Maths Tutoring Session
Beginner English listening exercise ยท Study Groups
Transcript
Tutor: So you are having trouble with derivatives? Let us start with the basics. A derivative tells you the rate of change of a function. Student: I understand the concept but I keep making mistakes with the chain rule. Tutor: The chain rule is actually simple once you see the pattern. If you have a function inside another function, you multiply the derivative of the outer function by the derivative of the inner function. Student: Can you show me an example? Tutor: Sure. Take f of x equals the square of three x plus two. The outer function is squaring, and the inner function is three x plus two. The derivative of the outer is two times the inner, and the derivative of the inner is three. So the answer is six times three x plus two. Student: Oh, that makes sense now! So you always work from the outside in? Tutor: Exactly. Think of it like peeling an onion, one layer at a time.
Comprehension questions
- What does a derivative tell you?
- What analogy is used for the chain rule?
- What is the outer function in the example given?
- What does the student keep making mistakes with?
- What do you multiply to use the chain rule?