Calculate derivatives of
functions of one variable
2.5 Use the chain rule to differentiate composite
functions
2024-2025
2. Derivatives 2
Objectives: Calculate derivatives by the chain rule. Combine rules to calculate
derivatives of elementary functions. Apply the technique to problems about
rates of change or tangents.
• Exercises 2.5 #5-16, 27, 29-30, 41-42
• Exercises 2.6 #1-22, 23-26, 27-28, 31, 34
• Exercises 2.7 #2, 4-12, 15, 17-19, 20(a), 22(a), 23-24, 25-26
• Exercises 2.8 #29-33, 34(a)
Examples are snipped from the textbook Smith, Minton, Rafhi, Calculus: Early Transcendental
Functions, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill.
2. Derivatives 3
We now differentiate composite functions 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑢 𝑥 .
• Inner function: 𝑢 𝑥 , applied first
• Outer function: 𝑓 𝑢
𝑢 𝑓
𝑥հ𝑢 = 𝑢 𝑥 հ𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑢 𝑥
Derivative:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑓 𝑑𝑢 𝑑
= ⋅ ⇔ 𝑓 𝑢 𝑥 = 𝑓 ′ 𝑢 𝑥 𝑢′ 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Brief form with 𝑢 = 𝑢(𝑥):
𝑑
𝑓 𝑢 = 𝑓 ′ 𝑢 ⋅ 𝑢′
𝑑𝑥
2. Derivatives 4
For example, 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 2 is obtained from replacing 𝑢 = 𝑥 2 in sin 𝑢 . Hence,
with 𝑢 = 𝑥 2 ,
sin 𝑥 2 ′ = cos 𝑥 2 𝑥 2 ′ = cos 𝑥 2 ⋅ 2𝑥 = 2𝑥 cos 𝑥 2
Steps:
1. Identify the inner function: 𝑢 = 𝑥 2 .
2. Remember the derivative of sin 𝑢 . In generalized form, it is cos 𝑢 ⋅ 𝑢′.
3. Read in your mind cos 𝑢 ⋅ 𝑢′. However, each time you read 𝑢, let your hand
write the full expression for 𝑢, so you write cos 𝑥 2 𝑥 2 ′ .
4. Calculate the inner derivative 𝑥 2 ′ to get the answer, cos 𝑥 2 ⋅ 2𝑥.
5. Rearrange as needed.
2. Derivatives 5
Remark. To write derivatives in generalized form, replace 𝑥 by 𝑢 and multiply
𝑑 𝑑
by 𝑢′. For example, 𝑥 𝑟 = 𝑟𝑥 𝑟−1 becomes 𝑢𝑟 = 𝑟𝑢𝑟−1 ⋅ 𝑢′.
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
[Chapter 2]
2. Derivatives 6
- The secret is to go slowly, step by step.
𝑓 𝑥 −1
Remark. You can avoid the quotient rule by writing as 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 . You
𝑔 𝑥
may even prove the quotient rule in that way (try!)
Let us illustrate it.
2. Derivatives 7
First solution: by the quotient rule
′ ′ ′
8𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥3 + 1 2
− 𝑥 𝑥3 + 1 2 ′
=8 =8
𝑥3 + 1 2 𝑥3 + 1 2
𝑥3 +1 2 2
𝑥3 + 1 2
− 𝑥 ⋅ 2 𝑥3 + 1 1 𝑥3 + 1 ′
=8
𝑥3 + 1 4
𝑥 3 + 1 2 − 2𝑥 𝑥 3 + 1 3𝑥 2
=8
𝑥3 + 1 4
3 + 1 − 6𝑥 3
𝑥
= 8 𝑥3 + 1
𝑥3 + 1 4
−5𝑥 3 + 1 8 1 − 5𝑥 3
=8 3 3
=
𝑥 +1 1 + 𝑥3 3
2. Derivatives 8
Second solution: by the product rule
′
8𝑥
= 8 𝑥 𝑥3 + 1 −2 ′ =8 𝑥 ′ 𝑥3 + 1 −2 + 𝑥 𝑥3 + 1 −2 ′
𝑥3 + 1 2
= 8 𝑥 3 + 1 −2 + 𝑥 ⋅ −2 𝑥 3 + 1 −3 𝑥 3 + 1 ′
= 8 𝑥 3 + 1 −2 − 2𝑥 𝑥 3 + 1 −3 3𝑥 2
= 8 𝑥 3 + 1 −2 1 − 6𝑥 3 𝑥 3 + 1 −1
8 6𝑥 3 8 𝑥 3 + 1 − 6𝑥 3
= 3 2
1− 3 = 3
𝑥 +1 𝑥 +1 𝑥 +1 2 𝑥3 + 1
8 −5𝑥 3 + 1 8 1 − 5𝑥 3
= 3 3
=
𝑥 +1 1 + 𝑥3 3
2. Derivatives 9
Try all following examples [Chapter 2].
2. Derivatives 10
A
2. Derivatives 11
𝑑
Remark. You can avoid the rule 𝑎 𝑥 = ln 𝑎 𝑎 𝑥 by writing 𝑎 𝑥 in natural base 𝑒,
𝑑𝑥
so 𝑎 = 𝑒
𝑥
. You may even prove the mentioned rule in that way (try!)
ln 𝑎 𝑥
2. Derivatives 12
𝑥
- The easiest is to work in base 𝑒, so 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 ln 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 ln 𝑥 .
Beyond the exam: Number e and early transcendentals approach
Beyond the exam: Number 𝑒 and early transcendentals approach (click!)
Beyond the exam: Hyperbolic functions once again
Beyond the exam: Hyperbolic functions once again (click!)
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