F(x) = -8/x

Question

Compute the derivative function f'(x) algebraically. 

Answer 1

Remember, the process for taking the derivative of a function is, for f(x) = xⁿ, f'(x) = n * x^n-1, or in written form, you bring the exponent in front, and then decrease the exponent by 1. 

 

So, here we have f(x) = -8/x, or it might help to think of this as: f(x) -8x^-1

 

From there we can see, we bring the -1 in front and multiply it with the -8, and decreasing the exponent it goes from -1 to -2.

 

This leaves us with f'(x) = 8x^-2, or f'(x) = 8/x²