The Ultimate Guide to Derivative Rules: Product, Quotient, and Chain Rule
Derivatives are a cornerstone of calculus, used to analyze rates of change, slopes of curves, and dynamic systems. This guide explains three essential derivative rules: the Product Rule, the Quotient Rule, and the Chain Rule. Whether you're a student, teacher, or professional revisiting calculus, this detailed guide is designed to clarify these concepts with simple and complex examples.
1. Product Rule
Definition
If u(x)
and v(x)
are two differentiable functions, the derivative of their product is:
\[ \frac{d}{dx}[u(x)v(x)] = u'(x)v(x) + u(x)v'(x) \]