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Need help with Differentiation questions

Hi Guys,

I'm really stuck with the following questions:

1. y = 1/3x

2. y = 4x^-2

3. y = e^2.6x

4. y = ln 5x

5. y = 2/x^6

I don't know how to differentiate these. Would anyone be able to help me out?
Much appreciated.
Original post by anna.00
Hi Guys,

I'm really stuck with the following questions:

1. y = 1/3x

2. y = 4x^-2

3. y = e^2.6x

4. y = ln 5x

5. y = 2/x^6

I don't know how to differentiate these. Would anyone be able to help me out?
Much appreciated.

The first one - is that 13x\frac{1}{3}x or 13x\frac{1}{3x}? The third is, I presume, e2.6xe^{2.6 x}.

Do you know how to differentiate y=xy=x? And do you know the product rule and chain rule? (I'm just seeing where I can pitch my explanation, if explanation is needed.)
Reply 2
Original post by anna.00
Hi Guys,

I'm really stuck with the following questions:

1. y = 1/3x

2. y = 4x^-2

3. y = e^2.6x

4. y = ln 5x

5. y = 2/x^6

I don't know how to differentiate these. Would anyone be able to help me out?
Much appreciated.


What rules have you learned about differentiation?

These are all pretty straighforward examples once you know the essential rules, so have you missed some topics in class or are you working without a teacher?

Tell us what you're comfortable with already and we can help you!
This exercise is way too broad and advanced for a person at the Op's level of understanding.
Reply 4
Original post by Old_Simon
This exercise is way too broad and advanced for a person at the Op's level of understanding.


How did you work that out when the OP has only posted twice (as far as I can see)?
Original post by davros
How did you work that out when the OP has only posted twice (as far as I can see)?

Well it is a mixed exercise of very different types of function when by the OPs own admission he is unable to handle very simple polynomial functions. Even if someone posted full solutions he is unlikely to learn so much all in one go, or get any benefit from it.
Reply 6
Original post by Old_Simon
Well it is a mixed exercise of very different types of function when by the OPs own admission he is unable to handle very simple polynomial functions. Even if someone posted full solutions he is unlikely to learn so much all in one go, or get any benefit from it.


Three powers
One exponential
One logarithm

Not terribly broad IMO :smile:

These could be revision questions from a basic course or a test on people's gaps in knowledge if they come from different backgrounds, or a test to see how much someone has remembered from A level if a uni course.

We really need more info from the OP about background knowledge etc
Original post by davros
Three powers
One exponential
One logarithm

Not terribly broad IMO :smile:

These could be revision questions from a basic course or a test on people's gaps in knowledge if they come from different backgrounds, or a test to see how much someone has remembered from A level if a uni course.

We really need more info from the OP about background knowledge etc

Well we can easily infer the background knowledge by the OPs inability to answer very nearly the first questions in any differentiation specification.
Original post by anna.00
Hi Guys,

I'm really stuck with the following questions:

1. y = 1/3x

2. y = 4x^-2

3. y = e^2.6x

4. y = ln 5x

5. y = 2/x^6

I don't know how to differentiate these. Would anyone be able to help me out?
Much appreciated.


1. a/(bx) is equivalent to (a/b)x^-1

Use normal rule of d/dx(ax^n) = an x^(n-1)

2. Use rule above

3. e^2 is just a constant. So can use rule above again.

4. Chain rule... I'd wait till you do the others first.

5. a/(bx^n) is equiv to (a/b) x^-n and you can use the standard rule as in q 1

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