Mathematics

The key here is recognizing that constants don't change, so they vanish when you differentiate. Use the power rule on $x^{12}$—bring the exponent down and reduce it by one—then remember that $17$ contributes nothing to the rate of change. The $\frac{1}{2}$ coefficient just scales whatever you get from the $x$ term.

The key here is recognizing that constants don't change, so they vanish when you differentiate. Use the power rule on $x^{12}$—bring the exponent down and reduce it by one—then remember that $17$ contributes nothing to the rate of change. The $\frac{1}{2}$ coefficient just scales whatever you get from the $x$ term.