Chapter 3: Problem 1
Find the derivatives of the functions. \(5 x^{3}+12 x^{2}-15 \)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The derivative is \(15x^2 + 24x\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Function
The function given is a polynomial function: \(5x^3 + 12x^2 - 15\). A polynomial function can be differentiated term by term.
02
Apply the Power Rule
The power rule states that the derivative of \(x^n\) is \(nx^{n-1}\). Apply the power rule to each term in the function separately. For \(5x^3\), the derivative is \(3 \times 5x^{3-1} = 15x^2\).For \(12x^2\), the derivative is \(2 \times 12x^{2-1} = 24x\).For \(-15\), the derivative of a constant is 0.
03
Write the Resulting Derivative
Combine the derivatives calculated for each term. The derivative of the function \(5x^3 + 12x^2 - 15\) is \(15x^2 + 24x\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Power Rule
The Power Rule is a fundamental concept in calculus used for finding derivatives. It's a simple yet powerful tool helpful for differentiating polynomial functions. The rule states that if you have a term in the form of \(x^n\), the derivative is found by multiplying \(n\) (the exponent) by the coefficient of the term, then lowering the exponent by one. For example, if you have a term \(5x^3\), applying the power rule gives you the derivative:
- Start by identifying the exponent \(n\) of the term, which is 3 in this case.
- Multiply the coefficient, 5, by the exponent: \(3 \times 5 = 15\).
- Reduce the exponent by 1: \(3 - 1 = 2\).
- The derivative of \(5x^3\) is then \(15x^2\).
Polynomial Function
A polynomial function consists of terms that are composed of variables raised to whole number exponents and coefficients. In our exercise, the polynomial function is \(5x^3 + 12x^2 - 15\). A polynomial is expressed as:
- Terms like \(5x^3\) and \(12x^2\) where the variable \(x\) is raised to a power.
- The highest exponent gives the degree of the polynomial. The highest exponent in this function is 3, making it a cubic polynomial.
- Polynomial functions are smooth and continuous curves without breaks or holes.
Differentiation
Differentiation is the calculus technique that entails finding the derivative of a function. The derivative measures how a function changes as its input changes. In simpler terms, it helps us understand the rate of change or the slope of a function at any given point. Here's a brief breakdown:
- When given a function, differentiation allows you to determine how that function's output value changes concerning changes in its input value.
- For polynomial functions, differentiation is straightforward, involving calculating new terms by adjusting the powers and coefficients of each term in the original function.
- An important aspect of differentiation is that it handles each term of the polynomial separately, making it manageable.