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Derivative of a quotient involving csc(x)

Let g(x)=csc⁡(x)x2g(x) = \dfrac{\csc(x)}{x^2}. Find g′(x)g'(x).

Hint

Write g(x)g(x) as a quotient with numerator csc⁡(x)\csc(x) and denominator x2x^2, then apply the quotient rule. Recall that ddx[csc⁡(x)]=−csc⁡(x)cot⁡(x)\dfrac{d}{dx}[\csc(x)] = -\csc(x)\cot(x) and ddx[x2]=2x\dfrac{d}{dx}[x^2] = 2x.

Step-by-step solution

Apply the quotient rule: if g(x)=u(x)v(x)g(x) = \dfrac{u(x)}{v(x)} with u(x)=csc⁡(x)u(x) = \csc(x) and v(x)=x2v(x) = x^2, then g′(x)=u′(x)v(x)−u(x)v′(x)v(x)2g'(x) = \dfrac{u'(x)v(x) - u(x)v'(x)}{v(x)^2}. Here u′(x)=−csc⁡(x)cot⁡(x)u'(x) = -\csc(x)\cot(x) and v′(x)=2xv'(x) = 2x.

Substituting gives g′(x)=−csc⁡(x)cot⁡(x)⋅x2−csc⁡(x)⋅2xx4g'(x) = \dfrac{-\csc(x)\cot(x)\cdot x^2 - \csc(x)\cdot 2x}{x^4}. Factor out xcsc⁡(x)x\csc(x) from the numerator to get xcsc⁡(x)[−xcot⁡(x)−2]x4\dfrac{x\csc(x)[-x\cot(x) - 2]}{x^4}, which simplifies to g′(x)=−csc⁡(x)(xcot⁡(x)+2)x3g'(x) = \dfrac{-\csc(x)\left(x\cot(x) + 2\right)}{x^3}.

Sign of the derivative of cosecant

Hint
Step-by-step solution

The derivative of cosecant of x is negative cosecant of x times cotangent of x. So the two trig functions that multiply together are cosecant and cotangent. This matches the u prime term used at the start of part a's quotient rule setup.

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