Section 2.

5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

The Chain Rule

PROBLEM: Let f (x) = (1 + x)2 . Find f (x).
Solution 1: To find the derivative of this function, we do algebra first and then apply calculus
rules:
f (x) = [(1 + x)2 ] = (1 + 2x + x2 ) = 1 + 2(x) + (x2 ) = 0 + 2 1 + 2x = 2 + 2x
Solution 2(?): One can try to use the power rule immediately:
f (x) = [(1 + x)2 ] = 2(1 + x)21 = 2(1 + x)
Note that in both cases we got the same result. However, the goal of Section 2.5 is to show
that despite the fact that Solution 2 gives the right answer, it is not completely correct. To
explain what me mean by that, let us consider the following example:
PROBLEM: Let f (x) = (1 x)2 . Find f (x).

Solution 1: We have
6

f (x) = [(1 x) ] = (1 2x + x ) = 1 2(x) + (x )

y
4

= 0 2 1 + 2x = 2 + 2x

Solution 2(???): If we apply the power rule immediately,

we get

0
-2

-1

f (x) = [(1 x)2 ] = 2(1 x)21 = 2(1 x)

-2

Note that we got two different answers. One can easily see that the second answer is incorrect.
In fact, if f (x) = 2(1 x), then f (2) = 2(1 2) = 2(1) = 2. This means that the slope of
the tangent line to the curve f (x) = (1 x)2 at x = 2 is negative. But this is not the case!
CONCLUSION: We cant always apply the rules (xn ) = nxn1 , (sin x) = cos x, etc. to cases
when we have u instead of x, where u is an algebraic expression different from x.
EXAMPLES:
(x3 ) = 3x2 ,

[(2 + x)3 ] = 3(2 + x)2

[(2x)3 ] 6= 3(2x)2 ,

[(2 x)3 ] 6= 3(2 x)2

(sin x) = cos x, [sin(x 5)] = cos(x 5) [sin(4x)] 6= cos(4x), [sin(5 x)] 6= cos(5 x)

1
( x) = ,
2 x

1
( x 3) =
2 x3

1
( 5x) 6= ,
2 5x

1
( 3 x) 6=
2 3x

Section 2.5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

THE CHAIN RULE: If f and g are both differentiable and F = f g is the composite function
defined by F (x) = f (g(x)), then F is differentiable and F is given by the product
F (x) = f (g(x)) g (x)
In Leibniz notation, if y = f (u) and u = g(x) are both differentiable functions, then
dy
dy du
=
dx
du dx
EXAMPLE: If F (x) = (1 x)2 , then
F (x) = [(1 x)2 ] = [F = f g where f (x) = x2 , g(x) = 1 x] = 2(1 x) (1 x)
= 2(1 x)(1)
= 2(1 x)
or
d((1 x)2 )
d(u2 ) d(1 x)
= [y = u2 , u = 1 x] =
= 2u (1) = 2(1 x)(1) = 2(1 x)
dx
du
dx

DIFFERENTIATION RULES
c = 0

(un ) = nun1 u

[cf (x)] = cf (x)

(sin u) = cos u u

(csc u) = csc u cot u u

[f (x) g(x)] = f (x) g (x)

(cos u) = sin u u (sec u) = sec u tan u u

2

(tan u) = sec u u

(cot u) = csc u u

[f (x)g(x)] = f (x)g(x) + f (x)g (x)



f (x)
g(x)

f (x)g(x) f (x)g (x)

[g(x)]2

EXAMPLES:
1. [sin x] = cos x x = cos x 1 = cos x
2. [sin(x 5)] = cos(x 5) (x 5) = cos(x 5) 1 = cos(x 5)
3. [sin(4x + 3)] = cos(4x + 3) (4x + 3) = cos(4x + 3) 4 = 4 cos(4x + 3)
4. [cos(2 x)] = sin(2 x) (2 x) = sin(2 x) (1) = sin(2 x)
5. [(3x2 5x + 1)50 ] =
2

Section 2.5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

DIFFERENTIATION RULES
c = 0

(un ) = nun1 u

[cf (x)] = cf (x)

(sin u) = cos u u

(csc u) = csc u cot u u

[f (x) g(x)] = f (x) g (x)

(cos u) = sin u u (sec u) = sec u tan u u

2

(tan u) = sec u u

(cot u) = csc u u

[f (x)g(x)] = f (x)g(x) + f (x)g (x)



f (x)
g(x)

f (x)g(x) f (x)g (x)

[g(x)]2

EXAMPLES:
5.

[(3x2 5x + 1)50 ] = 50(3x2 5x + 1)49 (3x2 5x + 1) = 50(3x2 5x + 1)49 (6x 5)

6.

1
8
1
[ 3 1 4x2 ] = (1 4x2 )2/3 (1 4x2 ) = (1 4x2 )2/3 (8x) = x(1 4x2 )2/3
3
3
3

7.

