What is the second derivative of (x^2-1)^3?

2 Answers
Jan 7, 2017

(d^2)/(dx^2) (x^2-1)^3=6(x^2-1)(5x^2-1)

Explanation:

Let's calculate the first derivative using the chain rule:

d/(dx) (x^2-1)^3= 3(x^2-1)^2*d/(dx) (x^2-1) = 6x(x^2-1)^2

Now using the product rule:

(d^2)/(dx^2) (x^2-1)^3 = d/(dx) [ 6x(x^2-1)^2] = 6(x^2-1)^2+24x^2(x^2-1)=6(x^2-1)(x^2-1+4x^2)=6(x^2-1)(5x^2-1)

Jan 7, 2017

(d^2y)/dx^2=6(5x^4-6x^2+1).

Explanation:

Let y=(x^2-1)^3

:. dy/dx=3(x^2-1)^2d/dx(x^2-1)=6x(x^2-1)^2

:. (d^2y)/dx^2=d/dx(dy/dx)=d/dx{6x(x^2-1)^2}

=6d/dx{x(x^2-1)^2}

=6[x{d/dx(x^2-1)^2}+(x^2-1)^2{d/dxx}]...["Product Rule]"

=6[x{2(x^2-1)d/dx(x^2-1)}+(x^2-1)^2(1)]

=6[x{4x(x^2-1)}+(x^2-1)^2]

=6(x^2-1){4x^2+(x^2-1)}=6(x^2-1)(5x^2-1)

:. (d^2y)/dx^2=6(5x^4-6x^2+1).

Alternatively, we can expand

(x^2-1)^3" as "(x^2)^3-1^3-3x^2(x^2-1)

and get, y=x^6-1-3x^4+3x^2

:. dy/dx=6x^5-12x^3+6x

:. (d^2y)/dx^2=30x^4-36x^2+6=6(5x^4-6x^2+1), as before!

Enjoy Maths.!