# Why are these 2 derivatives not treated the same?

1. Nov 18, 2011

### bluestar

In equation (5.35) the constant drops out when the derivative with respect to r is taken. However, in equation (5.36) the constant does not drop out. Does anybody know why?

Equation (5.35)
$$F_L=-\frac {d}{dr}\left(\frac {n^2h^2}{2\mu r^2}\right)=\frac{n^2h^2}{\mu r^3}$$

Equation (5.36)
$$F_C=-\frac{d}{dr}\left(-\frac {e^2 }{4\pi \epsilon_0 r}\right)=-\frac{e^2}{4\pi \epsilon_0 r^2}$$

The equation can be found in context at the following link, which should take you to page 173, equation (5.35) & (5.36) is found on page 172.

http://books.google.com/books?id=FnQ...page&q&f=false [Broken]

Stochastic Simulations of Clusters: Quantum Methods in Flat and Curved Spaces By Emanuele Curotto

Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
2. Nov 18, 2011

### willem2

Do you see why

$$\frac {d}{dr} ( \frac {1} {r^2} ) = - \frac {2} {r^3}$$

and

$$\frac {d}{dr} ( \frac {1} {r} ) = - \frac {1} {r^2}$$

3. Nov 18, 2011

### bluestar

Wow, it has been a long time since I have performed a derivative.

Yep, I think I understand.
Does any constant goes to 1. Then what ever power r is raised to becomes a constant and then the r is raised to the next higher (lower) power.

Is this example correct?
$$\frac {d}{dr} ( \frac {1} {5r^\left(-4\right)} ) = - \frac {1} {\left(1\right)4r^\left(-5\right)}$$

Athough in your example the r^2 in the denoninator put a 2 constant in the numberator. This I don't understand.
$$\frac {d}{dr} ( \frac {1} {r^2} ) = - \frac {2} {r^3}$$

Although in the book this equation
$$F_C=-\frac{d}{dr}\left(-\frac {e^2 }{4\pi \epsilon_0 r}\right)=-\frac{e^2}{4\pi \epsilon_0 r^2}$$

should be:

$$F_C=-\frac{d}{dr}\left(-\frac {e^2 }{4\pi \epsilon_0 r}\right)=-\frac{e^2}{\left(1\right)\pi \epsilon_0 r^2}$$

4. Nov 18, 2011

### bpatrick

i'm going to use quick reply instead of taking the time to tex it.

this may help: look at the 1/r as being r^-1 instead. when you take the derivative of something simple like that, you take the exponent (-1) and multiply that to the front then subtract one on the exponent so (-1) becomes (-2).

so d/dr of r^(-1) is -(1)r^(-2) aka -1/r^2

now for the stuff above:

just take all that negative e squared over 4 pi epsilon-0 out since they aren't being acted upon with calculus ... and you have all that times the derivative of 1/r ... and we know from above that the derivative of 1/r is -1/r^2 ... so when you take the negative of that (where Fc wrote -d/dr) you'll have positive 1/r^2 still multiplied by all the junk in front ... yielding what the book has.

hope that helps ... go E&M ... and calculus!

5. Nov 21, 2011

### bluestar

Thanks bpatrick, your tip to factor out the unaffected variables will be quite useful.
I checked some other references also and everything is starting to come back and clear up; however, I have one persistent question about equation (5.36)
Equation (5.36)

$$F_C=-\frac{d}{dr}\left(-\frac {e^2 }{4\pi \epsilon_0 r}\right)=-\frac{e^2}{4\pi \epsilon_0 r^2}$$

I understand when evaluating the derivative all constants go to 1 thus the 4 in the denominator went to 1. So, what I don’t understand is where the new 4 came from in the denominator as shown in the book. Anyway, here is what I get.

$$F_c = (-1) (-\frac{(e^2)}{(\pi \epsilon_0)}) \frac{d}{dr} (\frac{1}{4r}) = (-1) (-\frac {e^2 }{\pi \epsilon_0 }) (\frac{ 1}{ (1) (r^2)}) = (\frac {e^2 }{\pi \epsilon_0 }) (\frac{1}{r^2})$$

So where did the 4 come from AND why did the sign change?

6. Nov 21, 2011

### BloodyFrozen

You can factor out all constants too (done in original tex). In your case, 1/4.

Fc = (-1)[-e2/(4πε0)] d/dr (1/r)

The sign should have changed because you can factor a negative one from (-1)[-e2/(4πε0)] = (-1)(-1)[e2/(4πε0)] = [e2/(4πε0)]

7. Nov 21, 2011

### bluestar

Did not know about factoring out the constants; however, it presents a problem.

It doesn’t seem right that the derivative can have 2 solutions.
This:
$$F_C=-\left(-\frac {e^2 }{4\pi \epsilon_0 }\right) \frac{d}{dr} \frac{-1}{r} =-\frac{e^2}{4\pi \epsilon_0 r^2}$$

Or this:
$$F_C=- \left(-\frac{e^2}{\pi \epsilon_0 } \right) \frac{d}{dr} \frac{-1}{4r} =-\frac{e^2}{\pi \epsilon_0 r^2}$$

8. Nov 22, 2011

### hyurnat4

What?! $$\frac{d}{dr}[-r^{-1}]=r^{-2}$$
And $$\frac{d}{dr}[-\frac{1}{4}r^{-1}]=\frac{1}{4}r^{-2}$$
You leave the coefficients alone when you differentiate or integrate.

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