Calculus Examples

$y = x^{- 8}$

Step 1

Differentiate both sides of the equation.

$\frac{d}{d x} (y) = \frac{d}{d x} (x^{- 8})$

Step 2

The derivative of $y$ with respect to $x$ is $y'$ .

$y'$

Step 3

Differentiate the right side of the equation.

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Step 3.1

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = - 8$ .

$- 8 x^{- 9}$

Step 3.2

Simplify.

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Step 3.2.1

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

$- 8 \frac{1}{x^{9}}$

Step 3.2.2

Combine $- 8$ and $\frac{1}{x^{9}}$ .

$\frac{- 8}{x^{9}}$

Step 3.2.3

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{8}{x^{9}}$

Step 4

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

$y' = - \frac{8}{x^{9}}$

Step 5

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

$\frac{d y}{d x} = - \frac{8}{x^{9}}$