Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics
Vol.05 No.02(2017), Article ID:74234,9 pages
10.4236/jamp.2017.52040

Derivative Process Using Fractal Indices k Equals One-Half, One-Third, and One-Fourth

Salvador A. Loria

College of Engineering & Graduate School, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Cabanatuan City, Philippines

Copyright © 2017 by author and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received: January 12, 2017; Accepted: February 18, 2017; Published: February 21, 2017

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the researcher explored and analyzed the function between integral indices of derivative. It is proved that getting half-derivative twice is equivalent to first derivative. Also getting the triple of one-third derivative is equal to first derivative. Similarly, getting four times of one-fourth derivative is equal to first derivative.

Keywords:

Fractal Index, Derivative, Gamma Function, Factorial

1. Introduction

Fractal is a general term used to express both the geometry and the procedures which display self-similarity, scale invariance, and fractional dimension [1] . Geometry deals with shapes or objects described in integral dimension. A point has 0-dimension, a line having 1-dimension, a surface has 2-dimension and the solid has 3-dimensions [2] . However, there are phenomena that are suitably characterized their dimension between any two integral dimensions. A straight line has dimension of 1 and a zigzag has dimension n = { d / s . t . d ( 1 , 2 ) } . Here, the dimension is indicated as fractional dimension―a dimension whose value lies between integral values. Similarly, derivative process is an integral index in nature, such as first, second, third and up to nth derivative. The function obtained from derivative process is very useful in the field of physical science and technology. Thus, it is interesting to describe and analyze the function between integral indices of derivatives. Specifically, the study aimed to explore derivative process using fractal indices k that equals one-half, one-third, and one-fourth.

2. The Derivative Process

The derivative of y with respect to x is itself a function of x , and may in turn be differentiated [3] . The derivative of the first derivative is called second

derivative and is written d 2 y d x 2 or y ; the derivative of the second called third derivative, d 3 y d x 3 or y , and so on…

Let y = x n , then the derivatives are as follows::

d y d x = n x n 1 first derivative

d 2 y d x 2 = n ( n 1 ) x n 2 second derivative

d 3 y d x 3 = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) x n 3 third derivative

d 4 y d x 4 = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) ( n 3 ) x n 4 fourth derivative

d 5 y d x 5 = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) ( n 3 ) ( n 4 ) x n 5 fifth derivative

Repeating the process up to k times, we have

d k y d x k = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) ( n 3 ) ( n k + 1 ) x n k kth derivative (1)

3. Derivatives Using Fractal Indices

Let us consider the function between 0 and first derivative or between first and second derivative. The index fraction indicates that the derivative process is called fractal. These can be denoted as follows:

d 1 / 2 y d x 1 / 2 or y 1 / 2 one-half derivative (between zero derivative and first derivative)

d 3 / 2 y d x 3 / 2 or y 3 / 2 three-halves derivative (between first derivative and second derivative)

and so on……….

Let y = x n be the function, then

For kth derivative, where k is an element of 1 a s . t . a N , using Equation (1).

d k d x k ( x n ) = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) ( n k + 1 ) = n ! ( n k ) ! x n k (2)

Factorial is equivalent to gamma function [4] as

n ! = n Γ ( n ) = Γ ( n + 1 ) (3)

Thus, in gamma function

d k d x k ( x n ) = Г ( n + 1 ) Γ ( n k + 1 ) x n k for n > 0 (4)

For negative integer power, y = x n , the derivative are as follows:

Let y = x n be the function, then

d y d x = ( n ) x n 1 first derivative

d 2 y d x 2 = n ( n 1 ) x n 2 second derivative

d 3 y d x 3 = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) x n 3 third derivative

d 4 y d x 4 = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) ( n 3 ) x n 4 fourth derivative

d 5 y d x 5 = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) ( n 3 ) ( n 4 ) x n 5 fifth derivative

...

...

