How to calculate the derivative of a power function. Calculation of derivatives of power-exponential functions Derivative exponential function a to the power of x

A power-exponential function is a function that has the form of a power function
y = u v ,
in which the base u and the exponent v are some functions of the variable x:
u = u (x); v = v (x).
This function is also called exponential or .

Note that the power-exponential function can be represented in exponential form:
.
Therefore it is also called complex exponential function.

Derivative of a power-exponential function

Calculation using logarithmic derivative

Let's find the derivative of the power-exponential function
(2) ,
where and are functions of the variable.
To do this, we logarithm equation (2), using the property of the logarithm:
.
Differentiate with respect to the variable x:
(3) .
We apply rules for differentiating complex functions and works:
;
.

We substitute in (3):
.
From here
.

So, we found the derivative of the power-exponential function:
(1) .
If the exponent is constant, then . Then the derivative is equal to the derivative of a complex power function:
.
If the base of the degree is constant, then . Then the derivative is equal to the derivative of the complex exponential function:
.
When and are functions of x, then the derivative of the power-exponential function is equal to the sum of the derivatives of the complex power and exponential functions.

Calculation of the derivative by reduction to a complex exponential function

Now let's find the derivative of the power-exponential function
(2) ,
presenting it as a complex exponential function:
(4) .

Let's differentiate the product:
.
We apply the rule for finding the derivative of a complex function:

.
And we again got formula (1).

Example 1

Find the derivative of the following function:
.

We calculate using the logarithmic derivative. Let's logarithm the original function:
(A1.1) .

From the table of derivatives we find:
;
.
Using the product derivative formula, we have:
.
We differentiate (A1.1):
.
Because the
,
That
.

We present a summary table for convenience and clarity when studying the topic.

Constanty = C

Power function y = x p

(x p) " = p x p - 1

Exponential functiony = a x

(a x) " = a x ln a

In particular, whena = ewe have y = e x

(e x) " = e x

Logarithmic function

(log a x) " = 1 x ln a

In particular, whena = ewe have y = logx

(ln x) " = 1 x

Trigonometric functions

(sin x) " = cos x (cos x) " = - sin x (t g x) " = 1 cos 2 x (c t g x) " = - 1 sin 2 x

Inverse trigonometric functions

(a r c sin x) " = 1 1 - x 2 (a r c cos x) " = - 1 1 - x 2 (a r c t g x) " = 1 1 + x 2 (a r c c t g x) " = - 1 1 + x 2

Hyperbolic functions

(s h x) " = c h x (c h x) " = s h x (t h x) " = 1 c h 2 x (c t h x) " = - 1 s h 2 x

Let us analyze how the formulas of the specified table were obtained or, in other words, we will prove the derivation of derivative formulas for each type of function.

Derivative of a constant

Evidence 1

In order to derive this formula, we take as a basis the definition of the derivative of a function at a point. We use x 0 = x, where x takes the value of any real number, or, in other words, x is any number from the domain of the function f (x) = C. Let's write down the limit of the ratio of the increment of a function to the increment of the argument as ∆ x → 0:

lim ∆ x → 0 ∆ f (x) ∆ x = lim ∆ x → 0 C - C ∆ x = lim ∆ x → 0 0 ∆ x = 0

Please note that the expression 0 ∆ x falls under the limit sign. It is not the uncertainty “zero divided by zero,” since the numerator does not contain an infinitesimal value, but precisely zero. In other words, the increment of a constant function is always zero.

So, the derivative of the constant function f (x) = C is equal to zero throughout the entire domain of definition.

Example 1

The constant functions are given:

f 1 (x) = 3, f 2 (x) = a, a ∈ R, f 3 (x) = 4. 13 7 22 , f 4 (x) = 0 , f 5 (x) = - 8 7

Solution

Let us describe the given conditions. In the first function we see the derivative of the natural number 3. In the following example, you need to take the derivative of A, Where A- any real number. The third example gives us the derivative of the irrational number 4. 13 7 22, the fourth is the derivative of zero (zero is an integer). Finally, in the fifth case we have the derivative of the rational fraction - 8 7.

Answer: derivatives of given functions are zero for any real x(over the entire definition area)

f 1 " (x) = (3) " = 0 , f 2 " (x) = (a) " = 0 , a ∈ R , f 3 " (x) = 4 . 13 7 22 " = 0 , f 4 " (x) = 0 " = 0 , f 5 " (x) = - 8 7 " = 0

Derivative of a power function

Let's move on to the power function and the formula for its derivative, which has the form: (x p) " = p x p - 1, where the exponent p is any real number.

Evidence 2

Here is the proof of the formula when the exponent is a natural number: p = 1, 2, 3, …

We again rely on the definition of a derivative. Let's write down the limit of the ratio of the increment of a power function to the increment of the argument:

(x p) " = lim ∆ x → 0 = ∆ (x p) ∆ x = lim ∆ x → 0 (x + ∆ x) p - x p ∆ x

To simplify the expression in the numerator, we use Newton’s binomial formula:

(x + ∆ x) p - x p = C p 0 + x p + C p 1 · x p - 1 · ∆ x + C p 2 · x p - 2 · (∆ x) 2 + . . . + + C p p - 1 x (∆ x) p - 1 + C p p (∆ x) p - x p = = C p 1 x p - 1 ∆ x + C p 2 x p - 2 (∆ x) 2 + . . . + C p p - 1 x (∆ x) p - 1 + C p p (∆ x) p

Thus:

(x p) " = lim ∆ x → 0 ∆ (x p) ∆ x = lim ∆ x → 0 (x + ∆ x) p - x p ∆ x = = lim ∆ x → 0 (C p 1 x p - 1 ∆ x + C p 2 x p - 2 (∆ x) 2 + ... + C p p - 1 x (∆ x) p - 1 + C p p (∆ x) p) ∆ x = = lim ∆ x → 0 (C p 1 x p - 1 + C p 2 x p - 2 ∆ x + . . + C p p - 1 x (∆ x) p - 2 + C p p (∆ x) p - 1) = = C p 1 · x p - 1 + 0 + 0 + . . . + 0 = p ! 1 ! · (p - 1) ! · x p - 1 = p · x p - 1

Thus, we have proven the formula for the derivative of a power function when the exponent is a natural number.

