DIFFERENTIATION & FUNCTIONS (Q 6, 7 & 8, PAPER 1)

LESSON NO. 6: DIFFERENTIATION 4: CHAIN RULE

2006
dy
7 (b) (ii) Given that y = (5 − x 2 )3 , find when x = 2.
dx
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

du
u = (5 − x 2 ) ⇒ = 0 − 2 x = −2 x
dx

dy
y = (5 − x 2 )3 ⇒ = 3(5 − x 2 ) 2 × (−2 x)
dx
dy
⇒ = −6 x(5 − x 2 ) 2 [Replace x by 2.]
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
⇒ ⎜ ⎟ = −6(2)(5 − (2) 2 ) 2
⎝ dx ⎠ x = 2
= −12(5 − 4) 2 = −12(1) 2 = −12(1) = −12

2004
dy
7 (b) (ii) Given that y = ( x 2 − 2 x − 3)3 , show that = 0 when x = 1.
dx
SOLUTION
y = ( x 2 − 2 x − 3)3
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

du
u = ( x 2 − 2 x − 3) ⇒ = 2x − 2
dx

y = ( x 2 − 2 x − 3)3
dy
⇒ = 3( x 2 − 2 x − 3) 2 (2 x − 2)
dx
dy
⇒ = (6 x − 6)( x 2 − 2 x − 3) 2
dx
2003
7 (b) (i) Differentiate (3 x3 − 2 x 2 + 2) 4 with respect to x.
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

du
u = (3 x3 − 2 x 2 + 2) ⇒ = 9x2 − 4 x
dx
dy
y = (3 x3 − 2 x 2 + 2) 4 ⇒ = 4(3 x3 − 2 x 2 + 2)3 (9 x 2 − 4 x) = (36 x 2 − 16 x)(3 x3 − 2 x 2 + 2)3
dx

2002
dy
6 (b) (i) Find where y = ( x − 1)7 and evaluate your answer at x = 2.
dx
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.
y = ( x − 1)7
dy du
⇒ = 7( x − 1)6 (1) = 7( x − 1)6 u = ( x − 1) ⇒ =1
dx dx

2001
dy
7 (b) (ii) Find the value of at x = 0 when y = ( x 2 − 7 x + 1)5 .
dx
SOLUTION
du
u = x2 − 7 x + 1 ⇒ = 2x − 7
dx
dy
y = ( x 2 − 7 x + 1)5 ⇒ = 5( x 2 − 7 x + 1) 4 (2 x − 7)
dx
dy
⇒ = (10 x − 35)( x 2 − 7 x + 1) 4
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
⇒ ⎜ ⎟ = (10(0) − 35)((0) 2 − 7(0) + 1) 4 = (−35)(1) 4 = −35
⎝ dx ⎠ x =0
2000
dy
7 (b) (ii) Find when y = ( x 2 + 5 x − 1)3.
dx
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

du
u = ( x 2 + 5 x − 1) ⇒ = 2x + 5
dx
y = ( x 2 + 5 x − 1)3
dy
⇒ = 3( x 2 + 5 x − 1) 2 (2 x + 5)
dx
dy
⇒ = (6 x + 15)( x 2 + 5 x − 1) 2
dx

1999
dy
7 (b) (i) Find when y = (3 − 7 x)5 .
dx
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) ⇒
n
= n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

du
u = 3 − 7x ⇒ = −7
dx
dy
y = (3 − 7 x)5 ⇒ = 5(3 − 7 x) 4 (−7) = −35(3 − 7 x) 4
dx
1998
dy
when y = (4 − 3 x ) and write down the range of values of x for
2 7
7 (b) (ii) Find
dx
dy
which > 0.
dx
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.
du
u = (4 − 3x 2 ) ⇒ = −6 x
dx
dy
y = (4 − 3x 2 )7 ⇒ = 7(4 − 3 x 2 )6 (−6 x) = −42 x(4 − 3 x 2 )6
dx
dy
> 0 ⇒ −42 x(4 − 3 x 2 )6 > 0
dx
What values of x make this statement true?
(4 − 3 x 2 )6 > 0 is true for all values of x. No matter what value is inside the bracket, once you
raise it to an even power the value will be positive.
This means that x must be negative so that the −42x is also positive.
Therefore, x < 0.

1997
dy
7 (b) (ii) Find the value of at x = −1 when y = (3 x + 1) 4 .
dx
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

du
u = 3x + 1 ⇒ =3
dx
dy
y = (3 x + 1) 4 ⇒ = 4(3 x + 1)3 (3) = 12(3 x + 1)3
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
∴⎜ ⎟ = 12(3(−1) + 1)3 = 12(−3 + 1)3
⎝ dx ⎠ x =−1
= 12(−2)3 = 12(−8) = −96
1996
7
⎛ 1 ⎞
7 (b) (ii) Differentiate ⎜ x5 − 2 ⎟ with respect to x, x ≠ 0.
⎝ x ⎠
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) ⇒
n
= n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

1 du 2
u = x5 − 2
= x 5 − x −2 ⇒ = 5 x 4 + 2 x −3 = 5 x 4 + 3
x dx x
7 6
⎛ 1 ⎞ dy ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 2⎞
y = ⎜ x5 − 2 ⎟ ⇒ = 7 ⎜ x5 − 2 ⎟ ⎜ 5 x 4 + 3 ⎟
⎝ x ⎠ dx ⎝ x ⎠ ⎝ x ⎠
6
dy ⎛ 14 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
∴ = ⎜ 35 x 4 + 3 ⎟ ⎜ x 5 − 2 ⎟
dx ⎝ x ⎠⎝ x ⎠