Calculus Examples

$y x^{y - 1}$

Step 1

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

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

Step 2

Differentiate using the Generalized Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d y} [f^{g}]$ is $f^{g} (f' \frac{g}{f} + g' \ln (f))$ where $f = x$ and $g = y - 1$ .

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

Step 3

Differentiate.

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Step 3.1

Subtract $1$ from $- 1$ .

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

Step 3.2

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

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

Step 3.3

Simplify the expression.

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Step 3.3.1

Multiply $y - 1$ by $0$ .

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

Step 3.3.2

Multiply $0$ by $x^{y - 2}$ .

$y (0 + \frac{d}{d y} [y - 1] (x^{y - 1} \ln (x))) + x^{y - 1} \frac{d}{d y} [y]$

Step 3.3.3

Add $0$ and $\frac{d}{d y} [y - 1] (x^{y - 1} \ln (x))$ .

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

Step 3.4

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

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

Step 3.5

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

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

Step 3.6

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

$y ((1 + 0) x^{y - 1} \ln (x)) + x^{y - 1} \frac{d}{d y} [y]$

Step 3.7

Simplify the expression.

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Step 3.7.1

Add $1$ and $0$ .

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

Step 3.7.2

Multiply $x^{y - 1}$ by $1$ .

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

Step 3.8

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

$y (x^{y - 1} \ln (x)) + x^{y - 1} \cdot 1$

Step 3.9

Multiply $x^{y - 1}$ by $1$ .

$y (x^{y - 1} \ln (x)) + x^{y - 1}$

Step 4

Simplify.

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Step 4.1

Reorder terms.

$x^{y - 1} y \ln (x) + x^{y - 1}$

Step 4.2

Reorder factors in $x^{y - 1} y \ln (x) + x^{y - 1}$ .

$y x^{y - 1} \ln (x) + x^{y - 1}$