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).}

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 h'(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 h(x)=\sin(3x)}

Solution:
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 f(x)=\sin (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 g(x)=3x.}
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)=\cos(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 g'(x)=3.}
Now,  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(g(x)).}
Using the Chain 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 \begin{array}{rcl} \displaystyle{h'(x)} & = & \displaystyle{f'(g(x))\cdot g'(x)}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\cos (3x)\cdot 3}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{3\cos (3x).} \end{array}}

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 h'(x)=3\cos (3x)}

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 h(x)=(x+1)^8}

Solution:
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 f(x)=x^8}   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)=x+1.}
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)=8x^7}   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)=1.}
Now,  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(g(x)).}
Using the Chain 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 \begin{array}{rcl} \displaystyle{h'(x)} & = & \displaystyle{f'(g(x))\cdot g'(x)}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{8(x+1)^7\cdot 1}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{8(x+1)^7.} \end{array}}

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 h'(x)=8(x+1)^7.}

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 h(x)=\ln(x^2)}

Solution:
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 f(x)=\ln (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 g(x)=x^2.}
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)=\frac{1}{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 g'(x)=2x.}
Now,  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(g(x)).}
Using the Chain 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 \begin{array}{rcl} \displaystyle{h'(x)} & = & \displaystyle{f'(g(x))\cdot g'(x)}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\frac{1}{x^2}\cdot 2x}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\frac{2}{x}.} \end{array}}

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 h'(x)=\frac{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  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 \csc x.}   Recall

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

Now, 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 \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

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{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

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

Exercise 2

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 g(x)=2x\sin x \sec x.}

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

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

Using the Product 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{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

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