Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Chain Rule
The chain rule is a fundamental technique in calculus used to differentiate composite functions. If you have a function h(x) = f(g(x)), the derivative h'(x) is found by multiplying the derivative of the outer function f at g(x) by the derivative of the inner function g at x. This rule is essential for finding derivatives of nested functions like f ∘ g.
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Composite Functions
Composite functions involve applying one function to the results of another, denoted as (f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x)). Understanding how to work with composite functions is crucial for applying the chain rule effectively, as it requires recognizing the inner and outer functions and their respective derivatives.
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Evaluate Composite Functions - Special Cases
Derivative of Rational Functions
Rational functions are quotients of polynomials, and their derivatives can be found using the quotient rule. For a function f(u) = (u - 1)/(u + 1), the derivative involves differentiating the numerator and denominator separately and applying the quotient rule: (v'u - uv')/v², where u and v are the numerator and denominator, respectively.
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