DIFFERENTIATION

TECHNIQUES -The Chain Rule

LECTURE
BY

J.GONDWE
EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Differentiate a function of a function

(composite function) using the chain
rule

2
Function of a function

- functions with two parts : an inside

and outside part.
If y is a function of u, and u is a function
of x, then we say
" y is a function of the function u".
Example

y  (3 x  7) 5
If we let u  3x  7 (the inner - most expression),
then we could write our original function as y  u 5
We have written y as a function of u , and
in turn, u is a function of x.
Hence " y is a function of the function u".
The Chain Rule for composite
functions

If y  f (u ) and u  g ( x) then y  f ( g ( x)) then

the differential notation
dy dy du
 
dx du dx
Example

y   2 x  3
3

let u  2 x  3 then yu 3

du dy
 2 and  3u 2
dx du
dy dy du
 
dx du dx
 3u  2
2

6
Cont’d

dy dy du
 
dx du dx
 3u 2  2
 6u 2
but u  2 x  3
dy
  6 2 x  3
2

dx

 check if you multiply out first then differentiate 

7
The chain rule – alternative form

If y   f  g ( x)  
dy
then  f  g ( x)   g ( x)
dx

8
 Cont'd


The derivative of a composite function y  f  g ( x) 
n

is the derivative of the outer function in terms of the inner
 
function f  g ( x)  , multiplied by the derivative of
n

the inner function  g (x)

i.e
dy
dx
 
 n  f  g ( x)    g  x  
n 1

9
Example 1

Differentiate  2 x  3
3

dy d
 3 2 x  3   2 x  3
31

dx dx
 3 2 x  3  2
2

 6 2 x  3
2

 check answer with previous slides 6 - 7 

10
Example 2

Differenciate  5  2 x 
7

dy
 7   5  2x
7 1
2
dx

 14 5  2 x 
6

11
Example 3

d  d
 
12
2 
3x  4 x  2
3x  4 x
dx   dx
1
 
1 2
2
 3x  4 x  6x  4
2
3x  2

2
3x  4 x

12
Class exercise

3
 3x  1 
Differentiate the function f ( x)   2 
 x 3
 Solution
3
 3x  1 
f ( x)   2 
 x 3

2 2 2

 3x  1   3x  9  6 x  2 x  3(3 x  1) 2 ( 3 x 2  2 x  9)
3 2   
   
2 4
 x 3  2
x 3  2
x 3
 
 Solution
3
 3x  1 
f ( x)   2 
 x 3
2
 3x  1  d  3x  1 
f ( x )  3  2    Quotient
 x  3 dx  x 2  3 
rule
2 2

 3 x  1   ( x  3)3  (3 x  1)(2 x) 
3 2   
 
2
 x 3  2
x 3 
 
2 2 2

 3 x  1   (3 x  9)  (6 x  2 x) 
3 2   
 
2
 x 3  2
x 3 
 
2 2 2

 3x  1   3 x  9  6 x  2 x  3(3 x  1) 2 ( 3 x 2  2 x  9)
3 2   
   
2 4
 x 3  2
x 3  x2  3
 
Exercise

Differentiate the following :


1. x  4 x  2
2
 5
2.  x 2  4

3.
 x 1
2
  x 1 
4.  
2

 x  3 2
 x2

5
5. 3
x  x2  x
16
solution

1. 5( x - 4 x  2) (2 x  4)
2 4

-2 2 3 x  1
2. 3.
x  x 2  5
 x  3 3

2 x  1 - 5(3x  2 x  1)
2
4. 5.
 x  2 3
( x  x  x)
3 2

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