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Chain Rule in Calculus Explained

This document discusses the chain rule, which is a method for finding the derivative of composite functions. It provides examples of applying the chain rule to functions composed of multiple operations. The chain rule states that if y is a function of f(u) and u is a function of x, then the derivative of y with respect to x is equal to the derivative of y with respect to u multiplied by the derivative of u with respect to x. The document emphasizes that the chain rule may need to be applied multiple times if a function is composed of more than two operations. It also notes that derivative formulas implicitly use the chain rule and cautions students not to forget to apply the chain rule when taking derivatives.

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9 views16 pages

Chain Rule in Calculus Explained

This document discusses the chain rule, which is a method for finding the derivative of composite functions. It provides examples of applying the chain rule to functions composed of multiple operations. The chain rule states that if y is a function of f(u) and u is a function of x, then the derivative of y with respect to x is equal to the derivative of y with respect to u multiplied by the derivative of u with respect to x. The document emphasizes that the chain rule may need to be applied multiple times if a function is composed of more than two operations. It also notes that derivative formulas implicitly use the chain rule and cautions students not to forget to apply the chain rule when taking derivatives.

Uploaded by

Temesgen Bihonegn
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

3.

6
The Chain Rule
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington Photo by Vickie Kelly, 2002
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington Photo by Vickie Kelly, 2002
U.S.S. Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
We now have a pretty good list of shortcuts to find
derivatives of simple functions.
Of course, many of the functions that we will encounter
are not so simple. What is needed is a way to combine
derivative rules to evaluate more complicated functions.

Consider a simple composite function:


6 10 y x =
( )
2 3 5 y x =
If 3 5 u x =
then 2 y u =
6 10 y x = 2 y u = 3 5 u x =
6
dy
dx
=
2
dy
du
= 3
du
dx
=
dy dy du
dx du dx
=
6 2 3 =

and another:
5 2 y u =
where 3 u t =
( )
then 5 3 2 y t =
3 u t =
15
dy
dt
= 5
dy
du
= 3
du
dt
=
dy dy du
dt du dt
=
15 5 3 =
( )
5 3 2 y t =
15 2 y t =
5 2 y u =

and one more:


2
9 6 1 y x x = + +
( )
2
3 1 y x = +
If 3 1 u x = +
3 1 u x = +
18 6
dy
x
dx
= + 2
dy
u
du
=
3
du
dx
=
dy dy du
dx du dx
=
2
y u =
2
then y u =
2
9 6 1 y x x = + +
( )
2 3 1
dy
x
du
= +
6 2
dy
x
du
= +
( )
18 6 6 2 3 x x + = +
This pattern is called
the chain rule.

dy dy du
dx du dx
=
Chain Rule:
If is the composite of and ,
then:
f g
( )
y f u =
( )
u g x =
( )
( )
at
at
x
u g x
f g f g
=
'
' '
=
example:
( )
sin f x x =
( )
2
4 g x x = Find:
( )
at 2 f g x
'
=
( )
cos f x x
'
=
( )
2 g x x
'
=
( )
2 4 4 0 g = =
( ) ( )
0 2 f g
' '

( ) ( )
cos 0 2 2
1 4 4 =

We could also do it this way:


( ) ( ) ( )
2
sin 4 f g x x =
( )
2
sin 4 y x =
sin y u =
2
4 u x =
cos
dy
u
du
= 2
du
x
dx
=
dy dy du
dx du dx
=
cos 2
dy
u x
dx
=
( )
2
cos 4 2
dy
x x
dx
=
( )
2
cos 2 4 2 2
dy
dx
=
( )
cos 0 4
dy
dx
=
4
dy
dx
=

Here is a faster way to find the derivative:


( )
2
sin 4 y x =
( ) ( )
2 2
cos 4 4
d
y x x
dx
'
=
( )
2
cos 4 2 y x x
'
=
Differentiate the outside function...
then the inside function
At 2, 4 x y
'
= =

Another example:
( )
2
cos 3
d
x
dx
( )
2
cos 3
d
x
dx
(

( ) ( )
2 cos 3 cos 3
d
x x
dx
(

derivative of the
outside function
derivative of the
inside function
It looks like we need to
use the chain rule again!

Another example:
( )
2
cos 3
d
x
dx
( )
2
cos 3
d
x
dx
(

( ) ( )
2 cos 3 cos 3
d
x x
dx
(

( ) ( ) ( )
2cos 3 sin 3 3
d
x x x
dx

( ) ( )
2cos 3 sin 3 3 x x
( ) ( )
6cos 3 sin 3 x x
The chain rule can be used
more than once.
(Thats what makes the
chain in the chain rule!)

Derivative formulas include the chain rule!


1 n n
d du
u nu
dx dx

= sin cos
d du
u u
dx dx
=
cos sin
d du
u u
dx dx
=
2
tan sec
d du
u u
dx dx
=
etcetera
The formulas on the memorization sheet are written with
instead of . Dont forget to include the term!
u
'
u
'
du
dx

The most common mistake on the chapter 3 test is to


forget to use the chain rule.
Every derivative problem could be thought of as a
chain-rule problem:
2
d
x
dx
2
d
x x
dx
=
2 1 x = 2x =
derivative of
outside function
derivative of
inside function
The derivative of x is one.

The chain rule enables us to find the slope of


parametrically defined curves:
dy dy dx
dt dx dt
=

dy
dy
dt
dx
dx
dt
=
Divide both sides by
dx
dt
The slope of a parametrized
curve is given by:

dy
dy
dt
dx
dx
dt
=

These are the equations for


an ellipse.
Example: 3cos x t =
2sin y t =
3sin
dx
t
dt
= 2cos
dy
t
dt
=
2cos
3sin
dy t
dx t
=

2
cot
3
t =
Dont forget to use the chain rule!
t

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