How do you differentiate (arcsinx)^2(arcsinx)2?

1 Answer
Nov 10, 2016

d/dx (arcsinx)^2 = 2arcsinx/sqrt(1-x^2) ddx(arcsinx)2=2arcsinx1x2

Explanation:

If you are studying maths, then you should learn the Chain Rule for Differentiation, and practice how to use it:

If y=f(x) y=f(x) then f'(x)=dy/dx=dy/(du)(du)/dx

I was taught to remember that the differential can be treated like a fraction and that the "dx's" of a common variable will "cancel" (It is important to realise that dy/dx isn't a fraction but an operator that acts on a function, there is no such thing as "dx" or "dy" on its own!). The chain rule can also be expanded to further variables that "cancel", E.g.

dy/dx = dy/(dv)(dv)/(du)(du)/dx etc, or (dy/dx = dy/color(red)cancel(dv)color(red)cancel(dv)/color(blue)cancel(du)color(blue)cancel(du)/dx)

So with y = (arcsinx)^2, Then:

{ ("Let "u=arcsinx, => , (du)/dx=1/sqrt(1-x^2) "(see below)"), ("Then "y=u^2, =>, dy/(du)=2u ) :}

Using dy/dx=(dy/(du))((du)/dx) we get:

dy/dx = (2u)(1/sqrt(1-x^2))
:. dy/dx = 2arcsinx/sqrt(1-x^2)

NOTE - Derivative of arcsin(x)
We can easily find d/dx(arcsinx) using implicit differentiation:
Let y = arcsinx <=> siny=x

:. cosydy/dx=1
Using sin^2y+cos^2y-=1 => cos^2y=1-x^2
:. cosy=sqrt(1-x^2)
:. sqrt(1-x^2)dy/dx=1
:. dy/dx=1/sqrt(1-x^2)