Evidence 3

To provide evidence for the case when p- any real number other than zero, we use the logarithmic derivative (here we should understand the difference from the derivative of a logarithmic function). To have a more complete understanding, it is advisable to study the derivative of a logarithmic function and additionally understand the derivative of an implicit function and the derivative of a complex function.

Let's consider two cases: when x positive and when x negative.

So x > 0. Then: x p > 0 . Let us logarithm the equality y = x p to base e and apply the property of the logarithm:

y = x p ln y = ln x p ln y = p · ln x

At this stage, we have obtained an implicitly specified function. Let's define its derivative:

(ln y) " = (p · ln x) 1 y · y " = p · 1 x ⇒ y " = p · y x = p · x p x = p · x p - 1

Now we consider the case when x – a negative number.

If the indicator p is an even number, then the power function is defined for x< 0 , причем является четной: y (x) = - y ((- x) p) " = - p · (- x) p - 1 · (- x) " = = p · (- x) p - 1 = p · x p - 1

Then x p< 0 и возможно составить доказательство, используя логарифмическую производную.

If p is an odd number, then the power function is defined for x< 0 , причем является нечетной: y (x) = - y (- x) = - (- x) p . Тогда x p < 0 , а значит логарифмическую производную задействовать нельзя. В такой ситуации возможно взять за основу доказательства правила дифференцирования и правило нахождения производной сложной функции:

y " (x) = (- (- x) p) " = - ((- x) p) " = - p · (- x) p - 1 · (- x) " = = p · (- x) p - 1 = p x p - 1

The last transition is possible due to the fact that if p is an odd number, then p - 1 either an even number or zero (for p = 1), therefore, for negative x the equality (- x) p - 1 = x p - 1 is true.

So, we have proven the formula for the derivative of a power function for any real p.

Example 2

Functions given:

f 1 (x) = 1 x 2 3 , f 2 (x) = x 2 - 1 4 , f 3 (x) = 1 x log 7 12

Determine their derivatives.

Solution

We transform some of the given functions into tabular form y = x p , based on the properties of the degree, and then use the formula:

f 1 (x) = 1 x 2 3 = x - 2 3 ⇒ f 1 " (x) = - 2 3 x - 2 3 - 1 = - 2 3 x - 5 3 f 2 " (x) = x 2 - 1 4 = 2 - 1 4 x 2 - 1 4 - 1 = 2 - 1 4 x 2 - 5 4 f 3 (x) = 1 x log 7 12 = x - log 7 12 ⇒ f 3" ( x) = - log 7 12 x - log 7 12 - 1 = - log 7 12 x - log 7 12 - log 7 7 = - log 7 12 x - log 7 84

Derivative of an exponential function

Proof 4

Let us derive the derivative formula using the definition as a basis:

(a x) " = lim ∆ x → 0 a x + ∆ x - a x ∆ x = lim ∆ x → 0 a x (a ∆ x - 1) ∆ x = a x lim ∆ x → 0 a ∆ x - 1 ∆ x = 0 0

We got uncertainty. To expand it, let's write a new variable z = a ∆ x - 1 (z → 0 as ∆ x → 0). In this case, a ∆ x = z + 1 ⇒ ∆ x = log a (z + 1) = ln (z + 1) ln a . For the last transition, the formula for transition to a new logarithm base was used.

Let us substitute into the original limit:

(a x) " = a x · lim ∆ x → 0 a ∆ x - 1 ∆ x = a x · ln a · lim ∆ x → 0 1 1 z · ln (z + 1) = = a x · ln a · lim ∆ x → 0 1 ln (z + 1) 1 z = a x · ln a · 1 ln lim ∆ x → 0 (z + 1) 1 z

Let us recall the second remarkable limit and then we obtain the formula for the derivative of the exponential function:

(a x) " = a x · ln a · 1 ln lim z → 0 (z + 1) 1 z = a x · ln a · 1 ln e = a x · ln a

Example 3

The exponential functions are given:

f 1 (x) = 2 3 x , f 2 (x) = 5 3 x , f 3 (x) = 1 (e) x

It is necessary to find their derivatives.

Solution

We use the formula for the derivative of the exponential function and the properties of the logarithm:

f 1 " (x) = 2 3 x " = 2 3 x ln 2 3 = 2 3 x (ln 2 - ln 3) f 2 " (x) = 5 3 x " = 5 3 x ln 5 1 3 = 1 3 5 3 x ln 5 f 3 " (x) = 1 (e) x " = 1 e x " = 1 e x ln 1 e = 1 e x ln e - 1 = - 1 e x

Derivative of a logarithmic function

Evidence 5

Let us provide a proof of the formula for the derivative of a logarithmic function for any x in the domain of definition and any permissible values ​​of the base a of the logarithm. Based on the definition of derivative, we get:

(log a x) " = lim ∆ x → 0 log a (x + ∆ x) - log a x ∆ x = lim ∆ x → 0 log a x + ∆ x x ∆ x = = lim ∆ x → 0 1 ∆ x log a 1 + ∆ x x = lim ∆ x → 0 log a 1 + ∆ x x 1 ∆ x = = lim ∆ x → 0 log a 1 + ∆ x x 1 ∆ x · x x = lim ∆ x → 0 1 x · log a 1 + ∆ x x x ∆ x = = 1 x · log a lim ∆ x → 0 1 + ∆ x x x ∆ x = 1 x · log a e = 1 x · ln e ln a = 1 x · ln a

From the indicated chain of equalities it is clear that the transformations were based on the property of the logarithm. The equality lim ∆ x → 0 1 + ∆ x x x ∆ x = e is true in accordance with the second remarkable limit.

