Common Calculus Mistakes
Compound Chain Rule

Some problems provide the opportunity for more than one mistake.


The Goal

Find

goal


The Mistakes

Find the mistakes:

1.

mistake

Need a hint? Look carefully at the red part:

mistake


2.

mistake

Need a hint? Look carefully at the red part:

mistake



A Correct Solution

correction



Explanations

In this example when the chain rule is used to differentiate the square root expression, it must be used twice in succession. That's because this expression is the composite of a composite. In the both mistakes this compound chain rule computation is not performed correctly. The chain rule says that the derivative of f(g(h(t))) is:

goal

In this example:

goal

Here's an algebra challenge: simplify the answer given in "A Correct Solution". One result is:

goal

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