8.3.1: Constant Derivatives and the Power Rule
- Page ID
- 14820
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Constant Derivatives and the Power Rule
The power rule is a fantastic "shortcut" for finding the derivatives of basic polynomials. Between the power rule and the basic definition of the derivative of a constant, a great number of polynomial derivatives can be identified with little effort - often in your head!
Constant Derivatives and the Power Rule
In this lesson, we will develop formulas and theorems that will calculate derivatives in more efficient and quick ways. Look for these theorems in boxes throughout the lesson.
The Derivative of a Constant
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Theorem: If f(x)=c where c is a constant, then f′(x)=0. Proof: \(\ f^{\prime}(x)=\lim _{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}=\lim _{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{c-c}{h}=0\). |
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Theorem: If \(\ c\) is a constant and \(\ f\) is differentiable at all \(\ x\), then \(\ \frac{d}{d x}[c f(x)]=c \frac{d}{d x}[f(x)]\). In simpler notation \(\ (cf)^{\prime}=c(f)^{\prime}=cf^{\prime}\) |
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The Power Rule
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Theorem: (The Power Rule) If n is a positive integer, then for all real values of x \(\ \frac{d}{d x}\left[x^{n}\right]=n x^{n-1}\). |
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Examples
Find \(\ f^{\prime}(x)\) for \(\ f(x)=16\).
Solution
If \(\ f(x)=16\) for all x, then \(\ f^{\prime}(x)=0\) for all x.
We can also write \(\ \frac{d}{d x} 16=0\).
Find the derivative of \(\ f(x)=4 x^{3}\).
Solution
\(\ \frac{d}{d x}\left[4 x^{3}\right]\)..... Restate the function
\(\ 4 \frac{d}{d x}\left[x^{3}\right]\)..... Apply the commutative law
\(\ 4\left[3 x^{2}\right]\)..... Apply the power Rule
\(\ 12 x^{2}\)..... Simplify
Find the derivative of \(\ f(x)=\frac{-2}{x^{4}}\).
Solution
\(\ \frac{d}{d x}\left[\frac{-2}{x^{4}}\right]\)..... Restate
\(\ \frac{d}{d x}\left[-2 x^{-4}\right]\)..... Rules of exponents
\(\ -2 \frac{d}{d x}\left[x^{-4}\right]\)..... By the commutative law
\(\ -2\left[-4 x^{-4-1}\right]\)..... Apply the power rule
\(\ -2\left[-4 x^{-5}\right]\)..... Simplify
\(\ 8 x^{-5}\)..... Simplify again
\(\ \frac{8}{x^{5}}\)..... Use rules of exponents
Find the derivative of \(\ f(x)=x\).
Solution
Special application of the power rule:
\(\ \frac{d}{d x}[x]=1 x^{1-1}=x^{0}=1\)
Find the derivative of \(\ f(x)=\sqrt{x}\).
Solution
Restate the function: \(\ \frac{d}{d x}[\sqrt{x}]\)
Using rules of exponents (from algebra): \(\ \frac{d}{d x}\left[x^{1 / 2}\right]\)
Apply the power rule: \(\ \frac{1}{2} x^{1 / 2-1}\)
Simplify: \(\ \frac{1}{2} x^{-1 / 2}\)
Rules of exponents: \(\ \frac{1}{2 x^{1 / 2}}\)
Simplify: \(\ \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}}\)
Find the derivative of \(\ f(x)=\frac{1}{x^{3}}\).
Solution
Restate the function: \(\ \frac{d}{d x}\left[\frac{1}{x^{3}}\right]\)
Rules of exponents: \(\ \frac{d}{d x}\left[x^{-3}\right]\)
Power rule: \(\ -3 x^{-3-1}\)
Simplify: \(\ -3 x^{-4}\)
Rules of exponents: \(\ \frac{-3}{x^{4}}\)
Review
- State the power rule.
Find the derivative:
- \(\ y=5 x^{7}\)
- \(\ y=-3 x\)
- \(\ f(x)=\frac{1}{3} x+\frac{4}{3}\)
- \(\ y=x^{4}-2 x^{3}-5 \sqrt{x}+10\)
- \(\ y=\left(5 x^{2}-3\right)^{2}\)
- Given \(\ y(x)=x^{-4 \pi^{2}}\), find the derivative when \(\ x=1\).
- \(\ y(x)=5\)
- Given \(\ u(x)=x^{-5 \pi^{3}}\), what is \(\ u^{\prime}(2)\)?
- \(\ y=\frac{1}{5}\) when \(\ x=4\)
- Given \(\ d(x)=x^{-0.37}\), what is \(\ d^{\prime}(1)\)?
- \(\ g(x)=x^{-3}\)
- \(\ u(x)=x^{0.096}\)
- \(\ k(x)=x-0.49\)
- \(\ y=x^{-5 \pi^{3}}\)
Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
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| derivative | The derivative of a function is the slope of the line tangent to the function at a given point on the graph. Notations for derivative include \(\ f^{\prime}(x), \frac{d y}{dx}, y^{\prime}, \frac{df}{dx}\) and \(\ \frac{df(x)}{dx}\). |
| proof | A proof is a series of true statements leading to the acceptance of truth of a more complex statement. |
| theorem | A theorem is a statement that can be proven true using postulates, definitions, and other theorems that have already been proven. |