[tan(x3 )] = sec2 (x3 ) (x3 ) = sec2 (x3 ) (3x2 ) = 3x2 sec2 (x3 )

8.

[tan3 x] = 3 tan2 x (tan x) = 3 tan2 x sec2 x

9.

[tan3 (x3 )] = 3 tan2 (x3 ) [tan(x3 )] = [by (7)] = 3 tan2 (x3 ) 3x2 sec2 (x3 )
= 9x2 tan2 (x3 ) sec2 (x3 )

10.

tan x

[tan x]

1
3 tan2 x sec2 x x tan3 x
x tan x( x)
2 x
2
= [by (8)] =
x
( x)
3

11. [5x + 7(1 + 2x)10 ] = 5x + 7[(1 + 2x)10 ] = 5 1 + 7 10(1 + 2x)9 (1 + 2x)

= 5 + 70(1 + 2x)9 2
= 5 + 140(1 + 2x)9
12. [x sec(1 x)] = x sec(1 x) + x[sec(1 x)] = sec(1 x) + x sec(1 x) tan(1 x) (1 x)
= sec(1 x) + x sec(1 x) tan(1 x) (1)
= sec(1 x) x sec(1 x) tan(1 x)
= sec(1 x)[1 x tan(1 x)]
13. [(2x + 1)2 cos(5 3x)] =
3

Section 2.5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

DIFFERENTIATION RULES
c = 0

(un ) = nun1 u

[cf (x)] = cf (x)

(sin u) = cos u u

(csc u) = csc u cot u u

[f (x) g(x)] = f (x) g (x)

(cos u) = sin u u (sec u) = sec u tan u u

[f (x)g(x)] = f (x)g(x) + f (x)g (x)

(tan u) = sec2 u u

(cot u) = csc2 u u

f (x)
g(x)

f (x)g(x) f (x)g (x)

[g(x)]2

EXAMPLES:
13. [(2x + 1)2 cos(5 3x)] = [(2x + 1)2 ] cos(5 3x) + (2x + 1)2 [cos(5 3x)]
= 2(2x + 1) (2x + 1) cos(5 3x) + (2x + 1)2 ( sin(5 3x))(5 3x)
= 2(2x + 1) 2 cos(5 3x) + (2x + 1)2 ( sin(5 3x)) (3)
= 4(2x + 1) cos(5 3x) + 3(2x + 1)2 sin(5 3x)
14.

"s
4


3/4 

(1 x) 3x 8
(1 x) 3x 8
1 (1 x) 3x 8

=
4
sin2 (1 5x)
sin2 (1 5x)
sin2 (1 5x)

3/4
(1 x) 3x 8
sin2 (1 5x)

[(1 x) 3x 8] sin2 (1 5x) (1 x) 3x 8 [sin2 (1 5x)]

sin4 (1 5x)

1
=
4

3/4
(1 x) 3x 8
sin2 (1 5x)

((1 x) 3x 8 + (1 x)[ 3x 8] ) sin2 (1 5x) (1 x) 3x 8 [sin2 (1 5x)]

sin4 (1 5x)

1
=
4

3/4
(1 x) 3x 8
sin2 (1 5x)

( 3x 8 + 23 (1 x)(3x 8)1/2 ) sin2 (1 5x) + 10(1 x) 3x 8 sin(1 5x) cos(1 5x)

sin4 (1 5x)

1
=
4

Section 2.5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXERCISES:
1. [sin(3x)] =
2. [4 cos(x3 )] =

3. [x(x2 x + 1)23 ] =

4. [ x3 + csc x] =

5.

1
3
x + 2x 3

6. [sec

1 + cos x] =

Section 2.5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

SOLUTIONS:
1. [sin(3x)] = cos(3x) (3x) = cos(3x) 3 = 3 cos(3x)
2. [4 cos(x3 )] = 4[cos(x3 )] = 4 sin(x3 ) (x3 ) = 4 sin(x3 ) (3x2 ) = 12x2 sin(x3 )
3. [x(x2 x + 1)23 ] = x (x2 x + 1)23 + x[(x2 x + 1)23 ]
= (x2 x + 1)23 + x 23(x2 x + 1)22 (x2 x + 1)
= (x2 x + 1)23 + 23x(x2 x + 1)22 (2x 1)

1
4. [ x3 + csc x] = [(x3 + csc x)1/2 ] = (x3 + csc x)1/2 (x3 + csc x)
2
1
= (x3 + csc x)1/2 (3x2 csc x cot x)
2
5.