Example 4

Logarithmic functions are given:

f 1 (x) = log ln 3 x , f 2 (x) = ln x

It is necessary to calculate their derivatives.

Solution

Let's apply the derived formula:

f 1 " (x) = (log ln 3 x) " = 1 x · ln (ln 3) ; f 2 " (x) = (ln x) " = 1 x ln e = 1 x

So, the derivative of the natural logarithm is one divided by x.

Derivatives of trigonometric functions

Proof 6

Let's use some trigonometric formulas and the first wonderful limit to derive the formula for the derivative of a trigonometric function.

According to the definition of the derivative of the sine function, we get:

(sin x) " = lim ∆ x → 0 sin (x + ∆ x) - sin x ∆ x

The formula for the difference of sines will allow us to perform the following actions:

(sin x) " = lim ∆ x → 0 sin (x + ∆ x) - sin x ∆ x = = lim ∆ x → 0 2 sin x + ∆ x - x 2 cos x + ∆ x + x 2 ∆ x = = lim ∆ x → 0 sin ∆ x 2 · cos x + ∆ x 2 ∆ x 2 = = cos x + 0 2 · lim ∆ x → 0 sin ∆ x 2 ∆ x 2

Finally, we use the first wonderful limit:

sin " x = cos x + 0 2 · lim ∆ x → 0 sin ∆ x 2 ∆ x 2 = cos x

So, the derivative of the function sin x will cos x.

We will also prove the formula for the derivative of the cosine:

cos " x = lim ∆ x → 0 cos (x + ∆ x) - cos x ∆ x = = lim ∆ x → 0 - 2 sin x + ∆ x - x 2 sin x + ∆ x + x 2 ∆ x = = - lim ∆ x → 0 sin ∆ x 2 sin x + ∆ x 2 ∆ x 2 = = - sin x + 0 2 lim ∆ x → 0 sin ∆ x 2 ∆ x 2 = - sin x

Those. the derivative of the cos x function will be – sin x.

We derive the formulas for the derivatives of tangent and cotangent based on the rules of differentiation:

t g " x = sin x cos x " = sin " x · cos x - sin x · cos " x cos 2 x = = cos x · cos x - sin x · (- sin x) cos 2 x = sin 2 x + cos 2 x cos 2 x = 1 cos 2 x c t g " x = cos x sin x " = cos " x · sin x - cos x · sin " x sin 2 x = = - sin x · sin x - cos x · cos x sin 2 x = - sin 2 x + cos 2 x sin 2 x = - 1 sin 2 x

Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions

The section on the derivative of inverse functions provides comprehensive information on the proof of the formulas for the derivatives of arcsine, arccosine, arctangent and arccotangent, so we will not duplicate the material here.

Derivatives of hyperbolic functions

Evidence 7

We can derive the formulas for the derivatives of the hyperbolic sine, cosine, tangent and cotangent using the differentiation rule and the formula for the derivative of the exponential function:

s h " x = e x - e - x 2 " = 1 2 e x " - e - x " = = 1 2 e x - - e - x = e x + e - x 2 = c h x c h " x = e x + e - x 2 " = 1 2 e x " + e - x " = = 1 2 e x + - e - x = e x - e - x 2 = s h x t h " x = s h x c h x " = s h " x · c h x - s h x · c h " x c h 2 x = c h 2 x - s h 2 x c h 2 x = 1 c h 2 x c t h " x = c h x s h x " = c h " x · s h x - c h x · s h " x s h 2 x = s h 2 x - c h 2 x s h 2 x = - 1 s h 2 x

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Proof and derivation of the formulas for the derivative of the exponential (e to the x power) and the exponential function (a to the x power). Examples of calculating derivatives of e^2x, e^3x and e^nx. Formulas for derivatives of higher orders.

Content

See also: Exponential function - properties, formulas, graph
Exponent, e to the x power - properties, formulas, graph

Basic formulas

The derivative of an exponent is equal to the exponent itself (the derivative of e to the x power is equal to e to the x power):
(1) (e x )′ = e x.

The derivative of an exponential function with a base a is equal to the function itself multiplied by the natural logarithm of a:
(2) .

An exponential is an exponential function whose base is equal to the number e, which is the following limit:
.
Here it can be either a natural number or a real number. Next, we derive formula (1) for the derivative of the exponential.

Derivation of the exponential derivative formula

Consider the exponential, e to the x power:
y = e x .
This function is defined for everyone. Let's find its derivative with respect to the variable x. By definition, the derivative is the following limit:
(3) .

Let's transform this expression to reduce it to known mathematical properties and rules. To do this we need the following facts:
A) Exponent property:
(4) ;
B) Property of logarithm:
(5) ;
IN) Continuity of the logarithm and the property of limits for a continuous function:
(6) .
Here is a function that has a limit and this limit is positive.
G) The meaning of the second remarkable limit:
(7) .

Let's apply these facts to our limit (3). We use property (4):
;
.

Let's make a substitution. Then ; .
Due to the continuity of the exponential,
.
Therefore, when , . As a result we get:
.

Let's make a substitution. Then . At , . And we have:
.

Let's apply the logarithm property (5):
. Then
.

Let us apply property (6). Since there is a positive limit and the logarithm is continuous, then:
.
Here we also used the second remarkable limit (7). Then
.

Thus, we obtained formula (1) for the derivative of the exponential.

Derivation of the formula for the derivative of an exponential function

Now we derive formula (2) for the derivative of the exponential function with a base of degree a. We believe that and . Then the exponential function
(8)
Defined for everyone.

