Calculus Examples

$y = \sqrt{x} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}$

Step 1

Rewrite the right side with rational exponents.

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Step 1.1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{x}$ as $x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

$y = x^{\frac{1}{2}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}$

Step 1.2

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{x}$ as $x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

$y = x^{\frac{1}{2}} + \frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 2

Differentiate both sides of the equation.

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

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

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

$\frac{d}{d x} [x^{\frac{1}{2}}] + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}]$

Step 4.2

Evaluate $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{\frac{1}{2}}]$ .

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Step 4.2.1

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

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

Step 4.2.2

To write $- 1$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{\frac{1}{2} - 1 \cdot \frac{2}{2}} + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}]$

Step 4.2.3

Combine $- 1$ and $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{\frac{1}{2} + \frac{- 1 \cdot 2}{2}} + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}]$

Step 4.2.4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{1}{2} x^{\frac{1 - 1 \cdot 2}{2}} + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}]$

Step 4.2.5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.2.5.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 4.2.5.2

Subtract $2$ from $1$ .

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

Step 4.2.6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 4.3

Evaluate $\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}]$ .

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Step 4.3.1

Rewrite $\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ as ${(x^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{- 1}$ .

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

Step 4.3.2

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

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Step 4.3.2.1

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

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

Step 4.3.2.2

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

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

Step 4.3.2.3

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

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

Step 4.3.3

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

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

Step 4.3.4

Multiply the exponents in ${(x^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{- 2}$ .

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Step 4.3.4.1

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

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

Step 4.3.4.2

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 4.3.4.2.1

Factor $2$ out of $- 2$ .

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

Step 4.3.4.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 4.3.4.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 4.3.5

To write $- 1$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

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

Step 4.3.6

Combine $- 1$ and $\frac{2}{2}$ .

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

Step 4.3.7

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 4.3.8

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.3.8.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 4.3.8.2

Subtract $2$ from $1$ .

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

Step 4.3.9

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 4.3.10

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $x^{- \frac{1}{2}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - x^{- 1} \frac{x^{- \frac{1}{2}}}{2}$

Step 4.3.11

Combine $\frac{x^{- \frac{1}{2}}}{2}$ and $x^{- 1}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{- \frac{1}{2}} x^{- 1}}{2}$

Step 4.3.12

Multiply $x^{- \frac{1}{2}}$ by $x^{- 1}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 4.3.12.1

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

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{- \frac{1}{2} - 1}}{2}$

Step 4.3.12.2

To write $- 1$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{- \frac{1}{2} - 1 \cdot \frac{2}{2}}}{2}$

Step 4.3.12.3

Combine $- 1$ and $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{- \frac{1}{2} + \frac{- 1 \cdot 2}{2}}}{2}$

Step 4.3.12.4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{\frac{- 1 - 1 \cdot 2}{2}}}{2}$

Step 4.3.12.5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.3.12.5.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{\frac{- 1 - 2}{2}}}{2}$

Step 4.3.12.5.2

Subtract $2$ from $- 1$ .

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{\frac{- 3}{2}}}{2}$

Step 4.3.12.6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{x^{- \frac{3}{2}}}{2}$

Step 4.3.13

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

$\frac{1}{2} x^{- \frac{1}{2}} - \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{3}{2}}}$

Step 4.4

Simplify.

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Step 4.4.1

Rewrite the expression using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}} - \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{3}{2}}}$

Step 4.4.2

Multiply $\frac{1}{2}$ by $\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}} - \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{3}{2}}}$

Step 5

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

$y' = \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}} - \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{3}{2}}}$

Step 6

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

$\frac{d y}{d x} = \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}} - \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{3}{2}}}$