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Differentiation, one idea at a timeMathematics Methods, Unit 3 & 4
Home Differentiation
The big idea Product rule Chain rule Quotient rule Second derivatives

Learn differentiation by doing it, one step at a time.

Every rule starts with the idea behind it, then a fully worked method, then practice questions you can check your own working against, from foundational fluency up to exam style critical thinking. No typing required. Work it out on paper, then reveal each step to check yourself.

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The Big Idea

Why the product rule and chain rule exist, told as two short stories: a growing garden bed and a rising weather balloon, with the real-world implications of each.

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Rule 1 of 3

Product Rule

The method laid out step by step, then ten foundational practice questions running from simplest to most involved.

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Rule 2 of 3

Chain Rule

The method and foundational practice for differentiating composite functions, plus a set of harder critical-thinking questions.

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Rule 3 of 3

Quotient Rule

Why the quotient rule is really the product rule in disguise, then the method, practice, and harder questions.

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Lesson 4

Second Derivatives & Curve Sketching

Concavity, points of inflection, the second derivative test, and sketching a graph from its derivatives.

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Next up

Applications: Rates & Optimisation

Using derivatives to solve real rates-of-change problems, kinematics, and optimisation questions from a wide variety of fields.

Coming soon