LESSON 5.2.

THE CHAIN RULE

The most important rule in this lesson (and sometimes the most difficult
one) is called the Chain Rule. It’s used when you’re given composite
functions—that is, a function inside of another function. A composite function
1
is usually written as: 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)].For example: If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = √3𝑥 ,
1
then 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)] = .
√3𝑥

When finding the derivative of a composite function, we take the

derivative of the “outside” function, with the inside function 𝑔 considered as
the variable, leaving the inside function alone. Then, we multiply this by the
derivative of the “inside” function, with respect to its variable 𝑥.

Another way to write the Chain Rule is like this:

𝑑𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)] 𝑑𝑔
If 𝑦 = 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)] , then 𝑦 ′ = [ ][ ]
𝑑𝑔 𝑑𝑥

Examples: Find the derivative of each of the following functions

1. 𝑦 = (5𝑥 3 + 3𝑥)5
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑
= 𝑦 ′ = 5(5𝑥 3 + 3𝑥)5−1 [5𝑥 3 + 3𝑥]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 5(5𝑥 4 + 3𝑥)4 [5(3)𝑥 3−1 + 3]
= 5(5𝑥 4 + 3𝑥)4 (15𝑥 2 + 3) ∎

We just dealt with the derivative of something to the fifth power, like this:
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = (𝑔)5 , = 5(𝑔)4 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑔 = 5𝑥 3 + 3𝑥
𝑑𝑔

Then we multiplied by the derivative of 𝑔: (5𝑥 3 + 3𝑥)

Note: Always do it this way. The process has several successive steps, like
peeling away the layers of an onion until you reach the center.

2. 𝑦 = √𝑥 3 − 4𝑥
Solution:
1
Rewrite 𝑦 = √𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 𝑎𝑠 𝑦 = (𝑥 3 − 4𝑥)2
𝑑𝑦 1 1 𝑑 3
then = 𝑦 ′ = (𝑥 3 − 4𝑥)2−1 (𝑥 − 4𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
1 1
= (𝑥 3 − 4𝑥)−2 [3𝑥 3−1 − 4]
2

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 1 3 1 3𝑥 2 − 4
= (𝑥 − 4𝑥)−2 (3𝑥 2 − 4) 𝑜𝑟 ∎
2 2√𝑥 3 − 4𝑥
Again, we took the derivative of the outside function, leaving the inside
function alone. Then we multiplied by the derivative of the inside.

2𝑥 + 1 3
3. 𝑦 = ( 2 )
𝑥 − 2𝑥
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 ′
2𝑥 + 1 3−1 𝑑 2𝑥 + 1
= 𝑦 = 3( 2 ) [ ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 − 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥
2 𝑑 𝑑 2
2𝑥 + 1 2 (𝑥 − 2𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 (2𝑥 + 1) − (2𝑥 + 1) 𝑑𝑥 [𝑥 − 2𝑥]
= 3( 2 ) [ ]
𝑥 − 2𝑥 (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥)2

2𝑥 + 1 2 (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥)(2) − (2𝑥 + 1)(2𝑥 − 2)

= 3( 2 ) [ ]∎
𝑥 − 2𝑥 (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥)2

Does it look complicated? That’s because we used the Chain Rule and the
Quotient Rule. You can simplify this further, if necessary.
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LESSON 5.3. DIFFERENTIATING TRIGONOMETRIC

FUNCTIONS

DERIVATIVES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

Before starting this lesson, you might need to review the trigonometric
functions. In particular it is important to remember that when we talk about
the function 𝑓 defined for all real numbers 𝑥 by
𝑓 (𝑥) = sin 𝑥
it is understood that sin 𝑥 means the sine of the angle whose radian measure
is 𝑥. A similar convention holds for the other trigonometric functions 𝑐𝑜𝑠, 𝑡𝑎𝑛,
𝑐𝑠𝑐, sec and 𝑐𝑜𝑡.

TABLE OF DERIVATIVES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

𝑑 𝑑
(sin 𝑥) = cos 𝑥 (csc 𝑥) = − csc 𝑥 cot 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
(cos 𝑥) = − sin 𝑥 (sec 𝑥) = sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
(tan 𝑥) = sec 2 𝑥 (cot 𝑥) = − csc 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

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 In memorizing this table it is helpful to notice that the minus signs go
with the derivatives of the “cofunctions”, that is cosine, cosecant, and
cotangent.

These differentiation formulas show that each trigonometric function is

differentiable at every number in its domain.

