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-   -   How do I differentiate a square root? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=644058)

  • Mar 16, 2012, 09:46 PM
    AdrianCavinder
    How do I differentiate a square root?
    I have a problem which I can not seem to fathom. I am asked to differentiate [(sqrt x) + 1]^2 / x with respect to x. I tackled the problem as follows:
    First I expanded the top term to become [x + 2(sqrt x) + 1]. Then I multiplied by x^-1 to get 1 + 2(sqrt x)^-1 + x^-1.
    When I differentiated, I got -x^-3/2 - x^-2, but the answer sheet says 1 - x^-3/2 - 2x^-3. I can not see where I am going wrong. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers. Adrian.
  • Mar 19, 2012, 10:48 AM
    ebaines
    You are correct. Another way to do this is to use the formula for derivate of a fraction:



    For this problem this gives:



    which is the same answer you got.

    However, if you integrate the answer that the answer sheet gives it turns out to be the derivative of (x sqrt(x) +1)^2/x^2. So could there have been a mistake in the original question as you typed it on this site?
  • Mar 22, 2012, 08:18 PM
    AdrianCavinder
    Dear Uber, Thanks so much. Very helpful.

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