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Differentiation
Lesson 2 of 11
Standard practice

Chain, product and quotient rules

Objective. Differentiate composite, product and quotient functions.

  1. 1. Learn
  2. 2. Worked example
  3. 3. Practice
  4. 4. Feedback
  5. 5. Continue

Learn: the key idea

Chain rule handles a function inside a function; product and quotient rules handle multiplication and division of functions.

Worked example

Differentiate y = (3x² + 1)⁵.

Differentiate y = (3x² + 1)⁵
Coordinate grid with the line Differentiate y = (3x² + 1)⁵
  1. 1Outer derivative: 5(3x² + 1)⁴.
  2. 2Inner derivative: 6x.
  3. 3Multiply them.

Answer: 30x(3x² + 1)⁴

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Common mistake. Forgetting the inner derivative in the chain rule.

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