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Let f and g be two differentiable functions.

  1. Show that

    f(x+h)g(x+h)−f(x)g(x)h=g(x+h)(f(x+h)−f(x)h)+f(x)(g(x+h)−g(x)h)
  2. Hence, prove the product rule from first principles.


For (a), it is easier to start from the right-hand side and prove this is equal to the left-hand side


By first principles, if

y=f(x)g(x)

then

dydx=limh→0f(x+h)g(x+h)−f(x)g(x)h