Repeating the process to k times, we have

d k y d x k = n ( n 1 ) ( n 2 ) ( n 3 ) ( n k + 1 ) x n k kth derivative

or d k y d x k = ( 1 ) k n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) ( n + 3 ) ( n + k 1 ) x ( n + k ) kth derivative

In factorial form:

d k y d x k = ( 1 ) k ( n + k 1 ) ! ( n 1 ) ! x ( n + k ) (5)

It is equivalent to gamma function as:

d k y d x k = ( 1 ) k Γ ( n + k ) Γ ( n ) x ( n + k ) (6)

Thus,

d k d x k x n = ( 1 ) k Γ ( n + k ) Γ ( n ) x ( n + k ) for n > 0 (7)

4. Gamma Function

Definition 1. [4] [5] Gamma function is defined as Γ ( n ) = 0 e x x n 1 d x , for n Z + , then,

Γ ( n + 1 ) = 0 e x x n d x

Γ ( n + 1 ) = x n e x | 0 + 0 n x n 1 e x d x

Γ ( n + 1 ) = 0 + n Γ ( n ) = n Γ ( n ) (8)

For Γ ( 1 / 2 )

Γ ( 1 / 2 ) = 0 e x x 1 / 2 d x

Let x = u 2 , u = x 1 2 , d x = 2 u d u ,

d u = d x 2 u = d x 2 x 1 2 = 2 d u = x 1 / 2 d x

Γ ( 1 / 2 ) = 0 e u 2 x 1 / 2 d x = 0 e u 2 2 d u = 2 0 e u 2 d u

we can express in terms of other variable.

Thus,

Γ ( 1 / 2 ) = 2 0 e v 2 d v .

Getting the product of the two above equations, we have

[ Γ ( 1 2 ) ] 2 = 2 0 e u 2 d u 2 0 e v 2 d v = 4 0 0 e ( u 2 + v 2 ) d u d v

let u = r cos θ and v = r sin θ

r 2 = u 2 + v 2

d u d v = r d r d θ

[ Γ ( 1 2 ) ] 2 = 4 0 π 2 0 e r 2 r d r d θ = 4 × 1 2 0 π / 2 d θ 0 e r 2 2 r d r = 2 [ π 2 0 ] [ 0 1 ] = π

Thus, Γ ( 1 / 2 ) = π = 1.77245.

The gamma function of fraction with multiple of one-half will be obtained as follows:

Γ ( n + 1 ) = n ! = n Γ ( n )

Γ ( 3 2 ) = ( 1 2 ) ! = Γ ( 1 2 + 1 ) = 1 2 Γ ( 1 2 )

Γ ( 3 2 ) = 1 2 ! = 1 2 π = 0.88623

and Γ ( 5 2 ) = 3 2 ( 0.88623 ) = 1.32934.

Since the solution of gamma function using integral is complex, the Burnside’s approximate solution [6] [7] , x ! = x x e x 2 π x [ 1 + 1 12 x ] , s . t . x R { 0 } can be used.

Table 1 shows the actual values of gamma function and the approximate Burnside’s solution. The absolute percentage of error was computed, which it is ranges between 0.06 to 1.5 percent, so Burnside’s equation found acceptable.

Using Burnside’s formula, 1 2 ! = ( 1 2 ) 1 2 e 1 2 2 π ( 1 2 ) [ 1 + 1 12 ( 1 2 ) ] = 0.88687 ,

Table 1. Comparison of values of gamma function of R+.

then, 1 2 ! = 1 2 Γ ( 1 2 ) or we have Γ ( 1 2 ) = 1.77374

for 3 2 ! = ( 3 2 ) 1 2 e 1 2 2 π ( 3 2 ) [ 1 + 1 12 ( 3 2 ) ] = 1.32835

then, Γ ( 3 2 ) = 0.88557.

5. Roots of Negative 1

The roots of −1 such as square roots, cube roots, fourth-roots, etc. can be obtained using the roots of complex numbers.

Definition 2. [8] Let z C , then z = x + y i = r ( cos θ + i sin θ ) = r cis θ = r e i θ , sine θ is a multiple of 2 π , then the general form is z = r e i ( θ + 2 π k ) , where k Z .

Definition 3. [8] Let z 0 be the nth root of complex number z = r e i ( θ + 2 π k ) then z 0 = r 1 / n e i ( θ + 2 π k ) / n for k = 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 n 1 .

The principal root is the root at k = 0, hence the principal nth-root is z 0 = r 1 / n e i θ / n . Let z = 1 , = 1 e i ( π + 2 π k ) / n

Taking the square-root, we have 1 e i ( π + 2 π k ) 2 = 1 e i ( π / 2 + π k ) where k = 0 and 1.