1
x3 + 2x 3

6. [sec

= [(x3 + 2x 3)1 ] = (1)(x3 + 2x 3)2 (x3 + 2x 3)

= (x3 + 2x 3)2 (3x2 + 2)

1 + cos x] = sec

1 + cos x tan

1 + cos x [ 1 + cos x]

= sec

1 + cos x tan

1
1 + cos x (1 + cos x)1/2 (1 + cos x)
2

1 + cos x tan

1
1 + cos x (1 + cos x)1/2 ( sin x)
2

1
= sec 1 + cos x tan 1 + cos x (1 + cos x)1/2 sin x
2

= sec

COMMON MISTAKES
1. [(1 x)3 ] = 3(1 x)2 WRONG!!!
Solution: By the Chain Rule we have:
[(1 x)3 ] = 3(1 x)2 (1 x) = 3(1 x)2 (1) = 3(1 x)2

2. [sin( x)] = cos

WRONG!!!

2 x
Solution: By the Chain Rule we have

1
[sin( x)] = cos( x) ( x) = cos( x)
2 x
6

Section 2.5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Appendix
EXAMPLE: Let f (x) =

1 + x3 . Find f , f , and f .

Solution: Since f (x) = (1 + x3 )1/2 , we have

1
3x2
1
f (x) = (1 + x3 )1/21 (1 + x3 ) = (1 + x3 )1/2 3x2 =
2
2
2 1 + x3

f (x) =

3x2
2(1 + x3 )1/2

3
=
2
=

x2
(1 + x3 )1/2

3 (x2 ) (1 + x3 )1/2 x2 [(1 + x3 )1/2 ]

2
[(1 + x3 )1/2 ]2

3 1/21
3 1/2
21
(1 + x3 )
3 2x(1 + x ) x 2 (1 + x )
=
2
1 + x3
3 1/2
21
2x(1
+
x
)

x
(1 + x3 )1/2 3x2
3
2
=
2
1 + x3

3 4
3 1/2
3 1/2
3 2x(1 + x ) 2 x (1 + x )
=
2
1 + x3


3 4
3 1/2
3 1/2
2(1 + x3 )1/2
2x(1 + x ) x (1 + x )
3
2
=
2
(1 + x3 ) 2(1 + x3 )1/2
3 4
3 1/2
3 1/2
3 1/2
2(1 + x3 )1/2
3 2x(1 + x ) 2(1 + x ) 2 x (1 + x )
=
2
2(1 + x3 )3/2
=

3 4x(1 + x3 ) 3x4

2
2(1 + x3 )3/2

3 4x + 4x4 3x4

2
2(1 + x3 )3/2

3
4x + x4

2 2(1 + x3 )3/2

3 x(4 + x3 )

2 2(1 + x3 )3/2

3x(4 + x3 )
=
4(1 + x3 )3/2

Section 2.5 The Chain Rule

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka


3x(4 + x3 )
f (x) =
4(1 + x3 )3/2


3 x(4 + x3 )
=
4 (1 + x3 )3/2


3 [x(4 + x3 )] (1 + x3 )3/2 x(4 + x3 )[(1 + x3 )3/2 ]

4
[(1 + x3 )3/2 ]2

3 3/21

3
3
3 3/2
3 3
(1 + x3 )
3 [x (4 + x ) + x(4 + x ) ](1 + x ) x(4 + x ) 2 (1 + x )
=
4
(1 + x3 )3
3
2
3 3/2
3 3
[1

(4
+
x
)
+
x

3x
](1
+
x
)

x(4
+
x
) (1 + x3 )1/2 3x2
3
2
=
3
3
4
(1 + x )

9 3
3
3 1/2
3
3
3 3/2
3 (4 + x + 3x )(1 + x ) 2 x (4 + x )(1 + x )
=
4
(1 + x3 )3
9 3
3
3 1/2
3
3 3/2
3 (4 + 4x )(1 + x ) 2 x (4 + x )(1 + x )
=
4
(1 + x3 )3
9 3
3
3 1/2
3
3 3/2
3 4(1 + x )(1 + x ) 2 x (4 + x )(1 + x )
=
4
(1 + x3 )3
9 3
3 5/2
x (4 + x3 )(1 + x3 )1/2
4(1
+
x
)

3
2
=
4
(1 + x3 )3


9 3
3
3 1/2
3 5/2
2(1 + x3 )1/2
4(1 + x ) x (4 + x )(1 + x )
3
2
=
4
(1 + x3 )3 2(1 + x3 )1/2
9
3 5/2
3 1/2
x3 (4 + x3 )(1 + x3 )1/2 2(1 + x3 )1/2
3 4(1 + x ) 2(1 + x )
2
=
4
2(1 + x3 )5/2
=

3 8(1 + 2x3 + x6 ) 36x3 9x6

3 8(1 + x3 )2 9x3 (4 + x3 )

4
2(1 + x3 )5/2
4
2(1 + x3 )5/2

3 8 + 16x3 + 8x6 36x3 9x6

3 8 20x3 x6

4
2(1 + x3 )5/2
4 2(1 + x3 )5/2

3(x6 + 20x3 8)
3(8 20x3 x6 )
=

8(1 + x3 )5/2
8(1 + x3 )5/2