CHAPTER 9
The Chain Rule
9.1 If f(x) = x2 + 2x — 5 and g(x) = x3, find formulas for the composite functions /°g and g°/.
3 3 2 3 6 3
(/°g)W=/(g(*))=/(* ) = (* ) + 2(* )-5 = * +2* -5
(g°/)« = S(/M) = 8(*2 + 2x-5) = (x2 + 2x- 5)3
9.2 Write the function is the composition of two functions.
Let g(x) = 3x - 5 and let f(x) = Vx. Then ( f°*)<*) = /(gW) = A3* - 5) = V3l^5.
9.3 If f(x) = 2x and g(x) = \/(x- 1), find all solutions of the equation (f°g)(x) = (g°/)(x).
(/•*)(*)= A *(*))=/ and (*•/)(*) = *( A*)) = *(2*) =
So, we must solve 4x-2 = x-l, 3x = l, * = 5 . Answer
9.4 Write the chain rule formula for the derivative of f» g
(/"*)'(*) =/'(*<*))•*'(*)•
9.5 If y = F(u) and M = G(x), then we can write y = F(G(x)). Write the chain rule formula for dyldx,
where we think of y as a function of x.
Here, the first occurrence of y refers to y as a function of AC, while the second occurrence of y
(on the right side) refers to y as a function of «.
9.6 Find the derivative of (*3 - 2x2 +7x- 3)4.
Use the chain rule. Think of the function as a composition (f°g)(x), where f(x) = x4 and g(x) =
x - 2x2 + 7x-3. Then f '(x) = 4x3 and g'(jr) = 3* -4x + 7. Hence,
3
x3 - 2x2 + 7x- 3)4 = 4(x3 -
2x2 + 7x- 3)3 • (3x2 -4x + 7).
9.7 Find the derivative of
We can write = (3*2 + 5)-4. Now we can use the chain rule. Remember that x'^rr'- 1
for any real number r. In particular, »-« = -4x-5. By the chain rule,
(3x2 + 5)"4 = -4(3x2 + 5K5 • (6jr) = -
9.8 Find the derivative of
We can write = (2x + 7)1'2. By the chain rule,
Here, we have used and
9.9 Find the derivative of
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