Post #1

Between August 13th and August 21st in Calculus we learned about derivatives. There were the thirty-six formulas that we copied down in order to help us. I was freaked out because it looked hard. I thought it was going to be the hardest week of my life. Well, it was up there! Even after B-rob explained it the next 3 days I continued to stay lost. Then I decided that I was not going to give up and that I would end up learning it, so I put my mind to it and actually got it! GO MEE! ha.
However, the formulas help a lot once you understand the concept. For instance, if you want to take the derivative of ANY number, it will ALWAYS be zero. However, anything with an exponet will have a derivative by multipling the exponet with the number in front of the variable. Once you multiply that, your answer will take the place of the number in front of the variable. But, you're not done yet! Take the exponet and subtract one. Your answer will take the place of the exponet. Then you solve. Remember, though, that if you have a negative exponet you have to put it at the bottom of a fraction in order for it to become positive. [You can't have a negitive exponet!]
We also learned the product and quotient rule. For the product rule, you must have multiplication. You will keep the first part of the problem and multiply it by the derivative of the second part, and then add the second part of the formula, which is to keep the second part of the problem and multiply it by the derivative of the first. You'll solve and that's your answer. I need a little more practice on the harder ones and the ones that have and "x" with an exponet then sin(x) or something like that. Is that the product rule, or do you just take the derivative? For the quotient rule you have a fraction. You take the bottom and then multiply it by the derivative of the top then you'll sbtract the top multiplied by the derivative of the bottom. This will all be over the bottom squared. Then you solve, and that's your answer.
We then had average and instantaneous velocity. Average velocity is when you take the derivative of your problem and plug in the two numbers from the problem. Then you'll take the answer of t1 and t2 in order to subtract t1 from t2. After, you will divide it by the numbers they gave you for t1 and t2, so you'll do...t2 minus t1 -from the problem not the answer you get when you plug them into the problem- then solve for your answer. However, for instantaneous velocity you take the derivative of the problem and put in the one number they give you. What you get is your answer!
Oh, and don't forget, we took a quiz on the trig chart as well as the formulas! KNOW THIS FOR LIFE!!
And what I need help on is when you have a square root or a fraction and you have to find the derivative. I understand the concept, but I think I might need help sometimes because I get confused if I can do what I did or not.