Why Are My Calculus Derivatives Incorrect?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of derivatives for multiple functions in calculus, specifically focusing on the original poster's attempts to derive the first and second derivatives of three different functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster presents three functions and their attempted derivatives, expressing uncertainty about their correctness. Participants question the clarity of the functions and the use of parentheses in expressions, which may affect interpretation.

Discussion Status

Some participants have pointed out potential mistakes in the original poster's calculations and have suggested reviewing the work for errors. There is an ongoing exploration of the functions and their derivatives, with no explicit consensus reached on the correctness of the derivatives.

Contextual Notes

Participants emphasize the importance of proper notation and clarity in mathematical expressions, indicating that the original poster's formatting may have contributed to misunderstandings.

mmajames
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Homework Statement


f(x)=X^2/(x^2-16)

f(x)=1+x/1-X

f(x)=X^3(X-2)^2

Ive done the first and second derivatives but they just don't seem right

Homework Equations


Quotient/Chain/Product Rule


The Attempt at a Solution


f(x)=X^2/(x^2-16)
(X^2-16)(2X)-(X^2)(2X)/(X^2-16)^2
f'(x)=-32X^2/(X^2-16)^2
(X^4-32X^2+256)(-64X)-(-32X^2)(4X^3-64X)/(X^4-32X^2+256)^2
-64x^5+2048X^3-16384X+128X^5-2048X^3
f''(x)=64X^5-16384X/(X^4-32X^2+256)^2

f(x)=1+x/1-X
(1-X)(1)-(1+X)(-1)/(1-X)^2
f'(x)=2-2X/(1-X)^2
(X^2-2X+1)(-2)-(2X-2)(2-2X)/(X^2-2X+1)^2
f''(x)=2X^2+4X+2/(X^2-2X+1)^2

f(x)=X^3(X-2)^2
(X^3)(2X-4)+(3X^2)(X-2)^2
2X^4-4X^3+3X^4-12X^3+12X^2
f'(x)=5X^4-16X^3+12X^2
5X^4-16^3+12X^2
f''(x)=20X^3-48X^2+24X
 
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hi mmajames! :smile:

eugh! this is impossible to read! :redface:

try using the X2 button just above the Reply box (and a few more spaces) :wink:
 
1. Are these three different functions??

2. Please use parentheses 1+ x/x+ 3 is not the same as (1+ x)/(x+ 3).
 
f(x)=X2/(x2-16)
(X2-16)(2X)-(X2)(2X)/(X2-16)2
f'(x)=-32X2/(X-16)2
(X4-32X4+256)(-64X)-(-32X2)(4X3-64X)/(X4-32X2+256)2
-64x^5+2048X^3-16384X+128X5-2048X3
f''(x)=64X5-16384X/(X4-32X^2+256)2

f(x)=(1+x)/(1-X)
(1-X)(1)-(1+X)(-1)/(1-X)2
f'(x)=2-2X/(1-X)2
(-2X+1)(-2)-(2X-2)(2-2X)/(X2-2X+1)2
f''(x)=2X2+4X+2/(X2-2X+1)22

f(x)=X3(X-2)2
(X3)(2X-4)+(3X2)(X-2)2
2X4-4X3+3X4-12X3+12X2
f'(x)=5X4-16X3+12X2
5X^4-163+12X2
f''(x)=20X3-48X2+24X



And yes Three different functions
 
mmajames said:
f(x)=X2/(x2-16)
(X2-16)(2X)-(X2)(2X)/(X2-16)2
f'(x)=-32X2/(X-16)2

hmm … i can see two mistakes already :redface:

sorry, but I'm not checking the rest until you've gone over them again, to find any other mistakes

also, (as HallsofIvy :smile: says) please use more brackets
 

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