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Edexcel A Level - Differentiation Rules

Chain Rule, Product Rule & Quotient Rule

Checking solutions to quadratic equations in differentiation
1st and 2nd Derivatives
This display allows you to investigate first and second derivatives using polynomial functions. When you drag the blue point on the polynomial curve at the top you should see the corresponding first and second derivative curves lining up below it. The first derivative is the gradient function, and the second derivative is the gradient of the gradient.

Can you see how the second derivative of a maximum point is negative, and that of a minimum point is positive?

Can you see how the second derivative of a point of inflection is zero?
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1st and 2nd Derivatives of Composite Functions
This display allows you to investigate the first and second derivatives of some composite functions.
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Visualise the Product Rule
The function x2(x−1) is a product of x2 and (x−1). The derivative of x2 is 2x and the derivative of (x−1) is 1. So, is the derivative of x2(x−1) equal to 2x(1)=2x, or 2x+1, or something else?

This display allows you to visualise the curve x2(x−1), as well as many other products of functions. You can use it to visualise the "Product Rule" which defines how gradient functions are derived for products of functions.
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Visualise the Quotient Rule
The connection between a function h(x) and it derivative h′(x) is much harder to see when the function h(x) is a quotient of two other functions.

This display allows you to visualise the curve xx+1, as well as many other quotients of functions. You can use it to visualise the "Quotient Rule" which defines how gradient functions are derived for quotients of functions.
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