Differentiation
Differentiating Polynomials
Take a polynomial:
3
x
2
+
4
x
+
2
Start with the first term:
3
x
2
1: Multiply the coefficient by the power:
3
x
2
=
6
2: Subtract 1 from the power:
2
-
1
=
1
Our new term:
6
x
1
(or simply
6
x
)
3: Repeat for the next term:
4
x
Update coefficient
(multiply by power)
:
4
x
1
=
4
Update power
(subtract 1)
:
1
-
1
=
0
Our new term:
4
x
0
(or simply
4
)
4: Delete the constant:
Simply remove the
+
2
term altogether!
Our final derivative:
6
x
+
4
Now try it yourself...
Differentiate the function below:
Which is the correct derivative?
(
0
/
0
correct)
show me
reset