C3

MATHEMATICS
SUPPORT CENTRE

Title: Calculus: Differentiation using the chain rule.

Target: On completion of this worksheet you should be able to use the chain rule to
differentiate functions of a function.

y = x3 + 2 is a function of x Exercise

y = (x3 + 2)2 is a function (the square) of Differentiate the following functions with
the function (x + 2) of x.
3 respect to x:

1. 4(x2 + 1)2
To differentiate this
2. 3(x2 + 1)-1
we write u = (x + 2) , so that y = u
3 2
3. 2(x4 + x)-1
4. 2(x3 – x)-2
dy dy du 5.
½
The chain rule is that = × (x + 1)
dx du dx 6. (x + 1)-
½
For our example ½
7. 2(x + 3)
dy du
= 2u and = 3x 2 , 8. (x2 + 1)
½
du dx ½
9. (x2 + 4x)
dy
= 2u × 3x 2 = 2( x 3 + 2) × 3 x 2 = 6 x 2 ( x 3 + 2) 10. 4(x3 + 1)
½
dx ½
11. (x2 + 3x)-
½
12. 3(x2 + 4x)-
Exercise
Answers:
Differentiate the following functions with
respect to x: 1. 16x(x2 + 1)
2. –6x(x2 + 1)-2
1. (x + 1)3 3. –2(x4 + x)-2(4x3 + 1)
2. (x + 2)4 4. -4(x3 – x)-3(3x2 – 1)
3. (x2 + 3)4 5. ½(x + 1)-
½
4. (x2 + 5x –2)2 3
1 −
5. (x2 + 4)-1 6. − ( x + 1) 2
6. (x4 + 3x)-2 2
½
7. (x3 + 2x2 + 5x + 2)3 7. (x + 3)-
½
8. (5x5 – 4x3)-3 8. x(x2 + 1)-
½
Answers: 9. (x2 + 4x)- (x + 2)
½
10. 6x2(x3 + 1)-
1. 3(x + 1)2 3
1 −
2. 4(x + 2)3 11. − ( x 2 + 3x ) 2 (2 x + 3)
3. 4(x2 + 3)3 × 2x = 8x(x2 + 3)3 2
4. 2(x2 + 4x – 2)(2x + 5) 3
3 2 −

5. -2x(x2 + 4)-2 12. − ( x + 4 x) 2 (2 x + 4)

2
6. -2(x4 + 3x)-3(4x + 3)
7. 3(x3 + 2x2 + 5x + 2)2(3x2 + 4x + 5)
8. -3(3x2 – 4x3)-4(25x4 – 12x2)

© Mathematics Support Centre, Coventry University, 2001

Exercise Answers.

Differentiate the following functions with 1.

9 x2 (x3 + 5)-¼
respect to x; 2. 6(x – x + 1) (4x -1)
4 -¼ 3

( Hint: for some functions simplify first, −7

then differentiate) 3. − 3( x − 7 x + 3)
2 4
(2 x − 7 )

1. 4(x3 + 5)
¾ 4. simplify: 3x 2 + 4 x to (3x2+ 4x)½
differentiate to give (3x+2)(3x + 4x)
¾ 2 -½
2. 8(x – x + 1)
4

-¾
3. 4(x – 7x + 3)
2
1

4. 3x + 4 x
2
5. simplify:
3
2 x + 6 x to ( 2 x + 6 x )
2 2 3

differentiate to give
5.
3
2 x2 + 6x −2
1
( 2 x 2 + 6 x ) 3 (4 x + 6)
1 3
6. −2
( x − 1)
4
2
= ( 2 x 2 + 6 x ) 3 ( 2 x + 3)
1 3
7.
( 2 x + 7)
3

1
3 6. simplify: to (x - 1)-1
4
8.
(5 x − 4 )
2 ( x − 1) 4

differentiate to give - 4x (x - 1)-2

3 4
1
9. 1
( x + x) 2
3
7. simplify: to (2x + 7)-1
3
( 2 x + 7)
3
7
10. differentiate to give - 6x (2x + 7)-2
2 3
( x + x) 2
2

3
8. simplify: to 3(5x - 4)-1
2
5
11. (5 x − 4 ) 2

( 2 x + 3x )
3
differentiate to give - 30x(5x - 4)-2
2

1
12.
( x + 1) 9. simplify:
1
to (x + x)-2
3

1 ( x + x) 2 3

13.
differentiate to give - 6x (x + x)-3
2 3
2x3 + 5
14. (3x - 7 x + 3 x - 5 x)
4 3 2 3

15. (x + 5 x) + 2(x - 5x)

2 2 3 3 7
10. simplify: to 7(x + x)-2
2
( x + x) 2 2

differentiate to give - 14(2x+1)(x +x)-3

2

11. -15(2x + 3x) (2x + 1)

3 -2 2

1
12. simplify: to (x + 1)
-½
( x + 1)
−3
1
differentiate to give − (x + 1) 2
2
−3

13. − 3x( 2 x + 5)
3 2

14. 3(3x -7 x +3 x -5x) (12x -21x + 6x-5)

4 3 2 2 3 2

15. 2(x + 5 x)(2x+5) + 6(x - 5x) (3x - 5)

2 3 2 2

© Mathematics Support Centre, Coventry University, 2001