IB Maths AI SL 5.3 Derivative of powers
IB Maths AI SL 5.3 Derivative of powers
Students practise differentiating algebraic functions—including negative and fractional powers—using the power rule, often as a step toward optimisation or interpretation.
How this is tested
- differentiate B(x) = 32/x + 2x to obtain B′(x) = −32x⁻² + 2, correctly handling x⁻¹ terms
- differentiate a negative power of a rational expression and simplify
- differentiate the area function term by term and relate each derivative