2020

The chain rule

By Caleb Cheruiyot
Published by C Square Educationals publishers
First Edition:12/12/2020
THE CHAIN RULE

An iron chain portrays the philosophy of linking together the way the chain rule works!
Image source: https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/heavy-chains
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.An introduction to the chain rule.
2.The history of the chain rule.
3.The proving of the chain rule.
4.Solved examples of the chain rule.
5.Practice questions on the chain rule.
6.References.
1.An introduction to the chain rule.
Hey! Guys let us look at the chain rule. What exactly is the chain rule? The chain rule is a
formula to composite function. The chain rule is a good friend when calculating when
calculating the derivatives that may look very complicated. The chain rule works on the
philosophy of linking things together to increase their efficiency. It looks like the chain rule is an
extension of the power rule guys! However, the chain rule makes work easier when calculating
derivatives of those functions that have very high degree of power. The chain rule also works
very well on other functions as well. It is said that we must be familiar with our history before
we can predict our future. I want us to broaden our knowledge by looking a little bit about the
history of the chain rule.
2.The history of the chain rule.
The chain rule was discovered by a Scottish mathematician known as James Gregory. The
mathematician was born around the year 1638.James Gregory was also one of the first people
who discovered the theory of calculus in general. He went on to become the first professor of
mathematics at the University of Saint Andrews. After this, he also became the professor of
mathematics at the University of Edinburg however a year after this James Gregory died at the
age of 36.
mathematician and astronomer James Gregory
Image source: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/james-gregory-(mathematician)
Scottish Gottfried Leibniz also used the chain rule, he first mentioned it in his 1676 memoir.

Scottish mathematician Gottfried Leibniz

Image source: https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/gottfried-wilhelm-leibniz

Guillaume de I ‘Hospital used the chain rule implicitly in his Analyse des infiniment petits.
Mathematician Guillaume de I ‘Hospital
Image source: https://mathhistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/De_LHospital/
3.The proving of the chain rule.
Hope you guys have got a little history of the chain rule let us then proceed to something else.
Maybe a point to note is that mathematics in general is very crucial for scientific study like
chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, engineering etc. Mathematics is also important
even for non-scientific disciplines i.e. sociology! In connection to this, I believe it is a good
practice to always express mathematical principles like the chin rule in a logical manner.
Remember, anything that is based on scientific deductions has to follow the line of logic. In this
section we are going to prove the chain rule as much as we can logically. So, then guys! Let us
proceed;
Guys, do you remember the concept that if y = f(x) then a change its value to a + Δh then the
increase in is defined as;
Δy=¿ f (a + Δh) – f(a)
From definition of derivatives;

lim ¿ Δy = f’(a)
Δx → 0 Δx
Let us denote the difference between the difference quotient and the derivative by the Greek
symbol ζ then we get;

lim ¿ ζ = lim ¿ ( Δy – f’(a)) = f’(a) – f’(a) = 0

Δx → 0 Δx → 0 Δx
Δy
But; Greek symbol ζ = – f’(a) > Δy=¿ f (a)Δx) + ζΔx
Δx
If ζ becomes 0 when Δx then ζ becomes a continuous function of Δx .Therefore a continuous
function f we can conclude;
 Δy=¿ f’ (a) + ζΔx where ζ→0 as Δx → 0 …………………… Let us call this
equation 1
Suppose u = g(x) is differentiable at a and y = f(u) is differentiable at b = g(a). If Δx is an
increment in x and Δu and Δyare corresponding increments in u and y.
Using equation 1;
Δu=¿ g’ (a) + ζΔx Δx=¿ g’(a) + ζ1 ¿ Δx ………………………………Let us call this
equation 2
where ζ→0 as Δx → 0
Δy=¿ f’ (a)ζΔu + ζ2 Δu=¿ f’(b) + ζ2 ¿ Δu ……………………………Let us call this
equation 3
where ζ→0 as Δx → 0; If we now substitute the equation for Δu from equation 2 to
equation 3;
Δy=¿ [f’(b) + ζ2 ] Δu=¿ g’(a) + ζ1 ¿ Δx
Δy
¿ [f’(b) + ζ2 ] Δu=¿ g’(a) + ζ1 ¿
Δx
As Δx → 0 equation 2 shows that Δu → 0. Both ζ 1→ 0 and ζ 2→ 0 as Δx → 0;
Therefore;
Δy lim ¿ Δy lim ¿ ¿ [f’(b) +
= ζ2 ] Δu=¿ g’(a) + ζ1 ¿
Δx Δx → 0 Δx Δx → 0

