Thread: Gah! More math!

  1. #1
    Banal internet user
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    Angry Gah! More math!

    I've looked everywhere!

    There has to be a special rule for finding the derivative of (x^x), because (x^x) is not an exponential expression, is it constant? No... can't be....

    gaah! Anyone good with math/calc help me!

  2. #2
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    This isn't homework BTW; I'm working on some calculus algorithms

  3. #3
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    the derivative of (x^x) is (ln(x) + 1) * x^x

    why? my calculator told me so.

  4. #4
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    That doesn't help... I got the same thing on my calculator; I need to be able to get there, I cannot find any forumals, proof, identities... ANYTHING that helps me grrrr... this bites

  5. #5
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    let's start off at the basics

    hmm...

    the derivative of a*n^r == a*r*n^(r-1)

    however, 1 * x^x == 1 * x * x^(x-1) == 1 * x^x

    hmm...

  6. #6
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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  7. #7
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    Ahh good 'ol calculus...

    had to whip out my stuff from last year, but here you go: (It's called logarithmic differentiation, btw)

    y = x^x
    take natural log of both sides
    ln(y) = x*ln(x) < - this last part is a property of logarithms
    now take the derivative of both sides...
    (dy/dx)*ln(y) = (dy/dx)(x*ln(x))
    because taking the derivative of y gives dy/dx....
    (1/y)*(dy/dx) = 1*ln(x) + x*(1/x) < - product rule
    (1/y)*(dy/dx) = ln(x) + 1 <- just simplified the right side...
    multiply both sides by y...
    (dy/dx) = y(ln(x) + 1)
    and since we know y = x^x...
    (dy/dx) = x^x * (ln(x) + 1)

    and voila.

    I don't know how that would be programmed easily, but thats how you get there..

  8. #8
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    Originally posted by ygfperson
    maybe this will help

    http://members.lycos.co.uk/kgsfs/xpwrx.html
    That gives an approximated numerical derivative... (like a calculator gives) perhaps not what he needs?

    [edit]

    and that drmath explanation.. kinda stinks. He is making it overly complicated by doing e^(log(x^x))...

  9. #9
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    thanks guys... I figured it out before I checked back here.

    I just need to build a math function for the special case of (x^x) because it is neither a power expression nor an exponential expression...

    (d/dx)[x^x] = [(ln(x)+1)(x^x)] works great!

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