The Chain Rule

If 𝑦 is a function of 𝑢 and 𝑢 is a function of 𝑥, then 𝑦 is a function of 𝑥 or a composite function.

Hence, the derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 is the product of the derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑢 and
the derivative of 𝑢 with respect to 𝑥.
Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑢) and 𝑢 = 𝑔(𝑥), then
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑓′(𝑢) ∙ 𝑔′(𝑥) or
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑑𝑢 ∙ 𝑑𝑥 → the chain rule formula
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢
Where 𝑓 ′ (𝑢) = 𝑑𝑢
and 𝑔′ (𝑥) = 𝑑𝑥

The General Power Formula

Let 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑛 where 𝑢 = 𝑓(𝑥) is a differentiable function of 𝑥 and 𝑛 is a real number, then

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢 𝑑(𝑢𝑛 ) 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑢
= 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 and by chain rule where 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑑𝑢 ∙ 𝑑𝑥 , then 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 𝑑𝑥 .

Examples:
𝑑𝑦
1. 𝑦 = (5𝑥 + 1)6 , find
𝑑𝑥
𝑛=6
𝑢 = 5𝑥 + 1
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 5(1) + 0 = 5
𝑑(𝑢𝑛 ) 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 6(5𝑥 + 1)6−1 (5)
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 30(5𝑥 + 1)5
𝑑𝑦
2. 𝑦 = (3𝑥 − 4)−2 , find
𝑑𝑥
𝑛 = −2
𝑢 = 3𝑥 − 4
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 3(1) − 0 = 3
𝑑(𝑢𝑛 ) 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= −2(5𝑥 + 1)−2−1 (3)
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= −6(3𝑥 − 4)−3
3 −1 5 𝑑𝑥
3. 𝑥 = (2𝑦 − 𝑦 + 1) , find 𝑑𝑦
𝑛=5
𝑢 = 2𝑦 3 − 𝑦 −1 + 1
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑦
= 6𝑦 2 + 𝑦 −2 + 0 = 6𝑦 2 + 𝑦 −2
𝑑(𝑢𝑛 ) 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑛𝑢𝑛−1 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 5(2𝑦 3 − 𝑦 −1 + 1)5−1 (6𝑦 2 + 𝑦 −2 )
𝑑𝑦

Prepared by:
Engr. Rosalinda B. Mole𝐧̃o
Engr. Ma. Yvonne C. Bangero
Engr. Cristina A. Vale
1
 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
= 5(6𝑦 2 + 𝑦 −2 ) (2𝑦 3 − 𝑦 −1 + 1)4
4. 𝑦 = (𝑡 + 1)3 (2𝑡 − 1), 𝑦′
𝑑𝑢
𝑢 = (𝑡 + 1)3 , = 3(𝑡 + 1)2 (1) = 3(𝑡 + 1)2
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣
𝑣 = 2𝑡 − 1 , 𝑑𝑡 = 2(1) − 0 = 2
𝑑 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑡
(𝑢𝑣) = 𝑢 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑣 𝑑𝑡
′
𝑦 = + 1)3 (2) − (2𝑡 − 1)(3)(𝑡 + 1)2
(𝑡
𝑦′ = (𝑡 + 1)2 [2(𝑡 + 1) + 3(2𝑡 − 1)]
𝑦′ = (𝑡 + 1)2 (2𝑡 + 2 + 6𝑡 − 3)
𝑦′ = (𝑡 + 1)2 (8𝑡 − 1)

(2𝑤−7)2 𝑑𝑠
5. 𝑠 = , find
𝑤5 𝑑𝑤
𝑑𝑢
𝑢 = (2𝑤 − 7)2 , 𝑑𝑤 = 2(2𝑤 − 7)(2) = 4(2𝑤 − 7)
𝑑𝑣
𝑣 = 𝑤 5 , 𝑑𝑤 = 5𝑤 4
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑 𝑢 𝑣 −𝑢
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑤
𝑑𝑤 𝑣
( )= 𝑣2
𝑑𝑠 𝑤 5 (4)(2𝑤−7)−(2𝑤−7)2 (5𝑤 4 )
𝑑𝑤
= (𝑤 5 )2
𝑑𝑠 𝑤 4 (2𝑤−7)[4𝑤−5(2𝑤−7)]
𝑑𝑤
= 𝑤 10
𝑑𝑠 (2𝑤−7)(4𝑤−10𝑤+35)
𝑑𝑤
= 𝑤6
𝑑𝑠 (2𝑤−7)(−6𝑤+35)
𝑑𝑤
= 𝑤6

5 𝑑𝑦
6. 𝑦 = 6 (3 − 4𝑥)−6, find 𝑑𝑥
5
𝑐=6
𝑣 = (3 − 4𝑥)−6
𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑥
= −6 (3 − 4𝑥)−7 (0 − 4)
𝑑𝑣
= 24 (3 − 4𝑥)−7
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑣 24
𝑑𝑥
= (3−4𝑥)7
𝑑(𝑐𝑣) 𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑐 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 5 24
𝑑𝑥
= 6 [(3−4𝑥)7 ]
20
= (3−4𝑥)7

