TOPIC 8.

2: The Chain Rule

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON

(A) INTRODUCTION

Consider the following functions:

(a) f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2

(b) y = sin 2x

Teaching Tip
Ask the students to find the derivatives f 0 (x) and y 0 of the functions above, before
continuing with your lecture.

Expect some students to use the Power Rule (even when it is not applicable):

Dx [(3x2 2x + 4)2 ] = 2(3x2 2x + 4). (This is incorrect!)

Some may expand the expression first to get

f (x) = 9x4 + 4x2 + 16 12x3 + 24x2 16x = 9x4 12x3 + 28x2 16x + 16

before differentiating:

f 0 (x) = 36x3 36x2 + 56x 16. (This is correct!)

Some may even use product rule and first write the function

f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2 = (3x2 2x + 4)(3x2 2x + 4).

Hence,

f 0 (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)Dx (3x2 2x + 4) + (3x2 2x + 4)Dx (3x2 2x + 4)

= 2 · (3x2 2x + 4)(6x 2)
3 2
= (36x 24x + 48x) (12x2 8x + 16)
= 36x3 36x2 + 56x 16. (This is correct!)

Ask them if the last two (correct) methods will be doable if

f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)200 .

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 On the other hand, for the function y = sin 2x, some of them may have used a trigonometric
identity to first rewrite y into

y = sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x.

In this case

y 0 = 2[(sin x)( sin x) + (cos x)(cos x)]

= 2(cos2 x sin2 x)
= 2 cos(2x).

In this lesson students will learn a rule that will allow them to differentiate a given function
without having to perform any preliminary multiplication, or apply any special formula.

(B) LESSON PROPER

The Chain Rule below provides for a formula for the derivative of a composition of functions.

Theorem 9 (Chain Rule). Let f be a function differentiable at c and let g be a function

differentiable at f (c). Then the composition g f is differentiable at c and

Dx (g f )(c) = g 0 (f (c)) · f 0 (c).

Remark 1: Another way to state the Chain Rule is the following: If y is a differentiable
function of u defined by y = f (u) and u is a differentiable function of x defined by u = g(x),
then y is a differentiable function of x, and the derivative of y with respect to x is given by
dy dy du
= · .
dx du dx

In words, the derivative of a composition of functions is the derivative of the outer function
evaluated at the inner function, times the derivative of the inner function.

EXAMPLE 1:

(a) Recall our first illustration f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2 . Find f 0 (x) using the Chain Rule.

Solution. We can rewrite y = f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2 as y = f (u) = u2 where

u = 3x2 2x + 4, a differentiable function of x. Using the Chain Rule, we have

dy du
f 0 (x) = y 0 = ·
du dx
= (2u)(6x 2)
2
= 2(3x 2x + 4)(6x 2)
= 36x3 36x2 + 56x 16.

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(b) For the second illustration, we have y = sin(2x). Find y 0 using the Chain Rule.

Solution. We can rewrite y = sin(2x) as y = f (u) where f (u) = sin u and u = 2x.
Hence,

dy du
y0 = ·
du dx
= cos u · 2
= 2 cos(2x).

.
dz 4
(c) Find if z = 2 , where a is a real number.
dy (a y 2 )2
4
Solution. Notice that we can write z = as z = 4(a2 y2) 2. Applying
(a2 y 2 )2
the Chain Rule, we have

dz d 2
= 4· 2(a2 y2) 2 1
· (a y2)
dy dy
= 8(a2 y2) 3
· 2y
= 16y(a2 y 2 ) 3

16y
= 2
.
(a y 2 )3
.

Now, suppose we want to find the derivative of a power function of x. That is, we are
interested in Dx [f (x)n ]. To derive a formula for this, we let y = un where u is a differentiable
function of x given by u = f (x). Then by the Chain Rule,

dy dy du
= ·
dx du dx
= nun 1 · f 0 (x)
= n[f (x)]n 1
· f 0 (x)

Thus, Dx [f (x)]n = n[f (x)]n 1 · f 0 (x). This is called the GENERALIZED POWER RULE.

EXAMPLE 2:

(a) What is the derivative of y = (3x2 + 4x 5)5 ?

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 Solution.

Dx [(3x2 + 4x 5)5 ] = 5 · (3x2 + 4x 5)5 1

· Dx (3x2 + 4x 5)
2 4
= 5(3x + 4x 5) (6x + 4).

.
dy p
(b) Find where y = 3x3 + 4x + 1.
dx
Solution.
dy 1 1
= (3x3 + 4x + 1) 2 1 Dx (3x3 + 4x + 1)
dx 2
1 1
= (3x3 4x + 1) 2 (9x2 + 4)
2
9x2 + 4
= p .
2 3x3 4x + 1
.
dy
(c) Find where y = (sin 3x)2 .
dx
Solution.
dy d
= 2 · (sin 3x)2 1
·(sin 3x)
dx dx
d
= 2(sin 3x) · cos 3x · (3x)
dx
= 2(sin 3x)(cos 3x) · 3
= 6 sin 3x cos 3x.

(d) Differentiate (3x2 5)3 .

Solution.
d(3x2 5)3
= 3(3x2 5)3 1
· Dx (3x2 5)
dx
= 3(3x2 5)2 · 6x
= 18x(3x2 5)2 .

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 dy
(e) Consider the functions y = 3u2 + 4u and u = x2 + 5. Find .
dx
dy dy du dy du
Solution. By the Chain Rule, we have = · where = 6u + 4 and = 2x.
dx du dx du dx
Thus,

dy dy du
= ·
dx du dx
= (6u + 4)(2x)
h i
= 6(x2 + 5) + 4 (2x)
= (6x2 + 34)(2x)
= 12x3 + 68x.

(C) EXERCISES
dy
1. Use the Chain Rule to find in terms of x.
dx
1
a. y = (u 2)3 and u =
p 2x + 1
b. y = u and u = 5x2 3
1 1
c. y = and u =
u+1 x+1
dy
2. Solve for and simplify the result.
dx
a. y = (3x 2)5 (2x2 + 5)6
✓ ◆
5x 1 3
b. y =
2x + 3
p
c. y = x 4 x2
3. Find the derivatives of the following functions as specified:

a. y = sin x2 , y 00 d. g(x) = (x2 + 1)17 , g (2) (x)

p 3.2
b. h(z) = (9z + 4) 2 ,
3
h(3) (z) e. y = (t3 t) , y 00
1 2 d2 y
c. f (x) = sin(cos x), f 00 (x) f. y = x 3 (1 x) 3 ,
dx2

4. Find the first and second derivatives of the following:

a. y = ecos x d. g(x) = 3xe3x

b. f (x) = (ax + b)7 e. y = ex e x

5
c. h(t) = cot3 (et ) f. s =
3 + et
dy p
5. Find if y = sin( x3 + 1).
dx

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