Misc Examples of the Chain Rule

Ex. Trigonometric functions with angle nx

(sin 5x) = (cos 5x)(5x) = (cos 5x)5 = 5 cos(5x)
(csc 4x) = (csc 4x cot 4x)(4x) = 4 csc(4x) cot(4x)
In fact, for any number n,
(sin nx) = (cos nx)(nx) = (cos nx)n = n cos(nx)
The other trig functions have similar results, hence
1.

d
sin nx n cos nx
dx

2.

d
cos nx n sin nx
dx

3.

d
tan nx n sec 2 nx
dx

4.

d
sec nx n sec nx tan nx
dx

5.

d
cot nx n csc 2 nx
dx

6.

d
csc nx n csc nx cot nx
dx

Ex. Differentiate f (x) = sin(x + sin 2x)

f (x) = cos(x + sin 2x) (x + sin 2x) = cos(x + sin 2x)(1 + 2 cos 2x)
= (1 + 2 cos 2x) cos(x + sin 2x)
Ex. Given values of f , g, f , and g :
x

f(x)

g(x)

f (x) g(x)

1
2
3

3
1
7

2
8
2

4
5
7

6
7
9

(a) If h(x) = f (g(x)), find h(1).

By the Chain Rule, h(x) = f (g(x)) g(x). Thus, h(1) = f (g(1)) g(1) =
f (2) g(1) = 56 = 30.
(b) If H(x) = g(f (x)), find H(1).
Similarly, H(x) = g(f (x)) f (x). Thus, H(1) = g(f (1)) f (1)
= g(3) f (1) = 94 = 36.
(c) If F(x) = [h(x)]5 = [f (g(x))]5, find F (1).
F (x) = 5 [h(x)]4 h(x) = 5 [f (g(x))]4 f (g(x)) g(x).
Hence, F (1) = 5 [f (g(1))]4 f (g(1)) g(1) = 5 [f (2)]4 f (2) g(1)
= 5(1)456 = 150.

Ex. Let r(x) = f (g(h(x))), where h(1) = 2, g(2) = 3, h(1) = 4, g(2) = 5, and
f (3) = 6. Find r (1).
By the Chain Rule, r (x) = f (g(h(x))) g(h(x)) h(x).
Therefore, r (1) = f (g(h(1))) g(h(1)) h(1) = f (g(2)) g(2) h(1)
= f (3) g(2) h(1) = 654 = 120.