Calculus Examples

$y = \frac{4 \sqrt{x}}{x^{2} - 2}$

Step 1

Differentiate using the Constant Multiple Rule.

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Step 1.1

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

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

Step 1.2

Since $4$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $\frac{4 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x^{2} - 2}$ with respect to $x$ is $4 \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x^{2} - 2}]$ .

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

Step 2

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 $f (x) = x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ and $g (x) = x^{2} - 2$ .

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

Step 3

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

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

Step 4

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

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

Step 5

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

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

Step 6

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 7

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 7.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 7.2

Subtract $2$ from $1$ .

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

Step 8

Combine fractions.

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Step 8.1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 8.2

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

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

Step 8.3

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

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

Step 9

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

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

Step 10

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

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

Step 11

Since $- 2$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $- 2$ with respect to $x$ is $0$ .

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

Step 12

Simplify the expression.

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Step 12.1

Add $2 x$ and $0$ .

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

Step 12.2

Multiply $2$ by $- 1$ .

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

Step 13

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

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

Step 14

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

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

Step 15

Simplify the expression.

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Step 15.1

Write $1$ as a fraction with a common denominator.

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

Step 15.2

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 15.3

Add $2$ and $1$ .

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

Step 16

Combine $4$ and $\frac{(x^{2} - 2) \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}} - 2 x^{\frac{3}{2}}}{{(x^{2} - 2)}^{2}}$ .

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

Step 17

Simplify.

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Step 17.1

Apply the distributive property.

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

Step 17.2

Apply the distributive property.

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

Step 17.3

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 17.3.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 17.3.1.1

Cancel the common factor of $x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

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Step 17.3.1.1.1

Factor $x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ out of $x^{2}$ .

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

Step 17.3.1.1.2

Factor $x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ out of $2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

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

Step 17.3.1.1.3

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 17.3.1.1.4

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 17.3.1.2

Combine $x^{\frac{3}{2}}$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ .

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

Step 17.3.1.3

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 17.3.1.3.1

Factor $2$ out of $4$ .

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

Step 17.3.1.3.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 17.3.1.3.3

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 17.3.1.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 17.3.1.4.1

Factor $2$ out of $- 2$ .

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

Step 17.3.1.4.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 17.3.1.4.3

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 17.3.1.5

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

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

Step 17.3.1.6

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

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Step 17.3.1.6.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $4$ .

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

Step 17.3.1.6.2

Combine $- 4$ and $\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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

Step 17.3.1.7

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 17.3.1.8

Multiply $- 2$ by $4$ .

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

Step 17.3.2

Subtract $8 x^{\frac{3}{2}}$ from $2 x^{\frac{3}{2}}$ .

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

Step 17.4

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 17.4.1

Factor $- 2$ out of $- 6 x^{\frac{3}{2}} - \frac{4}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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Step 17.4.1.1

Factor $- 2$ out of $- 6 x^{\frac{3}{2}}$ .

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

Step 17.4.1.2

Factor $- 2$ out of $- \frac{4}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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

Step 17.4.1.3

Factor $- 2$ out of $- 2 (3 x^{\frac{3}{2}}) - 2 (- \frac{- 2}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}})$ .

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

Step 17.4.2

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 17.4.3

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

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Step 17.4.3.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

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

Step 17.4.3.2

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

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

Step 17.4.4

To write $3 x^{\frac{3}{2}}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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

Step 17.4.5

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 17.4.6

Multiply $x^{\frac{3}{2}}$ by $x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 17.4.6.1

Move $x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

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

Step 17.4.6.2

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

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

Step 17.4.6.3

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 17.4.6.4

Add $1$ and $3$ .

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

Step 17.4.6.5

Divide $4$ by $2$ .

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

Step 17.5

Combine $- 2$ and $\frac{3 x^{2} + 2}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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

Step 17.6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 17.7

Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.

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

Step 17.8

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

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

Step 17.9

Reorder factors in $- \frac{2 (3 x^{2} + 2)}{{(x^{2} - 2)}^{2} x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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