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Calculus/second derivative

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Expert: - 5/11/2010


Question
what is the second derivative of f(x)=x^4 + 5x^3?

please show you work
thanks

Answer
The derivative of any power of x such as f(x) = cx^n is f'(x) = cnx^(n-1) for n not 0.

Thus, x^4 should be multiplied by 4 with 1 subtracted from the power and
5x^3 should be multiplied by 3 with 1 subtracted from the power.

This gives 4x^3 + 15x^2.

Calculus

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