Porisma

Worked solution

Use the quotient rule and factor its numerator

Differentiate (2x3+3)/(x4+2)(2x^3+3)/(x^4+2) with respect to xx.

CJC · Lecture · Example 6

Keep the numerator order

For u=2x3+3u=2x^3+3 and v=x4+2v=x^4+2, use (u/v)′=(vu′−uv′)/v2(u/v)^{\prime}=(vu^{\prime}-uv^{\prime})/v^2. This gives [(x4+2)(6x2)−(2x3+3)(4x3)]/(x4+2)2[(x^4+2)(6x^2)-(2x^3+3)(4x^3)]/(x^4+2)^2.

How did this part go?

Take out the common factor

As in the source annotation, factor 2x22x^2 from the numerator. The remaining bracket is (3x4+6)−(4x4+6x)=−x4−6x+6(3x^4+6)-(4x^4+6x)=-x^4-6x+6. Hence y′=2x2(−x4−6x+6)/(x4+2)2y^{\prime}=2x^2(-x^4-6x+6)/(x^4+2)^2. Since x4+2>0x^4+2>0, the formula is valid for every real xx.

How did this part go?

Common mistakes

Reversing the subtraction changes the sign. Square the whole denominator.

Solution notes

Printed asks and complete working compared with both source copies. No printed marks or past-paper attribution. Domain explanations independently authored where the source leaves them implicit.

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