Chain Rule

Introduction

It is relatively easy to calculate the derivatives of simple functions, like polynomials or trigonometric functions.

But, what about more complicated functions?

For example,  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=\sin(3x)}   or  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g(x)=(x+1)^8?}

Well, the key to calculating the derivatives of these functions is to recognize that these functions are compositions.

For  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=\sin(3x),}   it is the composition of the function  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=3x}   with  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=\sin(x).}

Similarly, for  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g(x)=(x+1)^8,}   it is the composition of  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=x+1}   and  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=x^8.}

So, how do we take the derivative of compositions?

The answer to this question is exactly the Chain Rule.

Chain Rule

Let  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=f(u)}   be a differentiable function of  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u}   and let  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u=g(x)}   be a differentiable function of  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x.}  

Then,  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=f(g(x))}   is a differentiable function of  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x}   and

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y'=f'(g(x))\cdot g'(x).}

Taking the derivatives of simple functions (i.e. polynomials) is easy using the power rule.

For example, if  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=x^3+2x^2+5x+3,}   then  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=3x^2+4x+5.}

But, what about more complicated functions?

For example, what is  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)}   when  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=\sin x \cos x?}

Or what about  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g'(x)}   when  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g(x)=\frac{x}{x+1}?}

Notice  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)}   is a product, and  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g(x)}   is a quotient. So, to answer the question of how to calculate these derivatives, we look to the Product Rule and the Quotient Rule. The Product Rule and the Quotient Rule give us formulas for calculating these derivatives.

Product Rule

Let  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h(x)=f(x)g(x).}   Then,

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h'(x)=f(x)g'(x)+f'(x)g(x).}

Quotient Rule

Let  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h(x)=\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}.}   Then,

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h'(x)=\frac{g(x)f'(x)-f(x)g'(x)}{(g(x))^2}.}

Warm-Up

Calculate  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x).}

1)   Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=(x^2+x+1)(x^3+2x^2+4)}

Solution:
Using the Product Rule, we have
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=(x^2+x+1)(x^3+2x^2+4)'+(x^2+x+1)'(x^3+2x^2+4).}
Then, using the Power Rule, we have
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=(x^2+x+1)(3x^2+4x)+(2x+1)(x^3+2x^2+4).}
NOTE: It is not necessary to use the Product Rule to calculate the derivative of this function.
You can distribute the terms and then use the Power Rule.
In this case, we have
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{array}{rcl} \displaystyle{f(x)} & = & \displaystyle{(x^2+x+1)(x^3+2x^2+4)}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{x^2(x^3+2x^2+4)+x(x^3+2x^2+4)+1(x^3+2x^2+4)}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{x^5+2x^4+4x^2+x^4+2x^3+4x+x^3+2x^2+4} \\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{x^5+3x^4+3x^3+6x^2+4x+4.} \end{array}}
Now, using the Power Rule, we get
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=5x^4+12x^3+9x^2+12x+4.}
In general, calculating derivatives in this way is tedious. It would be better to use the Product Rule.

Final Answer:
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=(x^2+x+1)(3x^2+4x)+(2x+1)(x^3+2x^2+4)}
or equivalently
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=x^5+3x^4+3x^3+6x^2+4x+4}

2)   Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{x^2+x^3}{x}}

Solution:
Using the Quotient Rule, we have
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=\frac{x(x^2+x^3)'-(x^2+x^3)(x)'}{x^2}.}
Then, using the Power Rule, we have
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=\frac{x(2x+3x^2)-(x^2+x^3)(1)}{x^2}.}
NOTE: It is not necessary to use the Quotient Rule to calculate the derivative of this function.
You can divide and then use the Power Rule.
In this case, we have
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{array}{rcl} \displaystyle{f(x)} & = & \displaystyle{\frac{x^2+x^3}{x}}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\frac{x^2}{x}+\frac{x^3}{x}}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{x+x^2.} \\ \end{array}}
Now, using the Power Rule, we get
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=1+2x.}

Final Answer:
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=\frac{x(2x+3x^2)-(x^2+x^3)}{x^2}}
or equivalently
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=1+2x}

