How to Use the Power Rule for Derivatives. Examples and ...
www.mathwarehouse.com › calculus › derivativesExample 4---Derivatives of Radicals. Suppose f ( x) = x 4 + 6 x. Find f ′ ( x) . Step 1. Rewrite the function so each term is a power function (i.e., has the form a x n ). f ( x) = x 4 + 6 x = x 1 / 4 + 6 x 1 / 2 = x 1 / 4 + 6 x − 1 / 2. Step 2. Use the power rule for derivatives to differentiate each term. f ( x) = x 1 / 4 + 6 x − 1 / 2 = 1 4 x 1 4 − 1 + 6 ( − 1 2) x − 1 2 − 1 = 1 4 x 1 4 − 4 4 − 3 x − 1 2 − 2 2 = 1 4 x − 3 / 4 − 3 x − 3 / 2.