Use the Chain Rule of Differentiation in Calculus

Let f(x) = (g
u
=

h)(x) = g(h(x)) and

g(x)

Let y = f(u); the derivative of f

with respect to x, f '(x) is given
by:
f '(x) = (dy / du) (du / dx)
We
now
present
several
examples of applications of the
chain
rule.
Example 1: Find the derivative f
'(x), if f is given by
f(x) = 4 cos (5x - 2)
Solution to Example 1
Let u = 5x - 2 and y = 4
cos
u,
hence
du / dx = 5 and dy / du =
-4 sin u
We now use the chain rule
f '(x) = (dy / du) (du / dx)
= - 4 sin (u) (5)
We now substitute u = 5x -

2 in sin (u) above to obtain

f '(x) = - 20 sin (5x - 2)

Example 2: Find the derivative f

'(x), if f is given by
f(x) = (x 3 - 4x + 5) 4
Solution to Example 2
Let u = x 3 - 4x + 5 and y =
4
u
,
hence
du / dx = 3 x 2 - 4 and dy /
du = 4 u 3
Use

the

chain

rule

f '(x) = (dy / du) (du / dx)

= (4 u 3) (3 x 2 - 4)
We now substitute u = x 3 4x + 5 above to obtain
f '(x) = 4 (x 3 - 4x + 5) 3 (3
x 2 - 4)

Example 3: Find f '(x), if f is

given by
f(x) = sqrt (x 2 + 2x -1)

where sqrt means square root

Solution to Example 3
Let u = x 2 + 2x -1 and y =
sqrt
(u)
,
hence
du / dx = 2x + 2 and dy /
du = 1 / (2 sqrt(u))
Use

the

chain

rule

f '(x) = (dy / du) (du / dx)

= [ 1 / (2 sqrt(u)) ] (2x + 2)
Substitute u = x 2 + 2x -1
above
to
obtain
f '(x) = (2x + 2) [ 1 / (2
sqrt(x 2 + 2x -1)) ]
Factor 2 in numerator and
denominator and simplify
f '(x) = (x + 1) / (sqrt(x 2 +
2x -1))

Example 4: Find the first

derivative of f if f is given by
f(x) = sin 2 (2x + 3)
Solution to Example 4
Let u = sin (2x +
3) and y = u 2 ,
hence

du / dx = 2
cos(2x + 3) and
dy / du = 2 u
Use

the

chain

rule

f '(x) = (dy / du) (du / dx)

= 2 u 2 cos(2x + 3)
Substitute u = sin (2x + 3)
above
to
obtain
f '(x) = 4 sin (2x + 3) cos
(2x + 3)
Use
the
trigonometric
fromula sin (2x) = 2 sinx
cos x to simplify f '(x)
f '(x) = 2 sin (4x + 6)

Exercises:
Find
the
derivative to each of
functions.
1

f(x)

cos

2 - l(x) = (3x

(3x

first
the
-3)

-3x + 8)

3 - m(x) = sin [ 1 / (x - 2)]

4 - t(x) = sqrt (3x
5 - r(x) = sin

- 3x + 6)

(4x + 20)

Solutions to the above exercises

1 - f '(x) = -3 sin (3x -3)

2 - l(x) = 12 (2x - 1) (3x 2 -3x + 8)
3

3 - m(x) = -1 / (x - 2) 2 cos [ 1 / (x
2)]
4 - t(x) = (3/2)(2x - 1) / sqrt (3x 2 3x
+
6)
5 - r(x) = 4 sin (8x + 4)