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  $f(x)=\sin(3x),$  it is the composition of the function  $y=3x$  with  $y=\sin(x).$

Similarly, for  $g(x)=(x+1)^{8},$  it is the composition of  $y=x+1$  and  $y=x^{8}.$

So, how do we take the derivative of compositions?

The answer to this question is exactly the Chain Rule.

Chain Rule

Let  $y=f(u)$  be a differentiable function of  $u$  and let  $u=g(x)$  be a differentiable function of  $x.$ 

Then,  Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle y=f(g(x))}   is a differentiable function of  $x$  and

$y'=f'(g(x))\cdot g'(x).$

Warm-Up

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

1)   $h(x)=\sin(3x)$

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

Solution:
Using the Quotient Rule, we have
$f'(x)={\frac {x(x^{2}+x^{3})'-(x^{2}+x^{3})(x)'}{x^{2}}}.$
Then, using the Power Rule, we have
$f'(x)={\frac {x(2x+3x^{2})-(x^{2}+x^{3})(1)}{x^{2}}}.$
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
${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {x^{2}+x^{3}}{x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {x^{2}}{x}}+{\frac {x^{3}}{x}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x+x^{2}.}\\\end{array}}$
Now, using the Power Rule, we get
$f'(x)=1+2x.$

Final Answer:
$f'(x)={\frac {x(2x+3x^{2})-(x^{2}+x^{3})}{x^{2}}}$
or equivalently
$f'(x)=1+2x$

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:
Using the Quotient Rule, we get
${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\cos x(\sin x)'-\sin x(\cos x)'}{(\cos x)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\cos x(\cos x)-\sin x(-\sin x)}{(\cos x)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\cos ^{2}x+\sin ^{2}x}{\cos ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {1}{\cos ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\sec ^{2}x}\end{array}}$
since  $\sin ^{2}x+\cos ^{2}x=1$  and  $\sec x={\frac {1}{\cos x}}.$
Since  ${\frac {\sin x}{\cos x}}=\tan x,$  we have
${\frac {d}{dx}}{\tan x}=\sec ^{2}x.$

Final Answer:
$f'(x)=\sec ^{2}x$

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

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}.}