dreivative

i know that the derivative of f(x)=x^2 is f'(x)=2x

but if we put that in the form of mx+b, where m=the slope, then the coefficent on x^1 is x, so m=x ---->the dreivative.

clearly this is not the case, by why? it makes a lot of sence

another example of my point:
f(x)=x^4-2x^3+3x^2-4x+5
f'(x)=m=4x^3-6x^2+6x-4
but in the form mx+b, f(x)=(x^3-2x^2+3x-4)x+5
so why dosnt m=f'(x)=x^3-2x^2+3x-4 ?

Originally posted by fearlessleader
i know that the derivative of f(x)=x^2 is f'(x)=2x

but if we put that in the form of mx+b, where m=the slope, then the coefficent on x^1 is x, so m=x ---->the dreivative.

clearly this is not the case, by why? it makes a lot of sence

another example of my point:
f(x)=x^4-2x^3+3x^2-4x+5
f'(x)=m=4x^3-6x^2+6x-4
but in the form mx+b, f(x)=(x^3-2x^2+3x-4)x+5
so why dosnt m=f'(x)=x^3-2x^2+3x-4 ?

Because that isn't the correct way to differentiate the product of two functions.

Look up how you differentiate the product of two functions of x and you will see what has gone wrong.

Originally posted by fearlessleader
i know that the derivative of f(x)=x^2 is f'(x)=2x

but if we put that in the form of mx+b, where m=the slope, then the coefficent on x^1 is x, so m=x ---->the dreivative.

clearly this is not the case, by why? it makes a lot of sence

another example of my point:
f(x)=x^4-2x^3+3x^2-4x+5
f'(x)=m=4x^3-6x^2+6x-4
but in the form mx+b, f(x)=(x^3-2x^2+3x-4)x+5
so why dosnt m=f'(x)=x^3-2x^2+3x-4 ?

The point is that a derivative measures local rate of change, not some averaged quantity. If we look at x^2 and draw a straight line from the origin to any point, that line will have gradient x for the reason you say. However, the difference between x^2 and (x+h)^2 can be seen as follows: not only do you travel along a steeper slope to get to (x+h)^2 from the origin, you also travel further along it. Effectively this means the h counts twice (as the h^2 term shrinks to nothing for suff. small h), which leads to a factor of 2 in the derivative.

i think i understand Acolyte , but if he's in the mood to eloborate, that would be grand.

i dont have a clue what iamatiger is talking about.

Originally posted by fearlessleader
i think i understand Acolyte , but if he's in the mood to eloborate, that would be grand.

i dont have a clue what iamatiger is talking about.

Iamatiger is saying that the form mx+b requires m to be a constant. If m is a function you have to differentiate using the formulas for differentiating products of functions.

Originally posted by Palynka
Iamatiger is saying that the form mx+b requires m to be a constant. If m is a function you have to differentiate using the formulas for differentiating products of functions.

d/dx [f(x)*g(x)] = f'(x)*g(x) + g'(x)* f(x)

is the "product rule" for deriving products of two functions...

however, assume f(x)=k where k is a constant...

you get

d/dx[k]*g(x) + g'(x) * k; d/dx[k]= 0 (derivative of a constant is zero)

so

0*g(x) + g'(x) * k :. [k*g'(x)] is the result of the product rule when one function - is a constant


so if you want a concrete example... assume f(x)=k=3 and g(x)=x^2

d/dx [f(x)*g(x)]

f'(x)*g(x) + g'(x)*f(x)

0*x^2 + 2x*3

6x...

the mx+b thing only works if m is a constant; the mx+b thing you mentioned is a simplification of the product rule that applies only when m is a constant. if not then that simplification is not valid.

i understand.

i was confusing cause and effect.