maths help (1 Viewer)

fullonoob

fail engrish? unpossible!
Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
465
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
if f(x) = x^n, find :
(n)
f (x)

the n is like f'(x)
Also
(k)
f (x)
explain please:eek:
 
Last edited:

Trebla

Administrator
Administrator
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
8,392
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
I assume you mean the n-th deriviative of f(x) = xn?
f'(x) = nxn - 1
f''(x) = n(n - 1)xn - 2
f(3)(x) = n(n - 1)(n - 2)xn - 3
.
.
.
f(k)(x) = n(n - 1)(n - 2)......(n - k + 1)xn - k
.
.
.
f(n)(x) = n(n - 1)(n - 2)......3.2.xn - n
= n!

Notice the pattern of correlation between the last bracket and the index of x with the order of the derivative.
 

fullonoob

fail engrish? unpossible!
Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
465
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Trebla said:
I assume you mean the n-th deriviative of f(x) = xn?
f'(x) = nxn - 1
f''(x) = n(n - 1)xn - 2
f(3)(x) = n(n - 1)(n - 2)xn - 3
.
.
.
f(k)(x) = n(n - 1)(n - 2)......(n - k + 1)xn - k
.
.
.
f(n)(x) = n(n - 1)(n - 2)......3.2.xn - n
= n!

Notice the pattern of correlation between the last bracket and the index of x with the order of the derivative.
the ans for my second question is:
n(n-1)(n-2)...(n-k+1)x^n-k = (n!/(n-k)!) x^n-k
explain please
 

tommykins

i am number -e^i*pi
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
5,730
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
is that k multiplied by k! ?

k.k! = k!(k+1-1) = k!(k+1) - k! = (k+1)! - k!
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top