2/27/11

Okay, sooo for some reason for the most recent practice AP's I forgot how to do chain rule.. really weird I know. So I went back and looked and how to do it and I guess i'll explain it now.

CHAIN RULE:
You use the chain rule when you have a function inside of a function, f(g(x)).
Chain rule is way different that the product and quotient rule, however it can be used in both of the rules.

Heres an example of just the chain rule by itself:

Ex. (x^2 + 3)^4
First, take the exponent of the entire function, bring it to the front, then subtract one from the exponent, and then just copy the inside.
4(x^2 + 3)^3
Now, multiply that by the derivative of the inside equation.
4(x^2 + 3)^3 (2x)
Put in simplest terms.
= 8x(x^2 + 3)^3

You can also use the chain rule with the product rule or quotient rule. If this is the case, then you first need to determine whether the chain rule is on the outside or the inside; this is to figure out what order you do things in. If the chain rule is on the outside, you do that first. If not, you do the product rule or quotient rule first.

Example with product rule and chain rule:
Ex. (x + 3)(x^2 – 1)^2
In this problem, the product rule comes first. When taking the derivative of the second equation, use the chain rule.
(x + 3)(2(x^2 – 1)(2x)) + (x^2 – 1)^2 (1)
= 4x(x + 3)(x^2 – 1) + (x^2 – 1)^2

Example with quotient rule and chain rule:
Ex. ((x + 2)/(x – 1))^2
For this problem, the chain rule is on the outside, therefore it goes first.
2((x + 2)/(x – 1)) (((x – 1)(1) – (x + 2)(1)) / (x – 1)^2))
2((x + 2)/(x – 1)) ((x – 1 – x – 2) / (x – 1)^2)
2((x + 2)/(x – 1)) ((-3)/(x – 1)^2)
= -3(2x + 4) / (x – 1)^3