f’(b)g’(a) = f’g(a)g’(a) And finally we have the chain rule. The notation above is called the
prime notation. There is another notation named after the scientist Gottfried Leibniz and the
dy
notation goes as follows ;if y = f(u) and u = g(x) the derivative can be calculated as follows
dx
dy du
= .Let us look at some other interesting way of visualizing the chain rule. This way goes
du dx
as follows; A function f whose derivative is to be computed would have two parts; the inside part
and the outside part. When calculating its derivative, the derivative of both parts is calculated
and then to find the total answer, we multiply both derivatives. It is usually called the derivative
of the outside x derivative of the inside. I know it seems weird but it is very simple way of
visualizing the chain rule in the layman’s language. It’s also my favorite, you will love it guys!
Now we have got the gist of the chain rule so now we are going to practice on it. Don’t worry
guys and plus we are going to do the calculations using all the ways of visualizing the chain rule
including the inside and the outside concept. We are going to start with the prime notation;
4.Solved examples of the chain rule.
Example 1
Find the derivative of;
 5
y = ( x 2 +1 )

Guys using the power notation;

f’(b)g’(a) = f’g(a)g’(a)
Let us break our problem onto parts. Remember guys, the key to solving a problem is breaking it
into parts which become easy to solve.
4
f’g(a) becomes 5 ( x 2+ 1 ) while g’(a) becomes 2x;
4
Then our answer becomes 5 ( x 2+ 1 ) (2x)

Example 2
Find the derivative of;
y = sin2x
Again, using the power notation;
f’(b)g’(a) = f’g(a)g’(a)
Breaking the problem into parts we get;
f’g(a) becomes cos2x while g’(a) becomes 2
Multiplying both we get our answer which is cos2x.2 = 2cos2x
A point to note about computation of trigonometric derivatives is that they their computation is
not based on the power rule as we have seen in the example above. Look at the example below to
understand better.
Example 3
Find the derivative of;
y = cos2x
, using the power notation;
f’(b)g’(a) = f’g(a)g’(a)
Breaking the problem into parts we get;
f’g(a) becomes -sin2x while g’(a) becomes 2
Multiplying both we get our answer which is -sin2x.2 = -2sin2x.
Example 4;
Find the derivative of;
9
y = ( x 3 + x 2 +2 x+ 8 )
Guys using the power notation;
f’(b)g’(a) = f’g(a)g’(a)
breaking our problem into parts;
8
f’g(a) becomes 9 ( x 3 + x 2 +2 x+ 8 ) while g’(a) becomes3 x 2+2 x +2 ;
8
Then our answer becomes (9 ( x 3 + x2 +2 x+ 8 ) )¿ )

Example 5
Find the derivative of;
1000
y = ( x5 + x 4 )

Guys using the power notation;

f’(b)g’(a) = f’g(a)g’(a)
breaking our problem into parts;
999
f’g(a) becomes 1000 ( x 5 + x 4 ) while g’(a) becomes5 x 4 +4 x3 ;
999
Then our answer becomes (1000 ( x 5 + x 4 ) )(5 x 4 +4 x3 ¿

Hey friends do you look at the degree of power? Did you see how we computed it so fast? This is
now the beauty of the chain rule, it is so efficient. We will now be proceeding to the other
practice example but unlike the above, we will be focusing on using the Leibniz notation.
Example 1
Find the derivative of;
y = tan2x
, using the Leibniz notation;
dy dy du
=
dx du dx
Breaking the problem into parts we get;
The above problem being y = f(u) where
The symbol u = g(x) = 2x while f becomes tan2x;
dy du
= then becomes sec 2 2 x while becomes 2
du dx
Multiplying both we get our final answer which is sec 2 2 x .2=¿ 2sec 2 2 x
*Note how the trigonometric integrals are made
Example 2
Find the derivative of;
y = csc2x
, using the Leibniz notation;
dy dy du
=
dx du dx
we get;
The above problem being y = f(u) where
The symbol u = g(x) = 2x while f becomes csc2x;
dy du
= then becomes -csc2xcot2x; while becomes 2
du dx
Then our final answer becomes -csc2xcot2x.2 = -2 csc2xcot2x
Example 3
Find the derivative of;

y = √ x 2+7

, using the Leibniz notation;

dy dy du
=
dx du dx
Then we compute it as follows;
The above problem being y = f(u) where

The symbol u = g(x) =√ x 2+7 while f becomes x 2+ 7

dy du
= then becomes1/2 ¿ 7¿−1/ 2; while becomes 2x
du dx
Finally, the answer becomes (1/2 ¿ 7¿−1/ 2 ¿( 2x)

