Finding the derivative of a function using the Product Rule I'm home teaching myself calculus because I'm 16 and therefore too young to take an actual class with a teacher, so I apologise if this seems simple.
I understand the definition of the Product Rule and its formula:

"If a function $h(x)=f(x)\times g(x)$ is the product of two differentiable functions $f(x)$ and $g(x)$, then $h'(x) = f(x)\times g'(x)+f'(x)\times g(x)$".

I did a question to find the derivative of $g(x) = (2x+1)(x+4)$ using the Product Rule.
Now on the solutions sheet it says I must begin by writing:
$g'(x)=(2x+1){\bf (1)}+{\bf (2)}(x+4)$
What confuses me are the terms that I have put in bold. (the terms $(1)$ and $(2)$). I believe the term $(1)$ is $g'(x)$ from the formula and the term $(2)$ is $f'(x)$ from the formula. 
How am I supposed to know these 2 terms? Am I supposed to find the derivative of $(2x+1)$ and $(x+4)$ before going on to the question?
I also apologise if this is quite messy.
 A: You’re supposed to find the derivatives of $2x+1$ and $x+4$ as part of finding the derivative of their product:
$$\begin{align*}
\Big((2x+1)(x+4)\Big)'&=(2x+1)(x+4)'+(x+4)(2x+1)'\\
&=(2x+1)(1)+(x+4)(2)\\
&=(2x+1)+(2x+8)\\
&=4x+9\;.
\end{align*}$$
Note that you can check this by multiplying out the original function to get $2x^2+9x+4$ and taking its derivative directly.
A: I don't really understand what the stars are suppose to mean, but I can try to explain the product rules. 
As you pointed out, 
$h'(x) = f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x)$. 
In your example, the function $h(x) = (2x +1)(x + 4)$. First, you need to recognize that $h$ is the product of two functions:
$f(x) = 2x + 1$
$g(x) = x + 4$
In order to apply the product rule formula, you need to find $f'(x)$ and $g'(x)$. I assume that you know how to do this for the two functions above. Hence you should obtain
$f'(x) = 2$
$g'(x) = 1$
Sticking all of these terms into the product the rule
$h'(x) = f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x)$
$h'(x) = (2)(x + 4) + (2x + 1)(1) = 2x + 8 + 2x + 1 = 4x + 9$
A: So you have $(2x+1)(x+4) = h(x) = f(x)g(x)$ where $f(x) = 2x + 1$ and $g(x) = x + 4$. So you find the derivative of both $f(x)$ and $g(x)$:
$$\begin{align}
f'(x) &= 2 \\
g'(x) &= 1.
\end{align}
$$ 
And so 
$$
h'(x) = f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x) = 2(x+4) + (2x+1)1. 
$$
It seems like the $**$ you have above are supposed to be unknowns - like a fill in the blank.
A: Just to add to and perhaps simplify the answers given above, the apostrophe in $f'(x)$ in the formula for the product rule means "take the derivative of $f(x)$." When reading $f'(x)$, we say "f prime of x." So you did in fact answer your own question and the others here have added more detail about how it works. Good luck with your studies!
