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    Gernald's Avatar
    Gernald Posts: 901, Reputation: 93
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    #1

    Feb 19, 2009, 09:54 AM
    differentiating y"
    So I'm a little confused about what to do with a in this equation and am not sure if it should be 0 or 4a^3

    I'm trying to find y" of x^4+y^4=a^4 and so far I have 4x^3+4y^3 x y' =?? 4a^3 or zero.

    Once I know what the a^4 is supposed to be I can solve it the rest of the way but I have no idea what to do with it.

    Thanks
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #2

    Feb 19, 2009, 10:14 AM

    a is a constant, right? What's the derivative of a constant? Asked another way - do constants change with a change in x?

    You should check your differentiation - the first derivative of y^4 would be 4 y^3 y'. Not sure why you have an extra x in there.
    Gernald's Avatar
    Gernald Posts: 901, Reputation: 93
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    #3

    Feb 19, 2009, 10:32 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by ebaines View Post
    a is a constant, right? What's the derivative of a constant? Asked another way - do constants change with a change in x?

    You should check your differentiation - the first derivative of y^4 would be 4 y^3 y'. Not sure why you have an extra x in there.
    the x was in there to show multiplication.
    The dirivitive of a constant is zero, but I wasn't sure if it's still zero if the constant is taken to a power.
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    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #4

    Feb 19, 2009, 10:57 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Gernald View Post
    The dirivitive of a constant is zero, but I wasn't sure if it's still zero if the constant is taken to a power.

    A constant raised to a constant power is a contstant.
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    Gernald Posts: 901, Reputation: 93
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    #5

    Feb 19, 2009, 11:53 AM

    huh?? So it's ^4??
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #6

    Feb 19, 2009, 12:13 PM

    What I was saying is that the derivative of a constant is 0. a^4 is a constant, so its derivative is... 0.

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