How to differentiate using the Product Rule

The Product Rule is used when differentiating two functions that are being multiplied together. It can be used by multiplying each function by the derivative of the other and adding.  

If y=uv then

dy/dx= udv/dx + vdu/dx  

To illustrate this rule look at the example below: 

y=x2e3x

u=x2  v=e3x      du/dx= 2x    dv/dx= 3e3x

Therefore dy/dx= (x2)(3e3x)+ (e3x)(2x)  

               dy/dx= 3x2e3x + 2xe3x 

CM

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

If a 5 metre ladder is resting against a wall and the bottom of the ladder is 3 metres away from the wall, and someone pulls the bottom of the ladder away at a speed of 1 metre per second, calculate the speed of the top of the ladder after t seconds


Is AB perpendicular to BC where A =(2,0,-1), B=(4,3,-6) and C = (9,3,-4)


Expand the expression (1+3x)^1/3 up to the term x^3.


How do you show that two lines do, or do not intersect?