Differentiate tan⁡−1(x1−x2)\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\right) with respect to xx. You should simplify your answer as a single fraction in its simplest form.

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Worked solution

2

1. Apply the chain rule to differentiate the inverse tangent function.

Let y=tan⁡−1(x1−x2)y = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\right).
By the chain rule, dydx=11+(x1−x2)2⋅ddx(x1−x2)\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{1}{1 + \left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\right)^2} \cdot \frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\right).

2. Differentiate the inner fractional expression using the quotient rule.

ddx(x1−x2)=(1)1−x2−x⋅ddx(1−x2)(1−x2)2\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\right) = \frac{(1)\sqrt{1-x^2} - x \cdot \frac{d}{dx}\left(\sqrt{1-x^2}\right)}{\left(\sqrt{1-x^2}\right)^2}
=1−x2−x[12(1−x2)−1/2(−2x)]1−x2= \frac{\sqrt{1-x^2} - x \left[\frac{1}{2}(1-x^2)^{-1/2}(-2x)\right]}{1-x^2}

3. Simplify the derivative of the inner expression.

=1−x2+x21−x21−x2= \frac{\sqrt{1-x^2} + \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}}{1-x^2}
=1−x2+x21−x21−x2= \frac{\frac{1-x^2 + x^2}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}}{1-x^2}
=1(1−x2)3/2= \frac{1}{(1-x^2)^{3/2}}

4. Simplify the outer chain rule factor and multiply to get the final single fraction.

First, simplify the denominator of the outer derivative:
1+(x1−x2)2=1+x21−x2=1−x2+x21−x2=11−x21 + \left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\right)^2 = 1 + \frac{x^2}{1-x^2} = \frac{1-x^2+x^2}{1-x^2} = \frac{1}{1-x^2}
Substitute back into the chain rule expression:
dydx=1(11−x2)⋅1(1−x2)3/2\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{1}{\left(\frac{1}{1-x^2}\right)} \cdot \frac{1}{(1-x^2)^{3/2}}
=(1−x2)⋅1(1−x2)3/2= (1-x^2) \cdot \frac{1}{(1-x^2)^{3/2}}
=1(1−x2)1/2= \frac{1}{(1-x^2)^{1/2}}
=11−x2= \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}

Answer

11−x2\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}

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