3)   Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{\sin x}{\cos x}}

Solution:
Using the Quotient Rule, we get
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{array}{rcl} \displaystyle{f'(x)} & = & \displaystyle{\frac{\cos x(\sin x)'-\sin x (\cos x)'}{(\cos x)^2}}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\frac{\cos x(\cos x)-\sin x (-\sin x)}{(\cos x)^2}}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\frac{\cos^2 x+\sin^2 x}{\cos^2 x}} \\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\frac{1}{\cos^2 x}}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\sec^2 x} \end{array}}
since  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sin^2 x+\cos^2 x=1}   and  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sec x=\frac{1}{\cos x}.}
Since  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\sin x}{\cos x}=\tan x,}   we have
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}{\tan x}=\sec^2 x.}

Final Answer:
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f'(x)=\sec^2 x}

Exercise 1

Calculate the derivative of  Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}(\csc x-4).}

First, we need to know the derivative of  $\csc x.$  Recall

$\csc x={\frac {1}{\sin x}}.$

Now, using the Quotient Rule, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {{\frac {d}{dx}}(\csc x)}&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {d}{dx}}{\bigg (}{\frac {1}{\sin x}}{\bigg )}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\sin x(1)'-1(\sin x)'}{\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\sin x(0)-\cos x}{\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {-\cos x}{\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {-\csc x\cot x.}\end{array}}$

Using the Product Rule and Power Rule, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {1}{x^{2}}}(\csc x-4)'+{\bigg (}{\frac {1}{x^{2}}}{\bigg )}'(\csc x-4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {1}{x^{2}}}(-\csc x\cot x+0)+(-2x^{-3})(\csc x-4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {-\csc x\cot x}{x^{2}}}+{\frac {-2(\csc x-4)}{x^{3}}}.}\end{array}}$

So, we have

$f'(x)={\frac {-\csc x\cot x}{x^{2}}}+{\frac {-2(\csc x-4)}{x^{3}}}.$

Exercise 2

Calculate the derivative of  $g(x)=2x\sin x\sec x.$

Notice that the function  $g(x)$  is the product of three functions.

We start by grouping two of the functions together. So, we have  $g(x)=(2x\sin x)\sec x.$

Using the Product Rule, we get

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {g'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {(2x\sin x)(\sec x)'+(2x\sin x)'\sec x}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {(2x\sin x)(\tan ^{2}x)+(2x\sin x)'\sec x.}\end{array}}$

Now, we need to use the Product Rule again. So,

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {g'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x\tan ^{2}x+(2x(\sin x)'+(2x)'\sin x)\sec x}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x\tan ^{2}x+(2x\cos x+2\sin x)\sec x.}\end{array}}$

So, we have

$g'(x)=2x\sin x\tan ^{2}x+(2x\cos x+2\sin x)\sec x.$

But, there is another way to do this problem. Notice

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {g(x)}&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x\sec x}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x{\frac {1}{\cos x}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {2x\tan x.}\end{array}}$

Now, you would only need to use the Product Rule once instead of twice.

Exercise 3

Calculate the derivative of  $h(x)={\frac {x^{2}\sin x+1}{x^{2}\cos x+3}}.$

Using the Quotient Rule, we have

$h'(x)={\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}\sin x+1)'-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(x^{2}\cos x+3)'}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}.$

Now, we need to use the Product Rule. So, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {h'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}(\sin x)'+(x^{2})'\sin x)-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(x^{2}(\cos x)'+(x^{2})'\cos x)}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(-x^{2}\sin x+2x\cos x)}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}.}\end{array}}$

So, we get

$h'(x)={\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(-x^{2}\sin x+2x\cos x)}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}.$

Exercise 4

Calculate the derivative of  $f(x)={\frac {e^{x}}{x^{2}\sin x}}.$

First, using the Quotient Rule, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {x^{2}\sin x(e^{x})'-e^{x}(x^{2}\sin x)'}{(x^{2}\sin x)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}\sin x)'}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}.}\end{array}}$

Now, we need to use the Product Rule. So, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}(\sin x)'+(x^{2})'\sin x)}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}.}\end{array}}$

So, we have

$f'(x)={\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}.$