ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematical Methods CAS => Topic started by: Splash-Tackle-Flail on April 19, 2015, 11:14:15 am
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Ok, so with derivatives, how important is it to learn the proofs, or reasons behind the product rule, the quotient rule, and the chain rule? As in, is it worth learning, or is understanding them necessary for a high score? Most of the questions, just involve recognising that the *insert rule here* is needed to solve the question, and using the rule. I use MathQuest, and there is no proof on there for the product or quotient rule, and from a quick google they seem to use limit properties, which I haven't covered (and not sure if in course). Any thoughts of whether looking at these proofs would be worthwhile, or is knowing when and how to use the rules adequate?
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I beleive an intuitive understanding is essential if you really want to nail differentiation/integration. Proofs probably will help with your intuitive understanding although that being said, I doubt you'd ever actually have to show the proof in VCE..
Try and learn calculus from a theoretical level and understand what differentiation actually does graphically and why there are things such as the constant of integration, or at least that's the advice I was given by someone at my school who got a maths aggregate alone of 154.
Did this help at all?
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As the AspiringDoc said above, you don't need to know anything about the proofs.
As for when to use the formulas:
Product rule: Product = times. You use the product rule when you times two functions together (i.e. f(x) = u(x)*v(x))
Quotient rule: Quotient = divide. You use the quotient rule when you divide two functions together (i.e. f(x) = u(x)/v(x)
Chain rule: Use the chain rule when you have a composite function, a function within another function (i.e. f(x) = u(v(x))
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Thanks! so knowing when to use the formulas should be enough- but I will try gain an intuitive understanding as well! And damn you must go to a crazy school, cause that's basically 50's in all maths haha.