Calculus Examples

$y = \frac{\sqrt{x} - 4}{\sqrt{x} + 4}$

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

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

Step 1.2

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

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

Step 2

Differentiate both sides of the equation.

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

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 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 $f (x) = x^{\frac{1}{2}} - 4$ and $g (x) = x^{\frac{1}{2}} + 4$ .

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

Step 4.2

Differentiate.

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Step 4.2.1

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $x^{\frac{1}{2}} - 4$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{\frac{1}{2}}] + \frac{d}{d x} [- 4]$ .

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

Step 4.2.2

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

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

Step 4.3

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

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

Step 4.4

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

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

Step 4.5

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 4.6

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.6.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 4.6.2

Subtract $2$ from $1$ .

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

Step 4.7

Combine fractions.

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Step 4.7.1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 4.7.2

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

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

Step 4.7.3

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

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

Step 4.8

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

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

Step 4.9

Add $\frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ and $0$ .

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

Step 4.10

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $x^{\frac{1}{2}} + 4$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{\frac{1}{2}}] + \frac{d}{d x} [4]$ .

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

Step 4.11

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

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

Step 4.12

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

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

Step 4.13

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

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

Step 4.14

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 4.15

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.15.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 4.15.2

Subtract $2$ from $1$ .

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

Step 4.16

Combine fractions.

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Step 4.16.1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 4.16.2

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

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

Step 4.16.3

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

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

Step 4.17

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

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

Step 4.18

Add $\frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ and $0$ .

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

Step 4.19

Simplify.

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Step 4.19.1

Apply the distributive property.

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

Step 4.19.2

Apply the distributive property.

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

Step 4.19.3

Apply the distributive property.

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

Step 4.19.4

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.19.4.1

Combine the opposite terms in $x^{\frac{1}{2}} \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}} + 4 \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}} - x^{\frac{1}{2}} \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}} - - 4 \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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Step 4.19.4.1.1

Subtract $x^{\frac{1}{2}} \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ from $x^{\frac{1}{2}} \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

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

Step 4.19.4.1.2

Add $4 \frac{1}{2 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ and $0$ .

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

Step 4.19.4.2

Simplify each term.

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Step 4.19.4.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 4.19.4.2.1.1

Factor $2$ out of $4$ .

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

Step 4.19.4.2.1.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 4.19.4.2.1.3

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 4.19.4.2.2

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

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

Step 4.19.4.2.3

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 4$ .

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

Step 4.19.4.2.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 4.19.4.2.4.1

Factor $2$ out of $4$ .

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

Step 4.19.4.2.4.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 4.19.4.2.4.3

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 4.19.4.2.5

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

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

Step 4.19.4.3

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 4.19.4.4

Add $2$ and $2$ .

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

Step 4.19.5

Combine terms.

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Step 4.19.5.1

Rewrite $\frac{\frac{4}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}}{{(x^{\frac{1}{2}} + 4)}^{2}}$ as a product.

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

Step 4.19.5.2

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

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

Step 5

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

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

Step 6

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

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