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Mathematics 9 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Can someone help with this derivative question?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

OpenStudy (phi):

what is the derivative of [ f(x) ]^2 ?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

2x, no?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

There really isn't a function given, so I'm just getting the derivative of x^2 there,

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@phi

OpenStudy (phi):

the rule is \[ \frac{d}{dx} u^2 = 2 u \ \frac{du}{dx}\]

OpenStudy (phi):

in this case, u is f(x)

OpenStudy (phi):

what do you get ?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

16

OpenStudy (phi):

before you put in any numbers, what is the expression you get ?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Is that correct? I just plugged in the derivative of f(x) from the graph an then multiplied it by 2.

OpenStudy (phi):

first, use this rule with f(x) instead of u \[ \frac{d}{dx} u^2 = 2 u \ \frac{du}{dx} \] what expression do you get ?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

2f(x)

OpenStudy (phi):

you left off the df(x)/dx (also written f'(x) )

OpenStudy (anonymous):

2f(x) f'(x) ohh! Duh duh duh

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Wait I meant

OpenStudy (phi):

if you had \[ \frac{d}{dx} x^2 = 2 x \frac{dx}{dx} = x^2 \] but for f(x) you get \[ \frac{d}{dx} f(x)^2 = 2 f(x)\frac{df(x)}{dx} = 2 f(x) f'(x) \]

OpenStudy (phi):

* 2x on the first line not x^2

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Thank you phi! 96

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