High School

Find the derivative of the function.

Given: [tex]f(x) = 2x^4 - 6x^3 + 1[/tex], find [tex]f'(x)[/tex].

A. [tex]8x^3 - 18x^2 - 7[/tex]
B. [tex]4x^3 + 3x^2 - 7[/tex]
C. [tex]8x^3 - 18x^2[/tex]
D. [tex]4x^3 + 3x^2[/tex]

Answer :

Final answer:

The derivative of the function f(x) = 2x^4 - 6x^3 + 1 is f'(x) = 8x^3 - 18x^2, calculated by applying the power rule to each term.

Explanation:

To find the derivative of the function f(x) = 2x^4 - 6x^3 + 1, we apply the power rule to each term. The power rule states that for a function of the form f(x) = axn, the derivative f'(x) is naxn-1. Therefore:

  • The derivative of 2x^4 is 8x^3 (using the power rule: 4*2x^3).
  • The derivative of -6x^3 is -18x^2 (using the power rule: 3*(-6)x^2).
  • The derivative of the constant term 1 is 0, because the derivative of any constant is zero.

Adding these up, the derivative of the function, f'(x), is 8x^3 - 18x^2.