Let's transform formula (8). To do this, we will use the properties of the exponential function and logarithm.
;
.
So, we transformed formula (8) to the following form:
.

Higher order derivatives of e to the x power

Now let's find derivatives of higher orders. Let's look at the exponent first:
(14) .
(1) .

We see that the derivative of function (14) is equal to function (14) itself. Differentiating (1), we obtain derivatives of the second and third order:
;
.

This shows that the nth order derivative is also equal to the original function:
.

Higher order derivatives of the exponential function

Now consider an exponential function with a base of degree a:
.
We found its first-order derivative:
(15) .

Differentiating (15), we obtain derivatives of the second and third order:
;
.

We see that each differentiation leads to the multiplication of the original function by . Therefore, the nth order derivative has the following form:
.

See also:

Very easy to remember.

Well, let’s not go far, let’s immediately consider the inverse function. Which function is the inverse of the exponential function? Logarithm:

In our case, the base is the number:

Such a logarithm (that is, a logarithm with a base) is called “natural”, and we use a special notation for it: we write instead.

What is it equal to? Of course, .

The derivative of the natural logarithm is also very simple:

Examples:

  1. Find the derivative of the function.
  2. What is the derivative of the function?

Answers: The exponential and natural logarithm are uniquely simple functions from a derivative perspective. Exponential and logarithmic functions with any other base will have a different derivative, which we will analyze later, after we go through the rules of differentiation.

Rules of differentiation

Rules of what? Again a new term, again?!...

Differentiation is the process of finding the derivative.

That's all. What else can you call this process in one word? Not derivative... Mathematicians call the differential the same increment of a function at. This term comes from the Latin differentia - difference. Here.

When deriving all these rules, we will use two functions, for example, and. We will also need formulas for their increments:

There are 5 rules in total.

The constant is taken out of the derivative sign.

If - some constant number (constant), then.

Obviously, this rule also works for the difference: .

Let's prove it. Let it be, or simpler.

Examples.

Find the derivatives of the functions:

  1. at a point;
  2. at a point;
  3. at a point;
  4. at the point.

Solutions:

  1. (the derivative is the same at all points, since it is a linear function, remember?);

Derivative of the product

Everything is similar here: let’s introduce a new function and find its increment:

Derivative:

Examples:

  1. Find the derivatives of the functions and;
  2. Find the derivative of the function at a point.

Solutions:

Derivative of an exponential function

Now your knowledge is enough to learn how to find the derivative of any exponential function, and not just exponents (have you forgotten what that is yet?).

So, where is some number.

We already know the derivative of the function, so let's try to reduce our function to a new base:

To do this, we will use a simple rule: . Then:

Well, it worked. Now try to find the derivative, and don't forget that this function is complex.

Happened?

Here, check yourself:

The formula turned out to be very similar to the derivative of an exponent: as it was, it remains the same, only a factor appeared, which is just a number, but not a variable.

Examples:
Find the derivatives of the functions:

Answers:

This is just a number that cannot be calculated without a calculator, that is, it cannot be written down in a simpler form. Therefore, we leave it in this form in the answer.

    Note that here is the quotient of two functions, so we apply the corresponding differentiation rule:

    In this example, the product of two functions:

Derivative of a logarithmic function

It’s similar here: you already know the derivative of the natural logarithm:

Therefore, to find an arbitrary logarithm with a different base, for example:

We need to reduce this logarithm to the base. How do you change the base of a logarithm? I hope you remember this formula:

Only now we will write instead:

The denominator is simply a constant (a constant number, without a variable). The derivative is obtained very simply:

Derivatives of exponential and logarithmic functions are almost never found in the Unified State Examination, but it will not be superfluous to know them.

Derivative of a complex function.

What is a "complex function"? No, this is not a logarithm, and not an arctangent. These functions can be difficult to understand (although if you find the logarithm difficult, read the topic “Logarithms” and you will be fine), but from a mathematical point of view, the word “complex” does not mean “difficult”.

Imagine a small conveyor belt: two people are sitting and doing some actions with some objects. For example, the first one wraps a chocolate bar in a wrapper, and the second one ties it with a ribbon. The result is a composite object: a chocolate bar wrapped and tied with a ribbon. To eat a chocolate bar, you need to do the reverse steps in reverse order.

Let's create a similar mathematical pipeline: first we will find the cosine of a number, and then square the resulting number. So, we are given a number (chocolate), I find its cosine (wrapper), and then you square what I got (tie it with a ribbon). What happened? Function. This is an example of a complex function: when, to find its value, we perform the first action directly with the variable, and then a second action with what resulted from the first.

In other words, a complex function is a function whose argument is another function: .

For our example, .

We can easily do the same steps in reverse order: first you square it, and I then look for the cosine of the resulting number: . It’s easy to guess that the result will almost always be different. An important feature of complex functions: when the order of actions changes, the function changes.

Second example: (same thing). .

The action we do last will be called "external" function, and the action performed first - accordingly "internal" function(these are informal names, I use them only to explain the material in simple language).

Try to determine for yourself which function is external and which internal:

Answers: Separating inner and outer functions is very similar to changing variables: for example, in a function

  1. What action will we perform first? First, let's calculate the sine, and only then cube it. This means that it is an internal function, but an external one.
    And the original function is their composition: .
  2. Internal: ; external: .
    Examination: .
  3. Internal: ; external: .
    Examination: .
  4. Internal: ; external: .
    Examination: .
  5. Internal: ; external: .
    Examination: .

We change variables and get a function.

Well, now we will extract our chocolate bar and look for the derivative. The procedure is always reversed: first we look for the derivative of the outer function, then we multiply the result by the derivative of the inner function. In relation to the original example, it looks like this:

Another example:

So, let's finally formulate the official rule:

Algorithm for finding the derivative of a complex function:

It seems simple, right?