(𝑥+3)2 𝑑𝑦
7. 𝑦 = 𝑥 5 find 𝑑𝑥 Note: Use three methods
Method 1
(𝑥+3)2
𝑦= 𝑥5
𝑥 2 +6𝑥+9
𝑦= 𝑥5
2
𝑢 = 𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 9 𝑣 = 𝑥5
Prepared by:
Engr. Rosalinda B. Mole𝐧̃o
Engr. Ma. Yvonne C. Bangero
Engr. Cristina A. Vale
2
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑥
= 2𝑥 + 6 + 0 𝑑𝑥
= 5𝑥 4
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 2𝑥 + 6
𝑢 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑( ) 𝑣 −𝑢
𝑣 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑣2
𝑑𝑦 𝑥 5 (2𝑥+6)−(𝑥 2 +6𝑥+9)(5𝑥 4 )
𝑑𝑥
= (𝑥 5 )2
2𝑥 6 +6𝑥 5 −5𝑥 6 −30𝑥 5 −45𝑥 4
=
𝑥 10
−3𝑥 6 −24𝑥 5 −45𝑥 4
= 𝑥 10
𝑥 4 (−3𝑥 2 −24𝑥−45)
= 𝑥 10
𝑑𝑦 −(3𝑥 2 +24𝑥+45)
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥6

Method 2
(𝑥+3)2
𝑦 = 𝑥5
𝑢 = (𝑥 + 3)2 𝑣 = 𝑥5
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑥
= 2(𝑥 + 3)(1) 𝑑𝑥
= 5𝑥 4
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 2(𝑥 + 3)
𝑢 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑( ) 𝑣 −𝑢
𝑣 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑣2
𝑑𝑦 𝑥 5 (2)(𝑥+3)−(𝑥+3)2 (5𝑥 4 )
𝑑𝑥
= (𝑥 5 )2
𝑥 4 (𝑥+3)[2(𝑥)−5(𝑥+3)]
=
𝑥 10
(𝑥+3)(2𝑥−5𝑥−15)
= 𝑥6
(𝑥+3)(−3𝑥−15)
= 𝑥6
−3𝑥 2 −15𝑥−9𝑥−45
= 𝑥6
𝑑𝑦 −(3𝑥 2 +24𝑥+45)
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑥6

Method 3
(𝑥+3)2
𝑦=
𝑥5
𝑦 = (𝑥 + 3)2 (𝑥 −5 )
𝑢 = (𝑥 + 3)2 𝑣 = 𝑥 −5
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑥
= 2(𝑥 + 3)(1) 𝑑𝑥
= −5𝑥 −6
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 2(𝑥 + 3)
𝑑(𝑢𝑣) 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑢 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑣 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= (𝑥 + 3)2 (−5𝑥 −6 ) + 𝑥 −5 (2)(𝑥 + 3)
−6 (𝑥
=𝑥 + 3)[−5(𝑥 + 3) + 2𝑥]
= 𝑥 −6 (𝑥 + 3)[−5𝑥 − 15 + 2𝑥]
= 𝑥 −6 (𝑥 + 3)(−3𝑥 − 15)
Prepared by:
Engr. Rosalinda B. Mole𝐧̃o
Engr. Ma. Yvonne C. Bangero
Engr. Cristina A. Vale
3
 = 𝑥 −6 (−3𝑥 2 − 15𝑥 − 9𝑥 − 45)
= 𝑥 −6 (−3𝑥 2 − 24𝑥 − 45)
𝑑𝑦 −(3𝑥 2 +24𝑥+45)
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥6

𝑑𝑥
8. 𝑥 = √1 + √1 − 𝑦 find
𝑑𝑦
𝑢 = 1 + √1 − 𝑦
𝑑𝑢 −1
=0+
𝑑𝑦 2√1−𝑦
𝑑𝑢 1
𝑑𝑦
=−
2√1−𝑦
𝑑𝑢
𝑑(√𝑢 ) 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
= 2√𝑢
1
−
𝑑𝑥 2√1−𝑦 1 1
= =− ∙
𝑑𝑦 2√1−𝑦
2√1+√1−𝑦 2√1+√1−𝑦
𝑑𝑥 1
𝑑𝑦
=−
4√1−𝑦 √1+√1−𝑦

Exercises:
Find the first derivative of the following functions.
1. 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 7)4
2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 (5𝑥 2 − 1)2
3. 𝑦 = √𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 4
(2𝑥+3)4
4. 𝑦 = (𝑥+1)3
3
5. 𝑦 = √2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
3
6. 𝑦 = (5𝑥 2 − 4)5
2
7. 𝑦 = 5
(3𝑥+4)−9
8. 𝑦 = √(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1)4

Prepared by:
Engr. Rosalinda B. Mole𝐧̃o
Engr. Ma. Yvonne C. Bangero
Engr. Cristina A. Vale
4