How do you find the derivative of a function that has been raised to a power greater than 1?

Let us say that f(x)=x^4

A derivative is the opposite to an integral.

If you were to integrate x^4, the first process is taking the power [which in this case is 4], multiplying it by any value before the x [which is 1], then subtracting 1 from the initial power [4]. This leaves 4x^3. The final step is taking the integral of what is 'inside' the power [which is (x)], and multiplying this to the entire answer, which results in 4x^3 x 1 = 4x^3

If you were to derive (x)^4, you would just add 1 to the power [4] to become (x)^5 then put the value of the power as the denominator and the function as a numerator. This leaves [(x^5)/(5)]

To assure that the derivative is correct, integrate it. (x^5) would become 5x^4. Since (x^5) is over (5), [(5x^4)/(5)] cancels the 5 on the numerator and denominator, thus leaving the original function of x^4