Derivative of $$$x^{4} - 6 x^{2}$$$
Related calculators: Logarithmic Differentiation Calculator, Implicit Differentiation Calculator with Steps
Your Input
Find $$$\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{4} - 6 x^{2}\right)$$$.
Solution
The derivative of a sum/difference is the sum/difference of derivatives:
$${\color{red}\left(\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{4} - 6 x^{2}\right)\right)} = {\color{red}\left(\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{4}\right) - \frac{d}{dx} \left(6 x^{2}\right)\right)}$$Apply the power rule $$$\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{n}\right) = n x^{n - 1}$$$ with $$$n = 4$$$:
$${\color{red}\left(\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{4}\right)\right)} - \frac{d}{dx} \left(6 x^{2}\right) = {\color{red}\left(4 x^{3}\right)} - \frac{d}{dx} \left(6 x^{2}\right)$$Apply the constant multiple rule $$$\frac{d}{dx} \left(c f{\left(x \right)}\right) = c \frac{d}{dx} \left(f{\left(x \right)}\right)$$$ with $$$c = 6$$$ and $$$f{\left(x \right)} = x^{2}$$$:
$$4 x^{3} - {\color{red}\left(\frac{d}{dx} \left(6 x^{2}\right)\right)} = 4 x^{3} - {\color{red}\left(6 \frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{2}\right)\right)}$$Apply the power rule $$$\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{n}\right) = n x^{n - 1}$$$ with $$$n = 2$$$:
$$4 x^{3} - 6 {\color{red}\left(\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{2}\right)\right)} = 4 x^{3} - 6 {\color{red}\left(2 x\right)}$$Simplify:
$$4 x^{3} - 12 x = 4 x \left(x^{2} - 3\right)$$Thus, $$$\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{4} - 6 x^{2}\right) = 4 x \left(x^{2} - 3\right)$$$.
Answer
$$$\frac{d}{dx} \left(x^{4} - 6 x^{2}\right) = 4 x \left(x^{2} - 3\right)$$$A