How do you find the derivative of a function?

How do I find the derivative of this function step by step?

• Hello everyone, I would like to find the derivative of the following step by step: -2/x(square root of x)

• Answer:

  -2/[x(sqrt(x))] okay first lets combine the 2 x's on the bottom (x^1)(x^(1/2)) okay ya with me, add the exponents so its now x^(3/2) our new equation is -2/[x^(3/2)] now lets get that x up top so just make its exponent negative now our equation (still the same original equation) is.. -2x^(-3/2) now when getting the derivative you multiply the coefficient by the exponent then subtract 1 from the exponent sooo. -2(-3/2)x^((-3/2)-1) okay so 3x^(-5/2) is the derivative! happy day