Calculus Examples

$y = {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$

Step 1

Differentiate using the chain rule, which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [f (g (x))]$ is $f' (g (x)) g' (x)$ where $f (x) = x^{\frac{1}{2}}$ and $g (x) = \frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}$ .

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Step 1.1

To apply the Chain Rule, set $u$ as $\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}$ .

$\frac{d}{d u} [u^{\frac{1}{2}}] \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 1.2

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d u} [u^{n}]$ is $n u^{n - 1}$ where $n = \frac{1}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} u^{\frac{1}{2} - 1} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 1.3

Replace all occurrences of $u$ with $\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2} - 1} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 2

To write $- 1$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2} - 1 \cdot \frac{2}{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 3

Combine $- 1$ and $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2} + \frac{- 1 \cdot 2}{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{1}{2} {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1 - 1 \cdot 2}{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 5.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

$\frac{1}{2} {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1 - 2}{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 5.2

Subtract $2$ from $1$ .

$\frac{1}{2} {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{- 1}{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 6

Differentiate.

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Step 6.1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\frac{1}{2} {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{- \frac{1}{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 6.2

Combine fractions.

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Step 6.2.1

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and ${(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{- \frac{1}{2}}$ .

$\frac{{(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{- \frac{1}{2}}}{2} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 6.2.2

Move ${(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{- \frac{1}{2}}$ to the denominator using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$

Step 6.3

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}}$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x}] + \frac{d}{d x} [- \frac{1}{x^{2}}]$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (\frac{d}{d x} [\frac{2}{x}] + \frac{d}{d x} [- \frac{1}{x^{2}}])$

Step 6.4

Since $2$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $\frac{2}{x}$ with respect to $x$ is $2 \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x}]$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (2 \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x}] + \frac{d}{d x} [- \frac{1}{x^{2}}])$

Step 6.5

Rewrite $\frac{1}{x}$ as $x^{- 1}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (2 \frac{d}{d x} [x^{- 1}] + \frac{d}{d x} [- \frac{1}{x^{2}}])$

Step 6.6

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = - 1$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (2 (- x^{- 2}) + \frac{d}{d x} [- \frac{1}{x^{2}}])$

Step 6.7

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} + \frac{d}{d x} [- \frac{1}{x^{2}}])$

Step 7

Differentiate using the Product Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [f (x) g (x)]$ is $f (x) \frac{d}{d x} [g (x)] + g (x) \frac{d}{d x} [f (x)]$ where $f (x) = - 1$ and $g (x) = \frac{1}{x^{2}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} - \frac{d}{d x} [\frac{1}{x^{2}}] + \frac{1}{x^{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [- 1])$

Step 8

Differentiate.

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Step 8.1

Rewrite $\frac{1}{x^{2}}$ as ${(x^{2})}^{- 1}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} - \frac{d}{d x} [{(x^{2})}^{- 1}] + \frac{1}{x^{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [- 1])$

Step 8.2

Multiply the exponents in ${(x^{2})}^{- 1}$ .

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Step 8.2.1

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} - \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2 \cdot - 1}] + \frac{1}{x^{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [- 1])$

Step 8.2.2

Multiply $2$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} - \frac{d}{d x} [x^{- 2}] + \frac{1}{x^{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [- 1])$

Step 8.3

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = - 2$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} - (- 2 x^{- 3}) + \frac{1}{x^{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [- 1])$

Step 8.4

Multiply $- 2$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} + 2 x^{- 3} + \frac{1}{x^{2}} \frac{d}{d x} [- 1])$

Step 8.5

Since $- 1$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $- 1$ with respect to $x$ is $0$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} + 2 x^{- 3} + \frac{1}{x^{2}} \cdot 0)$

Step 8.6

Simplify the expression.

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Step 8.6.1

Multiply $\frac{1}{x^{2}}$ by $0$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} + 2 x^{- 3} + 0)$

Step 8.6.2

Add $- 2 x^{- 2} + 2 x^{- 3}$ and $0$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 x^{- 2} + 2 x^{- 3})$

Step 9

Simplify.

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Step 9.1

Rewrite the expression using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 \frac{1}{x^{2}} + 2 x^{- 3})$

Step 9.2

Rewrite the expression using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- 2 \frac{1}{x^{2}} + 2 \frac{1}{x^{3}})$

Step 9.3

Combine terms.

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Step 9.3.1

Combine $- 2$ and $\frac{1}{x^{2}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (\frac{- 2}{x^{2}} + 2 \frac{1}{x^{3}})$

Step 9.3.2

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + 2 \frac{1}{x^{3}})$

Step 9.3.3

Combine $2$ and $\frac{1}{x^{3}}$ .

$\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}})$

Step 9.4

Reorder the factors of $\frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}} (- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}})$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.5

Simplify the denominator.

