Why Does My Calculated Derivative Differ from Mathematica's?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of the derivative of the function G(t) = 4t/(t + 1) using the limit definition of the derivative. The user derived G'(t) = 4/(t + 1)^2, which matches Mathematica's output when simplified correctly. The confusion arose from the interpretation of Mathematica's result, which includes an additional term, 4/(t + 1), that does not affect the derivative's value. The conclusion is that both methods yield the same derivative, confirming the user's calculation as correct.

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Orion1
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I am attempting to find the derivative of this function using the definition of derivative, however my solution is not the same as Mathematica's solution.

Is my formulation incorrect on some protocol somewhere? :rolleyes:

[tex]G(t) = \frac{4t}{t + 1}[/tex]
[tex]G'(t) = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} [(\frac{4(t + h)}{(t + h) + 1}) - (\frac{4t}{t + 1})] \frac{1}{h}[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{h \rightarrow 0} [(\frac{4(t + h)}{(t + h) + 1}) - (\frac{4t}{t + 1})] \frac{1}{h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} 4 [\frac{(t + h)(t + 1)}{(t + h + 1)(t + 1)} - \frac{t(t + h + 1)}{(t + 1)(t + h + 1)}] \frac{1}{h}[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{h \rightarrow 0} 4[ \frac{(t + h)(t + 1) - t(t + h + 1)}{(t + h + 1)(t + 1)}] \frac{1}{h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} 4[ \frac{(t^2 + ht + t + h - t^2 - ht - t)}{(t^2 + ht + 2t + h + 1)}] \frac{1}{h}[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{h \rightarrow 0} [ \frac{4h}{(t^2 + ht + 2t + h + 1)}] \frac{1}{h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} ( \frac{4}{t^2 + ht + 2t + h + 1} ) = \frac{4}{t^2 + 2t + 1}[/tex]

[tex]\boxed{G'(t) = \frac{4}{(t + 1)^2}}[/tex]

Mathematica solution:
[tex]- \frac{4t}{(1 + t)^2} + \frac{4}{t + 1}[/tex]
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[tex]\frac{4}{(t+1)^2}=- \frac{4t}{(1 + t)^2} + \frac{4}{t + 1}[/tex]


No mistakes :smile:

Check it!
 
Orion1 said:
I am attempting to find the derivative of this function using the definition of derivative, however my solution is not the same as Mathematica's solution.
Is my formulation incorrect on some protocol somewhere? :rolleyes:
[tex]G(t) = \frac{4t}{t + 1}[/tex]
[tex]G'(t) = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} [(\frac{4(t + h)}{(t + h) + 1}) - (\frac{4t}{t + 1})] \frac{1}{h}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{h \rightarrow 0} [(\frac{4(t + h)}{(t + h) + 1}) - (\frac{4t}{t + 1})] \frac{1}{h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} 4 [\frac{(t + h)(t + 1)}{(t + h + 1)(t + 1)} - \frac{t(t + h + 1)}{(t + 1)(t + h + 1)}] \frac{1}{h}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{h \rightarrow 0} 4[ \frac{(t + h)(t + 1) - t(t + h + 1)}{(t + h + 1)(t + 1)}] \frac{1}{h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} 4[ \frac{(t^2 + ht + t + h - t^2 - ht - t)}{(t^2 + ht + 2t + h + 1)}] \frac{1}{h}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{h \rightarrow 0} [ \frac{4h}{(t^2 + ht + 2t + h + 1)}] \frac{1}{h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0} ( \frac{4}{t^2 + ht + 2t + h + 1} ) = \frac{4}{t^2 + 2t + 1}[/tex]
[tex]\boxed{G'(t) = \frac{4}{(t + 1)^2}}[/tex]
Mathematica solution:
[tex]- \frac{4t}{(1 + t)^2} + \frac{4}{t + 1}[/tex]
[/Color]

It's the same result, so yours is also correct.
 

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