Derivatives of Sums
Example:
y = sqrt((-2)*x6 + (p)*x) + x3 + 7
The first thing to notice when finding the derivative of this function
is that it is
the sum of several terms,
as shown in color below:
| y |
= |
( sqrt((-2)*x6 + (p)*x) ) | + |
( x3 ) |
+ |
( 7 ) |
The Derivative Rule for Sums:
The derivative of a sum is the sum of the derivatives.
If
then the derivative of
z is
| |
z' |
= |
( f(x) |
+ |
g(x) )' |
| |
|
= |
f '(x) |
+ |
g'(x) |
So our example,
| y |
= |
( sqrt((-2)*x6 + (p)*x) ) | + |
( x3 ) |
+ |
( 7 ) |
we can think of as
So the derivative is
| y ' |
= ( |
f(x) |
+ |
g(x) |
+ |
h(x) |
)' |
| |
= |
f '(x) |
+ |
g '(x) |
+ |
h '(x) |
|
| |
= |
( sqrt((-2)*x6 + (p)*x)) ' |
+ |
( x3) ' |
+ |
( 7) ' |
|
and we just need to know each of the derivatives on the right-hand
side of the equation. In this case these are
so the finished derivative is
| y ' |
= |
(1/2)*((-2)*x6 + (p)*x)-1/2 ((-2)*6*x5 + p) |
+ |
3*x2 |
+ |
0 |
|
| |
= |
(1/2)*((-2)*x6 + (p)*x)-1/2 ((-12)*x5 + p) + 3*x2 |
![[]](/images/boxby.gif)
additional explanation for the derivative of sums
see another derivative of sums example
practice gateway test
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Page Generated: Sat Dec 6 05:10:28 2025
Comments to Gavin LaRose
glarose@umich.edu
©2001 Gavin LaRose,
University of Michigan Math Dept.