Worked solution
Differentiate a product with constant-e exponent and a variable power
Differentiate the following with respect to , leaving your answers in terms of .
(a) , marks
(b) . marks
[2010/ACJC/Promo/5]
CJC · Review Problems · Question 6
Answer
(a) ; (b) .
(a)
The exponent is the product , with constant. The product rule gives . Factor to obtain . The cotangent requires , .
How did this part go?
(b)
For , let and take logs: . Thus . Therefore .
How did this part go?
Common mistakes
The exponent in (a) is ex, not e raised to x; in (b) both the base and exponent vary.
Solution notes
A higher-resolution source rendering confirms the exponent in (a) is the product ex. The source factor e in its derivative is correct.