Problem on daughter's calculus assignment: "f(x)=1/sqrt(tan(3x^2)), calculate f'(x)" <sarcasm>Wow, there are so many real-world applications where this might come up. I'm so glad she can spend her time on this!</sarcasm>
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I’m confused, are you lamenting Calculus in general or that specific problem?
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I’m actually a big believer in Calculus. But that problem is just endless symbolic manipulation that has no real value. It’s simply a time-waster.
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I think the point of problems like this is to provide repetitive reinforcement of the concepts being taught. Can you identify the rules that must be applied to this problem (chain rule and quotient rule for example) and apply them in the correct order.
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Replying to @jaredcatkinson
The kids are being taught to do this as a triple chain rule-- "(tan(3x^2))^(-1/2)". And the tangent requires them to remember their trig derivative identities. But there is no real-world case for any of this, so it's just abuse.

Sep 20, 2021 · 5:06 PM UTC

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Replying to @hal_pomeranz @jaredcatkinson
You want kids to not hate math? Stop making it about pointless symbolic manipulation and actually show them why calculus matters in the real world. Because it's really, really important.
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Replying to @hal_pomeranz
My point is that there is a real world use for the chain rule and trig identities. The importance of these types of problems is to demonstrate that by knowing the foundational rules, a complicated problem can be broken down into a few simpler problems.