Answer: [tex]0.5x^7[/tex]
This is the same as typing in 0.5x^7
Other equivalent forms are (1/2)x^7 or (x^7)/2
=====================================================
Work Shown:
[tex]\frac{d}{dx}\left[f(x^2)\right] = x^8\\\\f'(x^2)*\frac{d}{dx}(x^2) = x^8\\\\f'(x^2)*2x = x^8\\\\f'(x^2) = \frac{x^8}{2x}\\\\f'(x^2) = \frac{x^7}{2}\\\\f'(x^2) = \frac{1}{2}x^7\\\\f'(x^2) = \boldsymbol{0.5x^7}\\\\[/tex]
I used the chain rule on the second step. The chain rule will apply the derivative to the outer function f(x^2). Then we also apply the derivative to the inner function x^2 to get 2x, which is multiplied with f ' (x^2). From that point, we isolate f ' (x^2).
Side note: When applying the first derivative, it might help to think of f(x^2) as simply f(x) on a temporary basis.
