Section 15.

4: Chain rRule

dy
Recall: for a differentiable function y = f (u) where u = g(x) is differentiable, i.e. y = f (g(x)), we have =
dx
MATH 233 Fall 2020 15.4: Chain Rule

Theorem: (Chain Rule, Case 1 ) If z = f (x, y) is a differentiable function of x and y and x = g(t) and y = h(t) are differentiable
dz
functions of t, then =
dt

dw
1. Find given w = xy 2 sin(3z), x = 2t2 + 1, y = −t, z = cot t.
dt
MATH 233 Fall 2020 15.4: Chain Rule

2. A manufacturer modeled its yearly production P in millions of dollars as a Cobb-Douglas function,

P (L, K) = 1.47L0.65 K 0.35 ,

where L is the number of labor hours (in thousands) and K is the invested capital (in millions of dollars). Suppose that
when L is 30 and K is 8, the labor force is decreasing at a rate of 2000 labor hours per year and capital is increasing at a
rate of $500,000 per year. Find the rate of change of production per year.
MATH 233 Fall 2020 15.4: Chain Rule

Theorem: (Chain Rule, Case 2 ) If z = f (x, y) is a differentiable function of x and y and x = g(s, t) and y = h(s, t) are
∂z
differentiable functions of s and t, then =
∂t

∂z
and =
∂s

3q ∂u ∂u
3. For u = text , x = 2
and t = ln(pq), find and .
p ∂p ∂q
MATH 233 Fall 2020 15.4: Chain Rule

Learning Catalytics
√
4. For w = x2 + y 2 + z 2 , x = er cos θ, y = er sin θ, and z = r2 + 2r + 1, find wr and wθ .