Calculus

How to solve

For a quotient u/v, the derivative is (u'v − uv')/v². The minus sign matters: it is not symmetric in u and v. These drills use linear numerator and denominator so the algebra stays manageable after simplifying.

Steps

  1. Identify u and v; compute u' and v'.
  2. Form (u'v − uv')/v².
  3. Simplify the numerator carefully; leave the answer in a compact form.

Example

Differentiate (2x + 1)/(x − 1).

  1. u = 2x + 1, u' = 2; v = x − 1, v' = 1.
  2. Numerator: 2(x − 1) − (2x + 1)(1) = 2x − 2 − 2x − 1 = −3.
  3. Derivative: −3/(x − 1)².

Answer: -3/(x-1)^2

How to type answers

  • Enter simplified like 2/(x+1)^2 or -3/(2x-1)^2
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