PROBLEM CORNER

Problem 279

by Benjamin Bloch, PhD

279

Suppose we need to nd the derivative (slope) for a product of two functions, for example y = x2sin x. Calling the rst function f(x) = x2 and the second function g(x) = sin x, here is the simple rule: y(x) = f(x)g(x) + g(x)f(x) which in words is: the rst function times the derivative of the second plus the second function times the derivative of the rst. In this example since g(x) = cos x, and f(x) = 2x, by substitution: y(x) = x2cos x + 2xsin x. Determine the slope of the following: 1. y = (sin x)cos x 2. y = sin2 x [which is the same as (sin x)(sin x)] 3. y = xsin x + 1 4. y = (xcos x + 1)/x2