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Understanding the Chain Rule

The Chain Rule allows us to take the derivative 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). We can apply the Chain Rule when differentiating functions like sin(2x-1), (3x^2 - 4x + 1)^8, or e^-x^2 by identifying the inner and outer functions. The Chain Rule may need to be applied multiple times to differentiate more complex composite functions, like when taking the derivative of sqrt(sin^2(3x) + x).

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57 views2 pages

Understanding the Chain Rule

The Chain Rule allows us to take the derivative 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). We can apply the Chain Rule when differentiating functions like sin(2x-1), (3x^2 - 4x + 1)^8, or e^-x^2 by identifying the inner and outer functions. The Chain Rule may need to be applied multiple times to differentiate more complex composite functions, like when taking the derivative of sqrt(sin^2(3x) + x).

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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 nd the derivative of the composition f (g(x)):

Suppose a function g(x) is dierentiable at x and f (x) is dierentiable at g(x). Then the composition f (g(x)) is dierentiable 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 (g(x))g (x), dx d du [f (u)] = f (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 dierentiate sin(2x 1), we identify u = 2x 1. Then d d d [sin(2x 1)] = [sin(u)] [2x 1] dx dx dx = cos(u) 2 = 2 cos(2x 1).
8

f (x) = sin(x) g(x) = 2x 1 f (g(x)) = sin(2x 1)

To dierentiate (3x2 4x + 1) , we identify u = 3x2 4x + 1. Then

d dx

3x2 4x + 1

d d u8 3x2 4x + 1 du dx = 8u7 (6x 4) = = 8(6x 4) 3x2 4x + 1


2

f (x) = x8 g(x) = 3x2 4x + 1 f (g(x)) = 3x2 4x + 1


8

To diferentiate ex , we identify u = x2 . Then d x2 e dx d u d [e ] x2 du dx = eu (2x) = = 2xex .


2

f (x) = ex g(x) = x2 f (g(x)) = ex


2

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

Example We will dierentiate


d dx

sin2 (3x) + x. = = = = =
1 sin2 (3x)+x 1 sin2 (3x)+x

sin2 (3x) + x

d dx

sin2 (3x) + x

f (u) =

d 2 sin(3x) dx [sin(3x)] + 1 d 2 sin(3x) cos(3x) dx [3x] + 1

f (u) = u2 d [x] = 1 dx f (u) = sin(u)

1 sin2 (3x)+x 1 2 sin2 (3x)+x 2

(2 sin(3x) cos(3x) 3 + 1)

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

Key Concepts
Let g(x) be dierentiable at x and f (x) be dierentiable 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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