The derivative of x3 cosx is equal to 3x2cosx – x3sinx. The function x3cosx is the product of two functions x cube and cosx. In this post, we will find the derivative of x3cosx.
What is the Derivative of x3cosx?
Answer: The derivative of x3cosx is equal to 3x2cosx-x3sinx.
Explanation:
We will use the product rule of derivatives here. The rule tells us that if f(x) is a function of two functions g(x) and h(x), that is,
f(x) = g(x) h(x),
then the derivative of f(x) with respect to x is given as follows:
$\dfrac{df}{dx}=g \cdot \dfrac{dh}{dx}+\dfrac{dg}{dx} \cdot h$ $\cdots (*)$
We will follow the below steps to find the derivative of $x^3\cos x$ by the product rule of derivatives.
Step 1: As $f(x)=x^3\cos x$, we have $g(x)=x^3$ and $h(x)=\cos x$.
Step 2: See that
- $\dfrac{d}{dx}(g(x))=\dfrac{d}{dx}(x^3)=3x^2$ by the power rule of derivatives.
- $\dfrac{d}{dx}(h(x))=\dfrac{d}{dx}(\cos x)=-\sin x$.
Step 3: Now applying the above product rule (*) of derivatives, we obtain that
$\dfrac{d}{dx}(x^3\cos x)$ $=x^3 \dfrac{d}{dx}(\cos x) +\cos x \dfrac{d}{dx}(x^3)$
$=x^3\cdot (-\sin x) + \cos x \cdot 3x^2$
$=3x^2\cos x -x^3\sin x$
$=x^2(3\cos x -x\sin x)$
Thus, the derivative of x3cosx by the product rule of derivatives is equal to x2(3cosx-x sinx).
Also Read:
Question Answer on Derivative of x3cosx
Question 1: Find the derivative of $x^3\cos x -2^x \tan x$
Answer:
From above we have the derivative of $x^3\cos x$ which is $\dfrac{d}{dx}(x^3\cos x)$$=x^2(3\cos x -x\sin x)$. Now we will evaluate the derivative of $2^x \tan x$ by the product rule.
$\dfrac{d}{dx}(2^x \tan x)$ $=2^x \dfrac{d}{dx}(\tan x)$ $+\tan x \dfrac{d}{dx}(2^x)$
$=2^x \sec^2 x+\tan x \cdot 2^x \log 2$
$=2^x(\sec^2 x +\log 2 \tan x)$
Now, by the sum/difference rule of derivative, we obtain the derivative of x3 cosx-2xtanx which is equal to
$\dfrac{d}{dx}(x^3\cos x -2^x \tan x)$
$=\dfrac{d}{dx}(x^3\cos x) -\dfrac{d}{dx}(2^x \tan x)$
$=x^2(3\cos x -x\sin x)$ $-2^x(\sec^2 x +\log 2 \tan x)$
FAQs
Q1: If y=x3 cos x-2x tanx, then find dy/dx?
Answer: If y=x3 cos x-2x tanx, then dy/dx=x2(3cos x -xsin x) -2x(sec2 x +log2 tanx).