Where Did I Go Wrong in Finding the Derivative of y=t/(1+1/t)?

[danne89]

Find the derivative,
y=\frac{t}{1+1/t} = t * 1/u
y'= \frac{d(1/u)}{dt} + 1/u = - \frac{1}{u^2}* \frac{du}{dt} + 1/u = - \frac{1}{(1+1/t)^2}* \frac{d(1+1/t)}{dt} + \frac{1}{1+1/t} = - \frac{1}{(1+1/t)^2} * ( - \frac{1}{t^2}) + \frac{1}{1+1/t} = \frac{1}{(1+1/t)^2 * t^2} + \frac {1}{1+1/t}

What have I done wrong?

 

[neutrino]

Redo the first step after the substitution.

 

[danne89]

You mean: \frac{d(1+1/t)}{dt}= - \frac{1}{t^2} ??

 

[Pseudo Statistic]

Out of curiosity.. why are you doing a substitution? Why don't you just use the quotient rule?

 

[danne89]

I dunno.. The Quotient rule is quite nasty, I think.

 

[Pseudo Statistic]

I dunno.. The Quotient rule is quite nasty, I think.

Yeah, it's very nasty... but it's kinda easier if you try it... (In the end it looks quite sexy, too :D)

To make this post more productive, you could as well start out with..
y = t/(1+t^{-1})
y' = (1(1+t^{-1})-t(-t^{-2}))/(1+t^{-1})^2

 

[dextercioby]

It's pretty useless to use a substitution,if u're not doing it properly.Better use the Quotient rule:
\frac{d}{dt}(\frac{t}{1+\frac{1}{t}})=\frac{d}{dt}(\frac{t^{2}}{t+1})=\frac{2t(t+1)-t^{2}}{(t+1)^{2}}=\frac{t^{2}+2t}{(t+1)^{2}}

Voilà.Piece of cake.

Daniel.

 

[neutrino]

You mean: \frac{d(1+1/t)}{dt}= - \frac{1}{t^2} ??

Nope. I meant \frac{d(t(1/u))}{dt} = t\frac{d(1/u)}{dt} + 1/u .

 

[dextercioby]

I simply do not understand why you keep insisting on this method,which is very unintuitive and,as it has been easily proven by your posts,brings a lot complication than it was supposed to.

Daniel.

P.S.Substitutions are okay for integrals...

 

[Pseudo Statistic]

I simply do not understand why you keep insisting on this method,which is very unintuitive and,as it has been easily proven by your posts,brings a lot complication than it was supposed to.

Daniel.

P.S.Substitutions are okay for integrals...

I wholeheartedly concur with his statement.
K.

 

[danne89]

OK. I stick with the Quotient rule...