Next: 4.4
Up: 4.
Previous: 4.2
-
- The derivative of a constant is 0. If
y = f(x) = 6, then
.
Ask yourself the question ``how does a constant change as x changes?''
-
- For y = xn,
"Bring down the power, knock the power down 1."
-
- Examples:
-
- The derivative of x4 is .
-
- The derivative of x-2 with respect to x,
,
is
.
-
- The derivative of a sum is the sum of its derivatives.
-
- Examples
-
-
.
-
-
.
-
- If c is a constant then
is equal to
.
That, is the derivative passes through a constant
multiple.
-
- Examples
-
-
.
-
- The derivative of a straight line must be its slope:
.
-
- For y = ex
the derivative with respect to x,
,
is ex.
-
- For
the derivative with respect to x,
,
is
.
-
- For y = ln(x) the derivative with respect to x,
,
is
.
Next: 4.4
Up: 4.
Previous: 4.2
Richard Waterman
1999-06-01