Let's check with examples:

Solutions:

1) Internal: ;

External: ;

2) Internal: ;

(Just don’t try to cut it by now! Nothing comes out from under the cosine, remember?)

3) Internal: ;

External: ;

It is immediately clear that this is a three-level complex function: after all, this is already a complex function in itself, and we also extract the root from it, that is, we perform the third action (put the chocolate in a wrapper and with a ribbon in the briefcase). But there is no reason to be afraid: we will still “unpack” this function in the same order as usual: from the end.

That is, first we differentiate the root, then the cosine, and only then the expression in brackets. And then we multiply it all.

In such cases, it is convenient to number the actions. That is, let's imagine what we know. In what order will we perform actions to calculate the value of this expression? Let's look at an example:

The later the action is performed, the more “external” the corresponding function will be. The sequence of actions is the same as before:

Here the nesting is generally 4-level. Let's determine the course of action.

1. Radical expression. .

2. Root. .

3. Sine. .

4. Square. .

5. Putting it all together:

DERIVATIVE. BRIEFLY ABOUT THE MAIN THINGS

Derivative of a function- the ratio of the increment of the function to the increment of the argument for an infinitesimal increment of the argument:

Basic derivatives:

Rules of differentiation:

The constant is taken out of the derivative sign:

Derivative of the sum:

Derivative of the product:

Derivative of the quotient:

Derivative of a complex function:

Algorithm for finding the derivative of a complex function:

  1. We define the “internal” function and find its derivative.
  2. We define the “external” function and find its derivative.
  3. We multiply the results of the first and second points.

With this video I begin a long series of lessons on derivatives. This lesson consists of several parts.

First of all, I will tell you what derivatives are and how to calculate them, but not in sophisticated academic language, but the way I understand it myself and how I explain it to my students. Secondly, we will consider the simplest rule for solving problems in which we will look for derivatives of sums, derivatives of differences and derivatives of a power function.

We will look at more complex combined examples, from which you will, in particular, learn that similar problems involving roots and even fractions can be solved using the formula for the derivative of a power function. In addition, of course, there will be many problems and examples of solutions of various levels of complexity.

In general, initially I was going to record a short 5-minute video, but you can see how it turned out. So enough of the lyrics - let's get down to business.

What is a derivative?

So, let's start from afar. Many years ago, when the trees were greener and life was more fun, mathematicians thought about this: consider a simple function defined by its graph, call it $y=f\left(x \right)$. Of course, the graph does not exist on its own, so you need to draw the $x$ axes as well as the $y$ axis. Now let's choose any point on this graph, absolutely any. Let's call the abscissa $((x)_(1))$, the ordinate, as you might guess, will be $f\left(((x)_(1)) \right)$.

Let's look at another point on the same graph. It doesn’t matter which one, the main thing is that it differs from the original one. It, again, has an abscissa, let's call it $((x)_(2))$, and also an ordinate - $f\left(((x)_(2)) \right)$.

So, we have two points: they have different abscissas and, therefore, different function values, although the latter is not necessary. But what is really important is that we know from the planimetry course: through two points you can draw a straight line and, moreover, only one. So let's carry it out.

Now let’s draw a straight line through the very first of them, parallel to the abscissa axis. We get a right triangle. Let's call it $ABC$, right angle $C$. This triangle has one very interesting property: the fact is that the angle $\alpha $ is actually equal to the angle at which the straight line $AB$ intersects with the continuation of the abscissa axis. Judge for yourself:

  1. the straight line $AC$ is parallel to the $Ox$ axis by construction,
  2. line $AB$ intersects $AC$ under $\alpha $,
  3. hence $AB$ intersects $Ox$ under the same $\alpha $.

What can we say about $\text( )\!\!\alpha\!\!\text( )$? Nothing specific, except that in the triangle $ABC$ the ratio of leg $BC$ to leg $AC$ is equal to the tangent of this very angle. So let's write it down:

Of course, $AC$ in this case is easily calculated:

Likewise for $BC$:

In other words, we can write the following:

\[\operatorname(tg)\text( )\!\!\alpha\!\!\text( )=\frac(f\left(((x)_(2)) \right)-f\left( ((x)_(1)) \right))(((x)_(2))-((x)_(1)))\]

Now that we've got all that out of the way, let's go back to our chart and look at the new point $B$. Let's erase the old values ​​and take $B$ somewhere closer to $((x)_(1))$. Let us again denote its abscissa by $((x)_(2))$, and its ordinate by $f\left(((x)_(2)) \right)$.

Let's look again at our little triangle $ABC$ and $\text( )\!\!\alpha\!\!\text( )$ inside it. It is quite obvious that this will be a completely different angle, the tangent will also be different because the lengths of the segments $AC$ and $BC$ have changed significantly, but the formula for the tangent of the angle has not changed at all - this is still the relationship between a change in the function and a change in the argument .

Finally, we continue to move $B$ closer to the original point $A$, as a result the triangle will become even smaller, and the straight line containing the segment $AB$ will look more and more like a tangent to the graph of the function.

As a result, if we continue to bring the points closer together, i.e., reduce the distance to zero, then the straight line $AB$ will indeed turn into a tangent to the graph at a given point, and $\text( )\!\!\alpha\!\ !\text( )$ will transform from a regular triangle element to the angle between the tangent to the graph and the positive direction of the $Ox$ axis.

And here we smoothly move on to the definition of $f$, namely, the derivative of a function at the point $((x)_(1))$ is the tangent of the angle $\alpha $ between the tangent to the graph at the point $((x)_( 1))$ and the positive direction of the $Ox$ axis:

\[(f)"\left(((x)_(1)) \right)=\operatorname(tg)\text( )\!\!\alpha\!\!\text( )\]

Returning to our graph, it should be noted that any point on the graph can be chosen as $((x)_(1))$. For example, with the same success we could remove the stroke at the point shown in the figure.

