Calculus Examples

$- \frac{5}{x^{2}}$

Step 1

Since $- 5$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $- \frac{5}{x^{2}}$ with respect to $x$ is $- 5 \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{2}}]$ .

$- 5 \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 2

Apply basic rules of exponents.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1

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

$- 5 \frac{d}{d x} [{(x^{2})}^{- 1}]$

Step 2.2

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

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.2.1

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

$- 5 \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2 \cdot - 1}]$

Step 2.2.2

Multiply $2$ by $- 1$ .

$- 5 \frac{d}{d x} [x^{- 2}]$

Step 3

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

$- 5 (- 2 x^{- 3})$

Step 4

Multiply $- 2$ by $- 5$ .

$10 x^{- 3}$

Step 5

Simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.1

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

$10 \frac{1}{x^{3}}$

Step 5.2

Combine $10$ and $\frac{1}{x^{3}}$ .

$\frac{10}{x^{3}}$