Finding the $n$-th derivative of $a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0$ 
Let $f(x)= a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0$.
  I am trying to find $f^n(x)$.

By applying the power rule $n$ times, I get this
$$f^n(x)=a_{n}(n\cdot n)x^{n-n}+\cdots+ a_1$$
which I think can be simplified to
$$f^n(x)=a_{n}n^2+\cdots+ a_1$$
However, I don't think I have the correct answer, as my exercise book is telling me the answer is.
$$a_n\,n\cdot(n-1)\cdot\,\cdots\,\cdot 1$$
What did I do wrong? I'm under the impression I have done multiple mistakes.
 A: Recall that the power rule for differentiation states: 

Let $f(x)=x^n$ for some $n\in\mathbb{R}\backslash\lbrace 0\rbrace$. Then, 
  $$\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=nx^{n-1}$$

Also recall that differentiation is linear in the sense that $$\frac{d}{dx}[f_1(x)+f_2(x)+\cdots+f_k(x)]=\frac{d}{dx}f_1(x)+\frac{d}{dx}f_2(x)+\cdots+\frac{d}{dx}f_k(x)$$
Now consider your function $f(x)=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0$. Differentiating and applying linearity, we obtain 
$$\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\frac{d}{dx}a_nx^n+\frac{d}{dx}a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+\frac{d}{dx}a_1x+\frac{d}{dx}a_0$$
The constant term at the end becomes $0$, since the derivative of a constant is always $0$. The second to last term, $\frac{d}{dx}a_1x$ is simply $a_1$, since the derivative of a line is always its slope. As for the other terms, we simply apply the power rule. After completing the first round of differentiation, we should have something like this:
$$f^1(x)=a_nnx^{n-1}+a_{n-1}x^{n-2}+\cdots+a_2x+a_1$$
If we keep repeating the differentiation process, you will see that there is always a constant term $a_m$ at the end which just becomes $0$. Since $f(x)$ has $n+1$ terms (each $a_ix^i$ from $i=0$ up to $i=n$), after $n$ rounds of differentiation, you should have eliminated all the terms except for the very first one: $a_nx^n$. Applying the power rule to just that term, we get:
\begin{align}
\frac{d}{dx}a_nx_n &=a_nnx^{n-1}\\
\frac{d}{dx}a_nnx^{n-1} & = a_nn(n-1)x^{n-2}\\
\frac{d}{dx}a_nn(n-1)x^{n-2}& =a_nn(n-1)(n-2)x^{n-3}
\\ &\vdots 
\\ \frac{d}{dx}a_nn(n-1)(n-2)\cdots(3)x^2& =a_nn(n-1)(n-2)\cdots(3)(2)x
\\ \frac{d}{dx}a_nn(n-1)(n-2)\cdots(3)(2)x&=a_nn(n-1)(n-2)\cdots(3)(2)(1)
\\ & = a_n\cdot n!
\end{align}
A: First, you should convince yourself that all the terms on the right after the first do not contribute because you eventually take the derivative of a constant, which is zero.  
Then do it by hand for $n=3$.  We want the third derivative of $a_3x^3$.  The first derivative is $3a_3x^2$, the second is $3\cdot 2 a_3x$, the third is $3\cdot 2 \cdot 1a_3=3!a_3$  
Now convince yourself that this is general and $f^n(x)=a_nn!$  
Your proposed answer has two problems:  the exponent decreases by $1$ each time you take a derivative so the second one should be $n-1$ and there are $n$ derivatives, not $2$.  The numbers you bring down are multiplied, not added.