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Step 9.5.1

To write $\frac{2}{x}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{x}{x}$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2}{x} \cdot \frac{x}{x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.5.2

Write each expression with a common denominator of $x^{2}$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

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Step 9.5.2.1

Multiply $\frac{2}{x}$ by $\frac{x}{x}$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2 x}{x \cdot x} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.5.2.2

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2 x}{x^{2}} - \frac{1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.5.3

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 {(\frac{2 x - 1}{x^{2}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.5.4

Apply the product rule to $\frac{2 x - 1}{x^{2}}$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 \frac{{(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{{(x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}}}}$

Step 9.5.5

Simplify the denominator.

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Step 9.5.5.1

Multiply the exponents in ${(x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

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Step 9.5.5.1.1

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 \frac{{(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x^{2 (\frac{1}{2})}}}$

Step 9.5.5.1.2

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 9.5.5.1.2.1

Cancel the common factor.

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 \frac{{(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x^{2 (\frac{1}{2})}}}$

Step 9.5.5.1.2.2

Rewrite the expression.

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 \frac{{(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x^{1}}}$

Step 9.5.5.2

Simplify.

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{2 \frac{{(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x}}$

Step 9.6

Combine $2$ and $\frac{{(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x}$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{1}{\frac{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x}}$

Step 9.7

Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) (1 \frac{x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}})$

Step 9.8

Multiply $\frac{x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ by $1$ .

$(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) \frac{x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.9

Multiply $- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}$ by $\frac{x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ .

$\frac{(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 9.10.1

To write $- \frac{2}{x^{2}}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{x}{x}$ .

$\frac{(- \frac{2}{x^{2}} \cdot \frac{x}{x} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.2

Write each expression with a common denominator of $x^{3}$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

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Step 9.10.2.1

Multiply $\frac{2}{x^{2}}$ by $\frac{x}{x}$ .

$\frac{(- \frac{2 x}{x^{2} x} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.2.2

Multiply $x^{2}$ by $x$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 9.10.2.2.1

Multiply $x^{2}$ by $x$ .

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Step 9.10.2.2.1.1

Raise $x$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{(- \frac{2 x}{x^{2} x^{1}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.2.2.1.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{(- \frac{2 x}{x^{2 + 1}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.2.2.2

Add $2$ and $1$ .

$\frac{(- \frac{2 x}{x^{3}} + \frac{2}{x^{3}}) x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.3

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{\frac{- 2 x + 2}{x^{3}} x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.4

Factor $2$ out of $- 2 x + 2$ .

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Step 9.10.4.1

Factor $2$ out of $- 2 x$ .

$\frac{\frac{2 (- x) + 2}{x^{3}} x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.4.2

Factor $2$ out of $2$ .

$\frac{\frac{2 (- x) + 2 (1)}{x^{3}} x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.10.4.3

Factor $2$ out of $2 (- x) + 2 (1)$ .

$\frac{\frac{2 (- x + 1)}{x^{3}} x}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.11

Combine $\frac{2 (- x + 1)}{x^{3}}$ and $x$ .

$\frac{\frac{2 (- x + 1) x}{x^{3}}}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.12

Reduce the expression $\frac{2 (- x + 1) x}{x^{3}}$ by cancelling the common factors.

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Step 9.12.1

Factor $x$ out of $2 (- x + 1) x$ .

$\frac{\frac{x (2 (- x + 1))}{x^{3}}}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.12.2

Factor $x$ out of $x^{3}$ .

$\frac{\frac{x (2 (- x + 1))}{x \cdot x^{2}}}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.12.3

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{\frac{x (2 (- x + 1))}{x \cdot x^{2}}}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.12.4

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{\frac{2 (- x + 1)}{x^{2}}}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.13

Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.

$\frac{2 (- x + 1)}{x^{2}} \cdot \frac{1}{2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$

Step 9.14

Combine.

$\frac{2 (- x + 1) \cdot 1}{x^{2} (2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.15

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{2 (- x + 1) \cdot 1}{x^{2} (2 {(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.16

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{(- x + 1) \cdot 1}{x^{2} ({(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.17

Multiply $- x + 1$ by $1$ .

$\frac{- x + 1}{x^{2} ({(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.18

Factor $- 1$ out of $- x$ .

$\frac{- (x) + 1}{x^{2} ({(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.19

Rewrite $1$ as $- 1 (- 1)$ .

$\frac{- (x) - 1 (- 1)}{x^{2} ({(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.20

Factor $- 1$ out of $- (x) - 1 (- 1)$ .

$\frac{- (x - 1)}{x^{2} ({(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.21

Rewrite $- (x - 1)$ as $- 1 (x - 1)$ .

$\frac{- 1 (x - 1)}{x^{2} ({(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$

Step 9.22

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{x - 1}{x^{2} ({(2 x - 1)}^{\frac{1}{2}})}$