Calculus Examples

$y = \frac{2}{3 \sqrt{x}} + \frac{1}{4 x^{2}}$

Step 1

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $\frac{2}{3 \sqrt{x}} + \frac{1}{4 x^{2}}$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{3 \sqrt{x}}] + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$ .

$\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{3 \sqrt{x}}] + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 2

Evaluate $\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{3 \sqrt{x}}]$ .

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Step 2.1

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

$\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{3 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}] + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 2.2

Since $\frac{2}{3}$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $\frac{2}{3 x^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{2}{3} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}]$ .

$\frac{2}{3} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{2}}}] + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 2.3

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

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

Step 2.4

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 2.4.1

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

$\frac{2}{3} (\frac{d}{d u_{1}} [{u_{1}}^{- 1}] \frac{d}{d x} [x^{\frac{1}{2}}]) + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 2.4.2

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

$\frac{2}{3} (- {u_{1}}^{- 2} \frac{d}{d x} [x^{\frac{1}{2}}]) + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 2.4.3

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

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

Step 2.5

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

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

Step 2.6

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

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Step 2.6.1

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

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

Step 2.6.2

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 2.6.2.1

Factor $2$ out of $- 2$ .

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

Step 2.6.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 2.6.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 2.7

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

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

Step 2.8

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

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

Step 2.9

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 2.10

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 2.10.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 2.10.2

Subtract $2$ from $1$ .

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

Step 2.11

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 2.12

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

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

Step 2.13

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

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

Step 2.14

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

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Step 2.14.1

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

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

Step 2.14.2

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

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

Step 2.14.3

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

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

Step 2.14.4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

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

Step 2.14.5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 2.14.5.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 2.14.5.2

Subtract $2$ from $- 1$ .

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

Step 2.14.6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 2.15

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

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

Step 2.16

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

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

Step 2.17

Multiply $2$ by $3$ .

$- \frac{2}{6 x^{\frac{3}{2}}} + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 2.18

Factor $2$ out of $2$ .

$- \frac{2 (1)}{6 x^{\frac{3}{2}}} + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 2.19

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 2.19.1

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

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

Step 2.19.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 2.19.3

Rewrite the expression.

$- \frac{1}{3 x^{\frac{3}{2}}} + \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{4 x^{2}}]$

Step 3

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

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Step 3.1

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

$- \frac{1}{3 x^{\frac{3}{2}}} + \frac{1}{4} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 3.2

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

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

Step 3.3

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 $g (x) = x^{2}$ .

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Step 3.3.1

To apply the Chain Rule, set $u_{2}$ as $x^{2}$ .

$- \frac{1}{3 x^{\frac{3}{2}}} + \frac{1}{4} (\frac{d}{d u_{2}} [{u_{2}}^{- 1}] \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}])$

Step 3.3.2

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

$- \frac{1}{3 x^{\frac{3}{2}}} + \frac{1}{4} (- {u_{2}}^{- 2} \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}])$

Step 3.3.3

Replace all occurrences of $u_{2}$ with $x^{2}$ .

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

Step 3.4

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

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

Step 3.5

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

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Step 3.5.1

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

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

Step 3.5.2

Multiply $2$ by $- 2$ .

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

Step 3.6

Multiply $2$ by $- 1$ .

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

Step 3.7

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

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

Step 3.8

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

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

Step 3.9

Subtract $4$ from $1$ .

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

Step 3.10

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

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

Step 3.11

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

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

Step 3.12

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

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

Step 3.13

Cancel the common factor of $- 2$ and $4$ .

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Step 3.13.1

Factor $2$ out of $- 2$ .

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

Step 3.13.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 3.13.2.1

Factor $2$ out of $4 x^{3}$ .

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

Step 3.13.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 3.13.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 3.14

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

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

Step 4

Reorder terms.

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