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,  $f(x)=\sin(3x)$  or  $g(x)=(x+1)^{8}?$

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

For  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f(x)=\sin(3x),}   it is the composition of the function  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle y=3x}   with  $y=\sin(x).$

Similarly, for  $g(x)=(x+1)^{8},$  it is the composition of  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle y=x+1}   and  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\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 (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle y=f(u)}   be a differentiable function of  $u$  and let  $u=g(x)$  be a differentiable function of  $x.$ 

Then,  $y=f(g(x))$  is a differentiable function of  $x$  and

Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle y'=f'(g(x))\cdot g'(x).}

Warm-Up

Calculate  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h'(x).}

1)   Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h(x)=\sin(3x)}

Solution:
Let  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f(x)=\sin(x)}   and  $g(x)=3x.$
Then,  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f'(x)=\cos(x)}   and  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle g'(x)=3.}
Now,  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h(x)=f(g(x)).}
Using the Chain Rule, we have
Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\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 (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h'(x)=3\cos(3x)}

2)   Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h(x)=(x+1)^{8}}

Solution:
Let  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f(x)=x^{8}}   and  $g(x)=x+1.$
Then,  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f'(x)=8x^{7}}   and  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle g'(x)=1.}
Now,  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h(x)=f(g(x)).}
Using the Chain Rule, we have
Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\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 (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h'(x)=8(x+1)^{7}.}

3)   Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h(x)=\ln(x^{2})}

Solution:
Let  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f(x)=\ln(x)}   and  $g(x)=x^{2}.$
Then,  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f'(x)={\frac {1}{x}}}   and  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle g'(x)=2x.}
Now,  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h(x)=f(g(x)).}
Using the Chain Rule, we have
Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\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 (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h'(x)={\frac {2}{x}}}

Exercise 1

Calculate the derivative of  $f(x)={\frac {1}{x^{2}}}(\csc x-4).$

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  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,

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\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

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\tan^2 x+(2x\cos x+2\sin x)\sec x.}

But, there is another way to do this problem. 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 \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  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{x^2\sin x+1}{x^2\cos x+3}.}

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 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

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{\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

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{(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  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{e^x}{x^2\sin x}.}

First, 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{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 x e^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

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\sin x e^x - e^x(x^2(\sin x)'+(x^2)'\sin x)}{x^4\sin^2 x}}\\ &&\\ & = & \displaystyle{\frac{x^2\sin x e^x - e^x(x^2\cos x+2x\sin x)}{x^4\sin^2 x}.} \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{x^2\sin x e^x - e^x(x^2\cos x+2x\sin x)}{x^4\sin^2 x}.}