Thus, the roots are: i and i and the principal root is i .

Taking the cube-roots, we have 1 e i ( π + 2 π k ) 3 , where k = { 0 , 1 , 2 } .

Thus the roots are 1 / 2 + 3 / 2 i , 1 , 1 / 2 3 / 2 i and the principal root is 1 / 2 + 3 / 2 i .

Taking the fourth-roots, we have 1 e i ( π + 2 π k ) 4 , where k = { 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 } .

Thus the roots are 2 / 2 + 2 / 2 i , 2 / 2 + 2 / 2 i , 2 / 2 2 / 2 i , 2 / 2 2 / 2 i , and the principal root is 2 / 2 + 2 / 2 i .

6. Main Result

For k = 1 / 2 ,

let the function y = 2 x 3 , n = 3 , suppose k = 1 / 2 then y 1 2 , y 1 2 are the first and second half-derivative.

y 1 2 = 2 Γ ( n + 1 ) Γ ( n k + 1 ) x n k = 2 Γ ( 4 ) Γ ( 4 1 / 2 ) x 3 1 / 2 = 2 3 ! Γ ( 7 2 ) x 5 2 = 2 6 15 8 π x 5 / 2 = 96 15 π x 5 / 2 = 3.61081 x 5 / 2 half-derivative

Differentiate again the function, we have

y 1 2 = 96 15 π Γ ( 5 / 2 + 1 ) Γ ( 5 / 2 1 / 2 + 1 ) x 5 2 1 2 = 96 15 π Γ ( 7 / 2 ) Γ ( 3 ) x 2 = 96 15 π 15 8 π 2 x 2 = 6 x 2 .

Thus, getting half-derivative twice is equivalent to first derivative

y 1 2 = d 1 / 2 d x 1 / 2 d 1 / 2 y d x 1 / 2 = d y d x = d ( 2 x 3 ) d x = 6 x 2

Let the function y = 2 x 3 , n = 3 , suppose k = 1 / 2 , then y 1 / 2 , y 1 / 2 are the first and second half-derivative.

y 1 2 = 2 ( 1 ) k Γ ( n + k ) Γ ( n ) x ( n + k ) = 2 ( 1 ) 1 / 2 Γ ( 3 + 1 / 2 ) Γ ( 3 ) x ( 3 + 1 / 2 )

y 1 2 = 2 i Γ ( 7 / 2 ) Γ ( 3 ) x ( 7 / 2 ) = 2 i 3.32335 2 x 7 / 2 = 3.32335 i x 7 2 .

Differentiate again the function, we have

y 1 2 = 3.32335 i ( 1 ) k Γ ( n + k ) Γ ( n ) x ( n + k ) = 3.32335 i ( 1 ) 1 / 2 Γ ( 7 / 2 + 1 / 2 ) Γ ( 7 / 2 ) x ( 7 / 2 + 1 / 2 )

y 1 2 = 3.32335 i i Γ ( 4 ) Γ ( 7 2 ) x 4 = 3.32335 ( 1 ) 3 ! 3.32335 x 4 = 6 x 4

This completes the proof that twice of half derivative is equivalent to first derivative.

For k = 1 / 3 ,

let y = 2 x 3 , n = 3 , suppose k = 1 3 , then y 1 / 3 , y 1 / 3 , y 1 / 3 , are the first, second, and third 1 / 3 derivatives respectively.

y 1 / 3 = 2 Γ ( 3 + 1 ) Γ ( 3 1 3 + 1 ) x 3 1 / 3 = 2 Γ ( 4 ) Γ ( 11 / 3 ) x 8 / 3 = 2.99089 x 8 / 3

y 1 / 3 = 2.99089 Γ ( 8 3 + 1 ) Γ ( 8 3 1 3 + 1 ) x 8 3 1 3 = 2.99089 Γ ( 11 3 ) Γ ( 10 3 ) x 7 3 = 4.31942 x 7 3

y 1 / 3 = 4.31942 Γ ( 10 3 ) Γ ( 3 ) x 7 3 1 3 = 6 x 2

Thus, triple of one-third derivative is equal to first derivative.

