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Find the Second Derivative

2
x

√4 − x2

Find the first derivative.

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1
x

Use n
√a
x
= a n
to rewrite √4 − x2 as (4 − x 2
)
2
.
2
d ⎛ x ⎞
f ' (x) =
1
dx ⎝ 2 ⎠
(4 − x ) 2

d f (x)
Differentiate using the Quotient Rule which states that [ ] is
dx g (x)
d d
g (x) [f (x)] − f (x) [g (x)] 1

where f (x) and g (x) .

dx dx 2 2 2
= x = (4 − x )
2
g (x)

1 1
2 d 2 2 d 2
2 2
(4 − x ) (x ) − x (4 − x )
dx dx
f ' (x) =
1 2
2
((4 − x ) 2 )

2
1

Multiply the exponents in ((4 − x .

2 2
) )

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1 1

2 2
d 2 2 d 2 2
(4 − x ) (x ) − x (4 − x )
dx dx
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Simplify.
1 1

2 2
d 2 2 d 2 2
(4 − x ) (x ) − x (4 − x )
dx dx
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Differentiate using the Power Rule.

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1 1

2 2 2 d 2 2
2 ⋅ ((4 − x ) x) − x (4 − x )
dx

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

d
Differentiate using the chain rule, which states that [f (g (x))] is f ' (g (x)) g' (x) where
dx
1

f (x) = x 2 and g (x) = 4 − x

2
.
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1 1
1 −1 d
2 2 2 2 2 2
2(4 − x ) x − x ( ⋅ (4 − x ) (4 − x ))
2 dx

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

2
To write −1 as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by .
2
1 1 2
−1⋅ d
2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2
2(4 − x ) x − x ( ⋅ (4 − x ) (4 − x ))
2 dx

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

2
Combine −1 and .
2
1 1 −1 ⋅ 2

1 + d
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2(4 − x ) x − x ( ⋅ (4 − x ) (4 − x ))
2 dx

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

1 1 −1 ⋅ 2

2 2 2 1 2 2
d 2
2(4 − x ) x − x ( ⋅ (4 − x ) (4 − x ))
2 dx

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Simplify the numerator.

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1 −1

2 2 1 2 d 2
2 2
2(4 − x ) x − x ( ⋅ (4 − x ) (4 − x ))
2 dx

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Combine fractions.
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1
2
2 x d 2
2
2(4 − x ) x − ⋅ (4 − x )
1
dx
2
2(4−x ) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

d d
By the Sum Rule, the derivative of 4 − x with respect to x is 2
[4] +
2
[−x ] .
dx dx
1
2
2 2 x d d 2
2(4 − x ) x − ⋅ ( (4) + (−x ))
1
dx dx
2
2(4−x ) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Since 4 is constant with respect to x, the derivative of 4 with respect to x is 0.

1
2
2 2
x d 2
2(4 − x ) x − ⋅ (0 + (−x ))
1
dx
2
2(4−x ) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

d
Add 0 and 2
[−x ] .
dx
1
2
2 2 x d 2
2(4 − x ) x − 1
⋅ (−x )
dx
2
2(4−x ) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

d
Since −1 is constant with respect to x, the derivative of −x with respect to x is − .
2 2
[x ]
dx
1
2
2 x d 2
2
2(4 − x ) x − ⋅ (− x )
1 dx
2
2(4−x ) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Multiply.
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1
2
2 2 x d 2
2(4 − x ) x + 1
⋅ (x )
dx
2
2(4−x ) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

d
Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that [x ]
n
is nx n−1
where n = 2 .
dx
1
2
2 2
x
2(4 − x ) x + ⋅ (2x)
1
2
2(4−x ) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Combine fractions.

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1
2
2 2
2x x
2(4 − x ) x +
1
2
2(4−x ) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Raise x to the power of 1.

1 2
2(x⋅x )
2 2
2(4 − x ) x +
1
2
2(4−x ) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Use the power rule a m

a
n
= a
m+n
to combine exponents.
1
1 +2
2 2
2x
2(4 − x ) x +
1
2
2(4−x ) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Add 1 and 2.
1
3
2 2
2x
2(4 − x ) x +
1
2
2(4−x ) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Cancel the common factor.

1 3
2x
2 2
2(4 − x ) x +
1

2 (4−x2 ) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Rewrite the expression.

1
3
2 2 x
2(4 − x ) x + 1

(4−x2 ) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Reorder 4 and −x . 2

1
3
2 2 x
2x(−x + 4) +
1
2
(−x +4) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

2 2
1 (−x + 4)
To write 2x(−x as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by .
2 2
+ 4)
1
2
(−x + 4) 2

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1 1
2 2
2x(−x +4) 2 (−x +4) 2 3
x
+
1 1

(−x2 +4) 2 (−x2 +4) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

1 1
2 2 3
2x(−x +4) 2 (−x +4) 2 +x

1
2
(−x +4) 2

f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

1 1

Multiply (−x 2
+ 4)
2
by (−x 2
+ 4)
2
by adding the exponents.
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2 3
2x(−x +4)+x

1
2
(−x +4) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

Simplify 2x(−x .
1
2
+ 4)

2 3
2x(−x +4)+x

1
2
(−x +4) 2
f ' (x) =
2
4 − x

2 3
2x(−x +4)+x

1
2
(−x +4) 2

Rewrite 2
as a product.
4 − x
2 3
2x (−x + 4) + x 1
f ' (x) = ⋅
1 2
2 4 − x
(−x + 4) 2

2 3
2x (−x + 4) + x 1
Multiply 1
by 2
.
2 4 − x
(−x + 4) 2

2 3
2x (−x + 4) + x
f ' (x) =
1
2 2
(−x + 4) 2 (4 − x )

Reorder terms.
2 3
2x (−x + 4) + x
f ' (x) =
1

2 2
(−x + 4) 2 (−x + 4)

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1

Multiply (−x 2
+ 4)
2
by −x 2
+ 4 by adding the exponents.
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2 3
2x (−x + 4) + x
f ' (x) =
3

2
(−x + 4) 2

Simplify.
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2
x (x − 8)
f ' (x) = −
3

2
(−x + 4) 2

Find the second derivative.

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d
Differentiate using the Product Rule which states that [f (x) g (x)] is
dx
2
d d x (x − 8)
f (x) [g (x)] + g (x) [f (x)] where f (x) = −1 and g (x) =
3
.
dx dx 2
(−x + 4) 2

2 2
d x (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
f '' (x) = − ⋅ + ⋅ (−1)
3 3
dx 2 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2 (−x + 4) 2

d f (x)
Differentiate using the Quotient Rule which states that [ ] is
dx g (x)
d d
g (x) [f (x)] − f (x) [g (x)] 3

where f (x) and g (x) .

dx dx 2 2 2
= x (x − 8) = (−x + 4)
2
g (x)
3 3

2 2
d 2 2 d 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (x (x − 8)) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4) x (x − 8) d
dx dx
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−
2 3
3
2 dx
((−x
2
+ 4) 2
) (−x + 4) 2

2
3

Multiply the exponents in ((−x 2

+ 4)
2
) .

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3 3

2 2
d 2 2 d 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (x (x − 8)) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4) x (x − 8) d
dx dx
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

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d
Differentiate using the Product Rule which states that [f (x) g (x)] is
dx
d d
f (x) [g (x)] + g (x) [f (x)] where f (x) = x and g (x) = x
2
− 8 .
dx dx
3 3

2 2
d 2 2 d 2 d 2 2
(−x + 4) (x (x − 8) + (x − 8) (x)) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4)
dx dx dx x
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−

Differentiate.
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3 3

2 2 2 d 2 d 2 2
(−x + 4) (x (2x) + (x − 8) (x)) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4) 2
dx dx x (x −
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4

Raise x to the power of 1.

3 3

2 2 2 d 2 d 2 2
(−x + 4) (2 (x ⋅ x) + (x − 8) (x)) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4) 2
dx dx x (x −
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+

Raise x to the power of 1.

3 3

2 2 2 d 2 d 2 2
(−x + 4) (2 (x ⋅ x) + (x − 8) (x)) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4) 2
dx dx x (x −
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+

Use the power rule a m

a
n
= a
m+n
to combine exponents.
3 3

2 1+1 2 d 2 d 2
2 2
(−x + 4) (2x + (x − 8) (x)) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4) 2
dx dx x (x − 8
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4

Differentiate using the Power Rule.

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3 3

2 2 2 d 2 2
2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − x (x − 8) (−x + 4) x (x − 8) d
dx
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

d
Differentiate using the chain rule, which states that [f (g (x))] is f ' (g (x)) g' (x) where
dx
3

f (x) = x 2 and g (x) = −x

2
+ 4 .

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3 3
3 −1 d
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − x (x − 8) ( ⋅ (−x + 4) (−x + 4))
2 dx 2
x (x
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+

2
To write −1 as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by .
2
3 3 2
3 −1⋅ d
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − x (x − 8) ( ⋅ (−x + 4) (−x + 4))
2 dx
x (x
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x

2
Combine −1 and .
2
3 3 −1 ⋅ 2
3 + d
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − x (x − 8) ( ⋅ (−x + 4) (−x + 4))
2 dx x (x
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

3 3 −1 ⋅ 2

2 2 2 2 3 2 2
d 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − x (x − 8) ( ⋅ (−x + 4) (−x + 4))
2 dx 2
x (x
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2

Simplify the numerator.

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3 1

2 2 2 2 3 2 2
d 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − x (x − 8) ( ⋅ (−x + 4) (−x + 4))
2 dx 2
x (x −
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+

Combine fractions.
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1
3 2
3(−x +4) 2 x
2 2 2 2 d 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − ⋅ (x − 8) (−x + 4) x (x − 8) d
2 dx
f '' (x) = − + ⋅
3
3
2 dx
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4) 2

d d
By the Sum Rule, the derivative of −x 2
+ 4 with respect to x is [−x ] +
2
[4] .
dx dx

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1
3 2
3(−x +4) 2 x
2 2 2 d 2 d
2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − ⋅ ((x − 8) ( (−x ) + (4))) 2
2 dx dx x (x
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+

d
Since −1 is constant with respect to x, the derivative of −x with respect to x is − 2
[x ]
2
.
dx
1
3 2
3(−x +4) 2 x
2 2 2 2 d 2 d
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − ⋅ ((x − 8) (− x + (4))) 2
2 dx dx x (x −
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4

d
Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that [x ]
n
is nx n−1
where n = 2 .
dx
1
3 2
3(−x +4) 2 x
2 2 2 2 d
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − ⋅ ((x − 8) (− (2x) + (4))) 2
2 dx x (x −
f '' (x) = − +
3
2
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4

Multiply 2 by −1.
1
3 2
3(−x +4) 2 x
2 2 2 2 d
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − ⋅ ((x − 8) (−2x + (4))) 2
2 dx x (x − 8)
f '' (x) = − +
3
2 3
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4) 2

Since 4 is constant with respect to x, the derivative of 4 with respect to x is 0.

1
3 2
3(−x +4) 2 x
2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) − ⋅ ((x − 8) (−2x + 0)) x (x − 8) d
2
f '' (x) = − + ⋅
3
3
(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Combine fractions.
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1
2
x(6((−x +4) 2 x))
3

2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + ⋅ (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
2
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Raise x to the power of 1.

1
2
x⋅x(6((−x +4) 2 ))
3

2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + ⋅ (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
2
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3 3
2 dx
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4) 2

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Raise x to the power of 1.

1
2
3
x⋅x(6((−x +4) 2 ))

2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + ⋅ (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
2
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3
3
(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Use the power rule a m

a
n
= a
m+n
to combine exponents.
1
1 +1 2
x (6((−x +4) 2 ))
3

2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + ⋅ (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
2
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Add 1 and 1.
1
2 2
x (6((−x +4) 2 ))
3

2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + ⋅ (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
2
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Factor 2 out of x 2
(6(−x
2
+ 4)
2
.
)

1
2 2
3
2(x (3(−x +4) 2 ))

2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + ⋅ (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
2
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Cancel the common factors.

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3 1

2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + x (3(−x + 4) ) (x − 8)
2
x (x − 8) d
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

1 3 1

Factor (−x 2
+ 4)
2
out of (−x 2
+ 4)
2
(3x
2
− 8) + x
2
(3(−x
2
+ 4)
2
) (x
2
− 8) .

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1 2

2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) ((−x + 4) (3x − 8) + 3 ⋅ (x (x − 8))) 2
x (x − 8) d
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Cancel the common factor of 2.

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1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) ((−x + 4) (3x − 8) + 3 ⋅ (x (x − 8))) x (x − 8) d
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1
3 3

(−x
2
+ 4) 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2

Simplify.
1

2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) ((−x + 4) (3x − 8) + 3 ⋅ (x (x − 8))) x (x − 8) d
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1
3 3
2 dx
(−x + 4) (−x
2
+ 4) 2

1
1
Move (−x 2
+ 4)
2
to the denominator using the negative exponent rule b n
=
−n
.
b
2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + 3x (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
1 3
2
3
2
−
2 dx
(−x + 4) (−x + 4) 2
(−x + 4) 2

1
3 −
Multiply (−x 2
+ 4) by (−x 2
+ 4)
2
by adding the exponents.
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2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + 3x (x − 8) x (x − 8) d
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ (−1)
5 3

2 2 dx
(−x + 4) 2
(−x + 4) 2

Since −1 is constant with respect to x, the derivative of −1 with respect to x is 0.

2 2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + 3x (x − 8) x (x − 8)
f '' (x) = − + ⋅ 0
5 3
2 2
(−x + 4) 2
(−x + 4) 2

Simplify the expression.

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2 2 2 2
(−x + 4) (3x − 8) + 3x (x − 8)
f '' (x) = −
5

2
(−x + 4) 2

Simplify.
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2
4 (x + 8)
f '' (x) =
5

2
(−x + 4) 2

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