Example 4
Find the derivative of;
y = ¿x + 8 ¿ ¿5
By Leibniz notation;
 dy dy du
=
dx du dx
Then we compute it as follows;
The above problem being y = f(u) where
The symbol u = g(x) =¿x + 8 ¿ ¿5while f becomes x 3+ 9x +8
dy du
= then becomes5 ¿x + 8 ¿ ¿4 while becomes 3 x 2+9
du dx
Finally, guys, our answer becomes (5 ¿x + 8 ¿ ¿4 ¿ (3 x 2+9)
Example 5
Find the derivative of;
1
y=
x
Using Leibniz notation of the chain rule;
dy dy du
=
dx du dx
The derivative of the above is evaluated as follows;
The above problem being y = f(u) where
The symbol u = g(x) = x−1while f becomes x
dy du
= then becomes−1(x−2 )while becomes 1
du dx

The final answer is; s −1(x−2 )

Cheer up guys we are now going to proceed to other examples as before, however at this point
we are going to visualize the chain rule in the layman’s perspective i.e. the `inside x the outside’
or the vice versa. I believe we can do it guys together!
Example 1
Find the derivative of;
y =( 6 x + 15 ¿ ¿3

The outer expression here is ( 6 x + 15 ¿ ¿3 while the inner one is 6x + 15

Then computing it we get;
3( 6 x + 15 ¿ ¿2.6 = 18 ( 6 x + 15 ¿ ¿2
 Note that derivative of the constant is 0 which is the reason 15 was insignificant to our
calculations
Example 2
Find the derivative of;
y =( 2 x - 1 ¿ ¿8

Our outer expression here is = ( 2 x - 1 ¿ ¿8while the inner one is 2x - 1

Then computing it we get;
8( 2 x - 1 ¿ ¿7.2 = 16 ( 2 x - 1 ¿ ¿7
I hope the principle of multiplying the derivative of the outer with the derivative of the inner is
clear here friends.
Example 3
Find the derivative of;
y =( x - 1 ¿ ¿6

Outer expression here is = ( x - 1 ¿ ¿6while the inner one is x - 1

Then computing it we get;
6( x - 1 ¿ ¿5.1 = 1 ( x - 1 ¿ ¿5
Example 4
Find the derivative of;
y = sec6x
Outer expression here is sec6x while the inner one is 6x
Our final answer then becomes;
Sec6xtan6x.6 = Sec6xtan6x.6 = 6 Sec6xtan6x
Example 5
Find the derivative of;
y = cot10x
Outer expression here is cot10xwhile the inner one is 10x
The final answer then becomes;
-csc10x.10 = -10 csc10x.10 = -10 csc10x
Guys you see how it goes; you realize that the layman’s visualization is more down to earth.
However, I leave you with the choice to choose which one is conventional to you. Calculus is
fun and the chain rule is enjoyable. I am leaving you with the following questions to attempt, I
hope they bring you no problems as we have done much of the examples. Keep practicing and
remember that practicing is the key.
A point worth noting is that the chain rule is not limited t being used once during calculations.
We can have single chain rule as in the examples above, there is also the double chain rule, the
triple chain rule is also present and so on. Let us look at how the double chin rule in the example
below;
Example
Find the derivative of;
y = (1+ cot4 x ¿ ¿ 2
Our answer becomes;
2(1+cot4x) (-cot4x).4 = 8(1+cot4x) (-cot4x).
Hope you have seen how the multiple chain rule goes in the double chin rule above. If
you have not gotten it, I would recommend thorough practice!
5.Practice questions on the chain rule.
Find the derivatives of the following;
1.y = sec15x
2.y = 1-tan3x
3.y = cos3xtan5x
4.y = ¿x + 60 ¿ ¿99

5.y = x 2+ ¿ 10x + 15
That was it for this long study. I hope you were helped. The chain rule is very interesting and
cool. Hope you guys enjoyed it.
6.References
1.[James _ Stewart] _Calculus_7th_Edition (BookFi).pdf.

2.Wikipedia- The Chain Rule.

3. https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/heavy-chains

4. https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/james-gregory-(mathematician)

5. https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/gottfried-wilhelm-leibniz
6. https://mathhistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/De_LHospital/
About author

Caleb Cheruiyot is a bachelor of education science student specializing in mathematics and chemistry.
He is also an author and a science educator. He is the head of C Square Educationals which utilizes
Facebook page C square Educationals, Facebook group C Square Educationals, WhatsApp group C
Square Educationals. There is also a YouTube channel and the website www.csquareeducationals.com.
Besides those, C Square Educationals utilize every social media platform in enhancing education and
sharing educational materials and ideas.
 Copyright © 2020

In loving memory of the late Augustine Mutai former principal Ainamoi High
School