Let y = 2 x 3 , n = 3 , suppose k = 1 3 , then y 1 / 3 , y 1 / 3 , y 1 / 3 are the first, second, and third ⅓ derivative respectively.

y 1 / 3 = 2 ( 1 ) 1 / 3 Γ ( n + k ) Γ ( n ) x ( n + k ) = 2 ( 1 2 + 3 2 i ) Γ ( 3 + 1 3 ) Γ ( 3 ) x 10 3 = ( 1.38908 + 2.40596 i ) x 10 3 ; Γ ( 10 3 ) = 2.77816

y 1 / 3 = ( 1.38908 + 2.40596 i ) Γ ( 11 / 3 ) Γ ( 10 / 3 ) x 11 3 = ( 2.00609 + 3.47466 i ) x 11 3

y 1 / 3 = ( 2.00609 + 3.47466 i ) ( 1 2 + 3 2 i ) Γ ( 11 3 + 1 3 ) Γ ( 11 3 ) x 12 3 = 1.49544 ( 4.01219 + 0 i ) x 4 = 6 x 2

This completes the proof that the triple of one-third derivative is equal to first derivative

For k = 1 / 4

Let y = 2 x 3 , n = 3 , suppose k = 1 4 , then y 1 / 4 , y 1 / 4 , y 1 / 4 , y 1 / 4 are the first, second, third and fourth 1 / 4 derivatives respectively.

y 1 / 4 = 2 Γ ( 3 + 1 ) Γ ( 3 1 4 + 1 ) x 3 1 / 4 = 2 Γ ( 4 ) Γ ( 15 / 4 ) x 11 / 4 = 2.71310 x 11 / 4

y 1 / 4 = 2.71310 Γ ( 15 / 4 ) Γ ( 7 / 2 ) x 5 / 2 = 3.61082 x 5 / 2

y 1 / 4 = 3.61082 Γ ( 7 / 2 ) Γ ( 13 / 4 ) x 9 / 4 = 4.70726 x 9 / 4

y 1 / 4 = 4.70726 Γ ( 13 / 4 ) Γ ( 3 ) x 2 = 6 x 2

This completes the proof that four times of one-fourth derivative is equivalent to first derivative.

Let y = 2 x 3 , n = 3 , suppose k = 1 / 4 , then y 1 / 4 , y 1 / 4 , y 1 / 4 , y 1 / 4 are the first, second, third and fourth 1 / 4 derivatives respectively.

y 1 / 4 = 2 ( 1 ) k Γ ( n + k ) Γ ( n ) x ( n + k ) = 2 ( 2 2 + 2 2 i ) Γ ( 3 + 1 4 ) Γ ( 3 ) x ( 3 + 1 4 ) = ( 1.8026 + 1.8026 i ) x 13 / 4

y 1 / 4 = ( 1.8026 + 1.8026 i ) ( 2 2 + 2 2 i ) Γ ( 7 2 ) Γ ( 13 4 ) x 15 4 = ( 2.54926 i ) ( 1.30365 ) x 14 / 4 = 3.23334 i x 14 / 4

y 1 / 4 = 3.23334 i ( 2 2 + 2 2 i ) Γ ( 15 4 ) Γ ( 7 2 ) x 15 4 = ( 3.12752 + 3.12752 i ) x 15 / 4

y 1 / 4 = ( 3.12752 + 3.12752 i ) ( 2 2 + 2 2 i ) Γ ( 4 ) Γ ( 15 / 4 ) x 4 = 4.42298 ( 1.35655 ) x 4 = 6 x 2

This completes the proof that getting the one-fourth derivatives four times is equivalent to one whole or first derivative.

7. Conclusion

The study explored and analyzed the function between integral indices of derivative based on the theoretical deduction of the gamma function. The above solutions and proofs confirmed that derivatives using fractal indices exist everywhere. Derivatives contributed significantly to the field of physical science. It is very interesting to describe and analyze the behavior of functions obtained through derivative process using fractal indices. Likewise, the process being used in this paper can be extended to analyze derivatives of different transcendental functions.

Cite this paper

Loria, S.A. (2017) Derivative Process Using Fractal Indices k Equals One-Half, One-Third, and One- Fourth. Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics, 5, 453-461. https://doi.org/10.4236/jamp.2017.52040

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