Question

Difficulty: HardRules of Differentiation (Product, Quotient, and Chain Rules)

If y=(2x2+1)34x1y = \frac{(2x^2 + 1)^3}{4x - 1}, determine the numerical value of dydx\frac{dy}{dx} at x=1x = 1.

Answer: 24

Answer

The numerical value of the derivative dydx\frac{dy}{dx} at x=1x = 1 is 24.
Evaluating the derivative requires combined application of the quotient rule and chain rule. Differentiating u(x)=(2x2+1)3u(x) = (2x^2 + 1)^3 via the chain rule yields u(x)=12x(2x2+1)2u'(x) = 12x(2x^2 + 1)^2. At x=1x = 1, u(1)=27u(1) = 27, u(1)=108u'(1) = 108, v(1)=3v(1) = 3, and v(1)=4v'(1) = 4. Substituting these into the quotient rule uvuvv2\frac{u'v - uv'}{v^2} produces 3241089=24\frac{324 - 108}{9} = 24.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Decompose the function for the Quotient Rule
Let u(x)=(2x2+1)3u(x) = (2x^2 + 1)^3 and v(x)=4x1v(x) = 4x - 1.
The given expression is a quotient of two differentiable functions.
2
Differentiate the numerator using the Chain Rule
u(x)=3(2x2+1)24x=12x(2x2+1)2u'(x) = 3(2x^2 + 1)^2 \cdot 4x = 12x(2x^2 + 1)^2
The chain rule states that ddx[g(x)]n=n[g(x)]n1g(x)\frac{d}{dx}[g(x)]^n = n[g(x)]^{n-1} \cdot g'(x).
3
Differentiate the denominator and evaluate all components at x=1x = 1
v(1)=4v'(1) = 4, v(1)=3v(1) = 3, u(1)=27u(1) = 27, and u(1)=108u'(1) = 108
Evaluating each term individually reduces algebraic complexity prior to applying the quotient rule.
4
Apply the Quotient Rule formula and evaluate
dydxx=1=(108)(3)(27)(4)32=3241089=24\frac{dy}{dx}\Big|_{x=1} = \frac{(108)(3) - (27)(4)}{3^2} = \frac{324 - 108}{9} = 24
The quotient rule formula is dydx=uvuvv2\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{u'v - uv'}{v^2}.

Key Concept

Combination of Quotient Rule and Chain Rule
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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