Calculus Examples

$y = \sqrt[3]{\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}}$

Step 1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt[3]{\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}}$ as ${(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1}{3}}$ .

$y = {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1}{3}}$

Step 2

Differentiate both sides of the equation.

$\frac{d}{d x} (y) = \frac{d}{d x} ({(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1}{3}})$

Step 3

The derivative of $y$ with respect to $x$ is $y'$ .

$y'$

Step 4

Differentiate the right side of the equation.

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Step 4.1

Differentiate using the chain rule, which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [f (g (x))]$ is $f' (g (x)) g' (x)$ where $f (x) = x^{\frac{1}{3}}$ and $g (x) = \frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}$ .

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Step 4.1.1

To apply the Chain Rule, set $u$ as $\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}$ .

$\frac{d}{d u} [u^{\frac{1}{3}}] \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.1.2

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d u} [u^{n}]$ is $n u^{n - 1}$ where $n = \frac{1}{3}$ .

$\frac{1}{3} u^{\frac{1}{3} - 1} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.1.3

Replace all occurrences of $u$ with $\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1}{3} - 1} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.2

To write $- 1$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1}{3} - 1 \cdot \frac{3}{3}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.3

Combine $- 1$ and $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1}{3} + \frac{- 1 \cdot 3}{3}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1 - 1 \cdot 3}{3}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.5.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $3$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{1 - 3}{3}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.5.2

Subtract $3$ from $1$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{\frac{- 2}{3}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4}]$

Step 4.7

Differentiate using the Quotient Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{f (x)}{g (x)}]$ is $\frac{g (x) \frac{d}{d x} [f (x)] - f (x) \frac{d}{d x} [g (x)]}{{g (x)}^{2}}$ where $f (x) = 1 + x^{2}$ and $g (x) = x - 4$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{(x - 4) \frac{d}{d x} [1 + x^{2}] - (1 + x^{2}) \frac{d}{d x} [x - 4]}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8

Differentiate.

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Step 4.8.1

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $1 + x^{2}$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [1] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{(x - 4) (\frac{d}{d x} [1] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]) - (1 + x^{2}) \frac{d}{d x} [x - 4]}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.2

Since $1$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $1$ with respect to $x$ is $0$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{(x - 4) (0 + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]) - (1 + x^{2}) \frac{d}{d x} [x - 4]}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.3

Add $0$ and $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{(x - 4) \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}] - (1 + x^{2}) \frac{d}{d x} [x - 4]}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.4

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 2$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{(x - 4) (2 x) - (1 + x^{2}) \frac{d}{d x} [x - 4]}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.5

Move $2$ to the left of $x - 4$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{2 \cdot (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2}) \frac{d}{d x} [x - 4]}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.6

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $x - 4$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [x] + \frac{d}{d x} [- 4]$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2}) (\frac{d}{d x} [x] + \frac{d}{d x} [- 4])}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.7

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 1$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2}) (1 + \frac{d}{d x} [- 4])}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.8

Since $- 4$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $- 4$ with respect to $x$ is $0$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2}) (1 + 0)}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.9

Combine fractions.

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Step 4.8.9.1

Add $1$ and $0$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2}) \cdot 1}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.9.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$\frac{1}{3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}} \frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2})}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$

Step 4.8.9.3

Multiply $\frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2})}{{(x - 4)}^{2}}$ by $\frac{1}{3}$ .

$\frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2})}{{(x - 4)}^{2} \cdot 3} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}}$

Step 4.8.9.4

Move $3$ to the left of ${(x - 4)}^{2}$ .

$\frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2})}{3 \cdot {(x - 4)}^{2}} {(\frac{1 + x^{2}}{x - 4})}^{- \frac{2}{3}}$

Step 4.9

Simplify.

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Step 4.9.1

Change the sign of the exponent by rewriting the base as its reciprocal.

$\frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2})}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} {(\frac{x - 4}{1 + x^{2}})}^{\frac{2}{3}}$

Step 4.9.2

Apply the product rule to $\frac{x - 4}{1 + x^{2}}$ .

$\frac{2 (x - 4) x - (1 + x^{2})}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.3

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{(2 x + 2 \cdot - 4) x - (1 + x^{2})}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.4

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{2 x \cdot x + 2 \cdot - 4 x - (1 + x^{2})}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.5

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{2 x \cdot x + 2 \cdot - 4 x - 1 \cdot 1 - x^{2}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6

Combine terms.

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Step 4.9.6.1

Raise $x$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{2 (x^{1} x) + 2 \cdot - 4 x - 1 \cdot 1 - x^{2}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.2

Raise $x$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{2 (x^{1} x^{1}) + 2 \cdot - 4 x - 1 \cdot 1 - x^{2}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.3

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{2 x^{1 + 1} + 2 \cdot - 4 x - 1 \cdot 1 - x^{2}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.4

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\frac{2 x^{2} + 2 \cdot - 4 x - 1 \cdot 1 - x^{2}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.5

Multiply $2$ by $- 4$ .

$\frac{2 x^{2} - 8 x - 1 \cdot 1 - x^{2}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.6

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$\frac{2 x^{2} - 8 x - 1 - x^{2}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.7

Subtract $x^{2}$ from $2 x^{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}} \cdot \frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.8

Multiply $\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2}}$ by $\frac{{(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{{(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$ .

$\frac{(x^{2} - 8 x - 1) {(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.9

Move ${(x - 4)}^{\frac{2}{3}}$ to the denominator using the negative exponent rule $b^{n} = \frac{1}{b^{- n}}$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{2} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}} {(x - 4)}^{- \frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.10

Multiply ${(x - 4)}^{2}$ by ${(x - 4)}^{- \frac{2}{3}}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 4.9.6.10.1

Move ${(x - 4)}^{- \frac{2}{3}}$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 ({(x - 4)}^{- \frac{2}{3}} {(x - 4)}^{2}) {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.10.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{- \frac{2}{3} + 2} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.10.3

To write $2$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{- \frac{2}{3} + 2 \cdot \frac{3}{3}} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.10.4

Combine $2$ and $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{- \frac{2}{3} + \frac{2 \cdot 3}{3}} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.10.5

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{\frac{- 2 + 2 \cdot 3}{3}} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.10.6

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.9.6.10.6.1

Multiply $2$ by $3$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{\frac{- 2 + 6}{3}} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 4.9.6.10.6.2

Add $- 2$ and $6$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{\frac{4}{3}} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 5

Reform the equation by setting the left side equal to the right side.

$y' = \frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{\frac{4}{3}} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$

Step 6

Replace $y'$ with $\frac{d y}{d x}$ .

$\frac{d y}{d x} = \frac{x^{2} - 8 x - 1}{3 {(x - 4)}^{\frac{4}{3}} {(1 + x^{2})}^{\frac{2}{3}}}$