This is from a simple book explaining differentiation to the uninitiated and I don't understand the factoring. Can anyone help me understand how equation 3 is derived? Thanks
Let $y = x^{-2}$
Then proceed:
$y + dy = (x + dx)^{-2}$
$y + dy = x^{-2} (1 + dx/x)^{-2}$
Using simple algebraic manipulations you have $$(x+dx)^2=\left(x\left(1+\frac{dx}{x}\right)\right)^2 =x^2\left(1+\frac{dx}{x}\right)^2 $$ and therefore $$ (x+dx)^{-2}=x^{-2}\left(1+\frac{dx}{x}\right)^{-2} $$ but note that this is no justification about any differential properties, that may be the goal, only pure algebra for the RHS.