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Mathematics 17 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

I have the anser can someone check me please. Find the derivative of the following. m is a constant. f(x)=4x^2m

OpenStudy (anonymous):

The answer I got is 8x^m

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

Is the original problem \[\Large f(x) = 4x^{2m}\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

ok so you would bring down the exponent, then multiply it with the coefficient 4 to get 8m that's the new coefficient

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

then you would subtract 1 from 2m to get 2m-1 that's the new exponent

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

so \[\Large f(x) = 4x^{2m}\] \[\Large f^{\prime}(x) = 8mx^{2m-1}\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh ok why does the m come down next to the 8 if it was a n exponent before.

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

because in general, the power rule is this if \[\Large f(x) = x^{n}\] then \[\Large f^{\prime}(x) = n*x^{n-1}\]

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

the 2m is part of the exponent, so in effect, n = 2m

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh ok thanks

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

you're welcome

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