Let's call the angle between the tangent and the positive direction of the axis $\beta$. Accordingly, $f$ in $((x)_(2))$ will be equal to the tangent of this angle $\beta $.

\[(f)"\left(((x)_(2)) \right)=tg\text( )\!\!\beta\!\!\text( )\]

Each point on the graph will have its own tangent, and, therefore, its own function value. In each of these cases, in addition to the point at which we are looking for the derivative of a difference or sum, or the derivative of a power function, it is necessary to take another point located at some distance from it, and then direct this point to the original one and, of course, find out how in the process Such movement will change the tangent of the angle of inclination.

Derivative of a power function

Unfortunately, such a definition does not suit us at all. All these formulas, pictures, angles do not give us the slightest idea of ​​how to calculate the real derivative in real problems. Therefore, let's digress a little from the formal definition and consider more effective formulas and techniques with which you can already solve real problems.

Let's start with the simplest constructions, namely, functions of the form $y=((x)^(n))$, i.e. power functions. In this case, we can write the following: $(y)"=n\cdot ((x)^(n-1))$. In other words, the degree that was in the exponent is shown in the front multiplier, and the exponent itself is reduced by unit. For example:

\[\begin(align)& y=((x)^(2)) \\& (y)"=2\cdot ((x)^(2-1))=2x \\\end(align) \]

Here's another option:

\[\begin(align)& y=((x)^(1)) \\& (y)"=((\left(x \right))^(\prime ))=1\cdot ((x )^(0))=1\cdot 1=1 \\& ((\left(x \right))^(\prime ))=1 \\\end(align)\]

Using these simple rules, let's try to remove the touch of the following examples:

So we get:

\[((\left(((x)^(6)) \right))^(\prime ))=6\cdot ((x)^(5))=6((x)^(5)) \]

Now let's solve the second expression:

\[\begin(align)& f\left(x \right)=((x)^(100)) \\& ((\left(((x)^(100)) \right))^(\ prime ))=100\cdot ((x)^(99))=100((x)^(99)) \\\end(align)\]

Of course, these were very simple tasks. However, real problems are more complex and they are not limited to just degrees of function.

So, rule No. 1 - if a function is presented in the form of the other two, then the derivative of this sum is equal to the sum of the derivatives:

\[((\left(f+g \right))^(\prime ))=(f)"+(g)"\]

Similarly, the derivative of the difference of two functions is equal to the difference of the derivatives:

\[((\left(f-g \right))^(\prime ))=(f)"-(g)"\]

\[((\left(((x)^(2))+x \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(2)) \right))^(\ prime ))+((\left(x \right))^(\prime ))=2x+1\]

In addition, there is another important rule: if some $f$ is preceded by a constant $c$, by which this function is multiplied, then the $f$ of this entire construction is calculated as follows:

\[((\left(c\cdot f \right))^(\prime ))=c\cdot (f)"\]

\[((\left(3((x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime ))=3((\left(((x)^(3)) \right))^(\ prime ))=3\cdot 3((x)^(2))=9((x)^(2))\]

Finally, one more very important rule: in problems there is often a separate term that does not contain $x$ at all. For example, we can observe this in our expressions today. The derivative of a constant, i.e., a number that does not depend in any way on $x$, is always equal to zero, and it does not matter at all what the constant $c$ is equal to:

\[((\left(c \right))^(\prime ))=0\]

Example solution:

\[((\left(1001 \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(\frac(1)(1000) \right))^(\prime ))=0\]

Key points again:

  1. The derivative of the sum of two functions is always equal to the sum of the derivatives: $((\left(f+g \right))^(\prime ))=(f)"+(g)"$;
  2. For similar reasons, the derivative of the difference of two functions is equal to the difference of two derivatives: $((\left(f-g \right))^(\prime ))=(f)"-(g)"$;
  3. If a function has a constant factor, then this constant can be taken out as a derivative sign: $((\left(c\cdot f \right))^(\prime ))=c\cdot (f)"$;
  4. If the entire function is a constant, then its derivative is always zero: $((\left(c \right))^(\prime ))=0$.

Let's see how it all works with real examples. So:

We write down:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(((x)^(5))-3((x)^(2))+7 \right))^(\prime ))=((\left (((x)^(5)) \right))^(\prime ))-((\left(3((x)^(2)) \right))^(\prime ))+(7) "= \\& =5((x)^(4))-3((\left(((x)^(2)) \right))^(\prime ))+0=5((x) ^(4))-6x \\\end(align)\]

In this example we see both the derivative of the sum and the derivative of the difference. In total, the derivative is equal to $5((x)^(4))-6x$.

Let's move on to the second function:

Let's write down the solution:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(3((x)^(2))-2x+2 \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(3((x)^( 2)) \right))^(\prime ))-((\left(2x \right))^(\prime ))+(2)"= \\& =3((\left(((x) ^(2)) \right))^(\prime ))-2(x)"+0=3\cdot 2x-2\cdot 1=6x-2 \\\end(align)\]

Here we have found the answer.

Let's move on to the third function - it is more serious:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(2((x)^(3))-3((x)^(2))+\frac(1)(2)x-5 \right)) ^(\prime ))=((\left(2((x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime ))-((\left(3((x)^(2)) \right ))^(\prime ))+((\left(\frac(1)(2)x \right))^(\prime ))-(5)"= \\& =2((\left(( (x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime ))-3((\left(((x)^(2)) \right))^(\prime ))+\frac(1) (2)\cdot (x)"=2\cdot 3((x)^(2))-3\cdot 2x+\frac(1)(2)\cdot 1=6((x)^(2)) -6x+\frac(1)(2) \\\end(align)\]

We have found the answer.

