What is the derivative of arcsin sqrt(2x)?

1 Answer
Jun 6, 2015

The derivative is 1/{\sqrt{2x}\sqrt(1-2x)}

Let y=arcsin\sqrt{2x}

The goal is to solve for {dy}/{dx}. Take sin of each side of the bove equation and get,

sin(y)=\sqrt{2x}

Take the derivative of each side with respect to x

cos(y){dy}/{dx}=1/\sqrt{2x}

{dy}/{dx}=1/{\sqrt{2x}cos(y)}

We need to know what cos(y) is. Use sin(y)=\sqrt{2x}/1=\text{opposite}/\text{hypotenuse} to get the triangle below.enter image source here

From the diagram cos(y)={\sqrt{1-2x}}/1. Substitute this into the {dy}/{dx} expression to get,

{dy}/{dx}=1/{\sqrt{2x}\sqrt(1-2x)}

Alternatively, use the chain rule.

Given,

d/{dz}[arcsin(z)]=1/\sqrt{1-z^2}

Let z=\sqrt{2x}

d/dx[arcsin(\sqrt{2x})]=d/dz[arcsin(z)]dz/dx

Substitute z=\sqrt{2x} to get the same answer as before

d/dx[arcsin(\sqrt{2x})]=1/{\sqrt{2x}\sqrt(1-2x)}