Examples: Find the derivative of each of the following functions

1. 𝑦 = sin(5𝑥) 2. 𝑦 = sec(𝑥 2 )
Solution: Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑
= cos(5𝑥) (5𝑥) = sec(𝑥 2 ) tan(𝑥 2 ) [(𝑥 2 ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2) 2
= cos(5𝑥) ∙ (5) = sec(𝑥 tan(𝑥 )(2𝑥)
= 5 cos(5) ∎ = 2𝑥 sec(𝑥 2 ) tan(𝑥 2 ) ∎

3. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 cos 𝑥 4. 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 − 2 tan 𝑥

Solution: Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑 2 𝑑𝑦 𝑑
= 𝑥2 [cos 𝑥] + cos 𝑥 [𝑥 ] = cos 𝑥 − 2 tan 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥 2 (− sin 𝑥) + cos 𝑥 (2𝑥) = cos 𝑥 − 2 sec 2 𝑥 ∎
= −𝑥 2 sin 𝑥 + 2𝑥 cos 𝑥 ∎

5. 𝑦 = csc 𝑥 cot 𝑥
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑑
= csc 𝑥 [cot 𝑥] + cot 𝑥 [csc 𝑥] use the Product Rule
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2
= csc 𝑥(− csc 𝑥) + cot 𝑥(− csc 𝑥 cot 𝑥)
= − csc 3 𝑥 − csc 𝑥 cot 2 𝑥 ∎

𝑥 2 tan 𝑥
6. 𝑦 = use the Quotient and Product Rule
sec 𝑥
Solution:
𝑑 2 2 𝑑
𝑑𝑦 sec 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 [𝑥 tan 𝑥] − 𝑥 tan 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 [sec 𝑥]
=
𝑑𝑥 (sec 𝑥)2
𝑑 𝑑 2 𝑑
sec 𝑥 [𝑥 2 (tan 𝑥) + tan 𝑥 (𝑥 )] − 𝑥 2 tan 𝑥 [sec 𝑥]
= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
sec 2 𝑥
sec 𝑥[𝑥 2 (sec 2 𝑥) + tan 𝑥(2𝑥)] − 𝑥 2 tan 𝑥(sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥)]
=
sec 2 𝑥

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 𝑥 2 sec 3 𝑥 + 2𝑥 tan 𝑥 sec 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 tan2 𝑥 sec 𝑥
=
sec 2 𝑥
sec 𝑥[𝑥 2 sec 2 𝑥 + 2𝑥 tan 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 tan2 𝑥]
=
sec 2 𝑥
𝑥 2 (sec 2 𝑥 − tan2 𝑥) + 2𝑥 tan 𝑥
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 sec 2 𝑥 − tan2 𝑥 = 1
sec 𝑥
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 tan 𝑥
= ∎
sec 𝑥
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LESSON 5.4 DIFFERENTIATING NATURAL EXPONENTIAL
FUNCTIONS

THE DERIVATIVE OF THE NATURAL EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

If 𝑢 is a differentiable function of 𝑥, then

𝑑 𝑥 𝑑 𝑢 𝑑𝑢
1. [𝑒 ] = 𝑒 𝑥 2. [𝑒 ] = 𝑒 𝑢 ∙
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Examples: Differentiate each of the following functions

1. 𝑦 = 𝑒 2𝑥
Solution: To use the Chain Rule, we let 𝑢 = 2𝑥. Then we have 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑢 , so

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢
= ∙ = 𝑒𝑢
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑
𝑦′ = = 𝑒 2𝑥 [2𝑥]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑒 2𝑥 [2]

= 2𝑒 2𝑥 ∎

2
2. 𝑦 = 𝑒 −2𝑥+𝑥
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 2 𝑑
𝑦′ = = 𝑒 −2𝑥+𝑥 [−2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 ] , 𝑢 = −2𝑥 + 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2
= 𝑒 −2𝑥+𝑥 [−2 + 2𝑥] 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑡 2
2
= 2(𝑥 − 1)𝑒 −2𝑥+𝑥 ∎

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3. 𝑦 = 𝑒 √𝑥
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑
𝑦′ = = 𝑒 √𝑥 [√𝑥] , 𝑢 = √𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 1 1 1
= 𝑒 √𝑥 [ 𝑥 2−1 ] , 𝑥 −2 =
2 √𝑥
𝑒 √𝑥
= ∎
2 √𝑥

4. 𝑦 = 𝑒 tan 𝑥
Solution:
𝑑𝑦 𝑑
𝑦′ = = 𝑒 tan 𝑥 [tan 𝑥]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑒 tan 𝑥 [sec 2 𝑥] ∎

5. 𝑦 = 𝑒 −4𝑥 sin 5𝑥

Solution: (use the Product Rule)

𝑑 𝑑 −4𝑥
𝑦 ′ = 𝑒 −4𝑥 [sin 5𝑥] + sin 5𝑥 [𝑒 ]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
= 𝑒 −4𝑥 (cos 5𝑥) [5𝑥] + sin 5𝑥[𝑒 −4𝑥 ] [−4𝑥]
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑒 −4𝑥 (cos 5𝑥)(5) + sin 5𝑥[𝑒 −4𝑥 ](−4)

= 𝑒 −4𝑥 (5 cos 5𝑥 − 4 sin 5𝑥) ∎

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What’s More

ACTIVITY 1. Find the derivative of each of the following functions

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = −2 11. 𝑦 = cos 𝑥 − 2 tan 𝑥

2
2. 𝑔(𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 12. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 sin 𝑥
tan 𝑥
3. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6 13. 𝑦 =
𝑥
1
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = (√𝑥)(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥) 14. 𝑦 = − 3 sin 𝑥
𝑥
5. 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 − 1) 15. 𝑦 = 𝑥 cot 𝑥

17