After completing this section, students should be able to do the following.

  • Calculate derivatives term by term using sum/difference rule.
  • Factor constant multiples out of derivatives as part of the differentiation process.
  • State the polynomial rule.
  • Properly use the polynomial rule while taking a derivative.
  • Apply the polynomial rule to terms with irrational and/or negative powers.
  • State the product rule for derivatives.
  • Apply the product rule to decompose the product of functions when taking derivatives.
  • State the quotient rule for derivatives.
  • Apply the quotient rule to compute derivatives of quotients of functions.
  • State the chain rule.
  • Apply the chain rule properly while taking a derivative.
  • Explain the geometric interpretation of the Chain Rule as a process of magnifying rates of change.
  • Apply chain rule to functions with multiple layers of composition.
  • Take derivatives of implicitly defined functions.
  • Identify when an expression requires an implicit differentiation.
  • Solve for the derivative (explicitly) in an implicitly defined function.