Let's move on to the last expression - the most complex and longest:

So, we consider:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(6((x)^(7))-14((x)^(3))+4x+5 \right))^(\prime ))=( (\left(6((x)^(7)) \right))^(\prime ))-((\left(14((x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime )) +((\left(4x \right))^(\prime ))+(5)"= \\& =6\cdot 7\cdot ((x)^(6))-14\cdot 3((x )^(2))+4\cdot 1+0=42((x)^(6))-42((x)^(2))+4 \\\end(align)\]

But the solution does not end there, because we are asked not just to remove a stroke, but to calculate its value at a specific point, so we substitute −1 instead of $x$ into the expression:

\[(y)"\left(-1 \right)=42\cdot 1-42\cdot 1+4=4\]

Let's go further and move on to even more complex and interesting examples. The fact is that the formula for solving the power derivative $((\left(((x)^(n)) \right))^(\prime ))=n\cdot ((x)^(n-1))$ has an even wider scope than is usually believed. With its help, you can solve examples with fractions, roots, etc. This is what we will do now.

To begin with, let’s once again write down the formula that will help us find the derivative of a power function:

And now attention: so far we have considered only natural numbers as $n$, but nothing prevents us from considering fractions and even negative numbers. For example, we can write the following:

\[\begin(align)& \sqrt(x)=((x)^(\frac(1)(2))) \\& ((\left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\ prime ))=((\left(((x)^(\frac(1)(2))) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(1)(2)\cdot ((x) ^(-\frac(1)(2)))=\frac(1)(2)\cdot \frac(1)(\sqrt(x))=\frac(1)(2\sqrt(x)) \\\end(align)\]

Nothing complicated, so let's see how this formula will help us when solving more complex problems. So, an example:

Let's write down the solution:

\[\begin(align)& \left(\sqrt(x)+\sqrt(x)+\sqrt(x) \right)=((\left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))+((\left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))+((\left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime )) \\& ((\ left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(1)(2\sqrt(x)) \\& ((\left(\sqrt(x) \right))^( \prime ))=((\left(((x)^(\frac(1)(3))) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(1)(3)\cdot ((x )^(-\frac(2)(3)))=\frac(1)(3)\cdot \frac(1)(\sqrt(((x)^(2)))) \\& (( \left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(\frac(1)(4))) \right))^(\prime )) =\frac(1)(4)((x)^(-\frac(3)(4)))=\frac(1)(4)\cdot \frac(1)(\sqrt(((x) ^(3)))) \\\end(align)\]

Let's go back to our example and write:

\[(y)"=\frac(1)(2\sqrt(x))+\frac(1)(3\sqrt(((x)^(2))))+\frac(1)(4 \sqrt(((x)^(3))))\]

This is such a difficult decision.

Let's move on to the second example - there are only two terms, but each of them contains both a classical degree and roots.

Now we will learn how to find the derivative of a power function, which, in addition, contains the root:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(((x)^(3))\sqrt(((x)^(2)))+((x)^(7))\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(3))\cdot \sqrt(((x)^(2))) \right))^(\prime )) =((\left(((x)^(3))\cdot ((x)^(\frac(2)(3))) \right))^(\prime ))= \\& =(( \left(((x)^(3+\frac(2)(3))) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(\frac(11)(3 ))) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(11)(3)\cdot ((x)^(\frac(8)(3)))=\frac(11)(3)\ cdot ((x)^(2\frac(2)(3)))=\frac(11)(3)\cdot ((x)^(2))\cdot \sqrt(((x)^(2 ))) \\& ((\left(((x)^(7))\cdot \sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(7 ))\cdot ((x)^(\frac(1)(3))) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(7\frac(1)(3 ))) \right))^(\prime ))=7\frac(1)(3)\cdot ((x)^(6\frac(1)(3)))=\frac(22)(3 )\cdot ((x)^(6))\cdot \sqrt(x) \\\end(align)\]

Both terms have been calculated, all that remains is to write down the final answer:

\[(y)"=\frac(11)(3)\cdot ((x)^(2))\cdot \sqrt(((x)^(2)))+\frac(22)(3) \cdot ((x)^(6))\cdot \sqrt(x)\]

We have found the answer.

Derivative of a fraction through a power function

But the possibilities of the formula for solving the derivative of a power function do not end there. The fact is that with its help you can calculate not only examples with roots, but also with fractions. This is precisely the rare opportunity that greatly simplifies the solution of such examples, but is often ignored not only by students, but also by teachers.

So, now we will try to combine two formulas at once. On the one hand, the classical derivative of a power function

\[((\left(((x)^(n)) \right))^(\prime ))=n\cdot ((x)^(n-1))\]

On the other hand, we know that an expression of the form $\frac(1)(((x)^(n)))$ can be represented as $((x)^(-n))$. Hence,

\[\left(\frac(1)(((x)^(n))) \right)"=((\left(((x)^(-n)) \right))^(\prime ) )=-n\cdot ((x)^(-n-1))=-\frac(n)(((x)^(n+1)))\]

\[((\left(\frac(1)(x) \right))^(\prime ))=\left(((x)^(-1)) \right)=-1\cdot ((x )^(-2))=-\frac(1)(((x)^(2)))\]

Thus, the derivatives of simple fractions, where the numerator is a constant and the denominator is a degree, are also calculated using the classical formula. Let's see how this works in practice.

