Finding the derivative of a polynomial.
Take any polynomial, eg/ y=x3+1/2x2-3x+9. Then dy/dx=3x,+x-3, in this case. This is because, when deriving in this sense, you take each term in x, multiply it by its index, and reduce that index by 1.
In a general sense, for y=(n0)xn+(n1)xn-1+...+(nn-1)xn-(n-1)+(nn), dy/dx=(n)(n0)xn-1+(n-1)(n1)xn-2+...+(n-(n-1))(nn-1). Multiply the x term by the power, reduce the power by one. This works for all powers, even non-integers.
YP
Answered by Yaniv P. • Further Mathematics tutor
6315 Views
See similar Further Mathematics GCSE tutorsRelated Further Mathematics GCSE answers
All answers ▸How do I find the limit as x-->infinity of (4x^2+5)/(x^2-6)?
Plot the graph of 1/x for x greater than 0.
Prove that tan^2(x)=1/(cos^2(x))-1
In a chess club there are x boys and y girls. If ten more boys join and one more girl joins, there is an equal amount of boys and girls. Knowing that y = 2x+2, Calculate x and y. [4 marks]