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I have a math problem where I am required to find the derivative of a function with the limitations of not being allowed to use the Product or Quotient Rule of Differentiation.

The problem looks like this:

$$h(x) = \frac{4-x^6}{3x^{-2}}$$

I have tried a variety of routes but always end up with results that seem to require the use of the Product or Quotient Rule.

For example, my latest try looks like this:

$$h(x) = \frac{4-x^6}{3x^{-2}}$$

$$h(x) = \frac{4}{3x^{-2}} - \frac{x^6}{3x^{-2}}$$

$$h(x) = \frac{4x^2}{3} - \frac{x^8}{3}$$

(From this step, I figured I could just use the Difference Rule of Differentiation, like this:)

$$h'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{4x^2}{3}\right) - \frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{x^8}{3}\right)$$

But wouldn't this actually end up using the Product -or- Quotient Rule? Like this:

$$h'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{4}{3}(x^2)\right) - \frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{1}{3}(x^8)\right)$$

Is there another route I can take with this type of problem that would avoid using the Product or Quotient Rule of Differentiation?

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    $\begingroup$ "Product Rule" generally refers to finding the derivative of the product of two non-constant functions. I believe the approach you took is the one intended by whomever wrote the question. $\endgroup$
    – Austin Mohr
    May 11, 2013 at 4:47
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    $\begingroup$ You could alternately find the derivative from the definition of derivative. To save headaches, it is useful to make a preliminary simplification to $\frac{4}{3}x^2-\frac{1}{3}x^8$. You probably did the derivative of $x^2$ from the definition in class, the argument for the $\frac{4}{3}x^2$ part will be essentially the same. And the argument for the $\frac{1}{3}x^8$ part is not too bad, just expand $(x+h)^8$. $\endgroup$
    – André Nicolas
    May 11, 2013 at 5:12
  • $\begingroup$ math.stackexchange.com/a/4261705/945479 $\endgroup$
    – qifeng618
    Sep 28, 2021 at 1:44

2 Answers 2

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Most likely you are allowed to use the Constant Multiple Rule, i.e. $(cf(x))'=c(f(x))'$, where $c$ is a constant.

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  • $\begingroup$ This looks like what the instructor intended; thank you for the direction! I can't believe I overlooked this rule... $\endgroup$
    – summea
    May 11, 2013 at 4:49
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Let $$h(x)=f(x)\cdot g(x)$$

So, $$\ln h(x)=\ln f(x)+\ln g(x)$$

Differentiating wrt $x$ using Chain Rule,

$$\frac{h'(x)}{h(x)}=\frac{f'(x)}{f(x)}+\frac{g'(x)}{g(x)}$$

$$\implies h'(x)=\frac{h(x)}{f(x)}\cdot f'(x)+\frac{h(x)}{g(x)}\cdot f'(x)=g(x)\cdot f'(x)+f(x)\cdot g'(x)$$

If $f(x)=c,$ (constant)

$f'(x)=0$ and $h(x)=c\cdot g(x)\implies h'(x)=c\cdot g'(x)$

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  • $\begingroup$ Eventually you are back to product rule . $\endgroup$
    – Inceptio
    May 11, 2013 at 4:52
  • $\begingroup$ @Inceptio That's what I was thinking... :/ I was intrigued about the use of ln(), though... $\endgroup$
    – summea
    May 11, 2013 at 4:52
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    $\begingroup$ Nice to mention logarithmic differentiation, a very useful idea. $\endgroup$
    – André Nicolas
    May 11, 2013 at 4:53
  • $\begingroup$ @Inceptio, put $f(x)=4-x^6, g(x)=\frac{x^2}3$ from the start $\endgroup$
    – lab bhattacharjee
    May 11, 2013 at 4:54
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    $\begingroup$ @summea, sharing ideas & clearing confusions is much important than the acceptance of a solution. Btw, I've derived the constant multiplication formula, if you notice till last. $\endgroup$
    – lab bhattacharjee
    May 11, 2013 at 5:05

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