How would I differentiate something with the product rule?

Okay so, first of all the product rule in itself is fairly simple. Take the product of a function "u" and a function "v" to be a compound function. You can write this as "uv". The standard result is "u'v + v'u", where u' and v' are basically just the differentiated functions u and v. So now lets take the example of x2sin(x) where we know both how to differentiate x^2 and we know how to differentiate sin(x). If we say x2 is u and sin(x) is v then we know u' is 2x, and v' is cos(x). Now we have u, u', v and v' we can just substitute them into the standard pattern giving us 2xsin(x) + x2*cos(x). Try the same thing with x3 * cos(x) now.

SD
Answered by Shivam D. Maths tutor

3617 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Using the substitution x = 2cosu, find the integral of dx/((x^2)(4-x^2)^1/2), evaluated between x=1 and x=sqrt(2).


Prove the identity: sin^2(x)+cos^2(x) = 1


The number of bacteria present in a culture at time t hours is modeled by the continuous variable N and the relationship N = 2000e^kt, where k is a constant. Given that when t = 3, N = 18 000, find (a) the value of k to 3 significant figures


Differentiate the equation x^2 + 2y^2 = 4x


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning