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How do you differentiate an integral with a square-root upper limit using the chain rule?

To differentiate an integral with a square-root upper limit, you evaluate the integrand at the upper limit and multiply by the derivative of that limit. For an upper limit u=tu=\sqrt{t}, the derivative is 1/(2t)1/(2\sqrt{t}). You multiply this chain-rule factor by the integrand evaluated at uu.

Conditions

  • The integrand is continuous on the relevant interval.
  • The upper limit is a differentiable function of tt, specifically u=tu=\sqrt{t}.
  • t>0t > 0.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Identify the upper limit function u(t)=tu(t) = \sqrt{t}.
  2. Differentiate the upper limit with respect to tt: u′(t)=1/(2t)u'(t) = 1/(2\sqrt{t}).
  3. Evaluate the integrand at the upper limit uu.
  4. Multiply the evaluated integrand by the derivative of the upper limit.
  5. Simplify the resulting expression.

Example

For the integrand sin⁡(x5)/x4\sin(x^5)/x^4 and upper limit t\sqrt{t}, the derivative is sin⁡((t)5)/(t)4⋅1/(2t)\sin((\sqrt{t})^5)/(\sqrt{t})^4 \cdot 1/(2\sqrt{t}), which simplifies to sin⁡(t5/2)/(2t5/2)\sin(t^{5/2})/(2t^{5/2}).

Common misconceptions

  • Forgetting to multiply by the derivative of the upper limit (the chain rule factor).
  • Evaluating the integrand at tt instead of at the upper limit u=tu=\sqrt{t}.
  • Assuming the derivative of t\sqrt{t} is 1/t1/\sqrt{t} instead of 1/(2t)1/(2\sqrt{t}).

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