Aspects of math that are often over-formulated on curriculum

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the perceived over-formulation of mathematical concepts in educational curricula, specifically regarding the calculus quotient rule versus the product rule. Participants argue that while the quotient rule is often seen as redundant, it remains a practical tool for differentiation, simplifying the process for students and professionals alike. The quotient rule's utility is emphasized, with users advocating for its inclusion in curricula despite alternative methods like expressing functions as powers of -1.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic calculus concepts, including differentiation.
  • Familiarity with the product and quotient rules in calculus.
  • Knowledge of mathematical notation and function manipulation.
  • Experience with undergraduate-level mathematics education.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the applications of the quotient rule in various calculus problems.
  • Explore alternative methods for differentiation, such as implicit differentiation.
  • Investigate curriculum design principles in mathematics education.
  • Examine the historical context and evolution of calculus teaching methods.
USEFUL FOR

Students, educators, and curriculum developers interested in optimizing mathematics education, particularly in calculus and differentiation techniques.

binbagsss
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Hi,

I think sometimes curriculum contains to many formulae.
E.g in calculus why is there a need for the quotient rule when there is the product rule

Does anyone agree?
Any examples for undergrad too anyone can think of?
 
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The quotient rule is a very useful one. I still use it a lot. It's much easier than to derive it from the product rule from scratch. So it's a useful formula to know.
 
micromass said:
The quotient rule is a very useful one. I still use it a lot. It's much easier than to derive it from the product rule from scratch. So it's a useful formula to know.

but you can just put it as to the power of -1?
 
binbagsss said:
but you can just put it as to the power of -1?

Yeah sure, I know you can. I still find it useful as a separate formula so I don't have to do that all the time.
 

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