# Power Rule – Examples and Practice Problems

Derivation exercises that involve the variables or functions raised to a numerical exponent can be solved using the power rule formula. This formula allows us to derive variables such as but not limited to , where is either a positive, negative or rational real number.

In special cases of functions such as polynomial and transcendental functions raised to a numerical exponent, the power rule is supported by another derivative rule. Here, we will look at the summary of the power rule. Additionally, we will explore several examples with answers to understand the application of the power rule formula.

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Exploring the power rule of derivatives with examples.

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##### CALCULUS

Relevant for

Exploring the power rule of derivatives with examples.

See examples

## Summary of The Power Rule

The power rule is a very helpful tool to derive a variable or a function raised to a numerical exponent. It is a rule that states that the derivative of a variable raised to a numerical exponent is equal to the value of the numerical exponent multiplied by the variable raised to the quantity of the numerical exponent subtracted to one. This gives us the power rule formula in different cases such as:

### A) Single variable x raised to a numerical exponent n

The formula is:

You can use this form of the power rule formula to derive functions such as and limited to:

✔️

✔️

✔️

where

any real number

and not in functions:

### B) Polynomials

Polynomial functions are the sum/difference of algebraic terms with different exponents. Thus, the power rule formula to be used in polynomial functions will be supported by the sum/difference of derivatives. Each algebraic term of the polynomial will use the basic power rule formula.

Then, sum/difference of derivatives will be applied to the whole polynomial function. To illustrate, the formula is:

Where

• = the exponent of the algebraic term with the highest degree of exponent in the polynomial
• = the exponents of the other algebraic terms in the polynomial
• = constant, which if derived, is equal to zero

### C) Transcendental Functions raised to a numerical exponent n

Transcendental functions are functions that cannot be expressed as a finite combination of the algebraic arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Some examples of these functions are trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions, their inverse functions if they exist, etc.

When raised to a numerical exponent , the power rule is applied with the chain rule formula. The power rule is used as the derivative of the outside function f of the composite function . To illustrate, the formula is

Where

• any transcendental function
• the derivative method of the transcendental function
• the numerical exponent of the transcendental function

## Power Rule – Examples with answers

Using the formula detailed above, we can derive various variables, polynomials, or transcendental functions raised to a numerical exponent. Each of the following examples has its respective detailed solution.

### EXAMPLE 1

Find the derivative of .

The first thing we need to do is to identify the case and list the appropriate form of the power rule formula. Since this is a single variable raised to a numerical exponent, we can list down this form of power rule formula for our reference:

Then, let’s determine the exponent of our variable. In this case, our exponent is 12. Hence,

We can now apply the power rule formula to derive the problem:

Simplifying algebraically, we have

### EXAMPLE 2

What is the derivative of ?

First and foremost, we need to identify the case and list the appropriate form of the power rule formula. Since this is a polynomial with different algebraic terms raised to different numerical exponents, we can list down this form of power rule formula for our reference:

We can now apply the power rule formula to derive the problem:

Simplifying algebraically, we have

### EXAMPLE 3

Find the derivative of .

Let’s first identify the case and list the appropriate form of the power rule formula. Since this is a simple rational function, we can apply the laws of exponents to transform the rational form into its exponential form.

By doing this, we will have a single variable raised to a negative numerical exponent. Then, list down this form of power rule formula for our reference:

Let’s now convert the function from rational to exponential form by applying the laws of exponents:

We can now apply the power rule formula to derive the problem:

Simplifying algebraically, we have

Bringing the derived equation back into the rational form by applying the laws of exponents, we have

### EXAMPLE 4

What is the derivative of ?

Since this is a radical function, we can apply the laws of exponents to transform the radical form into its exponential form. By doing this, we will have a single variable raised to a rational numerical exponent.

Then, list down this form of power rule formula for our reference:

Let us now convert the function from radical to exponential form:

Then, let’s determine the exponent of our variable. In this case, our exponent is . Hence,

We can now apply the power rule formula to derive the problem:

Simplifying algebraically, we have

Applying the laws of exponents, we have

### EXAMPLE 5

Find the derivative of

Since this is a hybrid of rational and radical functions, we can apply the laws of exponents to transform this function into its exponential form.

By doing this, we will have a single variable raised to a negative rational numerical exponent. Then, list down this form of power rule formula for our reference:

Let’s now convert the function from radical to exponential form:

Then, let’s determine the exponent of our variable. In this case, our exponent is . Hence,

We can now apply the power rule formula to derive the problem:

Simplifying algebraically, we have

Applying the laws of exponents, we have

### EXAMPLE 6

What is the derivative of ?

Since this is a transcendental function, specifically a trigonometric function raised to a numerical exponent, we can list down this form of power rule formula for our reference:

Let’s identify the transcendental function and the numerical exponent from the given problem:

Let

We can now apply the power rule formula to derive the problem:

Simplifying algebraically and applying applicable trigonometric identities, we have

### EXAMPLE 7

Find the derivative of .

Since this is a hybrid of rational and transcendental functions, we can apply the laws of exponents to transform this function into its exponential form.

By doing this, we will have a transcendental function raised to a negative numerical exponent. Then, we can list down this form of power rule formula for our reference:

Let’s now convert the function from rational to exponential form:

Since our transcendental function in this given problem is an exponential function, we can accept a variable exponent as part of the function’s characteristics. We can expand by applying the laws of exponents again:

Then, let’s identify the transcendental function and the numerical exponent from the given problem:

Let

We can now apply the power rule formula to derive the problem:

Simplifying algebraically and applying the laws of exponents, we have

## Power Rule – Practice problems

Solve the following derivation problems and test your knowledge on this topic. Use the power rule formula detailed above to solve the exercises. If you have problems with these exercises, you can study the examples solved above.