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by KMag 925 days ago
Right, the chain rule is foundational. If you don't understand the chain rule, then related rates and lots of your real-world engineering applications of calculus would seem to require memorizing a crazy number of specific solution templates.

Though, if typical calculus courses don't spend the time to ensure a good understanding of the chain rule, that would explain why so many students seem to think calculus is a gigantic sea of random rules.