How do you find the derivative of #f(x)=2/(3x^3-x^2-24x-4)#?

1 Answer
Nov 9, 2016

# f'(x) = -(2(9x^2-2x-24) ) / (3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^2#

Explanation:

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

# d/dx(u/v) = (v(du)/dx-u(dv)/dx)/v^2 #, or less formally, # (u/v)' = (v(du)-u(dv))/v^2 #

I was taught to remember the rule in word; " vdu minus udv all over v squared ". To help with the ordering I was taught to remember the acronym, VDU as in Visual Display Unit.

So with # f(x )= 2/(3x^3-x^2-24x-4) # Then

# { ("Let "u=2, => , (du)/dx=0), ("And "v=3x^3-x^2-24x-4, =>, (dv)/dx=9x^2-2x-24 ) :}#

# :. d/dx(u/v) = (v(du)/dx-u(dv)/dx)/v^2 #
# :. f'(x) = ( (3x^3-x^2-24x-4)(0) - (2)(9x^2-2x-24) ) / (3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^2#
# :. f'(x) = -(2(9x^2-2x-24) ) / (3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^2#

Incidental, we could also use the chain rule as follows;

# f(x )= 2/(3x^3-x^2-24x-4) #
# :. f(x )= 2(3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^-1 #
# :. f'(x )= 2(-1)(3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^-2 * d/dx(3x^3-x^2-24x-4) #
# :. f'(x )= -2/(3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^2 * d/dx(3x^3-x^2-24x-4) #
# :. f'(x )= -2/(3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^2 * (9x^2-2x-24) #
# :. f'(x )= -(2(9x^2-2x-24))/(3x^3-x^2-24x-4)^2 #