Chain Rule

Introduction

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

For example, if  $f(x)=x^{3}+2x^{2}+5x+3,$  then  $f'(x)=3x^{2}+4x+5.$

But, what about more complicated functions?

For example, what is  $f'(x)$  when  $f(x)=\sin x\cos x?$

Or what about  $g'(x)$  when  $g(x)={\frac {x}{x+1}}?$

Notice  $f(x)$  is a product, and  $g(x)$  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  $h(x)=f(x)g(x).$  Then,

$h'(x)=f(x)g'(x)+f'(x)g(x).$

Quotient Rule

Let  $h(x)={\frac {f(x)}{g(x)}}.$  Then,

$h'(x)={\frac {g(x)f'(x)-f(x)g'(x)}{(g(x))^{2}}}.$

Warm-Up

Calculate  $f'(x).$

1)   $f(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)$

Solution:
Using the Product Rule, we have
$f'(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)'+(x^{2}+x+1)'(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4).$
Then, using the Power Rule, we have
$f'(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(3x^{2}+4x)+(2x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4).$
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
${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f(x)}&=&\displaystyle {(x^{2}+x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x^{2}(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)+x(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)+1(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x^{5}+2x^{4}+4x^{2}+x^{4}+2x^{3}+4x+x^{3}+2x^{2}+4}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x^{5}+3x^{4}+3x^{3}+6x^{2}+4x+4.}\end{array}}$
Now, using the Power Rule, we get
$f'(x)=5x^{4}+12x^{3}+9x^{2}+12x+4.$
In general, calculating derivatives in this way is tedious. It would be better to use the Product Rule.

Final Answer:
$f'(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(3x^{2}+4x)+(2x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)$
or equivalently
$f'(x)=x^{5}+3x^{4}+3x^{3}+6x^{2}+4x+4$

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  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,

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}.}