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Chain Rule

The document summarizes the chain rule for taking derivatives of composite functions. It states that the derivative of f(g(x)) is the derivative of the outer function f evaluated at g(x) multiplied by the derivative of the inner function g(x). Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the chain rule to find derivatives of functions like sin(2x-1) and e-x^2. The key concepts reiterate that the chain rule allows calculating the derivative of a composite function f(g(x)) by taking the derivative of f with respect to its input multiplied by the derivative of g(x).

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125 views2 pages

Chain Rule

The document summarizes the chain rule for taking derivatives of composite functions. It states that the derivative of f(g(x)) is the derivative of the outer function f evaluated at g(x) multiplied by the derivative of the inner function g(x). Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the chain rule to find derivatives of functions like sin(2x-1) and e-x^2. The key concepts reiterate that the chain rule allows calculating the derivative of a composite function f(g(x)) by taking the derivative of f with respect to its input multiplied by the derivative of g(x).

Uploaded by

surojiddin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial:

The Chain Rule


You probably remember the derivatives of sin(x), x8 , and ex . But what about functions
2
like sin(2x 1), (3x2 4x + 1)8 , or ex ? How do we take the derivative of compositions
of functions?

The Chain Rule allows us to use our knowledge of the derivatives of functions f (x) and
g(x) to find the derivative of the composition f (g(x)):

Suppose a function g(x) is differentiable at x and f (x) is


differentiable at g(x). Then the composition f (g(x)) is
differentiable at x.
Letting y = f (g(x)) and u = g(x),

dy dy du
= .
dx du dx
Using alternative notation,
d
[f (g(x))] = f 0 (g(x))g 0 (x),
dx
d du
[f (u)] = f 0 (u) .
dx dx

Proof

The three formulations of the Chain Rule given here are identical in meaning. In words, the
derivative of f (g(x)) is the derivative of f , evaluated at g(x), multiplied by the derivative of
g(x).

Examples

To differentiate sin(2x 1), we identify u = 2x 1. Then

d d d
[sin(2x 1)] = [sin(u)] [2x 1] f (x) = sin(x)
dx du dx
= cos(u) 2 g(x) = 2x 1
= 2 cos(2x 1). f (g(x)) = sin(2x 1)
8
To differentiate (3x2 4x + 1) , we identify u = 3x2 4x + 1. Then
d  2 d h 8i d h 2
 8  i
3x 4x + 1 = u 3x 4x + 1 f (x) = x8
dx du dx
7
= 8u (6x 4) g(x) = 3x2 4x + 1
7  8
3x2 4x + 1

= 8(6x 4) 3x2 4x + 1 . f (g(x)) =
2
To differentiate ex , we identify u = x2 . Then

d h x2 i d u d h 2i
e = [e ] x f (x) = ex
dx du dx
= eu (2x) g(x) = x2
2

= 2xex .
2
f (g(x)) = ex

Sometimes you will need to apply the Chain Rule several times in order to differentiate a
function.

Example q
We will differentiate sin2 (3x) + x.


q  h i
d
dx
sin2 (3x) + x = 1
d
dx
sin2 (3x) + x f (u) = u
2 sin2 (3x)+x

1

d
 f (u) = u2
= 2 sin(3x) dx [sin(3x)] + 1 d
2 sin2 (3x)+x
dx
[x] = 1
 
= 1 d
2 sin(3x) cos(3x) dx [3x] + 1 f (u) = sin(u)
2 sin2 (3x)+x
= 1 (2 sin(3x) cos(3x) 3 + 1)
2 sin2 (3x)+x

6 sin(3x) cos(3x) + 1
= q
2 sin2 (3x) + x

Key Concepts

Let g(x) be differentiable at x and f (x) be differentiable at f (g(x)). Then, if y = f (g(x))


and u = g(x),
dy dy du
= .
dx du dx

[Im ready to take the quiz.] [I need to review more.]


[Take me back to the Tutorial Page]

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