ATAR Notes: Forum

HSC Stuff => HSC Maths Stuff => HSC Subjects + Help => HSC Mathematics Advanced => Topic started by: BakerDad12 on October 02, 2020, 12:50:45 pm

Title: Do we need to simplify?
Post by: BakerDad12 on October 02, 2020, 12:50:45 pm

When a question asks us to differentiate using say product or quotient rule, do we need to simplify the derivative or can we leave it in the immediate, messy expression?

I've posted a screenshot of the type of question I'm talking about. Thanks for the help!

Title: Re: Do we need to simplify?
Post by: fun_jirachi on October 02, 2020, 02:08:06 pm

Always leave everything in the simplest form possible unless otherwise stated (which is usually never). There's also usually something on the front of the exam that says something about this. This goes for every question, not just this sort :)

Hope this helps :)

Title: Re: Do we need to simplify?
Post by: BakerDad12 on October 21, 2020, 05:42:24 pm

Hey, thanks for the response! Would we lose marks for not simplifying? I'm just asking because sometimes simplifying a messy quotient rule derivative takes a long time and is prone to errors. Our teacher also did say we could leave it in the immediate derivative form, as long as the question just says 1. Find the derivative of...