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Chainrule PDF

The document summarizes the chain rule for taking derivatives of composite functions. It states that if f(x) is differentiable at g(x) and g(x) is differentiable at x, then the derivative of the composition f(g(x)) is the derivative of f evaluated at g(x) multiplied by the derivative of g(x). Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the chain rule to find derivatives of functions like sin(2x-1), (3x^2 - 4x + 1)^8, and e^-x^2. An additional example shows applying the chain rule multiple times to differentiate sqrt(sin^2(3x) + x).

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57 views2 pages

Chainrule PDF

The document summarizes the chain rule for taking derivatives of composite functions. It states that if f(x) is differentiable at g(x) and g(x) is differentiable at x, then the derivative of the composition f(g(x)) is the derivative of f evaluated at g(x) multiplied by the derivative of g(x). Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the chain rule to find derivatives of functions like sin(2x-1), (3x^2 - 4x + 1)^8, and e^-x^2. An additional example shows applying the chain rule multiple times to differentiate sqrt(sin^2(3x) + x).

Uploaded by

Krishna Samhitha Yettapu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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 e−x ? 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 e−x , 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

= −2xe−x .
2
f (g(x)) = e−x

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

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


[Take me back to the Tutorial Page]

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