1}{2}}} \cdot (2ax) = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{2ax}{\sqrt{ax^2+b}}.$$ Now substitute ##x=k##, ##b=m^2c^4## and ##a=ħ^2c^2##.
If ##f(x) = \sqrt {ax^2+b}## then ##\frac{df}{dx} = \frac{d}{dx} (ax^2+b)^{\frac{1}{2}}## and by chain rule $$ \frac{df}{dx} = \frac{1}{2} (ax^2+b)^{- \frac{1}{2}} \cdot \frac{d}{dx} (ax^2+b) = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{(ax^2+b)^{\frac{1}{2}}} \cdot (2ax) = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{2ax}{\sqrt{ax^2+b}}.$$ Now substitute ##x=k##, ##b=m^2c^4## and ##a=ħ^2c^2##.
Mark44 Mentor Insights Author Messages 38,144 Reaction score 10,735 Feb 23, 2016 #3 @lioric, this is pretty straightforward stuff,usually taught in the first semester/quarter of calculus. You need to go back and review differentiation topics, especially the chain rule, which can be used to calculate the derivative shown here.
@lioric, this is pretty straightforward stuff,usually taught in the first semester/quarter of calculus. You need to go back and review differentiation topics, especially the chain rule, which can be used to calculate the derivative shown here.