So, the first function:

\[((\left(\frac(1)(((x)^(2))) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(-2)) \ right))^(\prime ))=-2\cdot ((x)^(-3))=-\frac(2)(((x)^(3)))\]

The first example is solved, let's move on to the second:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(\frac(7)(4((x)^(4)))-\frac(2)(3((x)^(3)))+\ frac(5)(2)((x)^(2))+2((x)^(3))-3((x)^(4)) \right))^(\prime ))= \ \& =((\left(\frac(7)(4((x)^(4))) \right))^(\prime ))-((\left(\frac(2)(3(( x)^(3))) \right))^(\prime ))+((\left(2((x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime ))-((\left( 3((x)^(4)) \right))^(\prime )) \\& ((\left(\frac(7)(4((x)^(4))) \right))^ (\prime ))=\frac(7)(4)((\left(\frac(1)(((x)^(4))) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(7 )(4)\cdot ((\left(((x)^(-4)) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(7)(4)\cdot \left(-4 \right) \cdot ((x)^(-5))=\frac(-7)(((x)^(5))) \\& ((\left(\frac(2)(3((x)^ (3))) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(2)(3)\cdot ((\left(\frac(1)(((x)^(3))) \right) )^(\prime ))=\frac(2)(3)\cdot ((\left(((x)^(-3)) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(2)( 3)\cdot \left(-3 \right)\cdot ((x)^(-4))=\frac(-2)(((x)^(4))) \\& ((\left( \frac(5)(2)((x)^(2)) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(5)(2)\cdot 2x=5x \\& ((\left(2 ((x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime ))=2\cdot 3((x)^(2))=6((x)^(2)) \\& ((\ left(3((x)^(4)) \right))^(\prime ))=3\cdot 4((x)^(3))=12((x)^(3)) \\\ end(align)\]...

Now we collect all these terms into a single formula:

\[(y)"=-\frac(7)(((x)^(5)))+\frac(2)(((x)^(4)))+5x+6((x)^ (2))-12((x)^(3))\]

We have received an answer.

However, before moving on, I would like to draw your attention to the form of writing the original expressions themselves: in the first expression we wrote $f\left(x \right)=...$, in the second: $y=...$ Many students get lost when they see different forms of recording. What is the difference between $f\left(x \right)$ and $y$? Nothing really. They are just different entries with the same meaning. It’s just that when we say $f\left(x \right)$, we are talking, first of all, about a function, and when we talk about $y$, we most often mean the graph of a function. Otherwise, this is the same thing, i.e., the derivative in both cases is considered the same.

Complex problems with derivatives

In conclusion, I would like to consider a couple of complex combined problems that use everything we have considered today. They contain roots, fractions, and sums. However, these examples will only be complex in today’s video tutorial, because truly complex derivative functions will be waiting for you ahead.

So, the final part of today's video lesson, consisting of two combined tasks. Let's start with the first of them:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(((x)^(3))-\frac(1)(((x)^(3)))+\sqrt(x) \right))^ (\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime ))-((\left(\frac(1)(((x)^(3) )) \right))^(\prime ))+\left(\sqrt(x) \right) \\& ((\left(((x)^(3)) \right))^(\prime ) )=3((x)^(2)) \\& ((\left(\frac(1)(((x)^(3))) \right))^(\prime ))=((\ left(((x)^(-3)) \right))^(\prime ))=-3\cdot ((x)^(-4))=-\frac(3)(((x)^ (4))) \\& ((\left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(\frac(1)(3))) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(1)(3)\cdot \frac(1)(((x)^(\frac(2)(3))))=\frac(1) (3\sqrt(((x)^(2)))) \\\end(align)\]

The derivative of the function is equal to:

\[(y)"=3((x)^(2))-\frac(3)(((x)^(4)))+\frac(1)(3\sqrt(((x)^ (2))))\]

The first example is solved. Let's consider the second problem:

In the second example we proceed similarly:

\[((\left(-\frac(2)(((x)^(4)))+\sqrt(x)+\frac(4)(x\sqrt(((x)^(3)) )) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(-\frac(2)(((x)^(4))) \right))^(\prime ))+((\left (\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))+((\left(\frac(4)(x\cdot \sqrt(((x)^(3)))) \right))^ (\prime ))\]

Let's calculate each term separately:

\[\begin(align)& ((\left(-\frac(2)(((x)^(4))) \right))^(\prime ))=-2\cdot ((\left( ((x)^(-4)) \right))^(\prime ))=-2\cdot \left(-4 \right)\cdot ((x)^(-5))=\frac(8 )(((x)^(5))) \\& ((\left(\sqrt(x) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(((x)^(\frac( 1)(4))) \right))^(\prime ))=\frac(1)(4)\cdot ((x)^(-\frac(3)(4)))=\frac(1 )(4\cdot ((x)^(\frac(3)(4))))=\frac(1)(4\sqrt(((x)^(3)))) \\& ((\ left(\frac(4)(x\cdot \sqrt(((x)^(3)))) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(\frac(4)(x\cdot ((x)^(\frac(3)(4)))) \right))^(\prime ))=((\left(\frac(4)(((x)^(1\frac(3 )(4)))) \right))^(\prime ))=4\cdot ((\left(((x)^(-1\frac(3)(4))) \right))^( \prime ))= \\& =4\cdot \left(-1\frac(3)(4) \right)\cdot ((x)^(-2\frac(3)(4)))=4 \cdot \left(-\frac(7)(4) \right)\cdot \frac(1)(((x)^(2\frac(3)(4))))=\frac(-7) (((x)^(2))\cdot ((x)^(\frac(3)(4))))=-\frac(7)(((x)^(2))\cdot \sqrt (((x)^(3)))) \\\end(align)\]

All terms have been calculated. Now we return to the original formula and add all three terms together. We get that the final answer will be like this:

\[(y)"=\frac(8)(((x)^(5)))+\frac(1)(4\sqrt(((x)^(3))))-\frac(7 )(((x)^(2))\cdot \sqrt(((x)^(3))))\]

And that is all. This was our first lesson. In the following lessons we will look at more complex constructions, and also find out why derivatives are needed in the first place.