Understanding the Derivative of a Complex Function

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the derivative of a complex function involving exponential terms. The original poster seeks clarification on the steps taken in the differentiation process, particularly regarding the application of the quotient rule and the manipulation of terms in the resulting expression.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the quotient rule and the simplification of the derivative expression. There is confusion regarding the handling of negative signs in the expression and how they affect the terms involved.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided confirmations of the derivative calculations, while others express confusion about specific steps, particularly the treatment of negative signs. The discussion appears to be productive, with participants clarifying notation and confirming the correctness of the derivative.

Contextual Notes

There are mentions of formatting issues with LaTeX notation, which some participants are attempting to resolve while discussing the mathematical content. The original function and its derivative are central to the conversation, with specific attention to the accuracy of the steps involved in differentiation.

Mozart
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Hey my teacher worked this problem out the other day and I wrote it down but now I am having trouble understanding it. This is what he wrote. Can someone verify if it is correct.

[tex]y=\frac{e^{2u}}{e^u+e^{-u}}[/tex]

[tex]y'=\frac{(e^u+e^(-u))(e^(2u))(2)-e^(2u)(e^u+e^-u(-1))}{(e^u+e^-u)^2}[/tex]

[tex]y'=\frac{e^(2u)[2e^u+2e^-u-e^u+e^-u]}{(e^u+e^-u)^2}[/tex]

[tex]y'=\frac{e^(2u)[e^u+3e^-u]}{(e^u+e^-u)^2}[/tex]

What I don't understand is how in the step after the quotient rule was used there is in brackets [tex]-e^u+e^-u[/tex] Doesn't multiplying it by-1 make it [tex]e^u+e^-u[/tex]
 
Last edited:
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Oh forget it I can't use latex if my life depended on it. What a waste of time.
 
Here, I tried to clean it up a bit. Use {} for exponents instead of (), for example: e^{2u} instead of e^(2u). You can also double click on the Tex expression to see the code:

Mozart said:
Hey my teacher worked this problem out the other day and I wrote it down but now I am having trouble understanding it. This is what he wrote. Can someone verify if it is correct.

[tex]y=\frac{e^{2u}}{e^u+e^{-u}}[/tex]

[tex]y'=\frac{(e^u+e^{-u})e^{2u}(2)-e^{2u}(e^u+e^{-u}(-1))}{(e^u+e^{-u})^2}[/tex]

[tex]y'=\frac{e^{2u}[2e^u+2e^{-u}-e^u+e^{-u}]}{(e^u+e^{-u})^2}[/tex]

[tex]y'=\frac{e^{2u}[e^u+3e^{-u}]}{(e^u+e^{-u})^2}[/tex]

What I don't understand is how in the step after the quotient rule was used there is in brackets [tex]-e^u+e^{-u}[/tex] Doesn't multiplying it by-1 make it [tex]e^u+e^{-u}[/tex]
 
Last edited:
Would that be:
[tex]y(u)=\frac{e^{2u}}{e^{u}+e^{-u}}[/tex]
 
Yes that is exactly what I wanted Benorin except i think for the (2) it should be on the outside of those brackets, and arildno yeah that's the original function. Thanks for fixing it.

So is the final answer correct? I'm confused because of the (-1) in brackets. I don't see how it could give a [tex]-e^u[/tex] when there is a negative times a negative.

edit:
Ohhhh nevermind I see it now. Anyways this thread was not in vain. I got some good latex practice in. Thanks again.
 
Just to confirm (since I didn't really folow your question,) I compute the derivative as follows:

[tex]y=\frac{e^{2u}}{e^u+e^{-u}}\Rightarrow y^{\prime}=\frac{2e^{2u}(e^u+e^{-u})-e^{2u}(e^u-e^{-u})}{(e^u+e^{-u})^2} =\frac{e^{2u}(e^u+3e^{-u})}{(e^u+e^{-u})^2}[/tex]

Yep, same as you.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for confirming it.
 

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