Given that y = 4x^3 – 5/(x^2) , x =/= 0, find in its simplest form dy/dx.

We are given: y = 4x^3  – 5/(x^2) To find the dy/dx we are going to use the power rule, from the power rule differentiating x^n gives n*x^n-1, so from our equation differetiating x^3 will give 3x^2, but we need the differential of 4x^3, this will be 12x^3. The derivative of 5/(x^2) is the same as differentiating 5x^-2,  hence, again from the power rule,  differentiating 5x^-2 gives -10x^-3, which is the same as -10/(x^3) so dy/dx = 12x^2 -10/(x^3)

MA
Answered by Mohamed A. Maths tutor

5396 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is the general rule for differentiation?


The quadratic equation 2x^2 + 6x + 7 = 0 has roots A and B. Write down the value of A + B and the value of AB


The air pressure in the cabin of a passenger plane is modelled by the equation: P(x) = 3cos(x/2) - sin(x/2) where x is the altitude. Express P(x) in the form Rcos(x/2 +z) where z is acute and in degrees and then find the maximum pressure


Integrate y with respect to x, where y = cos(x)/[1+tan^2(x)]


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:

© 2025 by IXL Learning